{{short description|UK based investment company}} {{for|the marketing intelligence company formerly known as Aberdeen Group|Aberdeen Strategy and Research}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Aberdeen Group | logo = Aberdeen Group logo.jpg | image = Edinburgh - George Street (geograph 6654164) (cropped).jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Headquarters at 1 George Street, Edinburgh | trade_name = aberdeen | predecessors = {{ubli | Standard Life<br>(founded 1825) | Aberdeen Asset Management<br>(founded 1983) }} | former_name = {{Ubl | Standard Life Aberdeen plc (2017{{endash}}2021)<ref name="CompaniesHouse">{{Cite web |date=2005-06-30 |title=Abrdn plc overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC286832 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Companies House |language=en}}</ref> | abrdn plc (2021{{endash}}2025) }} | type = Public | traded_as = {{lse|ABDN}}<br />FTSE 250 Component | key_people = {{Ubl | Sir Douglas Flint (chair) | Jason Windsor (CEO) }} | industry = Financial services | ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|GB00BF8Q6K64}} | products = | revenue = {{decrease}} £1,341 million (2025)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeeninvestments.com/docs?documentid=AA-110226-204148-23|title=Annual Results 2025|website=Aberdeen Group plc|access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref> | operating_income = {{increase}} £466 million (2025)<ref name=results/> | net_income = {{increase}} £398 million (2025)<ref name=results/> | aum = {{increase}} £390.4 billion (2025)<ref name=results/> | num_employees = 4,000 (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aberdeenplc.com/en-gb|title=Enabling better investing|publisher=Aberdeen Group|access-date=27 January 2026}}</ref> | parent = | subsid = {{hlist|Interactive Investor }} | homepage = {{Official URL}} | foundation = {{start date and age|1825}} | location = Edinburgh, Scotland, UK | reference = }}
'''Aberdeen Group plc''', trading as '''aberdeen''', is a United Kingdom-based investment company headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The registered office of the company is at George Street, Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC286832|title=abrdn plc – Registered Office|publisher=Companies House|access-date=18 November 2021}}</ref>
The company changed its trading identity from abrdn to aberdeen on 4 March 2025, and its name from abrdn plc to Aberdeen Group plc on 13 March 2025.<ref name=rename>{{cite web|url=https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1741862917218189700/in-brief-abrdn-becomes-aberdeen-group-rather-than-aberdeen-group.aspx|title=abrdn becomes 'Aberdeen Group' rather than 'aberdeen group'|newspaper=Morning Star|date=20 April 2024|access-date=20 April 2025}}</ref>
==History==
In March 2017, Standard Life reached an agreement to merge with Aberdeen Asset Management, in an all-share merger, subject to shareholder approval.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life confirm merger terms|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39177320|access-date=7 March 2017|publisher=BBC News|date=6 March 2017}}</ref> The merged company was named '''Standard Life Aberdeen'''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-40366413 |title=CMA clears Standard Life-Aberdeen Asset Management merger - BBC News |work=BBC News |date=22 June 2017 |access-date=2017-08-08}}</ref>
In May 2017, Standard Life acquired the loss-making AXA Portfolio Services for £31 million. This company housed AXA Elevate, the investment platform from Axa. At the time of acquisition the platform held £9.8 billion of client assets, boosting the total level of assets held on Standard Life platforms to £36.4 billion.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://citywire.co.uk/wealth-manager/news/standard-life-buys-axa-elevate/a905467|title=Standard Life buys AXA Elevate|work=Wealth Manager|access-date=2018-05-08|language=en|date=4 May 2016|first=Charles|last= Walmsley}}</ref>
In October 2017, it was reported that there had been withdrawals of $10 billion from Standard Life Aberdeen's mutual funds over the prior year.<ref name="ft-mooney">{{cite news |last=Mooney |first=Attracta |date=27 October 2017 |title=Standard Life Aberdeen hit by $10bn of withdrawals |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8f73b420-ba66-11e7-9bfb-4a9c83ffa852 | work=Financial Times |location=United Kingdom |access-date=29 October 2017}}</ref>
In February 2018, Standard Life Aberdeen initiated the sale of the Standard Life insurance business to Phoenix Group for £3.2 billion, marking a transition away from its insurance roots to asset management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/764ad152-18b4-11e8-9376-4a6390addb44|work=Financial Times|title=Standard Life Aberdeen seals shift into asset management|date=23 February 2018|access-date=15 March 2018}}</ref> In April 2018, Aberdeen Standard Investments announced the acquisition of ETF Securities' US exchange-traded funds ('ETF') business in an effort to build a presence in the US ETF market.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.etf.com/sections/news/etf-securities-us-ops-acquired |title=ETF Securities US Ops Acquired |last=Bell |first=Heather |website=ETF.com |date=27 April 2018 |access-date=9 December 2025}}</ref>
