Así es Robeco, la gestora europea que lleva un siglo invirtiendo en emergentes

In 1929, shortly after the Wall Street crash, a group of seven Rotterdam businessmen founded the Rotterdamsch Beleggings Consortium, later abbreviated as Robeco. They aimed to invest and manage private savings, but the Great Depression saw them lose half their money in the first two years. Despite this, they persevered, laying the groundwork for the modern Robeco.

In 2001, the firm was acquired by the Dutch Rabobank, which sold it in 2013 to Japan's Orix Corporation. Today, Robeco is owned by Orix Corporation Europe, alongside value Boston Partners, India's Canara, and CTA futures manager Transtrend.

Established in 2003, Robeco has been present in Spain since then. Its Madrid office, led by Laura Romín since 2024, has nine professionals. The strategy focuses on gaining deeper client penetration, enhancing digital presence, and expanding mandates, where they already manage significant volumes. They aim to be in the top 10 of international asset managers in Spain, surpassing that figure if mandate figures are considered.

Romín also highlights Robeco's quantitative investment strength, which caters to both institutional clients and retail markets. The firm, known as the "investment engineers," has been pioneering the implementation of academic research into practical investment solutions since 1994. Its quantitative platform integrates data science, factor analysis, risk management, and sustainability.

Robeco's thematic investing is another major focus. For over two decades, it has identified growth opportunities arising from technological, demographic, environmental, and societal changes beyond traditional economic cycles. These strategies target areas like the energy transition, financial digitalization, new materials, circular economy, sustainable mobility, and global consumption trends.

The firm uses quantitative research tools and filters in its fundamental investment approach. In emerging markets, Robeco has invested 75 billion euros, with a focus on value investing in undervalued companies with significant growth potential. The firm expects an annualized return of 8% for emerging market variable income and 5.5% for fixed income local currencies.

Robeco's recent launch of ETFs reflects its commitment to quantitative investment, with over 50 professionals working on improving models through academic research and data analysis. The firm also has a long history in fixed income and credit, built on fundamental analysis, ASG integration, and an active long-term view. Sustainability is a strategic pillar, with Robeco being one of the first asset managers to develop specific sustainable solutions, evolving from exclusion and ASG analysis to fully integrated processes. Today, 402 billion euros of its 406 billion euro managed assets integrate ASG criteria.