The launch of the new office is driven by growth fuelled by strong investment performance and demand for focused strategies. 

Global investment manager Brown Advisory has opened a new office in Frankfurt in response to a significant growth in assets from clients based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH).

Elisa Wagnitz (pictured), head of DACH region for Brown Advisory, who is responsible for business development and client relationships across the region, is relocating to Frankfurt to lead the firm’s 15th office.

The company saw an increase in assets from the DACH region of more than 75 per cent in 2021, following strong demand for its UCITS fund range. The range includes the US Sustainable Growth Fund, Global Leaders Fund and Global Leaders Sustainable Fund, all classified as Article 8 under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.

The Sustainable Growth Fund and Global Leaders Sustainable Fund have recently been awarded the FNG label 2022, the firm said, with both funds meeting the quality standard for sustainable investments in German-speaking countries developed by Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen.

“Our international business continues to expand and the new Frankfurt-based office shows our full commitment to the growing client base in the DACH region. We’ve seen strong inflows from local investors who are eager to access the benefits of Brown Advisory’s concentrated, active and sustainable equity strategies, and our newly-established presence will help us better serve existing clients in these important markets,” Logie Fitzwilliams, head of international business and global head of sales at Brown Advisory, said.

“Our rigorous commitment to fundamental research coupled with more than a decade of experience in sustainable investing and ESG research means we’re particularly well-positioned to fulfil demand for values-based investing, with a variety of UCITS funds meeting the Article 8 designation. We’re excited to further strengthen our dedication to clients in this region who share our thoughtful investment philosophy,” Elisa Wagnitz, head of DACH region at Brown Advisory, said.

The firm hired three new global sustainable fixed income portfolio managers last year, who recently launched their first UCITS fund, which is also classified as Article 8. The team focuses on developing the company’s sustainable investment philosophy on a global level, and integrating ESG research and the examination of the intended use of bonds’ proceeds with fundamental fixed income research, the firm said.

The strategy invests in a broad range of liquid fixed income instruments, including conventional and inflation-linked government bonds, securitised and corporate bonds, in both developed and emerging markets, as well as using active currency exposure to deliver returns. As such it will provide differentiated exposure for investors beyond only labelled (‘green’ or ‘social’) bonds, the company said in a statement.

Brown Advisory’s international business manages assets of £15 billion ($20 billion) for individuals, families, charities, institutions and financial intermediaries in the UK, Europe and Asia.