497K 1 brownadvisorysustainablebo.htm 497K Document

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Brown Advisory Sustainable Bond Fund
Class/Ticker: Institutional Shares / BAISX
Investor Shares / BASBX
Advisor Shares / (Not Available for Sale)
Summary Prospectus |
October 31, 2023
Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund’s Prospectus, which contains more information about the Fund and its risks. You can find the Fund’s Prospectus, reports to shareholders, and other information about the Fund online at https://www.brownadvisory.com/mf/sustainable-bond-fund. You may also obtain this information at no cost by calling (800) 540-6807 or by sending an e-mail request to mutualfunds@brownadvisory.com. The Fund’s Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, both dated October 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

Investment Objective
The Brown Advisory Sustainable Bond Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide a competitive total return consistent with preservation of principal while giving special consideration to certain sustainable investment criteria.

Fees and Expenses
The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.

Shareholder Fees
(fees paid directly from your investment)
Institutional SharesInvestor SharesAdvisor Shares
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Purchases
   (as a % of the offering price)
NoneNoneNone
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) imposed on Redemptions
   (as a % of the sale price)
NoneNoneNone
Redemption Fee
   (as a % of amount redeemed on shares held for 14 days or less)
1.00%1.00%1.00%
Exchange Fee (as a % of amount exchanged on shares held for 14 days or less)1.00%1.00%1.00%
Annual Fund Operating Expenses
(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Management Fees0.30%0.30%0.30%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) FeesNoneNone0.25%
Shareholder Servicing FeesNone0.05%0.05%
Other Expenses0.13%0.13%0.13%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses(1)
0.04%0.04%0.04%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.47%0.52%0.77%
(1)Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange traded funds. Please note that the amount of Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses shown in the above table will differ from the “Financial Highlights” section of the Prospectus which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include indirect expenses such as Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses.

Example
The example below is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of each period. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5%
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annual return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year3 Years5 Years10 Years
Institutional Shares$48$151$263$591
Investor Shares$53$167$291$653
Advisor Shares$79$246$428$954

Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was 277% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal conditions, Brown Advisory LLC (the “Adviser”) seeks to achieve the Fund’s investment objective by investing at least 80% of the value of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in either fixed income securities of issuers that satisfy the Fund’s sustainable investment criteria or in securities where the use of the proceeds satisfy the Fund’s sustainable investment criteria, together, the “Investment Criteria” for the Fund. This 80% investment policy is non-fundamental and may be changed without the vote of shareholders. Shareholders will receive 60 days’ prior written notice of any changes to the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund may invest in corporate fixed income securities, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, U.S Government securities and securities issued by foreign entities including foreign-sponsored governmental agencies. The fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest may also include municipal securities issued by states, U.S. territories and possessions, general obligation securities and revenue securities. The foregoing may include municipal lease obligations and insured municipal securities. The Fund may also invest in other investment companies that invest in similar fixed income securities and the Fund may count such holdings towards the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund may also engage in “To Be Announced” transactions. Certain of the fixed income securities that the Fund may invest in are often commonly referred to as “labeled bonds.” Labeled bonds include, but are not limited to, “Green Bonds,” “Social Bonds,” “Sustainability Bonds,” or “Sustainability-Linked Bonds.”

The Fund invests in fixed income securities that primarily have a maturity that is between 0 and 30 years and are rated in the top four rating categories of a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization, or unrated and deemed to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. Under normal circumstances, the Fund’s portfolio will have an average dollar weighted maturity between 6 and 11 years and an average duration of 3 to 7 years. Duration is a measurement of price sensitivity to interest rate changes.

The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets in high-yield securities (“junk bonds”), which are speculative in nature. The Fund may invest in securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies. The Fund may also invest in bank loans.

The Fund may invest in derivatives instruments, such as options, currency forwards, futures contracts, including interest rate futures, options on futures, interest rate swaps and credit default swaps. These investments will typically be made for investment purposes consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and may also be used to mitigate or hedge risks within the portfolio or for the temporary investment of cash balances. These positions may also be used to manage interest rate risk or to create synthetic exposure to particular credits. Investments in derivatives may be counted towards the Fund’s 80% investment policy if they have economic characteristics similar to the other investments that are included in the Fund’s 80% investment policy. The Fund intends to use the mark-to-market value of such derivatives for purposes of complying with the Fund’s 80% investment policy.

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The Adviser utilizes sustainable investment analysis in connection with the Fund's investments in fixed income securities. As part of the research approach, the Adviser has a process to integrate, identify and consider the sustainable investment related risks and opportunities using a sustainable investment research assessment. The assessment may be conducted at the sector, issuer, or security level. Not every investment will be covered at the issuer or security level. The Fund has access to this research and considers relevant sustainability issues. However, at the Adviser’s discretion, the Fund is permitted to make an investment without a written sustainable investment research assessment on file at the time of purchase, as long as the Adviser believes the security meets the Fund’s sustainable investment criteria.

The Fund’s sustainable investment criteria considers many factors including, but not limited to, any one or more of the following: clean and renewable energy, climate change and water conservation, waste management, natural resource stewardship, innovative efficiency solutions, labor management, community relations, supply chain management, customer well-being, stewardship of debt and capital, board governance and transparency, and business ethics.

The outcomes of the Adviser’s research may result in positive environmental and social impacts. While not a thematic fund, the nature of the Adviser’s research considers sustainable investment themes, such as any one or more of sustainable technology innovation, accessibility of essential services like healthcare, financial inclusion, and climate mitigation.

The Adviser pursues strategic engagement with issuers and other stakeholders in an effort to enhance due diligence and monitor the investment thesis.

In order to respond to adverse market, economic, political, or other conditions, the Fund may assume a temporary defensive position that is inconsistent with its investment objective and principal investment strategy and invest without limit in cash and prime quality cash equivalents such as prime commercial paper and other money market instruments. A defensive position, taken at the wrong time, may have an adverse impact on the Fund’s performance. The Fund may be unable to achieve its investment objective during the employment of a temporary defensive measure.

Principal Investment Risks
As with all mutual funds, there is the risk that you could lose all or a portion of your investment in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks are presented in alphabetical order to facilitate finding particular risks and comparing them with other funds. Each risk summarized below is considered a “principal risk” of investing in the Fund, regardless of the order in which it appears. The following are the principal risks that could affect the value of your investment:

Credit Risk. The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Generally, investment risk and price volatility increase as a security’s credit rating declines. The financial condition of an issuer of a fixed income security held by the Fund may cause it to default or become unable to pay interest or principal due on the security.

Currency and Exchange Rate Risk. Investments in currencies, currency futures contracts, forward currency exchange contracts or similar instruments, as well as securities that are denominated in foreign currency, are subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. In addition, the Fund may engage in currency hedging transactions. Currency hedging transactions are subject to the risk that a result opposite expectations occurs (an expected decline turns into a rise and conversely) resulting in a loss to the Fund.

Debt/Fixed Income Securities Risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the debt securities in which the Fund may invest. Over the past several years, the Federal Reserve has maintained the
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level of interest rates at or near historic lows, however, more recently, interest rates have begun to increase as a result of action that has been taken by the Federal Reserve which has raised, and may continue to raise, interest rates, which may negatively impact the Fund’s performance or otherwise adversely impact the Fund. The value of your investment in the Fund may change in response to changes in the credit ratings of the Fund’s portfolio of debt securities. Moreover, rising interest rates or lack of market participants may lead to decreased liquidity in the bond and loan markets, making it more difficult for the Fund to sell its holdings at a time when the Fund’s manager might wish to sell. Lower rated securities (“junk bonds”) are generally subject to greater risk of loss of your money than higher rated securities. Issuers may (increase) decrease prepayments of principal when interest rates (fall) increase, affecting the maturity of the debt security and causing the value of the security to decline.

Derivatives Risk. The risk that an investment in derivatives will not perform as anticipated, cannot be closed out at a favorable time or price, or will increase the Fund’s volatility; that derivatives may create investment leverage; that, when a derivative is used as a substitute or alternative to a direct cash investment, the transaction may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the cash investment; that a derivative will not perform in the manner anticipated by the Adviser, which may result in losses that partially or completely offset gains in portfolio positions; or that, when used for hedging purposes, derivatives will not provide the anticipated protection, causing the Fund to lose money on both the derivatives transaction and the exposure the Fund sought to hedge. The risks of investing in derivative instruments also include leverage, liquidity, market, credit, operational and legal risks. Additionally, any derivatives held by the Fund will have counterparty associated risks, which are the risks that the other party to the derivative contract, which may be a derivatives exchange, will fail to make required payments or otherwise fail to comply with the terms of the contract. The Fund potentially could lose all or a large portion of its investment in the derivative instrument.

