Drawing from recent history, one only needs to consider the scale of the announced multi-billion dollar mergers of Exxon with Mobil and AT&T with TCI, the class-action settlements of Dow-Corning and Cendant, or the MetLife and Prudential restructurings to appreciate how vital and complex the processing of actions of this type have become in today's business world. The activity of corresponding with a large base of shareholders, policyholders or customers under these circumstances is massive, costly, and the potential for error - even disaster - is great. The strategy and tactics an organization chooses are critically important.

The economics of outsourcing this function are compelling, as the costs of keeping it in-house - purchasing the necessary equipment, setting up infrastructure and providing technical support - are prohibitive. Moreover, substantial unnecessary risks are undertaken as well when a company lacking the requisite experience takes upon itself a one-time transaction. When a company relies instead on outsourced expertise and technology, these risks are controlled and meaningful benefits accrue: