CAMRADATA Analytical Services and BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research Launch ESG Geographic Portfolio Analysis

Business Wire, Inc.

Provides Detailed and Insightful Analysis of Geographic Environmental, Social and Governance Factors

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CAMRADATA Analytical Services and BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research have launched Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Geographic Portfolio Analysis, an insight service for investors to track and understand ESG exposure within their portfolios.

The service helps institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies, identify how their international portfolios may be exposed to ESG factors compared to their benchmark.

What makes ESG Geographic Portfolio Analysis stand out from existing offerings is the clear output report and scope of the two databases on which it draws. The first database contains a geographic breakdown of sales revenue, assets and operating income of more than 4,000 companies. This is combined with a second database containing rankings of 214 countries (grouped into 54 world regions), according to 172 underlying ESG risk indicators relating to environmental, social and governance factors.

The service examines ESG factors that fall under 28 themes ranging from climate change and water scarcity to health issues, as well as governance-related issues such as business rights, corruption, and strength of democracy. The data used by ESG Geographic Portfolio Analysis to evaluate these factors are derived from numerous reputable and authoritative international sources.

“Investors increasingly recognize that environmental, social and governance factors may influence long-term financial performance,” said Sarbjit Nahal, SRI analyst at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. “This new service measures the geographic ESG exposure of any portfolio, enabling investors to have a greater understanding of ESG factors that are at play within their portfolios.”

Analysis by geography, sector and stock

Through the service, investors can request reports that identify types of ESG exposure by country or region, by sector and individual stock. For example, a report could highlight and compare ESG risk factors for telecoms companies in a variety of emerging markets. “ESG Portfolio Analysis goes further than any previous tool in helping investors understand the geographic ESG exposures in their portfolios,” says Steve Butler, managing director at CAMRADATA Analytical Services. “It can also allow institutional investors, such as pension fund trustees, to compare ESG risks across apparently similar global equity funds and against benchmark indices.”

ESG Portfolio Analysis has been developed by CAMRADATA Analytical Services and BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research. The service is being offered by CAMRADATA Analytical Services, which is licensed exclusively to use Bank of America Merrill Lynch data and methodology. It is the first of a series of services focused on investors’ Socially Responsible Investment and ESG analysis needs.

Information for Editors

The BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research franchise covers more than 3,300 stocks and 1,000 credits globally and ranks in the top tier in many external surveys. Most recently, the group was named No. 1 in the 2011 Institutional Investor All-Asia, All-China and All-Japan surveys, marking the first time a single institution simultaneously tops all three surveys. The group was also named No. 2 in the inaugural Institutional Investor Emerging Markets Equity and Fixed Income survey, covering Emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa; No. 2 in the 2011 All-Latin America and All-America Equity team surveys; and No. 3 in the 2010 Institutional Investor All-America Fixed Income, All-Brazil and All-Europe Research team surveys.

In addition, the group was ranked the No. 1 Pan-European firm for Equity Sectors Research and the No. 2 Pan-European firm for Equity and Equity-Linked Research in the 2011 Extel survey, both for the second consecutive year. The group was also the winner of the Emerging Markets' magazine EM Research Global Award for 2010 and 2011.

The BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research SRI Team is No. 1 ranked in both the Thomson Reuters Extel and Institutional Investor external surveys for SRI, Thematic and Corporate Governance Research.

CAMRADATA Analytical Services supports asset managers, pension consultants, pension scheme trustees, insurance companies and family offices to help them achieve their aims through better understanding and insight of the investment world. We primarily host an online database, CAMRADATA Live, of more than 4,000 investment products provided by 600-plus asset managers to around 600 European institutional investors and their advisors.

CAMRADATA Live aids investors with manager research and product selection. Users also have access to in-depth quantitative analysis software to help them gain further understanding of the products and their peer groups. CAMRADATA Analytical Services is part of the Punter Southall Group, which provides a unique range of financial services including actuarial consulting, administration, employee benefits consulting, independent financial advice and investment services for pension funds, corporate clients and individuals. CAMRADATA Analytical Services is not authorised by the Financial Services Authority under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

CAMRADATA Analytical Services offers products and services to asset managers, investment consultants, pension scheme trustees and insurance companies to help them achieve their aims through better understanding and insight of the investment world.

www.camradata.com

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,750 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, which is a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, locally registered entities. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed.

For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.

www.bankofamerica.com

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