Robeco

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.Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 130

The company had a startup capital of almost 2 million guilders, but by mid-1932, less than half was left.Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 9-20 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.Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 129-130

As a result, Robeco’s assets increased by almost 90% between 1939 and 1946.Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 59 Robeco introduced a share-saving system, allowing people of more modest means to save up for Robeco shares in 1953.Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 198; Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 66-68 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).Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 71 In 1963, Robeco became one of the first foreign investors to enter the Japanese stock market.Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 257

Rolinco, a second mutual fund for investors more interested in capital growth than taxable dividend, was founded in 1965. Robeco Group is also founded.Slot, B.M.J., Iedereen kapitalist, Amsterdam, 2004, p 248 The company became the largest mutual fund in Europe in 1969.Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 102 Rorento, Robeco’s first bond fund, was founded in 1974 as an answer to the oil crisis in 1973.Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 109-110 Robeco opens offices in various European countries, including France, Luxembourg and Switzerland in the 1980s.{{Cite web |url=http://www.robeco.com/eng/press/static/ci/ex_history.jsp |title=Robeco.com - Extended History |access-date=2008-09-09 |archive-date=2007-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517082423/http://www.robeco.com/eng/press/static/ci/ex_history.jsp |url-status=dead }}

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.Duijn, J.J. van, Met gemak betrouwbaar beleggen, Zutphen, 2004, p 151-152 Robeco DuurzaamAandelen [Sustainable Equities], the first sustainable equity fund launched by a Dutch mainstream asset manager, was introduced in 1999.IPE, August 2007, p 23 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.{{Cite journal|date=19 July 2002|title=Boston Business Journal|journal=Boston Business Journal}} 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.Boston Business Journal, 19 July 2002 The remaining shares were acquired in 2003.

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.FEM Business, 1 December 2007, p 38 The remaining shares were acquired in 2007.Het Financieele Dagblad, 2 March 2007

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. The company opened an office in Tokyo, Japan in 2005.{{Cite book|title=Robeco Groep N.V. - Annual Report 2005|year=2006|pages=48}}

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. That year, Robeco signed the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Investment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unpri.org/signatories|title=Signatories|website=PRI}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.enhancedanalytics.com/portal/Library/Documents/EAI/NEWS/en_LIB04051.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2008-09-09 |archive-date=2009-03-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320174358/http://www.enhancedanalytics.com/portal/Library/Documents/EAI/NEWS/en_LIB04051.pdf |url-status=dead }}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.efinancialnews.com/assetmanagement/fundmanagement/content/1046743963|title = Financial News - Setting the agenda for the City}}

For the Belgian market, Robeco Bank Belgium is sold to Kaupthing Bank Luxembourg in 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.euroinvestor.dk/|title=Euroinvestor|website=www.euroinvestor.dk}} Robeco opened regional offices in Hong Kong for Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. In 2009, Roderick Munsters became CEO of the company.{{Cite news|date=2009-05-25|title=Investment adviser Robeco names new CEO|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/robeco-idINLP38464520090525|access-date=2021-05-12}}

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.Investments & Pensions Europe [http://www.ipe.com/news/rabobank-exploring-options-for-robeco-including-sale_45218.php Rabobank exploring 'options' for Robeco, including sale], 27 April 2012 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).Rabobank press release [https://www.rabobank.com/nl/ir/irnews_research/Orix_acquires_Robeco_rss.html ORIX acquires Robeco], 19 February 2013{{Cite web|date=2013-02-19|title=Japan's ORIX acquires Robeco from Rabobank|url=https://www.internationalinvestment.net/internationalinvestment/news/3711792/japan%E2%80%99-orix-acquires-robeco-rabobank|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.internationalinvestment.net|language=en}}

In September 2015, Munsters stepped down as CEO and was replaced by David Steyn.{{Cite web|last=Preesman2015-09-22T14:51:00+01:00|first=Leen|title=Robeco appoints successor to CEO Roderick Munsters|url=https://www.ipe.com/robeco-appoints-successor-to-ceo-roderick-munsters/10009873.article|access-date=2021-05-12|website=IPE|language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Robeco Groep changes name|url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/DH355ij4h1fARuztdqEjeg2|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.spglobal.com|language=en-us}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://fd.nl/beurs/1151938/robeco-gaat-op-de-schop|title=Robeco gaat op de schop|date=17 May 2016|website=Financieel Dagblad|access-date=28 June 2019}}

In 2018, Robeco Group rebranded as ORIX Corporation Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://www.investmenteurope.net/investmenteurope/news/3721372/robeco-rebranded-orix-corporation-europe|title=Robeco Group rebranded as Orix Corporation Europe|date=5 January 2018|website=Investment Europe}}

The development of the amount of asset under management (AuM) of Robeco Group was as follows:Zestig jaar Robeco 1929-1969. Robeco Groep, Rotterdam 1990 and annual reports Robeco Groep

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:

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.robeco.com/docm/docu-annu-2018-riam.pdf|title=RIAM Annual Report 2018|date=21 March 2019|website=Robeco|access-date=28 June 2019}}

Robeco currently has offices in the following countries;{{Cite web |url=https://www.robeco.nl/nl/dut/iw/tools/worldmap.jsp |title=Robeco.nl - Wereldkaart |access-date=2008-10-17 |archive-date=2008-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115184938/https://www.robeco.nl/nl/dut/iw/tools/worldmap.jsp |url-status=dead }}

• {{flagicon|NLD}} Netherlands International headquarters; Robeco Institutional Asset Management
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Australia Robeco Hong Kong Ltd (Sydney)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} China Robeco Greater China and South East Asia (Hong Kong)
• {{flagicon|FRA}} France Robeco France (Paris)
• {{flagicon|GER}} Germany Robeco Germany (Frankfurt)
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Japan Robeco Japan clients (Tokyo)
• {{flagicon|ESP}} Spain Robeco Spain (Madrid)
• {{flagicon|UAE}} UAE Robeco Middle East (Dubai)
• {{flagicon|SUI}} Switzerland Robeco Switzerland (Zurich)
• {{flagicon|UK}} United Kingdom Robeco UK (London)
• {{flagicon|USA}} Robeco Institutional Asset Management U.S.

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.[http://www.depers.nl/economie/83944/Robeco-groeit-aan-Coolsingel-in-doodsquist-uit-zijn-jasje.html Robeco groeit aan Coolsingel in ‘doodsquist’ uit zijn jasje - dinsdag 12 februari 2008 - DePers.nl]

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Category:Investment management companies of the Netherlands

Category:Companies based in Rotterdam

Category:Financial services companies established in 1929

Category:Alternative investment management companies

Category:1929 establishments in the Netherlands

Category:Asset management companies