Sir Gerry Grimstone stepped down as chairman on 1 January 2019 and was succeeded by Sir Douglas Flint.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/10/30/new-era-standard-life-aberdeen-city-grandee-douglas-flint-takes/|website=The Telegraph|title=New era for Standard Life Aberdeen as City grandee Douglas Flint takes the chair|date=30 October 2018|access-date=13 December 2018|last1=Burton|first1=Lucy}}</ref>
Keith Skeoch stood down as chief executive and was succeeded by Stephen Bird in September 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.insider.co.uk/news/stephen-bird-standard-life-chief-22275389 |title=Stephen Bird: Who is the new chief executive of Standard Life Aberdeen?|date=30 June 2020|publisher=Insider|access-date=9 August 2021|first=Hamish|last= Burns}}</ref>
In September 2020 it initiated the acquisition of a 60% interest in Tritax, one of Europe's leading logistics real estate fund managers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/markets/article/standard-life-buys-stake-in-5bn-fund-manager-tritax-df63kthbl|title=Standard Life buys stake in £5bn fund manager Tritax|date=10 December 2020|newspaper=The Times|access-date=9 August 2021|first=Patrick|last=Hosking}}</ref>
In April 2021, having sold the Standard Life Insurance business to Phoenix Group in 2018 and having sold the Standard Life name to Phoenix Group in 2021,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/historic-200-year-old-standard-life-brand-name-sold-to-phoenix-group-edinburgh-staff-to-transfer-3143539|title=Historic 200-year-old Standard Life brand name sold to Phoenix Group - Edinburgh staff to transfer|date=23 February 2021|newspaper=The Scotsman|access-date=6 July 2021|first=Scott|last=Reid}}</ref> the company rebranded as '''abrdn'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/news/4030358/standard-life-aberdeen-set-modern-dynamic-rebrand-abrdn |title=Standard Life Aberdeen set for 'modern, dynamic' rebrand to abrdn|publisher=Investment Week|date=26 April 2021|access-date=26 April 2021|first=Mike|last= Sheen}}</ref> The new brand, pronounced "Aberdeen" and developed by the branding agency Wolff Olins, was criticised as difficult to pronounce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/26/standard-life-aberdeen-to-change-name-to-abrdn|title=Standard Life Aberdeen to change name to abrdn|date=2021-04-26|access-date=2021-04-26|website=The Guardian|last=Sweney|first=Mark}}</ref> The change of name and the rebranding took place in July 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/news/4033896/standard-life-aberdeen-abrdn-moves-single-global-brand|title= Standard Life Aberdeen becomes abrdn as it moves to 'single global brand'|date=5 July 2021|newspaper=Investment Week|access-date=6 July 2021|first=Ellie|last= Duncan}}</ref> The name was received with widespread criticism and was the subject of online jokes. An online poll of investors described the rebrand as an "act of corporate insanity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/26-april-2-may/abrdn-rebrand/|title=Standard Life Aberdeen to become Abrdn in "digitally-enabled" rebrand|website=DesignWeek|date=27 April 2021|access-date=22 April 2024|first=Henry|last= Wong }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.creativebloq.com/news/abrdn-rebrand|title=Is the ridiculed 'Abrdn' rebrand the biggest branding misfire of 2021?|website=CreativeBloq.com|date=5 May 2021|access-date=22 April 2025 |first= Georgia|last= Coggan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2021/09/abrdn-rebrand-dubbed-act-of-corporate-insanity/|title=Abrdn rebrand dubbed 'act of corporate insanity'|website=DailyBusiness|date=16 September 2021 |access-date=22 April 2025|first=Terry|last=Murden}}</ref>
In July 2021, the company sold Parmenion, an investment and technology solutions business that supports financial advice firms, to Preservation Capital Partners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://citywire.co.uk/new-model-adviser/news/sla-completes-102m-parmenion-sale/a1525536|title=SLA completes £102m Parmenion sale| publisher=Citywire|date=1 July 2021|access-date=9 August 2021|first=Jack|last=Gilbert}}</ref>
