BNY Mellon Reports Fourth Quarter 2019 Earnings Of $1.4 Billion Or $1.52 Per Common Share, Includes $0.50 Per Share Positive Impact Of Notable Items

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BNY Mellon

Jan 16, 2020, 06:30 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Revenue up 19% (a)

EPS up 81% (a)

ROE 15%

ROTCE 29% (b)

CET1 11.5%

SLR 6.1%

(a) Excluding notable items, revenue down slightly and EPS up 2% (b).

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon") (NYSE: BK) today reported:

							4Q19 vs.
	4Q19		3Q19		4Q18		3Q19		4Q18
Net income applicable to common shareholders (in millions)	$	1,391	$	1,002	$	832	39	%	67	%
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.52	$	1.07	$	0.84	42	%	81	%

Notable Items		CEO Commentary

4Q19 results include $460 million, or $0.50 per share, for the gain on sale of an equity investment, offset by severance, net securities losses and litigation. 4Q18 results include $(155) million, or $(0.16) per share, for severance, real estate and litigation, offset by adjustments to estimates for U.S. tax legislation and other changes.		"In 2019, we continued to build the foundation for growth and the fourth quarter showed progress toward this goal. We recently announced additional partnerships that further our efforts to provide best-in-class services to our clients by opening our platform and combining our capabilities with industry leaders and innovative fintechs. Expenses continued to be well managed as our investments to drive operating efficiencies are bearing fruit. Although we increased our technology spend by nearly 10 percent for the year, overall expenses were down. Additionally, we continue to deliver strong capital returns to shareholders, returning $4.4 billion in 2019 through share buybacks and dividends. In 2020, we plan to continue investing in technology to further enhance service quality, launch new capabilities, drive additional efficiencies and improve resiliency," Todd Gibbons, interim Chief Executive Officer, said. "We are also pleased to see that the efforts to drive operating excellence are not only reducing costs, but enhancing quality, as measured by many of our clients. This helped deliver fee growth in many of the services businesses. Although we continue to be negatively impacted by lower rates, a flat yield curve and low foreign exchange volatility, we remain intensely focused on carefully managing costs and driving organic revenue growth," Mr. Gibbons concluded.

Fourth Quarter Results

Total revenue of $4.8 billion, increased 19%; decreased slightly excluding notable items (b)
Fee revenue increased 26%; nearly all of the increase driven by the gain on sale of an equity investment Net interest revenue decreased 8%

Total noninterest expense of $3.0 billion, decreased 1%; increased 2% excluding notable items (b) Continued investments in technology

Investment Services Total revenue decreased 2% Income before taxes decreased 9% AUC/A of $37.1 trillion, increased 12%

Investment Management Total revenue increased 1% Income before taxes decreased 1% AUM of $1.9 trillion, increased 11%
Repurchased 22.2 million common shares for $1.04 billion, and paid dividends of $286 million to common shareholders.

Media Relations: Jennifer Hendricks Sullivan (212) 635-1374	Investor Relations: Magda Palczynska (212) 635-8529
(b) For information on this Non-GAAP measure, see "Supplemental Information – Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures" on page 9.
Note: Above comparisons are 4Q19 vs. 4Q18.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(in millions, except per share amounts and unless otherwise noted; not meaningful - N/M)	4Q19									4Q18									4Q19 vs. 4Q18
	Results - GAAP			Notable items (a)		Results - Non-GAAP				Results - GAAP			Notable items (b)		Results - Non-GAAP				GAAP		Non- GAAP
Fee revenue	$	3,971		$	815	$	3,156			$	3,146		$	—	$	3,146			26	%	—	%
Net securities (losses)	(25)			(25)		—				—			—		—				N/M		N/M
Total fee and other revenue	3,946			790		3,156				3,146			—		3,146				25		—
Income (loss) from consolidated investment management funds	17			—		17				(24)			—		(24)				N/M		N/M
Net interest revenue	815			—		815				885			—		885				(8)		(8)
Total revenue	4,778			790		3,988				4,007			—		4,007				19		—
Provision for credit losses	(8)			—		(8)				—			—		—				N/M		N/M
Noninterest expense	2,964			186		2,778				2,987			269		2,718				(1)		2
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,822			604		1,218				1,020			(269)		1,289				79		(6)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	373			144		229				150			(114)		264				149		(13)
Net income (loss)	$	1,449		$	460	$	989			$	870		$	(155)	$	1,025			67	%	(4)	%
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	$	1,391		$	460	$	931			$	832		$	(155)	$	987			67	%	(6)	%
Operating leverage (c)																			2,001	bps	(268)	bps
Diluted earnings per common share	$	1.52		$	0.50	$	1.01		(d)	$	0.84		$	(0.16)	$	0.99		(d)	81	%	2	%
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding - diluted (in thousands)	914,739									988,650
Pre-tax operating margin	38		%			31		%		25		%			32		%


