BNY Mellon Introduces ESG Advisory Services for its Depositary Receipts Clients

BNY Mellon, a global leader in investment management and investment services, announced that it is teaming with Sustainalytics, a leading provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and analysis, to make available a wide range of ESG data and insight to its depositary receipts clients.

BNY Mellon is the first depositary bank to offer such services to securities issuers.

Momentum is growing both from investors and companies to more carefully consider the implications of ESG factors. The number of institutional signatories participating in the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Initiative – an international network of investors dedicated to advancing responsible investment practices – grew by 19% last year and now includes more than 1,300 signatories representing over $45 trillion in assets under management.

To support growing interest in ESG investing, BNY Mellon’s Depositary Receipts business will offer its clients access to Sustainalytics’ ESG research and ratings, as well as custom benchmark reports that provide a lens through which issuers are viewed by investors. Sustainalytics will also offer clients access to in-house industry analysts who can provide deeper insight on ESG issues.

“More investors are evaluating corporate ESG practices and performance as part of their decision-making process. Through Sustainalytics, we can create an important link to help global firms gain insight into the approaches of investors and asset owners,” said Christopher M. Kearns, CEO of BNY Mellon’s Depositary Receipts business. “Sustainalytics’ coverage of international issuers is excellent and widely utilized by institutional shareholders.

“This new offering signals the next phase of BNY Mellon’s unmatched DR advisory service, enabling us to help clients better understand the needs of investors and develop strategies around enhanced corporate disclosure. We want to keep firms at the forefront of these trends,” Kearns added.

“Companies working with BNY Mellon will benefit from a deeper understanding of how investors view their sustainability practices and how they can improve upon them to attract new investments,” said Sustainalytics’ CEO, Michael Jantzi. “We look forward to working closely with BNY Mellon as they break new ground in being the first depositary bank to offer ESG data to its clients.”

About Sustainalytics

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Sustainalytics is an independent ESG research and analysis firm supporting investors around the world with the development and implementation of responsible investment strategies. With 13 offices globally, Sustainalytics partners with institutional investors who integrate environmental, social and governance information and assessments into their investment decisions. Today, the firm has over 200 staff members, including more than 100 analysts with varied multidisciplinary expertise of more than 40 industries. Sustainalytics was named the Best Independent Socially Responsible Investing Research Firm in 2012, 2013 and 2014 in the Independent Research for Responsible Investment survey. For more information, visit www.sustainalytics.com.

About BNY Mellon

BNY Mellon acts as depositary for more than 2,800 American and global depositary receipt programs as of Dec. 31, 2014. Acting in partnership with leading companies from over 65 countries, BNY Mellon is committed to helping securities issuers access the world's rapidly evolving financial markets and delivers a comprehensive suite of depositary receipt services. Learn more at www.bnymellon.com/dr.

BNY Mellon offers a wide range of products and services that help mainstream investors meet their return/risk goals while considering the environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact of their investments. Learn more about social finance at BNY Mellon here.

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 35 countries and more than 100 markets. As of March 31, 2015, BNY Mellon had $28.5 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.7 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Learn more at www.bnymellon.com, or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon.

For informational purposes only. BNY Mellon provides no advice nor recommendation or endorsement with respect to any company or securities. Nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. Depositary Receipts: Not FDIC, State or Federal Agency Insured; May Lose Value; No Bank, State or Federal Agency Guarantee. BNY Mellon provides no advice nor recommendations or endorsement with respect to any company, security or products based on any index licensed by BNY Mellon, and we make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the same.