Governance

Our global code of conduct describes the principles and standards that we hold ourselves to and ask all our employees to consider in every decision and action they take.

Our supplier code of conduct sets out the standards and principles we require our suppliers to follow, and that we expect them to demand from their own supply chains.

Our tax report sets out our approach to governance over tax matters, our attitude to tax risk, our attitude to tax planning and how we work with tax authorities.

It is vital we take steps to protect company, client and employee information from cyber-attacks, data breaches and any other form of mis-use. We have a robust Information Security framework with an ISO27001-based information security policy, covering all aspects of cyber security including governance and policy, technical standards, management of regulatory requirements, and incident management.

Security is everyone’s responsibility and the oversight of the policy is led by our Chief Security and Resilience Officer with regular reporting to a Board-level governing committee.

Our policy framework in combination with our Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, provides a structure for an internal control system to manage risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and systems.

Tackling financial crime is not just about adhering to laws and regulation, it is also about preventing harm to people and society. We have a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption, money laundering, and terrorist financing. We provide colleagues with tools that enable them to be aware of financial crime risk, to know what to look out for, and to understand both their and the company’s responsibilities.

All colleagues, as part of their day-to-day jobs, will collect and use personal information. It is vital that they can demonstrate that they are processing this information in line with abrdn’s statutory obligations under various privacy and data protection laws and internal policies.

We have a three-pillar approach that: helps everyone understand their responsibilities and abrdn’s obligations; enables us to easily collate evidence of compliance and conduct the necessary assessment of potential privacy risks; and tracks local compliance by first line teams with the required minimum standards.

• Education: We provide practical information and tools online to support all colleagues, which supplements our mandatory annual online training.
• Privacy Management Framework: We have a web-based solution that enables scanning of new laws or changes to existing laws; is a central repository for analysis, collation and evidence of compliance; and provides a holistic, consolidated view of all personal data processing across our business.
• Policy and standards: Our Privacy & Data Protection Policy has been implemented with a clear set of minimum standards to be met by first line teams, helping to evidence their compliance with applicable local laws.

To meet the needs of our clients and key stakeholders, and create benefits for the economy, society and environment, we focus on the following areas:

• Our investment process – we integrate and appraise ESG factors in our investment process, with the aim of generating the best long-term outcomes for our clients.
• Our investment activity – we actively take steps as stewards to deliver long-term, sustainable value consistent with our clients’ objectives.
• Our client journey – we clearly define how we act in our clients’ interests in delivering our stewardship and ESG principles and transparently report on our actions to meet those interests.
• Our corporate influence – we actively advance policy, regulation and industry standards to deliver a better future for our clients, the environment and society.

More about sustainable investing

We purchase goods and services from a large number of suppliers. We want to work with suppliers that share our commitment to sustainability. Our programme of sustainable procurement activity is designed to help create a long-term positive impact on business and society.

We pledged to work with our top 50% of suppliers by spend, asking them to put in place net zero targets by 2025. Our expectation is that all our suppliers pay a fair wage, specifically a living wage where the accreditation exists.