EDSF, Millersville University Study Investigates Electronic Delivery of Regulated Financial Information

HURST, TEXAS—Dec. 11, 2007—A new report from EDSF, the international, non-profit organization dedicated to the document management and graphic communications industries, investigates the use of electronic document systems in the distribution of regulated financial information. Titled “Electronic Delivery of Regulated Financial Information,” the report is available now as a free download at www.edsf.org.

The report results from an EDSF research grant and mentor program. An EDSF grant was awarded to the Department of Industry and Technology at Millersville University, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where faculty member Dr. Mark Snyder and students collaborated to conduct the research.

“Our study explores the potential for the use of electronic document systems in the distribution of regulated financial information, such as shareholder reports and prospectuses within the United States,” said Dr. Snyder. “We conclude that the vast amounts of information that have traditionally been printed and delivered by mail to shareholders will be predominately delivered as electronic documents within the next two to five years. The Securities and Exchange Commission has established rules to promote this change, and e-delivery is expected to reduce costs for financial service providers. Another advantage of such a change would be a tremendous reduction of waste. The biggest factor to how quickly this change takes place is the rate at which investors opt-in for e-delivery.”

According to the Report:

• Electronic delivery of regulated financial information will have a significant impact on future reporting practices of investment management firms. In the first round survey, 62.5 percent of participants believe that most shareholders would currently prefer electronic delivery of regulated financial information. They also project that 75 percent of shareholders would use electronic delivery within 10 years.

• Respondents generally concur that electronic delivery will be the preferred method for shareholders to receive information in the foreseeable future. However, they unanimously agree that printed documents would not be completely eliminated from the process.

• When asked what percentage of documents will be provided as printed media five years from now, the average answer from respondents was 27.8 percent.

• The majority of the respondents, 72 percent, felt it would be less time consuming, easier to create and deliver electronic versions than printed versions.

• Seventy-six percent of respondents felt that there would be little change in the amount of errors made in the preparation of the documents for online delivery methods.

For a downloadable PDF of this report, visit www.edsf.org and click “Research and Publications” for the EDSF Industry Library. The report is listed under “EDSF White Papers.”

About Millersville University
Millersville University is a vibrant public liberal arts university located in Lancaster County, a vital economic region of Pennsylvania. Millersville has earned its place among US News & World Report’s top public universities in the North and is recognized for its academic excellence in Martin Nemko’s book, “How to Get an Ivy League Education at a State University.” With a closely collaborative learning environment, Millersville students are taught, mentored and inspired by professors who pay attention to the context of their students’ lives beyond the classroom. Three schools offer innovative programs taught by leading professors in their fields, who produce learning opportunities that are both comprehensive and deep, often beyond the depth available in larger Universities or private colleges. Indicative of its commitment to going the extra academic mile, 94 percent of Millersville’s professors have earned terminal degrees in their fields.

About EDSF
EDSF is a charitable foundation dedicated to preparing the next generation of professionals for the document management and communications marketplace. EDSF supports the industry’s future by granting scholarships to students in support of their academic careers, by providing research grants to colleges and universities, by building awareness about industry careers, and by recognizing innovative educators and educational programs. EDSF serves vendors and users who design and implement document solutions for business applications. For more information, visit www.edsf.org.