Polar Capital has announced that its office in Zurich has now received authorisation from FINMA, the Swiss financial services regulator.
In a statement on 27 January, the UK headquartered specialist active asset manager said the new office will be the base for its Sustainable Thematic Equity team, led by Thiemo Lang. The five-strong team, with 75 years of combined investment experience, joined Polar Capital in September 2021.
The team manages the Polar Capital Smart Energy Fund and Polar Capital Smart Mobility Fund, both of which are global equity portfolios investing in companies aiming to address sustainability challenges in the energy and transportation sectors respectively.
With a wealth of experience managing sustainable thematic strategies, the team has already attracted CHF 210m in assets, with strong interest being shown by investors not only in Switzerland but globally.
Iain Evans, global head of distribution, Polar Capital, said: "We continue to broaden and deepen our presence and support in Continental Europe and the Nordic region. Switzerland has always been and remains a core market for the firm and so opening an office there was a natural step for us. It is the ideal base for our Sustainable Thematic Equity team and further enhances our presence in Continental Europe.
Thiemo Lang, senior portfolio manager, Polar Capital, said: "It is very exciting to have opened an office in Zurich. It is the perfect base for us as a team, particularly given our client relationships in Switzerland and across Europe.
"Now more than ever is it important to increase investment into technological energy solutions and services that will help reduce the world's carbon emissions, whilst improving energy security and driving down the costs of energy. With the global shift to a sustainable energy future set to gather more pace in the coming decades, this creates long-term opportunities for investors, and we look forward to tapping into this."