Foreign Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in foreign securities and is subject to risks associated with foreign markets, such as adverse political, social and economic developments such as war, political instability, hyperinflation, currency devaluations, and overdependence on particular industries; accounting standards or governmental supervision that is not consistent with that to which U.S. companies are subject; limited information about foreign companies; less liquidity and higher volatility in foreign markets and less protection to the shareholders in foreign markets. In addition, investments in certain foreign markets that have historically been considered stable may become more volatile and subject to increased risk due to ongoing developments and changing conditions in such markets. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may also be affected by foreign tax laws, special U.S. tax considerations and restrictions on receiving the investment proceeds from a foreign country. Dividends or interest on, or proceeds from the sale or disposition of, foreign securities may be subject to non-U.S. withholding or other taxes. Economic sanctions could, among other things, effectively restrict or eliminate the Fund’s ability to purchase or sell securities or groups of securities for a substantial period of time, and may make the Fund’s investments in such securities harder to value.

Interest Rate Risk. An increase in interest rates typically causes a fall in the value of the fixed income securities in which the Fund may invest. Over the course of the past year, the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates from historically low levels and may continue to raise interest rates. In addition, changes in monetary policy may exacerbate the risks associated with changing interest rates. Any additional interest rate increases may negatively impact the Fund’s performance or otherwise adversely impact the Fund.

Investments in Other Investment Companies Risk. Shareholders of the Fund will indirectly be subject to the fees and expenses of the other investment companies in which the Fund invests, and these fees and expenses are in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations. In addition, shareholders will be exposed to the investment risks associated with investments in the other investment companies.

Liquidity Risk. Certain fixed income securities held by the Fund may be difficult (or impossible) to sell at the time and at the price the Adviser would like. As a result, the Fund may have to hold these securities longer than
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it would like and may forego other investment opportunities. There is the possibility that the Fund may lose money or be prevented from realizing capital gains if it cannot sell a security at a particular time and price.

Management Risk. The Fund may not meet its investment objective based on the Adviser’s success or failure to implement investment strategies for the Fund.

Market Risk. The portfolio securities held by the Fund are susceptible to general market fluctuations and to volatile increases and decreases in value.  The securities markets may experience declines and the portfolio holdings in the Fund’s portfolio may not increase their earnings at the rate anticipated.  The Fund’s NAV and investment return will fluctuate based upon changes in the value of its portfolio securities.

Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which represent “pools” of mortgages or other assets, including consumer loans or receivables held in trust. In a period of rising interest rates, these securities may exhibit additional volatility.

Municipal Securities Risk.  Adverse economic or political factors in the municipal bond market, including changes in the tax law, could impact the Fund in a negative manner.

Non-Investment Grade (Junk Bond) Securities Risk. Below investment grade debt securities (also known as “junk bonds”) are speculative and involve a greater risk of default and price change due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. The market prices of these debt securities may fluctuate more than the market prices of investment grade debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

Prepayment/Extension Risk. Issuers may experience an acceleration in prepayments of mortgage loans or other receivables backing the issuers’ fixed income securities when interest rates decline, which can shorten the maturity of the security, force the Fund to invest in securities with lower interest rates, and reduce the Fund’s return. Issuers may decrease prepayments of principal when interest rates increase, extending the maturity of a fixed income security and causing the value of the security to decline.

Portfolio Turnover Risk. High portfolio turnover involves correspondingly greater expenses to a Fund, including brokerage commissions or dealer mark-ups and other transaction costs on the sale of securities and reinvestments in other securities. Higher portfolio turnover also may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.

Private Placement Risk. The Fund may invest in privately issued securities of domestic common and preferred stock, convertible debt securities, ADRs and REITs, including those which may be resold only in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Privately issued securities are restricted securities that are not publicly traded. Delay or difficulty in selling such securities may result in a loss to the Fund.

Rating Agencies Risk. Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests. The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure.

