Robeco

History

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.

The company had a startup capital of almost 2 million guilders, but by mid-1932, less than half was left. 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.

As a result, Robeco’s assets increased by almost 90% between 1939 and 1946. Robeco introduced a share-saving system, allowing people of more modest means to save up for Robeco shares in 1953. 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). In 1963, Robeco became one of the first foreign investors to enter the Japanese stock market.

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

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