Experts divided on abrdn takeover risk as Bird doubles down on cost-cutting

AUM size may prevent bids

abrdn’s latest round of cost-cutting measures have divided experts on whether CEO Stephen Bird has done enough to shore up the security of the Edinburgh-based firm, and if a takeover is on the cards.

In a stock exchange notice this morning (24 January), abrdn announced it would seek to reduce its annualised costs by £150m by the end of 2025, which will include around 500 staff redundancies.  The firm said the majority of the cost-cutting measures will focus on eliminating unnecessary internal procedures, including "the removal of management layers, increasing spans of control, further efficiency in outsourcing and technology areas, as well as reducing overheads in group functions and support services". Investment Week reported on Tuesday (23 January) that fund managers have been r...