Nov. 2, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

LONDON and NEW YORK, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BNY Mellon Asset Management has acquired a 20% minority interest in Siguler Guff & Company LLC (and certain related entities), a multi-strategy private equity firm with approximately $8 billion in assets under management and committed capital. Siguler Guff's focused investment offerings include fund of funds targeting distressed security investing, investing in emerging markets, including Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC), and investing in small cap buyout opportunities.

Siguler Guff focuses its investments across three different business lines: Fund of Funds, Advisory Activities and Direct Investment Funds. Founded in 1991 within Paine Webber, Siguler Guff became an independent firm in 1995 and employs a team of highly experienced individuals with deep expertise in distressed investing and other specialist areas in private equity. George Siguler, one of the founding partners, was also a founding employee of the Harvard Management Company, which oversees the management of Harvard University's endowment and related financial assets. Drew Guff has a long, successful history in investing in Emerging Markets Private Equity. The firm has a value-oriented opportunistic focus dedicated exclusively to private equity investing.

"In the aftermath of the financial crisis, institutional and individual investors are seeking more diversification and increased exposure to alternatives. Moreover, the stress in large cap buyout investing has led investors to rethink and reallocate private equity investments," said Ronald P.O'Hanley, president and chief executive officer of BNY Mellon Asset Management. "Current market conditions have led to extraordinary demand for distressed opportunity managers, and Siguler Guff is particularly well positioned to take advantage of distressed situations and the emerging markets, which are among the most promising areas for private equity investors."

The two companies formed a strategic alliance in January 2009, when Siguler Guff engaged BNY Mellon to distribute the products and services of Siguler Guff globally. In May 2009, Siguler Guff Advisers, LLC, Siguler Guff's registered investment advisor subsidiary, became the investment advisor of the private equity fund of funds previously advised by West LB Mellon Asset Management.

"This transaction formalizes our ties with Siguler Guff and significantly adds to our 'alpha' capabilities," added O'Hanley.