INFORM provides information on custody, accounting, settlement and related activity. Since the establishment of INFORM, we have led the way in offering securities clients a web-enabled instruction capture capability for cash and securities, as well as foreign exchange instructions.

INFORM uses the most up-to-date security features, ensuring full confidentiality and authentication of information. It is the Bank’s policy to continuously meet the most stringent security capabilities.

INFORM ensures full access by employing technology that guarantees continuous availability, worldwide.

• Customized Capabilities 
  INFORM functions may be tailored to meet specific client needs. Clients can choose functions best suited to their daily operating requirements.

• Client Controlled User Access 
  Clients designate their own INFORM site administrators to control the functions enabled for each of their employees. A site administrator can define the security model within the client’s organization and reset passwords without the Bank’s intervention.

• Information Access
  INFORM provides access to the Bank’s Country Profiles, General Bank information and News Service. In addition, there is an on-line Data Dictionary which provides clients with a useful glossary of Custody terms, used throughout the various INFORM reports. Please refer to the remainder of the overview for full details of our Information Access.

• Centralized Access 
  INFORM provides centralized access to all of your Bank information, ensuring the most current data is available for intra-day retrieval. Centralized storage of portfolio information eliminates the need for periodic downloads and provides clients with access to their portfolio details.

• Real-time Entry of Securities Related Instructions 
  INFORM Instruction Capture (IIC) provides clients with real-time entry and validation of securities and cash trade instructions.

• Identical Systems 
  Both the Bank and its clients use INFORM to access the same information in identical formats, thus allowing Bank staff to provide you with efficient client service.
  
  
• Wide Range of Custody & Accounting Reporting Capabilities 
  INFORM supports a wide range of reporting capabilities, including Multiple Account Reporting Structures and Flexible Reporting Functions. We work in partnership with our clients in designing tailored reports to meet their ever-changing needs. We have highlighted below some of the advantages available.

The Bank of New York Mellon understands clients’ needs to obtain information and customize reports according to their unique requirements. INFORM’s support functions for reports include the Report Writer component and the Scheduler component. Report Writer assists clients in managing their positions and helps in the reconciliation of daily transaction activity. Scheduler assures clients receive their reports in the most timely fashion possible.

Report Writer enables the user to:

• Customize an existing report
• Create a new report
• Modify a report created using the Report Writer
• Delete a customized report
• Organize reports into personalized folders

The user can create a customized report or query from scratch or by editing the specifications of an existing one. There are simple filters to meet individual needs.

The scheduler function allows clients to "pull-down" information in an unattended mode. Typically, clients can schedule creation and distribution of reports during off-hours so that they can be available start of day. This is especially of value for those clients who invest in markets outside of their local time zones.

INFORM Instruction Capture (IIC) streamlines instruction-entry to the bank infrastructure allowing straight-through processing (STP) out to the designated sub-custodian. IIC significantly improves quality and timeliness of Instruction management by eliminating manual processing.

Clients can also create a file of transaction instructions within their internal system and import the file into IIC. IIC assigns a unique reference number that stays with the instruction throughout its life at the Bank, thereby allowing clients and support staff to track their trades throughout the Bank.

Using IIC, clients have access to the Bank’s master databases containing broker, account, securities an securities-related information. Real-time access to this information supports efficiency in the clients’ operations and is in league with the Bank’s goal of enabling straight-through processing.

The Bank of New York Mellon offers a unique Country Profiles and News information service to our INFORM clients. Country Profiles provides up to the minute information about the various markets in our global network. The information covers topics of interest, such as sub-custodian profiles, new market announcements, account opening procedures, and the Bank’s country specialist contacts. INFORM’s News service provides on-line viewing of general information involving the Bank, such as press releases and product announcements.

For those clients requiring Performance, Compliance Monitoring, and other Risk related products, the Bank can offer a full range of reports, as described below.

Performance Measurement

INFORMPerformance, is our Performance Analytics product which is part of the Bank’s INFORM platform. INFORMPerformance is able to integrate domestic and international assets in a web-based environment, providing clients with immediate access to updated portfolio data for comprehensive evaluation of investment performance. Clients can calculate rates of return and risk measures as well as compare their investment results to a wide variety of standard and customized benchmarks. INFORMPerformance provides a comprehensive range of analytics and options, including the ability to create customized reports – by content, format, and delivery method – with boardroom-quality graphics. It also supplies the tools needed to help evaluate portfolio performance.

In summary, INFORMPerformance allows clients to:

• Calculate rates of return and analytics at varying levels
• Access a wide range of universe comparisons and benchmark portfolio indices
• View performance and investment risk attribution and analysis
• Manage portfolio exposure
• Customize reports

Compliance Monitoring

INFORMCompliance is an interactive application providing clients with flexibility in establishing guidelines to govern their fund managers' activities. Clients can control specific elements of investment risk by monitoring investment managers' compliance through the application of guidelines and reporting parameters created in accordance with regulatory or portfolio-specific rules. In addition, clients may choose from a wide range of security attributes to construct customized guidelines to various degrees of complexity. Guidelines can be modified as often as necessary to reflect revised investment goals.

Analysis can be scheduled to run automatically so that reports are available on screen and in print at the start of each business day. INFORMCompliance delivers a powerful array of reporting functions for flexible, in-depth analysis of managers’ investment activities. In addition violation notices can be sent by email to any addressee on a daily basis.

As one of the pioneers of on-line services, we are continually seeking ways of improving all products and committing the resources to support technological innovations that meet our clients’ needs today and in the future. Our expertise as it relates to modern portfolio theory and analysis, accounting principles and regulations, and asset servicing sets us apart from our competitors. Our goal is to help clients manage and control their assets. We provide the tools and expertise needed to partner with our clients to met the goal of being the provider of choice.