Delaying Decisions on Investment Managers and Asset Allocation Changes Could Be Costly, According to BNY Mellon Beta Management

LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Institutions that delay investment management changes because of due diligence reviews, contract negotiations and other fund governance-related issues may expose themselves to unrewarded risks and could be better served by implementing an interim investment management solution, according to a white paper from BNY Mellon Beta Management.

BNY Mellon Beta Management, a BNY Mellon Asset Management business that facilitates rebalancing programs and synthetic asset class exposure through the use of futures, swaps, index funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), outlines the risks and potential costs of such a delay in its report, Interim Portfolio Management.

"Utilizing an interim manager can provide institutions with market exposure and mitigate risk until a new permanent investment manager takes over the portfolio," said Jon Platt, director at BNY Mellon Beta Management and a co-author of the report. "The factors that can delay the change from one permanent investment manager to another can add up to several months between the decision to make a change and the implementation.  During this period, the institution might needlessly expose itself to market risk or the decisions of an investment manager in which it no longer has confidence."

The paper examines a range of solutions designed to minimize transaction costs and tracking error, while providing institutions with the type of market exposure sought during the move to a new permanent manager.   This includes weighing a variety of factors including the costs of redemption fees required to change the composition of a portfolio and the ability to retain positions from a terminated strategy to fund a new strategy at zero cost.

"In seeking to reduce costs, the decision to trade should only be made when there is a high probability of increased returns or decreased risk," said Platt.  "Transaction costs can be a significant drag on fund performance and over time can impair a fund's ability to satisfy its liabilities."

BNY Mellon Beta Management was established in 2008 and now has a three-year track record of offering customized derivatives solutions to aid institutional investors in implementing investment decisions. BNY Mellon Beta Management is a division of The Bank of New York Mellon, a principal BNY Mellon banking subsidiary.

Notes to Editors:

BNY Mellon Asset Management is one of the world's leading asset management organizations, encompassing BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms and global distribution companies. Information about BNY Mellon Asset Management can be found at www.bnymellonam.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 $25.9 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $1.2 trillion in assets under management, services $11.9 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com and through Twitter@bnymellon.

All information source BNY Mellon Asset Management at September 30, 2011.  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 authorised. This press release is issued by BNY Mellon Asset 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. Registered office of BNY Mellon Asset Management International Limited: BNY Mellon Centre, 160 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4LA. Registered in England no. 1118580. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A BNY Mellon Company(SM)

SOURCE BNY Mellon