Show locationsabrdn Opts For EQS Insider Manager
abrdn plc, formerly Standard Life Aberdeen plc, is a global investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. A constituent of the FTSE 100 Index and listed on the London Stock Exchange, it is the largest active asset manager in the UK. abrdn recently decided to introduce a new solution for managing its insider lists, opting for EQS Insider Manager. This case study provides an overview of the reasons behind the move and how it has panned out.
The reason behind the move
abrdn formerly used an in-house insider database management system. As part of a wider IT transition exercise further to the sale of the insurance business to Phoenix, the existing solution was due to be phased out and decommissioned, leading to the search for a replacement.
Fortunately, the transition occurred at a time when providers were moving to deliver modern and innovative insider list management solutions. abrdn investigated the different options available before inviting EQS Group to provide a demonstration of their system. It was analysed by the Co Sec, Procurement and IT teams at abrdn who selected EQS Insider Manager, considering it a cost-effective, intuitive and efficient solution.
Implementation of the new system
Transitioning to a new digital insider list management system can be a daunting prospect. In the case of Insider Manager, abrdn has reported a smooth implementation process. Training was delivered by the company’s account manager at EQS Group while the software was tailored to the needs of abrdn. All questions were met with prompt responses to make the training and transition phase as easygoing as possible.
Communicating the new system
Once the relevant stakeholders at abrdn mastered the basics of the new software, it was necessary to communicate internally about its benefits and functionality. This was accomplished via an email to the PDMRS (person discharging managerial responsibilities) and Permanent Insiders that informed them that they would be receiving emails from the insider manager system in the future.
The Benefits of Taking Insider Management Digital – 4 questions for Alison Wood
Enhancing professionalism, saving time and boosting professionalism are listed by EQS Group as some of the core benefits of the Insider Manager system. How do the staff at abrdn feel about its introduction as well as the difference it has made to their daily work? In order to find out, a Q&A was conducted with Alison Wood, Board Support Specialist at abrdn about the software.
Alison: “After learning the basics of Insider Manager, I am finding the system easy to use and navigate. I particularly like that the software automates some of the processes that used to be conducted manually before. For example, I used to ask insiders to physically sign a letter to acknowledge they were aware of their obligations and I had to chase them manually. Now I can just send them an email and ask them for acknowledgement electronically and the system will automatically chase them for me if needed. The audit trail for emails also makes it really easy to keep track of who I have sent what to which gives me peace of mind”.
Alison: “Excellent, prompt assistance has been provided for all queries, however small. In particular, I really like the personalised service. I have regular meetings with my dedicated account manager, which enables me to ask any question I may have, discuss updates and provide feedback”.
So far we have mainly used the platform to send notifications of upcoming blackout periods. These notifications are aimed at 600 to 700 people who have access to accounting and financial information before it is made public.