(a)	Includes a gain on sale of an equity investment, severance, net securities losses and litigation expense.
(b)	Includes adjustments to provisional estimates for U.S. tax legislation and other changes, severance, expenses associated with consolidating real estate and litigation expense.
(c)	Operating leverage is the rate of increase (decrease) in total revenue less the rate of increase (decrease) in total noninterest expense.
(d)	Does not foot due to rounding.
bps – basis points.

KEY DRIVERS (comparisons are 4Q19 vs. 4Q18, unless otherwise stated)

Total revenue increased 19%, or decreased slightly excluding the notable items (a), primarily reflecting:

Fee revenue increased 26%, primarily reflecting the gain on sale of an equity investment. Excluding this gain, fee revenue increased slightly, primarily reflecting higher investment services fees, partially offset by lower foreign exchange revenue.
Net interest revenue decreased 8% primarily reflecting the impact of lower interest rates on interest-earning assets and lower noninterest-bearing deposits. This was partially offset by the benefit of lower deposit and funding rates and higher interest-bearing deposits.

Noninterest expense decreased 1%, or increased 2% excluding notable items (a). The increase primarily reflects the continued investments in technology.
Effective tax rate of 20.5%.

Assets under custody and/or administration ("AUC/A") and Assets under management ("AUM")

AUC/A of $37.1 trillion, increased 12%, primarily reflecting higher market values and client inflows.
AUM of $1.9 trillion, increased 11%, primarily reflecting higher market values and the favorable impact of a weaker U.S. dollar (principally versus the British pound), partially offset by net outflows.

Capital and liquidity

Repurchased 22.2 million common shares for $1.04 billion and paid $286 million in dividends to common shareholders.
Return on common equity ("ROE") of 15%; Return on tangible common equity ("ROTCE") of 29% (a).
Common Equity Tier 1 ("CET1") ratio – 11.5%.
Supplementary leverage ratio ("SLR") – 6.1%.
Average liquidity coverage ratio ("LCR") – 120%.
Total Loss Absorbing Capacity ("TLAC") ratios exceed minimum requirements.

(a)	See "Supplemental information – Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures" on page 9 for additional information.
Note: Throughout this document, sequential growth rates are unannualized.

