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Robeco

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Robeco
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFinancial services
Founded1929; 95 years ago (1929)
HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
Key people
Gilbert Van Hassel (Chairman of the Robeco Executive Committee, since 19 September 2016)
ProductsAsset Management
Increase € 583 million (2018)[1]
Increase € 88 million (2018)[1]
AUM€200 billion (June 2021)
Number of employees
741 (fte, average 2018)
ParentORIX Corporation (100%)
Websiterobeco.com

Robeco is an originally Dutch asset management firm, since 2013 part of Orix, founded in 1929 as the Rotterdamsch Beleggings Consortium (Rotterdam Investment Consortium). As of 2014, the company had €246 billion of assets under management. It was acquired in 2001 by the Rabobank Groep and sold in 2013 to ORIX Corporation.[2]

Robeco offers assets management services to both institutional and private investors. The funds for private investors are available through Robeco itself and other financial institutions.

History

[edit]

In 1929, a group of businessmen from Rotterdam founded the Rotterdamsch Beleggings Consortium (Rotterdam Investment Consortium) and the Robeco fund. The portfolio is diversified globally over the Netherlands, other European countries, North and South America, and the Dutch East Indies.[3]

The company had a startup capital of almost 2 million guilders, but by mid-1932, less than half was left.[4] The company managed to survive the 1930s and grew during World War II by heavily investing in the United States. During WWII, from 1940 to 1945, almost half of the portfolio was invested in the US.[5]

As a result, Robeco’s assets increased by almost 90% between 1939 and 1946.[6] Robeco introduced a share-saving system, allowing people of more modest means to save up for Robeco shares in 1953.[7] New listings were established in Paris (1959), Brussels (1960), London (1962) and numerous other European financial centers. Listings are also obtained in Hong Kong (1971) and Tokyo (1976).[8] In 1963, Robeco became one of the first foreign investors to enter the Japanese stock market.[9]

Rolinco, a second mutual fund for investors more interested in capital growth than taxable dividend, was founded in 1965. Robeco Group is also founded.[10] The company became the largest mutual fund in Europe in 1969.[11] Rorento, Robeco’s first bond fund, was founded in 1974 as an answer to the oil crisis in 1973.[12] Robeco opens offices in various European countries, including France, Luxembourg and Switzerland in the 1980s.[13]

The company starts a close cooperation with the Rabobank in 1990, which would eventually lead to the takeover of Robeco by the Rabobank in 2001.[14] Robeco DuurzaamAandelen [Sustainable Equities], the first sustainable equity fund launched by a Dutch mainstream asset manager, was introduced in 1999.[15] The following year, Robeco North America acquired Urban Shopping Centers.

In 2001, Robeco Group acquired Harbor Capital Advisors, an American provider of investment funds. Harbor selects the most suitable manager for each of its funds externally and outsources portfolio management to it.[16] Robeco North America sold all of its Urban Shopping Center investments in 2002, and acquired a 60% interest in Boston Partners, a value-equity manager based in Boston.[17] The remaining shares were acquired in 2003.[13]

Also, in 2002, Robeco Group acquired a 49% interest in Transtrend, a Rotterdam-based managed-futures trader with a track record going back to 1990.[18] The remaining shares were acquired in 2007.[19]

Robeco Sustainable Private Equity was introduced in 2004 as the first sustainable private-equity fund of funds in the world, developed in cooperation with Rabobank.[15] The company opened an office in Tokyo, Japan in 2005.[20]

Robeco Clean Tech Private Equity II, an investment program aimed at clean-tech private-equity funds and co-investments, was developed in cooperation with Rabobank in 2006.[15] That year, Robeco signed the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment.[21] The company also joined the Enhanced Analytics Initiative, a group of international asset owners and asset managers who work together to encourage investment research that considers the impact of extra-financial issues on long-term company performance.[22]

Robeco acquired a 64% stake in Swiss based Sustainable Asset Management. SAM Group and Robeco Group join forces, which gives them a strong position in the market for sustainable investment.[23]

For the Belgian market, Robeco Bank Belgium is sold to Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg in 2007.[24] Robeco opened regional offices in Hong Kong for Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. In 2009, Roderick Munsters became CEO of the company.[25]

In 2010, Robeco implemented an integrated sustainable investment policy. In future, factors relating to the environment, society and good corporate governance will be fully taken into account in investment decisions. Robeco also introduced an exclusion policy; no investments will be made in certain companies, such as producers of controversial weapons such as cluster bombs.

