Aberdeen Life, the unit-linked insurance subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management, has appointed two industry veterans, Otto Thoresen and David Hare, as chairman and senior non-executive director respectively.

Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management announced today that they have reached agreement on a recommended merger which will see the two combine to create a group with £660bn in assets under management and financial strength.

Aberdeen Asset Management says it will lift the suspension in trading in its commercial property fund at 12pm today.

Parmenion has reported new investment inflows of £750 million in 2015 - a 50% increase on 2014.