FULL-YEAR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(in millions, except per share amounts and unless otherwise noted; not meaningful - N/M)	2019								2018								2019 vs. 2018
	Results - GAAP			Notable items (a)		Results - Non-GAAP			Results - GAAP			Notable items (b)		Results - Non-GAAP			GAAP		Non- GAAP
Fee revenue	$	13,236		$	815	$	12,421		$	12,842		$	(13)	$	12,855		3	%	(3)	%
Net securities (losses) gains	(18)			(25)		7			(48)			—		(48)			N/M		N/M
Total fee and other revenue (loss)	13,218			790		12,428			12,794			(13)		12,807			3		(3)
Income (loss) from consolidated investment management funds	56			—		56			(13)			—		(13)			N/M		N/M
Net interest revenue (expense)	3,188			(70)		3,258			3,611			—		3,611			(12)		(10)
Total revenue (loss)	16,462			720		15,742			16,392			(13)		16,405			—		(4)
Provision for credit losses	(25)			—		(25)			(11)			—		(11)			N/M		N/M
Noninterest expense	10,900			113		10,787			11,211			343		10,868			(3)		(1)
Income (loss) before income taxes	5,587			607		4,980			5,192			(356)		5,548			8		(10)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,120			140		980			938			(188)		1,126			19		(13)
Net income (loss)	$	4,467		$	467	$	4,000		$	4,254		$	(168)	$	4,422		5	%	(10)	%
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	$	4,272		$	467	$	3,805		$	4,097		$	(168)	$	4,265		4	%	(11)	%
Operating leverage (c)																	320	bps	(330)	bps
Diluted earnings per common share	$	4.51		$	0.49	$	4.02		$	4.04		$	(0.17)	$	4.21		12	%	(5)	%
Average common shares and equivalents outstanding - diluted (in thousands)	943,109								1,007,141
Pre-tax operating margin	34		%			32		%	32		%			34		%

(a)	Includes a gain on sale of an equity investment, severance, net securities losses and litigation expense recorded in 4Q19. Also includes a lease-related impairment and a net reduction of reserves for tax-related exposure of certain investment management funds recorded in 3Q19.
(b)	Includes adjustments to provisional estimates for U.S. tax legislation and other changes, severance, expenses associated with consolidating real estate and litigation expense, each recorded in 4Q18. Also includes expenses associated with consolidating real estate recorded in 2Q18 and adjustments to provisional estimates for U.S. tax legislation and other changes and litigation expense, both recorded in 3Q18.
(c)	Operating leverage is the rate of increase (decrease) in total revenue less the rate of increase (decrease) in total noninterest expense.
bps – basis points.

Note: See "Supplemental information – Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures" on page 9 for additional information.

INVESTMENT SERVICES BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

(dollars in millions, unless otherwise noted; not meaningful - N/M)										4Q19 vs.
	4Q19			3Q19			4Q18			3Q19		4Q18
Total revenue by line of business:
Asset Servicing	$	1,397		$	1,405		$	1,435		(1)	%	(3)	%
Pershing	570			568			558			—		2
Issuer Services	415			466			441			(11)		(6)
Treasury Services	329			312			328			5		—
Clearance and Collateral Management	280			293			278			(4)		1
Total revenue by line of business	2,991			3,044			3,040			(2)		(2)
Provision for credit losses	(5)			(15)			6			N/M		N/M
Noninterest expense	2,161			1,965			2,112			10		2
Income before taxes	$	835		$	1,094		$	922		(24)	%	(9)	%

Pre-tax operating margin	28		%	36		%	30		%

Foreign exchange and other trading revenue	$	151		$	160		$	163		(6)	%	(7)	%
Securities lending revenue	$	40		$	39		$	43		3	%	(7)	%

Metrics:
Average loans	$	34,238		$	32,758		$	35,540		5	%	(4)	%
Average deposits	$	215,388		$	208,044		$	203,416		4	%	6	%

AUC/A at period end (in trillions) (current period is preliminary) (a)	$	37.1		$	35.8		$	33.1		4	%	12	%
Market value of securities on loan at period end (in billions) (b)	$	378		$	362		$	373		4	%	1	%

(a)	Includes the AUC/A of CIBC Mellon Global Securities Services Company ("CIBC Mellon"), a joint venture with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, of $1.5 trillion at Dec. 31, 2019, $1.4 trillion at Sept. 30, 2019 and $1.2 trillion at Dec. 31, 2018.
(b)	Represents the total amount of securities on loan in our agency securities lending program managed by the Investment Services business. Excludes securities for which BNY Mellon acts as agent on behalf of CIBC Mellon clients, which totaled $60 billion at Dec. 31, 2019, $66 billion at Sept. 30, 2019 and $58 billion at Dec. 31, 2018.

