NEW YORK, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Computershare Limited (ASX: CPU), a leading financial services provider for the global securities industry, announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the shareholder services business of BNY Mellon. BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is among the top providers of stock transfer services in the U.S.  Upon close of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory clearance, BNY Mellon will receive approximately US$550 million in an all-cash transaction.

As a world-class provider of transfer agency and employee equity services to U.S. publicly listed companies, BNY Mellon Shareowner Services has a broad offering, ranging from record keeping and corporate actions to demutualizations, dividend reinvestment administration, meeting services and employee plan administration.

This acquisition will bring together two high-performance, world-class shareholder services providers and will offer clients and their shareholders the best of both organizations.

"This is one of the most important acquisitions in Computershare's history," said Stuart Crosby, CEO and President of Computershare Limited. "It provides a wonderful opportunity to further demonstrate our technology and processing capabilities to a new group of clients. It also provides Computershare with additional opportunities to participate in the inevitable upturn in corporate action activity and global interest rate cycles."

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services has highly-talented people with deep operational and industry experience that will help Computershare realize innovation, cost and service synergies from all parts of the business model; from integration and consolidation to adopting best practices.

Computershare has a history of success with acquisitions and conversion programs. "Our first priority is to ensure that our business continues to deliver high quality service levels without compromise throughout any business integration," said Steven Rothbloom, CEO and President of Computershare's US region.

"We are proud to have found a partner, for our clients and employees, that is dedicated to the shareholder servicing space and which provides consistently excellent service," said Samir Pandiri, CEO of BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.

About Computershare

Computershare (ASX:CPU) is a global market leader in transfer agency and share registration, employee equity plans, proxy solicitation and stakeholder communications. We also specialize in corporate trust services, tax voucher solutions, bankruptcy administration and a range of other diversified financial and governance services.

Founded in 1978, Computershare is renowned for its expertise in data management, high volume transaction processing, payments and stakeholder engagement. Many of the world's leading organizations use these core competencies to help maximize the value of relationships with their investors, employees, creditors, members and customers.

Computershare is represented in all major financial markets and has over 10,000 employees worldwide.

For more information, visit www.computershare.com.

About BNY Mellon Shareowner Services

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is a world-class provider of corporate equity solutions for over 950 transfer agent clients and around 200 employee equity plan customers. BNY Mellon Shareowner Services offers a broad suite of products and services ranging from record keeping and corporate actions to demutualizations, dividend reinvestment administration, meeting services and employee plan administration.  More information about Shareowner Services is available at www.bnymellon.com/shareownerservices.

Contacts:

Juli Bark
EVP, Marketing
Tel: 1 312 588 4249
juli.bark@computershare.com

Jeff Stein
Media Relations
Tel: 1 212 805 7271
jeff.stein@computershare.com

SOURCE Computershare Limited