Brown Advisory Launches Global Sustainable Total Return Bond Strategy

BALTIMORE, Feb. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brown Advisory, an independent and privately held global investment management firm that oversees more than US$146 billion in client assets, today announces the launch of its Global Sustainable Total Return Bond strategy ("the strategy").

The strategy takes a global, sustainable and dynamic approach to fixed income, seeking to offer investors access to an attractive stream of income and risk-adjusted returns while simultaneously generating a positive impact on global sustainability issues. It aims to deliver total returns over an economic cycle and act as a complement and counterbalance to equities in an investment portfolio.

This strategy is a natural expansion and complement to Brown Advisory's long-standing U.S. sustainable fixed income platform, leveraging Brown Advisory's 10+ years' expertise and broad capabilities in sustainable investing.

It is launching initially with a Dublin UCITS fund, denominated in British pounds sterling. Subsequent launches will include a Dublin UCITS fund denominated in U.S. dollars and other vehicles are under consideration for the U.S. market. The strategy is also available to investors globally as a separately managed account.

The strategy invests in a broad range of liquid fixed income instruments, including conventional and inflation-linked government bonds, securities 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. It is guided by three central convictions:

• Integrating ESG research with fundamental bottom-up credit analysis helps provide a deeper understanding of potential investment risks without sacrificing total returns, whilst helping direct capital to issuers contributing positively to global sustainability
• Adding depth and breadth to the investment opportunity set (across geographies, sectors and currencies) increases the potential to generate higher income and realize diversification benefits
• An active approach (untethered to the benchmark) can provide the flexibility to allocate risk tactically to areas of the bond market with the most attractive risk-reward profiles and customize solutions to better meet investors' goals

The strategy is managed by Ryan Myerberg in London, and Chris Diaz and Colby Stilson in the U.S., who joined Brown Advisory last year, reuniting as a team after having previously worked together to successfully build Janus Capital's global fixed income business. They are fully integrated into the firm's existing fixed income team, supported by dedicated ESG analysts working alongside Brown Advisory's fundamental credit analysts.

Nicole Nesbitt, Partner and Head of US Institutional Sales and Client Service at Brown Advisory, said: "We are thrilled to offer investors a global sustainable fixed income solution designed to deliver consistent income and capital appreciation over a market cycle, and counterbalance equity risk while producing positive environmental and social impact.

This globally-diversified, dynamic and sustainability-oriented strategy combines a proven global investment process with our proprietary ESG research methodology, continuing to expand our U.S. fixed income and sustainable investing platforms."

Ryan Myerberg, Partner and Portfolio Manager, said: "The coupling of growing sustainability risks and low rates in developed markets that have been occurring for more than a decade poses an enormous challenge for private and institutional investors utilizing bond allocations to generate income and to manage overall portfolio volatility.

"We believe a global, sustainable and flexible approach to fixed income can offer investors access to a more attractive stream of income and risk-adjusted returns while simultaneously generating a positive impact on global sustainability."

The UCITS fund launches with $75 million in assets from seed investors.

Brown Advisory considers that this Fund actively promotes, amongst other characteristics, social and/or environmental characteristics and therefore is governed by Article 8 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).

Media Contacts

Dukas Linden Public Relations                              Brown Advisory 
Stephanie Dressler: (321) 217-8719                     Juliana Bambaci: (650) 245-7525 
Julia Seebode: (908) 616-6473                             Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

About Brown Advisory

Brown Advisory is an independent investment management firm committed to providing its clients with a combination of first-class investment performance, strategic advice and the highest level of service. Brown Advisory has been a private, independent and colleague-owned firm since 1998. Today, the firm has more than 750 colleagues – each with an equity interest – serving private clients and institutions in 39 countries from 14 offices globally and is responsible for more than US$146 billion in assets for private and institutional clients as of 31^st December 2021. For more information, please visit: www.brownadvisory.com

SOURCE Brown Advisory