KEY DRIVERS

The drivers of the total revenue variances by line of business are indicated below.

Asset Servicing - The year-over-year decrease primarily reflects lower net interest revenue and foreign exchange revenue, partially offset by the impact of higher equity markets. The sequential decrease primarily reflects lower net interest revenue.
Pershing - The year-over-year increase primarily reflects growth in client assets and accounts, partially offset by lower net interest revenue.
Issuer Services - Both decreases primarily reflect lower Depositary Receipts revenue. The year-over-year decrease is partially offset by higher client activity in Corporate Trust. The sequential decrease is partially offset by higher net interest revenue in Corporate Trust.
Treasury Services - Year-over-year, higher payment fees were offset by lower net interest revenue. The sequential increase primarily reflects higher net interest revenue and payment fees.
Clearance and Collateral Management - The year-over-year increase primarily reflects growth in collateral management and clearance volumes, which were mostly offset by lower net interest revenue. The sequential decrease primarily reflects lower client activity.

Noninterest expense increased year-over-year primarily driven by continued investments in technology. The sequential increase primarily reflects higher severance expense, continued investments in technology and higher litigation expense.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

(dollars in millions, unless otherwise noted; not meaningful - N/M)										4Q19 vs.
	4Q19			3Q19			4Q18			3Q19		4Q18
Total revenue by line of business:
Asset Management	$	688		$	605		$	660		14	%	4	%
Wealth Management	287			285			303			1		(5)
Total revenue by line of business	975			890			963			10		1
Provision for credit losses	—			—			1			N/M		N/M
Noninterest expense	730			590			715			24		2
Income before taxes	$	245		$	300		$	247		(18)	%	(1)	%

Pre-tax operating margin	25		%	34		%	26		%
Adjusted pre-tax operating margin – Non-GAAP (a)	28		%	38		%	29		%

Metrics:
Average loans	$	16,505		$	16,260		$	16,485		2	%	—	%
Average deposits	$	15,195		$	14,083		$	14,893		8	%	2	%

AUM (in billions) (current period is preliminary) (b)	$	1,910		$	1,881		$	1,722		2	%	11	%
Wealth Management client assets (in billions) (current period is preliminary) (c)	$	266		$	259		$	239		3	%	11	%

(a)	Net of distribution and servicing expense. See "Supplemental information – Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures" on page 9 for information on this Non-GAAP measure.
(b)	Excludes securities lending cash management assets and assets managed in the Investment Services business.
(c)	Includes AUM and AUC/A in the Wealth Management business.

KEY DRIVERS

The drivers of the total revenue variances by line of business are indicated below.

Asset Management - The year-over-year increase primarily reflects higher market values and the impact of hedging activities, partially offset by the cumulative AUM outflows since 4Q18. The sequential increase primarily reflects timing of performance fees, the impact of hedging activities and higher market values.
Wealth Management - The year-over-year decrease primarily reflects lower net interest revenue, partially offset by higher market values.

Noninterest expense increased year-over-year primarily reflecting higher staff expense. The sequential increase primarily reflects the net reduction of the reserves for tax-related exposure of certain investment management funds recorded in 3Q19 and higher staff expense, including severance expense.

OTHER SEGMENT primarily includes leasing operations, certain corporate treasury activities, derivatives, business exits and other corporate revenue and expense items.


(in millions)	4Q19		3Q19		4Q18
Fee revenue	$	836	$	5	$	29
Net securities (losses)	(23)		(1)		—
Total fee and other revenue	813		4		29
Net interest (expense)	(10)		(80)		(15)
Total revenue (loss)	803		(76)		14
Provision for credit losses	(3)		(1)		(7)
Noninterest expense	73		35		160
Income (loss) before taxes	$	733	$	(110)	$	(139)

KEY DRIVERS

Fee revenue, net securities losses and net interest expense include corporate treasury and other investment activity, including hedging activity which offsets between fee revenue and net interest expense. Total revenue increased primarily reflecting the gain on the sale of an equity investment. Net interest expense decreased sequentially primarily reflecting the lease-related impairment of $70 million recorded in 3Q19.
Noninterest expense decreased year-over-year primarily reflecting the expenses associated with relocating our corporate headquarters recorded in 4Q18 and lower severance expense. The sequential increase primarily reflects higher severance expense, partially offset by lower other staff expense.

