Robeco Investment Managers

Robeco stands for Rotterdamsch Beleggings Consortium and was established in 1929.   Robeco is an independent subsidiary of the Rabobank Group. Within the Rabobank Group, Robeco is the centre of knowledge in the field of asset management with its own independent investment policy. Robeco and Rabobank Group started their cooperation in 1990, and Robeco's investment funds have also been available from Rabobank since that time. Rabobank became a 50%-shareholder of Robeco in February 1997, with an option to buy the remaining 50% as of 27 February 2001. This option was exercised on 29 August 2000. Robeco is the Dutch Market Leader in Investment funds. Click here for our Robeco funds.

Robeco manages assets of 113 Billion Euro (end 2004). Institutional Clients represent 59%. With 44 Billion Euro invested in Private Funds (41% of the total assets) Robeco is one of the largest providers of retail funds in Europe. The greater parts of the assets are managed in Europe. This is primarily derived from Dutch Clients. Furthermore Robeco manages extensive funds in Switzerland, France and Luxembourg. 36% of the assets are derived from the US and are also managed there Robeco offers investors reliable funds in all asset categories: equities, bonds and alternative investments. By investing in Robeco funds, you can benefit from 75 years of experience in the field.

Investment Philosophy

Robeco aspires to offer you continuity in good returns and therefore employ a disciplined and consistent investment approach. The investment style for equities can best be characterized as a bottom-up stock selection process with top-down checks. The combination of qualitative and quantitative research which forms the basis of the bottom-up selection process has produced good results over the years. Robeco has a leading position in Europe in the area of modern quantitative research. The views of the investment teams form the basis for the top-down check. This last move ensures that Robeco's funds are consistently managed within a wide spectrum. 

The range of all investment possibilities open to Robeco Fund Managers is filtered, using quantitative models. Furthermore, companies are investigated by means of thorough analysis and company visits. This combination of a quantitative and a fundamental assessment eventually leads to the selection of shares which are eligible for investment.

The selection of Government bonds is characterized by a top-down approach.The most attractive regions and countries are selected on the basis of the outcome of a quantitative model and macroeconomic analysis. Then individual bonds are selected within these regions.

As for equities, the investment process for corporate bonds is characterized by a bottom-up approach. Potentially prospective companies are identified on the basis of the outcome of a quantitative model and the fundamental assessment of companies by our analysts. The portfolio is well diversified over sectors and rating classes in order to limit risk

The Institute for Research and Investment Services (IRIS) is the independent research institute of Rabobank and Robeco. Worldwide IRIS provides advice on more than 500 individual shares. The advice is based on a combination of fundamental, technical and strategic and quantitative analysis.

Selection of Awards in 2004 - 2005

Robeco Group

• Lipper Fund Award 2004: Best Bond Group 2004 (Germany)
• First in Europe as the manager of obligation funds on the basis of the average MorningStar-ranking (Morningstar/Global Investor Magazine, March 2004).

Robeco Lux-o-rente

• Lipper Fund Award 2005: Best three year performance (Switzerland)

Robeco Multi Managers Asia-Pacific

• Lipper Fund Award 2005: Best three year performance (Switzerland)
• Lipper Fund Award Germany 2005: Best five year performance (Germany)

Robeco Global Bonds EUR

• Standard & Poor's Award 2004: Best Annual Returns (United Kingdom)

For more awards have a look at www.robeco.com under awards.