In 2013, Rabobank Group announced that it was looking into the "strategic options" for its subsidiary Robeco Group as part of a strategic reorientation.[26] In February 2013, Rabobank announced the sale of Robeco Group to ORIX Corporation of Japan. ORIX acquired about 90.01% of the equity in Robeco Group from Rabobank for €1,935 million (JPY 240.2 billion).[27][28]

In September 2015, Munsters stepped down as CEO and was replaced by David Steyn.[29]

ORIX acquired the remaining 10% of Robeco in 2016, and introduced a new organisational structure for the company. Robeco Group became a holding entity with various asset management subsidiaries such as Boston Partners, Harbor Capital Advisors, Transtrend, RobecoSAM and Robeco.[30]

Makoute Inoue, the Japanese CEO of ORIX, is in charge of the holding company following approval by the regulator. Board member Leni Boeren leads the structural change and leaves Robeco when this process is completed. Gilbert Van Hassel is appointed CEO and Chairman of the Board of Robeco Institutional Asset Management in September.[31]

In 2018, Robeco Group rebranded as ORIX Corporation Europe.[32]

The development of the amount of asset under management (AuM) of Robeco Group was as follows:[33]

Year AuM (in € m)
24 March 1934 0.5
1939 6.8
1949 20.9
1959 248.2
1969 2,030
1978 4,629
1 July 1987 15,880
1999 85,400
2008 110,700
2009 134,900
2010 149,600
2011 150,300
2012 189,000
2013 205,000
2014 246,000
2015 268,000
2016 281,000

In May 2016, it was decided to separate the activities of the subsidiaries - including Robeco - from those of Robeco Group. The figure below provides an overview of the assets under management (AuM) of Robeco since 2017:

Year AuM (in € b)
2017 150
2018 167[34]

Performance

[edit]

The stocks managed by Robeco performed better than the benchmark over the period 2004-2006, beating the benchmark on average with 0.89%. However performance was weaker over 2006 than it was over 2004 and 2005. The bonds managed by Robeco performed below the benchmark. In 2016, 69% of the funds outperformed the benchmark over a three-year period. The comparable figure for 2015 was 74%. In 2017 79%, and in 2018 51% of the funds outperformed the benchmark over a three-year period.[35]

Global presence

[edit]

Robeco currently has offices in the following countries;[36]

  • Netherlands Netherlands International headquarters; Robeco Institutional Asset Management
  • Australia Australia Robeco Hong Kong Ltd (Sydney)
  • China China Robeco Greater China and South East Asia (Hong Kong)
  • France France Robeco France (Paris)
  • Germany Germany Robeco Germany (Frankfurt)
  • Japan Japan Robeco Japan clients (Tokyo)
  • Spain Spain Robeco Spain (Madrid)
  • United Arab Emirates UAE Robeco Middle East (Dubai)
  • Switzerland Switzerland Robeco Switzerland (Zurich)
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom Robeco UK (London)
  • United States Robeco Institutional Asset Management U.S.

Headquarters

[edit]

Since 2016, Robeco is headquartered in the newly built 128 meter tall FIRST Rotterdam office tower in the Rotterdam Central District. Before, the headquarters were located in the 95 meter tall Robeco toren in Rotterdam on the corner of the Coolsingel and Blaak.[37]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "RIAM Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Robeco.com. 21 June 2019.
  2. ^ Rabobank press release ORIX completes acquisition of Robeco, 1 July 2013
  3. ^ Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 130
  4. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 9-20
  5. ^ Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 129-130
  6. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 59
  7. ^ Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 198; Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 66-68
  8. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 71
  9. ^ Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 257
  10. ^ Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 248
  11. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 102
  12. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 109-110
  13. ^ a b "Robeco.com - Extended History". Archived from the original on 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
  14. ^ Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 151-152
  15. ^ a b c IPE, August 2007, p 23
  16. ^ "Boston Business Journal". Boston Business Journal. 19 July 2002.
  17. ^ Boston Business Journal, 19 July 2002
  18. ^ FEM Business, 1 December 2007, p 38
  19. ^ Het Financieele Dagblad, 2 March 2007
  20. ^ Robeco Groep N.V. - Annual Report 2005. 2006. p. 48.
  21. ^ "Signatories". PRI.
  22. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2008-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Financial News - Setting the agenda for the City".
  24. ^ "Euroinvestor". www.euroinvestor.dk.
  25. ^ "Investment adviser Robeco names new CEO". Reuters. 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  26. ^ Investments & Pensions Europe Rabobank exploring 'options' for Robeco, including sale, 27 April 2012
  27. ^ Rabobank press release ORIX acquires Robeco, 19 February 2013
  28. ^ "Japan's ORIX acquires Robeco from Rabobank". www.internationalinvestment.net. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  29. ^ Preesman2015-09-22T14:51:00+01:00, Leen. "Robeco appoints successor to CEO Roderick Munsters". IPE. Retrieved 2021-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Robeco Groep changes name". www.spglobal.com. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  31. ^ "Robeco gaat op de schop". Financieel Dagblad. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  32. ^ "Robeco Group rebranded as Orix Corporation Europe". Investment Europe. 5 January 2018.
  33. ^ Zestig jaar Robeco 1929-1969. Robeco Groep, Rotterdam 1990 and annual reports Robeco Groep
  34. ^ "Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. 2018 Annual Report" (PDF). Robeco. March 21, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  35. ^ "RIAM Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Robeco. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  36. ^ "Robeco.nl - Wereldkaart". Archived from the original on 2008-11-15. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  37. ^ Robeco groeit aan Coolsingel in ‘doodsquist’ uit zijn jasje - dinsdag 12 februari 2008 - DePers.nl
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