Sustainability Policy Risk. The Fund’s consideration of sustainability criteria could cause it to make or avoid investments that could result in the Fund underperforming similar funds that do not consider such sustainability criteria.
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To Be Announced (“TBA”) Transactions Risk.  The Fund may enter into TBA transactions to purchase mortgage-related securities for a fixed price at a future date. TBA purchase commitments involve a risk of loss if the value of the security to be purchased declines prior to settlement date or if the counterparty does not deliver the securities as promised.

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund’s U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. Government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. Government provides financial support to such U.S. Government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Government will always do so, since the U.S. Government is not so obligated by law.

Valuation Risk. The prices provided by pricing services or independent dealers or the fair value determinations made by the Adviser may be different from the prices used by other mutual funds or from the prices at which securities are actually bought and sold. The prices of certain securities provided by pricing services may be subject to frequent and significant change, and will vary depending on the information that is available.

Performance Information
The following performance information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance of Investor Shares from year-to-year. The table shows how the average annual returns of Investor Shares and Institutional Shares for the 1 year, 5 year, and since inception periods compare to a broad-based market index.

Performance information represents only past performance, before and after taxes, and does not necessarily indicate future results. Updated performance information is available online at www.brownadvisory.com/mf/sustainable-bond-fund or by calling 800‑540‑6807 (toll free).

Brown Advisory Sustainable Bond Fund – Investor Shares
Annual Total Returns
chart-b360dcb7b8aa43e1851.jpg
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The Fund’s calendar year-to-date total return as of September 30, 2023 was -2.89%. During the period shown in the chart, the highest quarterly return was 6.54% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2020) and the lowest quarterly return was -5.14% (for the quarter ended March 31, 2022).

Brown Advisory Sustainable Bond Fund
Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 20221 Year5 Years
Since Inception (8/7/17)
Investor Shares
Return Before Taxes
-13.45%0.32%0.34%
Return After Taxes on Distributions
-14.15%-0.83%-0.77%
Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
-7.95%-0.13%-0.11%
Institutional Shares
Return Before Taxes
-13.41%0.37%0.40%
Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index
(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses and taxes)
-13.01%0.02%0.13%

NOTE:  The Sustainable Bond Fund offers two classes of shares. Investor Shares commenced operations on August 7, 2017, and Institutional Shares commenced operations on July 2, 2018.  Performance shown prior to inception of the Institutional Shares is based on the performance of Investor Shares, adjusted for the lower expenses applicable to Institutional Shares. 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual Federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. In certain cases, the figure representing “Return after Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares” may be higher than the other return figures for the same period, since a higher after-tax return results when a capital loss occurs upon redemption and provides an assumed tax deduction that benefits the investor. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for Investor Shares only. After-tax returns for Institutional Shares will vary.
Management
Investment AdviserPortfolio Managers
Brown Advisory LLCAmy Hauter, CFA, has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since its inception in 2017, and Jason Vlosich has served as co-portfolio manager of the Fund since September 2023.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
You may purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares on any business day by written request via mail (Brown Advisory Funds, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701), by wire transfer, by telephone at 800-540-6807 (toll free) or 414-203-9064, or through the Internet at www.brownadvisory.com/client-login. Investors who wish to purchase, exchange or redeem Fund shares through a broker-dealer should contact the broker-dealer directly. The minimum initial and subsequent investment amounts for various types of accounts are shown below.

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Type of AccountMinimum Initial InvestmentMinimum Additional Investment
Institutional Shares
Standard Accounts
$1,000,000$100
Investor Shares
Standard Accounts
$100$100
Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
$100N/A
Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
$100$100
Advisor Shares
Standard Accounts
$100$100
Traditional and Roth IRA Accounts
$100N/A
Accounts with Systematic Investment Plans
$100$100
Qualified Retirement Plans
N/AN/A
The minimum investment requirements are waived for retirement plans that are qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“IRC”) and tax-exempt under Section 501(a) of the IRC, and plans operating consistent with Section 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A, 457 or 223(d) of the IRC.

Tax Information
The Fund’s distributions are taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or an individual retirement account. Such tax-deferred arrangements may be taxed later upon withdrawal of monies from those arrangements.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries
If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a fund-supermarket), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.
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