BROWN BROTHERS

BROWN BROTHERS Harriman (BBH) is one of the oldest, largest, and most prestigious private banks in the US. Founded in 1818 and known for its conservative investment approach, the company specializes in asset management for wealthy families and institutional investors, and corporate banking, finance, and mergers and acquisitions advisory for closely held middle-market companies. It has expertise in wealth planning and investment advisory, banking, public and private equity, fixed-income strategies, commodities, and fiduciary services. It also manages four mutual funds. BBH has more than 15 offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.

BBH's mergers and acquisitions advisory practice focuses on the energy, health care, business services, logistics, industrial, infrastructure, technology, media, and telecommunications sectors. The company also provides specialized services to other asset gatherers and financial institutions, such as custody, investment accounting and administration, and the development of alternative investments such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and real estate investment funds. Its private equity division, BBH Capital Partners, invests from $25 million to $75 million per transaction in small- to middle-market companies valued at up to $400 million.

BBH, which has more than $3.8 trillion of client assets under custody and administration, oversees some $17 billion as an investment manager on behalf of its clients. As a general partnership, the bank is not insured by the FDIC, and each of its nearly 50 partners has unlimited liability.

BBH reported one of the best years in its long history in 2011 as the company recorded growth across several of its main segments, including asset management, wealth management, and corporate banking. The company continues to add clients and assets under management.