Neuberger Berman has presented its first Japan-based equities team will manage a Japan Equity Engagement Strategy. The strategy invests through active engagement and constructive dialogue with Japanese small/mid-cap companies. The strategy will be offered to both institutional and high-net-worth clients. Keita Kubota has been appointed Managing Director and Senior Portfolio Manager.
Mr. Kubota joins from Aberdeen Standard Investments, where he started his career over 13 years ago and most recently served as Deputy Head of Japan Equities. He was the investment director on Aberdeen Standard Investments’ Japan large-cap strategy and small-cap strategy, both of which were managed with an engagement strategy.
Naoto Saito will support Mr. Kubota. Mr. Saito joined Neuberger Berman in September as a Senior Research Analyst; previously he covered a broad range of companies across the Japanese equity market at Balyasny Asset Management, CLSA Securities and T. Rowe Price.
Ryo Ohira, Head of Neuberger Berman East Asia commented:
We look forward to the further expansion of ESG investing in Japan as companies have increased their awareness of corporate governance and other material factors. We think encouraging Japanese companies to improve their ESG factors through our active engagement can generate superior returns. Mr. Kubota and his team are bottom-up stock pickers with a focus on in-depth proprietary research. They are active, long-term investors who engage deeply and frequently with company management. Most importantly, Mr. Kubota has helped deliver long-term performance for his clients – which is our firm’s mission.
Neuberger Berman has been in Japan for 15 years and currently manages over $53 billion from local clients. The firm manages fixed income, alternatives and equity portfolios and is reputed in recognized in Japan as a leader in the ESG investing space and recently won the first-ever Tokyo Financial Award for ESG Investing.
