The tie-up created Britain's largest active manager, with assets of around 670 billion pounds.

Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert had been named co-chief executives of the combined entity. Skeoch, former chief executive at Standard Life, will manage the day-to-day running of the new company, while Aberdeen's Gilbert will take charge of external affairs.

(Reporting by Maiya Keidan, editing by Dasha Afanasieva)