NOTABLE ITEMS BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Notable items by business segment (in millions)	4Q19								3Q19								4Q18
	IS		IM		Other		Total		IS		IM		Other		Total		IS		IM		Other		Total
Fee and other revenue	$	—	$	—	$	790	$	790	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—
Net interest revenue	—		—		—		—		—		—		(70)		(70)		—		—		—		—
Total revenue	—		—		790		790		—		—		(70)		(70)		—		—		—		—
Total noninterest expense	119		16		51		186		—		(74)		—		(74)		110		28		131		269
Income (loss) before taxes	$	(119)	$	(16)	$	739	$	604	$	—	$	74	$	(70)	$	4	$	(110)	$	(28)	$	(131)	$	(269)

IS - Investment Services

IM - Investment Management

CAPITAL AND LIQUIDITY

Capital and liquidity ratios	December 31, 2019			Sept. 30, 2019			December 31, 2018
Consolidated regulatory capital ratios: (a)
CET1 ratio	11.5		%	11.1		%	10.7		%
Tier 1 capital ratio	13.6			13.2			12.8
Total capital ratio	14.4			14.0			13.6
Tier 1 leverage ratio	6.6			6.5			6.6
SLR	6.1			6.0			6.0
BNY Mellon shareholders' equity to total assets ratio	10.9		%	11.0		%	11.2		%
BNY Mellon common shareholders' equity to total assets ratio	9.9		%	10.1		%	10.2		%

Average LCR	120		%	117		%	118		%

Book value per common share (b)	$	42.12		$	40.75		$	38.63
Tangible book value per common share – Non-GAAP (b)	$	21.33		$	20.59		$	19.04
Common shares outstanding (in thousands)	900,683			922,199			960,426

(a)	Regulatory capital ratios for Dec. 31, 2019 are preliminary. For our CET1, Tier 1 capital and Total capital ratios, our effective capital ratios under the U.S. capital rules are the lower of the ratios as calculated under the Standardized and Advanced Approaches, which for the periods noted above was the Advanced Approaches.
(b)	Tangible book value per common share – Non-GAAP excludes goodwill and intangible assets, net of deferred tax liabilities. See "Supplemental information – Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures" on page 9 for information on this Non-GAAP measure.

CET1 capital totaled $18.5 billion at Dec. 31, 2019, an increase of $333 million compared with Sept. 30, 2019. The increase primarily reflects capital generated through earnings and foreign currency translation, partially offset by capital deployed through common stock repurchases and dividend payments.

NET INTEREST REVENUE

Net interest revenue											4Q19 vs.
(dollars in millions; not meaningful - N/M)	4Q19			3Q19				4Q18			3Q19		4Q18
Net interest revenue	$	815		$	730			$	885		12	%	(8)	%
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment	2			3				4			N/M		N/M
Net interest revenue, on a fully taxable equivalent ("FTE") basis – Non-GAAP (a)	$	817		$	733			$	889		11	%	(8)	%

Net interest margin	1.09		%	0.99		%	(b)	1.24		%	10	bps	(15)	bps
Net interest margin (FTE) – Non-GAAP (a)	1.09		%	1.00		%	(b)	1.24		%	9	bps	(15)	bps

(a)	Net interest revenue (FTE) – Non-GAAP and net interest margin (FTE) – Non-GAAP include the tax equivalent adjustments on tax-exempt income which allows for comparisons of amounts arising from both taxable and tax-exempt sources and is consistent with industry practice. The adjustment to an FTE basis has no impact on net income.
(b)	The lease-related impairment decreased the net interest margin for 3Q19 by 10 basis points.
bps – basis points.

