Pioneering Technological Innovation

From our very inception, we have relied on consistent technological advancements to ensure our continuing ability to provide high quality services.

Our experienced mainframe and PC programmers have developed our processing systems entirely in-house. As a result of our staff’s familiarity with our proprietary processing systems, we have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to adapt to changing markets and circumstances in an expedient and responsible manner.

Long before the Internet won mainstream acceptance, AST recognized its potential as a means to streamline and improve the provision of stock transfer services. We were the first transfer agent to offer Internet and telephonic proxy voting, the first transfer agent to offer comprehensive online stock purchase and sale plans, the first transfer agent to offer automated stock option issuances and the first transfer agent to offer online, customer- initiated report generation tools.

Time and time again, we have put our technology resources to the task of meeting our clients’ most daunting business challenges. Over the years, we have developed custom applications in the areas of online customer access, Internet and telephonic proxy voting, reserve accounting, and customer reporting.

Responsiveness to our Customers/ Flexibility

The stock transfer business is unique from most other service organizations. In addition to providing a needed corporate service, AST is the public face of our corporate clients. Shareholders often do not understand the function of a transfer agent, and they consider a call to AST as a call to the client.

Since we are the public face of our clients, we know that it is absolutely vital that our structure accommodate the unique business needs and circumstances of each of our clients. We are continually modifying our systems and our business processes to ensure that all reasonable client requests are satisfied. AST truly abides by the notion that “the client is always right.”

Organizational Structure

One of the pioneering service enhancements introduced by AST is the flat, single point organizational structure. Our clients are each assigned an account administration team that has overall responsibility for all aspects of the client relationship. Our clients are not expected to familiarize themselves with the intricacies of our operations and to determine the best person or department to call in each instance. Our clients will never be passed from person to person when trying to resolve a question or issue. All questions can be posed to the appropriate account administration team, who will ensure that the client receives a complete, correct and expedient answer. And, our account administrators are always available. AST does not permit its first-line operational employees to use voicemail during regular business hours.

Simple and Predictable Fee Structure

Another industry innovation pioneered by AST is the flat monthly fee structure. Until AST was founded, the industry standard was a small monthly fee and a whole host of add-ons and additions, many of which were not clearly understood by the clients. AST introduced at that time, and maintains to this day, a flat monthly fee structure which allows for predictability and planning. Except as otherwise agreed, the only costs not included in the monthly fee are out-of–pocket and incidental expenses. This accommodation on fee structure simplifies our clients budgeting and ensures that our clients do not receive unexpected and inexplicable charges.