In May 2022, Abrdn acquired Interactive Investor, a British subscription-based retail investment services company with over 400,000 customers for £1.49 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marchant |first=Christopher |date=2022-05-30 |title=abrdn completes takeover of interactive investor |url=https://www.investmentweek.co.uk/news/4050490/abrdn-completes-takeover-interactive-investor |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=Investment Week |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2023, the company restructured its financial planning arm, splitting into two models – the 'financial consultant' model and the 'regional advice' model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vallely |first=Lois |date=2023-06-12 |title=Exclusive: Abrdn restructures financial planning arm |url=https://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/news/exclusive-abrdn-restructures-financial-planning-arm/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Money Marketing |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In January 2024, it was widely reported that Abrdn were to cut around 10% of its workforce of 5,000 people as part of a £150M restructuring plan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abrdn to cut hundreds of jobs as part of £150mn restructuring plan |url=https://www.ft.com/content/c5df08fd-4a17-42a2-bf25-8c7fe17c1277 |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=www.ft.com|date=23 January 2024 |last1=Agnew |first1=Harriet |last2=Hickey |first2=Sally }}</ref> On 24 January 2024, the plans to cut around 500 jobs were confirmed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=August |date=2024-01-24 |title=Abrdn confirms plans to cut around 500 jobs |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/abrdn-confirms-plans-to-cut-around-500-jobs-b1134426.html |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref>
In April 2024, Abrdn completed the sale of its European-headquartered private equity business (with £7.4bn assets under management) to Nasdaq-listed Patria Investments for up to £100m. The sale followed the sale of its US-headquartered private equity business to High Vista Strategies in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.scottishfinancialnews.com/articles/abrdn-sells-european-private-equity-business-to-patria-investments-for-ps100m|title=abrdn offloads European private equity business to Patria Investments for £100m|date=30 April 2024|newspaper=Scottish Financial News|access-date=24 May 2024}}</ref>
In May 2024, Stephen Bird stood down as CEO and Jason Windsor, the then CFO, was appointed as interim group CEO,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williford |first=Hannah |date=2024-05-24 |title=CEO Stephen Bird to leave Abrdn |url=https://portfolio-adviser.com/ceo-stephen-bird-to-leave-abrdn/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Portfolio Adviser |language=en-US}}</ref> and formally appointed to the role in September of that year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abrdn names interim chief Jason Windsor as group CEO |date=9 September 2024 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/abrdn-names-interim-chief-jason-windsor-group-ceo-2024-09-10/ |website=Reuters |access-date=10 September 2024}}</ref>
On 4 March 2025, the company changed its trading identity to "aberdeen", after its 2021 rebrand to "abrdn" faced widespread criticism. The company also initiated a search for a new chair as Douglas Flint prepared to step down.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Withers |first1=Iain |last2=Cruise |first2=Sinead |title=UK's abrdn renames itself 'aberdeen' in strategy revamp |date=4 March 2025 |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/abrdn-changes-name-kicks-off-chairman-search-strategy-revamp-2025-03-04/ |website=Reuters |access-date=4 March 2025}}</ref> On 13 March 2025, the company changed its name to "Aberdeen Group plc".<ref name=rename/>
In December 2025, it was announced that Aberdeen Investments would assume management of nine closed-ended funds worth approximately £1.5 billion from US-based MFS Investment Management. The transaction involves merging the MFS funds and one existing Aberdeen fund into two larger closed-ended funds focused on municipal bonds and multi-sector fixed income assets, subject to shareholder approval.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aberdeen to acquire management of £1.5bn MFS funds |url=https://www.financialplanningtoday.co.uk/news/aberdeen-to-acquire-management-of-%C2%A31-5bn-mfs-funds |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=www.financialplanningtoday.co.uk}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Companies}} *List of managers of Standard Life Aberdeen
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{FTSE 250 Index constituents}} {{Major asset management companies}}
{{Authority control|state=expanded}}
Category:Financial services companies established in 2017 Category:2017 establishments in Scotland Category:British companies established in 2017 Category:Companies based in Edinburgh Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Insurance companies of Scotland Category:Life insurance companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies in the FTSE 250 Index Category:Asset management companies Category:Exchange-traded funds