Net interest revenue decreased year-over-year, primarily reflecting the impact of lower interest rates on the securities portfolio and other interest-earning assets and lower noninterest-bearing deposits. This was partially offset by the benefit of lower deposit and funding rates and higher interest-bearing deposits.

The sequential increase primarily reflects the lease-related impairment of $70 million recorded in 3Q19, as well as higher deposits and an overall improvement in balance sheet mix. This was partially offset by the impact of lower rates.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

(in millions)	Quarter ended						Year-to-date
	December 31, 2019		Sept. 30, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Fee and other revenue
Investment services fees:
Asset servicing fees	$	1,148	$	1,152	$	1,126	$	4,563	$	4,608
Clearing services fees (a)	421		419		398		1,648		1,616
Issuer services fees	264		324		286		1,130		1,099
Treasury services fees	147		140		139		559		554
Total investment services fees (a)	1,980		2,035		1,949		7,900		7,877
Investment management and performance fees (a)	883		832		884		3,389		3,647
Foreign exchange and other trading revenue	168		150		181		654		732
Financing-related fees	46		49		50		196		207
Distribution and servicing	34		33		35		129		139
Investment and other income	860		30		47		968		240
Total fee revenue	3,971		3,129		3,146		13,236		12,842
Net securities (losses) gains	(25)		(1)		—		(18)		(48)
Total fee and other revenue	3,946		3,128		3,146		13,218		12,794
Operations of consolidated investment management funds
Investment income	17		4		(24)		57		(12)
Interest of investment management fund note holders	—		1		—		1		1
Income from consolidated investment management funds	17		3		(24)		56		(13)
Net interest revenue
Interest revenue	1,721		1,942		1,864		7,548		6,432
Interest expense	906		1,212		979		4,360		2,821
Net interest revenue	815		730		885		3,188		3,611
Total revenue	4,778		3,861		4,007		16,462		16,392
Provision for credit losses	(8)		(16)		—		(25)		(11)
Noninterest expense
Staff	1,639		1,479		1,602		6,063		6,145
Professional, legal and other purchased services	367		316		383		1,345		1,334
Software and equipment	326		309		300		1,222		1,062
Net occupancy	151		138		196		564		630
Sub-custodian and clearing	119		111		115		450		450
Distribution and servicing	92		97		95		374		406
Business development	65		47		64		213		228
Bank assessment charges	32		31		22		125		170
Amortization of intangible assets	28		30		35		117		180
Other	145		32		175		427		606
Total noninterest expense	2,964		2,590		2,987		10,900		11,211
Income
Income before income taxes	1,822		1,287		1,020		5,587		5,192
Provision for income taxes	373		246		150		1,120		938
Net income	1,449		1,041		870		4,467		4,254
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (includes $(9), $(3), $11, $(26) and $12 related to consolidated investment management funds, respectively)	(9)		(3)		11		(26)		12
Net income applicable to shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	1,440		1,038		881		4,441		4,266
Preferred stock dividends	(49)		(36)		(49)		(169)		(169)
Net income applicable to common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	$	1,391	$	1,002	$	832	$	4,272	$	4,097
(a) In 1Q19, we reclassified certain platform-related fees to clearing services fees from investment management and performance fees. Prior periods have been reclassified.

Earnings per share applicable to the common shareholders of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation	Quarter ended						Year-to-date
(in dollars)	December 31, 2019		Sept. 30, 2019		December 31, 2018		December 31, 2019		December 31, 2018
Basic	$	1.52	$	1.07	$	0.84	$	4.53	$	4.06
Diluted	$	1.52	$	1.07	$	0.84	$	4.51	$	4.04

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – EXPLANATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

BNY Mellon has included in this Earnings Release certain Non-GAAP financial measures on a tangible basis as a supplement to GAAP information, which exclude goodwill and intangible assets, net of deferred tax liabilities. BNY Mellon believes that the return on tangible common equity is additional useful information for investors because it presents a measure of those assets that can generate income, and the tangible book value per common share is additional useful information because it presents the level of tangible assets in relation to shares of common stock outstanding.

