Fortis Investments, the asset management arm of Fortis, today announced the acquisition of the Japanese Equity capability of the German-owned asset manager, WestAM, part of the WestLB Group.
This important addition to Fortis Investments´ product offering is seen as another step
in the building of a comprehensive investment management capability based on
specialised investment centres, staffed with highly skilled investment experts.
The transaction sees Fortis Investments acquire both the expertise of the existing head,
Kazuhito Yoshihara, his team of four equity professionals and a small number of sales,
marketing and support staff, plus a top quartile four year track record in Japanese
Equities. Against the background of an improving Japanese economy and market, the
acquisition is seen as affording Fortis Investments excellent commercial opportunities.
With this acquisition, Fortis Investments also completes its Global Equity and Global
Sector funds’ offering and further enhances its balanced product.
William De Vijlder, Global CIO, said : “This acquisition of a stand-alone Japanese
Equity capability is not only important for the Japanese product per se, but also for the
benefits it brings to the other investment centres of having colleagues based in Tokyo.
Our Boston-based Global Equity and Global Sector teams will benefit from the
additional research resource and the Balanced team from prime input in Tokyo”.
Yoshihara has 20 years of experience in Japanese Equity and will be based Tokyo,
reporting directly to William De Vijlder.
Source: Fortis Investments
