Standish Becomes Signatory To UN-Backed Principles For Responsible Investment

NEW YORK and LONDON, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, the fixed income specialist for BNY Mellon, has become a signatory to the United Nations-Backed Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), underlining its commitment to incorporating environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into its credit and investment processes.

Standish manages $9.6 billion in socially responsible investing (SRI) and ESG mandates on behalf of its clients.

" Standish has long evaluated environmental, labor and management practices in its investment procedures," said Desmond Mac Intyre, chairman and chief executive officer of Standish.  "Becoming a signatory to the UN PRI further formalizes that process.  We are looking to expand our corporate and sovereign research process to further consider these factors when allocating capital on behalf of our clients."

The Principles for Responsible Investment are designed to focus on long-term outcomes instead of short-term gains for business, with the intention of improving the balance between society's present needs and the shrinking natural resources that will support future generations.  "We believe that careful consideration of ESG factors could help avoid idiosyncratic risk," said Dave Leduc, chief investment officer of Standish.

"Consideration of ESG factors as long-term return drivers is not just for sustainable investment specialists anymore," said Charles Dolan, chief investment strategist for fixed income, cash and currency for BNY Mellon Investment Management "Having several BNY Mellon investment boutiques as UN PRI signatories acknowledges our general respect for ESG factors as part of our overall focus on responsible investing." 

In addition to Standish, Newton Investment Management, Insight Investment, and Meriten Investment Management represent the BNY Mellon investment boutiques that are also UN PRI signatories.  Overall, BNY Mellon's corporate social responsibility program has been recognized globally for its strong commitment to the company's stakeholders, to the integrity of the financial markets and to the communities it serves. 

Notes to Editors:

Standish Mellon Asset Management Company LLC, with approximately $104 billion of assets under management, provides investment management services across a broad spectrum of fixed income asset classes. These include corporate credit (investment-grade and high-yield), emerging markets debt (dollar-denominated and local currency), core / core plus and opportunistic (U.S. and global) strategies.  Standish also offers full service capabilities in insurance and liability driven investing. The firm also includes assets managed by Standish personnel acting as dual officers of The Dreyfus Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon.

BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's leading investment management organizations and one of the top U.S. wealth managers, with $1.4 trillion in assets under management. It encompasses BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms, wealth management services and global distribution companies. More information can be found at www.bnymellon.com.

BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 36 countries and serving more than 100 markets. BNY Mellon is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, offering superior investment management and investment services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $27.9 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.4 trillion in assets under management, services $11.6 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.4 trillion per day. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com or follow us on Twitter@BNYMellon.

All information source BNY Mellon at September 30, 2012.  This press release is qualified for issuance in the UK and US and is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation of securities or investment services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorized. This press release is issued by BNY Mellon Investment Management (US) and BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited (ex-US) to members of the financial press and media and the information contained herein should not be construed as investment advice. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.  The value of investments and the income from them is not guaranteed and can fall as well as rise due to stock market and currency movements.  When you sell your investment you may get back less than you originally invested. Registered office of BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited: BNY Mellon Centre, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4LA. Registered in England no. 1118580. Authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A BNY Mellon Company

SOURCE BNY Mellon

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