Analysts think the demutualisation and privatisation that might allow mergers of this kind will remain rare.
This admittedly reflects the large number of penny-packet holdings of privatisation and demutualisation stocks.
Skipton says that the society is constantly reviewing its status and that the resolution will not prompt a demutualisation.
But the managements of both societies say they are still set against demutualisation.
Such nods to market discipline may eventually lead to something even bigger: demutualisation.
"The board thinks there is an overwhelming logic for demutualisation and would like members to support it, " a Standard Life spokesman said.
This week, however, it reached such a point that Lloyd's had to put out a statement denying that demutualisation was under active consideration.
Talk of demutualisation has surfaced sporadically in the market for years, especially since 1996, when Lloyd's relaunched itself after several years of catastrophic losses.
They have proposed demutualisation, turning the exchange from a member-owned club to a public company that would be listed on the exchange it operates.
The chase is on to buy the country's large insurance companies, several of which are in the process of demutualisation and will soon be floating shares.
The Chelsea and Skipton building societies have decided to allow a resolution raising the issue of demutualisation to be put before their annual general meetings in the spring.
Why, then, the newfound, albeit unpublicised, interest in demutualisation?
Second, demutualisation has not removed conflicts of interest.
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