Standard Chartered Completes Roll-out of Corporate Actions Platform

Standard Chartered has completed the roll-out of its corporate actions platform across its securities services network of 39 markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

With the new platform adds to the bank’s asset servicing capabilities across its network, helping reduce the risks associated with the largely manual nature of corporate actions. It also helps investor and intermediary clients to better manage their corporate actions processes through automation and adherence to global market standards in response to rising awareness among investors of the risks and inefficiencies linked to corporate actions.

The platform features new capabilities that simplify day-to-day corporate actions processing and minimise risk exposure. It adjusts to client specific preferences, such as tailoring methods and timing of announcement distribution and managing upcoming deadlines through a consolidated dashboard.

The SWIFT-compliant platform enables STP and for non-SWIFT users, it offers alternative real-time capabilities, including automated faxes and emails. Through Straight2Bank, the Bank’s online client Web portal, clients can consult, design and schedule their own reports and instruct STP corporate actions.

Commenting on the implementation, Margaret Harwood-Jones, global segment sponsor, Investors and Intermediaries, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered says: “As an increasing number of clients look to participate in the rapidly expanding range of opportunities in emerging markets, volume and complexity of corporate actions are growing fast. Our new corporate actions platform will help clients efficiently manage these challenges and focus on exploring growth opportunities in emerging markets.” 

Alan Naughton, global head of Product Management, Investors & Intermediaries, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered, says the roll-out is part of the bank’s multi-year strategic investment programme aimed to transform the entire securities services operating model to meet increasing client needs in emerging markets. “Investors and intermediaries, who are used to sophisticated asset servicing capabilities in developed markets, can now enjoy the same standards consistently across Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” he says. “This rollout further evidences our commitment to supporting our clients as they continue to expand their own investment activities throughout our footprint.”