Robert Leitz
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{{Article for deletion/dated|page=Robert Leitz|timestamp=20250508191734|year=2025|month=May|day=8|substed=yes}}
{{Short description |Swiss investment manager }}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Leitz
| image =
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| birth_date =
| birth_place = Switzerland
| education = University of St. Gallen, University of California Berkeley, and Columbia University
| occupation = Investment manager
| years_active =
| known_for = Founder and managing director of iolite Capital
| notable_works =
| spouse =
| children = 2
}}
Robert Leitz is a Swiss investment manager and the founder and managing director of iolite Capital, an investment firm based in Freienbach, Switzerland, specializing in equity investments.
Leitz is known for managing a concentrated portfolio of global holdings, focusing on undervalued companies with significant long-term growth potential. Under his leadership, iolite Capital has reportedly achieved annualized returns exceeding 15%.{{cite web |title=Robert Leitz: A Value Investor’s Journey |url=https://valuewalk.com/robert-leitz-profile/ |website=ValueWalk |date=January 15, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Early life and education
Leitz earned a Master of Science in Business Administration and Economics from the University of St. Gallen. He completed his master's thesis under the guidance of Professor Eli Noam at Columbia University. His thesis focused on peer-to-peer networks, including a discussion of digital payment systems that closely resembled what later became cryptocurrencies.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.iolitecapital.com/about-us |website=iolite Capital |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Career
Leitz began his career as a management consultant at KPMG Corporate Restructuring, advising distressed companies on operational and financial turnarounds. He then joined Goldman Sachs’ European Special Situations Group as an investment analyst, focusing on proprietary and complex investments.{{cite web |title=Robert Leitz: A Value Investor’s Journey |url=https://valuewalk.com/robert-leitz-profile/ |website=ValueWalk |date=January 15, 2023 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
He later became a founding member of TPG Credit (now Castlelake), a multi-billion-dollar credit opportunities hedge fund launched in partnership with private equity firm TPG. Before establishing iolite Capital, he held a position at Glencore, the world’s largest commodity trader.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.iolitecapital.com/about-us |website=iolite Capital |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
In 2011, Leitz established iolite Capital in Freienbach, Switzerland. The firm pursues a disciplined, value-driven approach, taking strategic stakes in undervalued companies. Leitz’s investment philosophy has been covered in outlets like Forbes and IntraFish.{{cite web |title=Investor Tells Forbes Why He Is Bullish on Bakkafrost |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2018/02/15/bullish-on-bakkafrost/ |website=Forbes |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Investor Tells Forbes Why He Is Bullish on Bakkafrost |url=https://www.intrafish.com/finance/investor-tells-forbes-why-he-is-bullish-on-bakkafrost/2-1-275122 |website=IntraFish |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Leitz has been an attendee of many investor conferences, such as ValueX Klosters, where he has shared his insights on investing and companies.{{cite web |title=ValueX Klosters 2022 Agenda |url=https://www.valuexklosters.com/agenda-2022 |website=ValueX Klosters |access-date=March 18, 2025}}{{cite news |title=ValueX Klosters 2022: Insights from Top Investors |url=https://www.swissfinancetoday.com/valuex-klosters-2022 |newspaper=Swiss Finance Today |date=July 15, 2022 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Publicly disclosed investments
Jumbo Interactive (2012): iolite Capital acquired a stake in this Australian digital lottery retailer during a period of international expansion challenges. Leitz backed CEO Mike Veverka’s strategy, contributing to a turnaround that saw Jumbo’s market capitalization rise from A$50 million in 2012 to A$1.1 billion by mid-2019.{{cite web |title=Iolite Partners 1Q19 Commentary: Thoughts On Jumbo Interactive |url=https://www.valuewalk.com/iolite-partners-1q19-commentary-jumbo-interactive/ |website=ValueWalk |date=January 30, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}{{cite news |title=Why Investors Are Hesitant to Play Ball with Jumbo |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/games-and-wagering/why-investors-are-hesitant-to-play-ball-with-jumbo-20200429-p54ocx |newspaper=The Australian Financial Review |date=April 29, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2025}}
Digital River (2013): In 2013, iolite Capital invested in Digital River, a Minnesota-based e-commerce and payments company, as highlighted in the Manual of Ideas. The investment thesis emphasized Digital River’s undervaluation and potential for operational improvement despite market challenges. From the publication of the thesis in mid-2013, Digital River’s share price (NASDAQ: DRIV) rose from approximately $17.50 to a peak of $26.11 by early 2014, a gain of about 49%. The company was acquired by Siris Capital Group, a private equity firm.{{cite web |title=Siris Capital Group to Acquire Digital River for $26.00 Per Share |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141027005180/en/Siris-Capital-Group-to-Acquire-Digital-River-for-26.00-Per-Share |website=Business Wire |date=October 27, 2014 |access-date=April 17, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Digital River Historical Stock Prices |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DRIV/history/ |website=Yahoo Finance |access-date=April 17, 2025}}
Euler Hermes (2017): In 2017, Leitz advocated for investment in Euler Hermes (XPAR: ELE), a French credit insurance company, through an article published in the Manual of Ideas. Euler Hermes’s share price increased from approximately €95.00 to €122.00 by November 2017 when Allianz SE acquired Euler Hermes, delivering a total return of approximately 28.4% from the thesis publication to the acquisition date.{{cite web |title=Allianz to Acquire Full Ownership of Euler Hermes |url=https://www.allianz.com/en/press/news/business/insurance/171127_Allianz-to-acquire-full-ownership-of-Euler-Hermes.html |website=Allianz |date=November 27, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Euler Hermes Group SA Historical Stock Prices |url= |website=GuruFocus |access-date=April 17, 2025}}
Bakkafrost (2018): Leitz endorsed this Faroese salmon farming company for its organic growth and high returns, as noted in Forbes and IntraFish. His analysis proved accurate, with Bakkafrost’s share price doubling within two years.{{cite web |title=Investor Tells Forbes Why He Is Bullish on Bakkafrost |url=https://www.intrafish.com/finance/investor-tells-forbes-why-he-is-bullish-on-bakkafrost/2-1-275122 |website=IntraFish |date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Dynacor Group (2024): iolite Capital took a 10% stake in this Canadian gold ore sourcing and processing company (TSX: DNG), aligning with Leitz’s focus on undervalued firms. He later called a special shareholder meeting to address governance issues and seek a board position.{{cite web |title=iolite Capital Boosts Stake in Dynacor Group |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/iolite-capital-dynacor-stake-2024/ |website=Yahoo Finance |date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}{{cite news |title=iolite Calls Special Meeting of Dynacor Group Shareholders |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326032462/en/iolite-Called-Special-Meeting-of-Dynacor-Group-Inc.-Filing-of-Meeting-Materials-and-Confirmation-of-Mailing |newspaper=Business Wire |date=March 26, 2025 |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
Personal life
Leitz resides in Switzerland with his wife and two children. He serves as Finance Chair for the Zurich chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and is a non-executive director at Opterion Health AG.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.iolitecapital.com/about-us |website=iolite Capital |access-date=March 18, 2025}}
References
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Category:University of St. Gallen alumni
Category:Columbia University alumni