STANDARD Bank said on Thursday the appeals court will hand down its judgment on Friday in a ruling crucial to the bank’s battle to thwart a hostile takeover from smaller rival Nedcor. Stanbic wants the appeals court to overturn an earlier decision which made the Reserve Bank and finance ministry the final authorities on whether Nedcor’s R30 billion all-paper offer be made to shareholders.Stanbic said the decision of the judges would be delivered after 9.00am. Stanbic and its sister company, insurer Liberty Life, have rejected Nedcor’s bid.