Rabobank-owned asset manager Robeco, and Swiss-based Sustainable Asset Management Group, have launched what the firms claim to be the world’...

Rabobank-owned asset manager Robeco, and Swiss-based Sustainable Asset Management Group, have launched what the firms claim to be the world’s largest platform for sustainability investments. The strategic co-operation between the Dutch asset manager and SAM Group will open new business opportunities and generate promising growth potential for the combined group, according to a statement. SAM Group is known for its water and energy funds and constructing and licensing the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, a joint initiative with Dow Jones Indexes and STOXX. SAM Group currently has assets under management of SFr3.6 billion ($3 billion) and assets under advice of SFr6.4 billion. Its core offering includes institutional asset management and innovative theme investments funds such as water and smart energy. The joint offering will be aimed at both retail and private investors as well as sophisticated institutional investors. Within the joint platform, Robeco will take a 64 per cent stake in SAM Group and 36 per cent are held by SAM Group’s management and employees. SAM will act as the centre of excellence for sustainability investing within the Robeco Group. In return, Robeco will contribute its expertise in various areas such as structured products, funds of private equity funds, emerging markets and fixed income expertise and its global sales and distribution platforms in Europe, Asia, North America and in the Middle East. "The combination of SAM and Robeco results in the most powerful sustainable asset management platform going," Ray Soudah, founder of MilleniumAssociates, and advisor to SAM in the transaction told WealthBriefing.