BNY Mellon has presented revenue measures excluding notable items, including the gain on the sale of an equity investment, a lease-related impairment, the impact of U.S. tax legislation on our investments in renewable energy and investment securities losses related to the sale of certain securities. Expense measures, excluding notable items, including severance, litigation, a net reduction of reserves for tax-related exposure of certain investment management funds, and expenses associated with the consolidating real estate are also presented. Litigation expense represents accruals for loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable, but exclude standard business-related legal fees. Income before tax measures, excluding the notable items mentioned above, as well the adjustments to provisional estimates for U.S. tax legislation and other changes, are provided. In addition, operating leverage, operating margins and diluted earnings per share, excluding the notable items impacting revenue, expense and income tax items mentioned above are adjusted to permit investors to view the financial measures on a basis consistent with how management views the businesses.

BNY Mellon has also included the operating margin for the Investment Management business net of distribution and servicing expense that was passed to third parties who distribute or service our managed funds. BNY Mellon believes that this measure is useful when evaluating the performance of the Investment Management business relative to industry competitors.

For the reconciliations of these Non-GAAP measures, see "Supplemental Information - Explanation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Financial Supplement available at www.bnymellon.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

A number of statements (i) in this Earnings Release, (ii) in our presentations and (iii) in the responses to questions on our conference call discussing our quarterly results and other public events may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements about our capital plans, strategic priorities, financial goals, organic growth, performance, organizational quality and efficiency, investments, including in technology and product development, resiliency, capabilities, revenue, net interest revenue, fees, expenses, cost discipline, sustainable growth, company management, deposits, interest rates and yield curves, securities portfolio, taxes, business opportunities, divestments, volatility, preliminary business metrics and regulatory capital ratios and statements regarding our aspirations, as well as our overall plans, strategies, goals, objectives, expectations, outlooks, estimates, intentions, targets, opportunities, focus and initiatives. These statements may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of future or present tense language. Words such as "estimate," "forecast," "project," "anticipate," "likely," "target," "expect," "intend," "continue," "seek," "believe," "plan," "goal," "could," "should," "would," "may," "might," "will," "strategy," "synergies," "opportunities," "trends," "future" and words of similar meaning signify forward-looking statements. These statements and other forward-looking statements contained in other public disclosures of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation which make reference to the cautionary factors described in this Earnings Release are based upon current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond BNY Mellon's control). Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and other uncertainties set forth in BNY Mellon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018 and BNY Mellon's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Preliminary business metrics and regulatory capital ratios are subject to change, possibly materially, as BNY Mellon completes its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019. All forward-looking statements in this Earnings Release speak only as of Jan. 16, 2020, and BNY Mellon undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after that date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT BNY MELLON

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. As of Dec. 31, 2019, BNY Mellon had $37.1 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.9 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). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Todd Gibbons, interim Chief Executive Officer, and Mike Santomassimo, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and simultaneous live audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. EST on Jan. 16, 2020. This conference call and audio webcast will include forward-looking statements and may include other material information.

Investors and analysts wishing to access the conference call and audio webcast may do so by dialing (800) 390-5696 (U.S.) or (720) 452-9082 (International), and using the passcode: 807070, or by logging onto www.bnymellon.com/investorrelations. Earnings materials will be available at www.bnymellon.com/investorrelations beginning at approximately 6:30 a.m. EST on Jan. 16, 2020. Replays of the conference call and audio webcast will be available beginning Jan. 16, 2020 at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST through Feb. 15, 2020 by dialing (888) 203-1112 (U.S.) or (719) 457-0820 (International), and using the passcode: 5375940. The archived version of the conference call and audio webcast will also be available at www.bnymellon.com/investorrelations for the same time period.

SOURCE BNY Mellon