History
ECM was established as an independent asset management company in February 1999 by a group of individuals who predicted rapid growth in the European credit market following the advent of the Euro. The European credit market has grown in size and diversity to the point where it now rivals the more established US credit market.
ECM’s original team of five investment professionals each brought significant experience in credit, gained predominantly in an investment banking environment. The investment team has since grown to 38 investment professionals.
ECM launched its first diversified European fixed income product in November 1999, with initial client assets under management of Eur 156 million. ECM now manages around Eur 12 billion on behalf of institutional investors worldwide, across a broad range of European credit products.
In January 2007, Evergreen Investments (the asset management division previously of Wachovia Corporation) acquired a majority interest in ECM.
In January 2009, Wachovia Corporation was subsumed into its new owner Wells Fargo & Company. As a result, ECM is now one of a number of independent boutique managers that fall under the Wells Fargo range of specialist asset manager offerings.
Throughout these ownership changes ECM has remained operationally unaffected, and there have been no related staff changes. There has been a strong commitment to maintain and continue ECM's autonomy, brand name and independent investment process.