Brickwood Asset Management adopts FinScan to strengthen AML controls

By Divya Shah

Why it Matters: As regulatory expectations and investor scrutiny increase, asset managers are investing in advanced RegTech solutions to strengthen compliance and risk monitoring. The adoption of sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening helps firms identify potential risks earlier, improve governance and maintain stronger audit trails.

FinScan, an anti-money laundering (AML) compliance solution from Innovative Systems, has been selected by UK-based Brickwood Asset Management to support the ongoing screening of companies held within its investment portfolios and the directors associated with those businesses. 

The deployment will enable Brickwood Asset Management to conduct continuous monitoring of issuers and company directors against global sanctions lists, politically exposed persons (PEP) databases and adverse media sources, helping the firm strengthen its compliance and risk management processes. 

Founded by a team with experience across leading UK and international asset managers, Brickwood Asset Management will use FinScan’s platform to support regulatory screening requirements while enhancing due diligence capabilities through ongoing adverse media monitoring. 

FinScan combines sanctions screening, PEP monitoring and adverse media checks within a single platform. The solution uses configurable matching technology designed to improve screening accuracy, reduce false positives and maintain auditable records for compliance reviews and investigations. 

Claudia Ripley, CEO of Brickwood Asset Management, said, “Screening the issuers we hold against global sanctions is a core regulatory requirement, and ensuring that process is supported by a high-quality screening solution was an important consideration for us. Adverse media screening is a step we chose to take beyond that requirement. FinScan gives us ongoing coverage across both, with a clear audit trail behind every review.” 

The adoption reflects increasing scrutiny from regulators and investors around governance, compliance and reputational risk within the asset management industry. Firms are increasingly expected to demonstrate robust controls over portfolio monitoring and counterparty due diligence. 

Ben Sher, Chief Revenue Officer of Innovative Systems, said, “Asset managers face real scrutiny from allocators and regulators, and Brickwood Asset Management has responded by building best-in-class controls. Adding adverse media screening alongside sanctions, across both their holdings and the directors of those companies, is a considered choice, and one we expect to see more of across the asset management market.”