Standard Life windfalls 'to average €2,500'

Windfalls averaging £1,700 (€2,500) were today dangled in front of members of Standard Life after the life insurer rejected several approaches from rivals.

The Edinburgh-based firm said 2.4 million policyholders would share in the £4.1bn (€5.9bn) bonanza if a vote in favour of a stock market listing succeeds and it ends 80 years as a mutual.