Group performance above benchmark

On average 2009 has been a favorable year for Robeco’s clients. 2009 was a very positive year for equity investments. Most of the equity funds compensated, by showing substantial absolute returns, the greater part of the losses of 2008. At group level, in 2009, 73% (2008: 44%) of the assets under management outperformed compared to their benchmarks.  At group level, 89% of equity investments outperformed their benchmark on a gross-of-fee basis. At business-line level, the percentage of outperforming equity assets was 81% for Mainstream Investments Rotterdam, 100% for Mainstream Investments Gestions (Paris, France), 86% for Mainstream Investments RIM (Boston, USA), 98% for Harbor Capital Advisors (Chicago, USA), 89% for SAM (Zurich, Switzerland) and 88% for Canara Robeco Asset Management (Mumbai, India).

Most Robeco fixed-income products generated a positive absolute return in 2009, 46% of the assets outperformed the benchmark. Over a three-year period this figure is 41%.
Transtrend’s Enhanced Risk USD had a very difficult year with a performance of -11.3% net of fees. Robeco Multi Market Bonds (which are largely invested in a Transtrend product) were affected by these results. The hedge fund of funds Robeco Sage Capital International realized an absolute return of 12.0% net of fees over 2009.

The table shows the gross-of-fee absolute returns of the most important funds (net of fees for alternatives).