The SAM Group in Focus / Now RobecoSAM / New Names for Indices Debuts

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Hank Boerner – Chair & Chief Strategist

#Uncategorized 

Around the world, the names are familiar to senior corporate executives, corporate directors, and to many asset owners and their managers: SAM Group, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). There are important changes taking place that we are sharing with you today.
The well-known SAM Group (“Sustainable Asset Management”) has a new name: RobecoSAM. This is the Swiss-based investment specialist organization focused on sustainable investing; products and services include asset  management, indices, private equity, impact analysis & sustainable assessments, and benchmarking.
RobecoSAM publishes the familiar Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), which are based on analysis of more than 2,000 listed companies. RobecoSAM was founded in 1995 and is a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI) and a member firm of Eurosif, the alliance of European financial analyst organizations.
New Family of DJSI Funds
On May 30, 2013, RobecoSAM and S&P Dow Jones Indices announced the launch of the Dow Jones Sustainability Diversified Indices Family (“DJSI Diversified Family”).
The DJSI Diversified Family covers 26 developed markets and 20 emerging market countries and replicates the regional and sector allocation of the S&P Global LargeMidCap Index –taking sustainability performance into account using the RobecoSAM proprietary Corporate Sustainability Assessment(CSA) methodology.
The Index Family effective May 30, 2013:
• Dow Jones Sustainability World Diversified Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability World Developed Diversified Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Diversified Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability North America Diversified Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Diversified
• Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Plus Diversified Index
• Dow Jones Sustainability World Developed ex Korea Diversified Index
The players:
S&P Dow Jones Indices is part of McGraw-Hill Financial, home to the S&P 500® and Dow Jones Industrial Average® . More than 830,000 indicates cover a wide range of asset classes. Standard & Poor’s and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, which is part of McGraw-Hill Financial. Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC.
Investments cannot be made directly in an index; they are made in a wide range of products based on the indices, such as the newly-announced DJSI Family (and the well-established, widely-used S&P 500 benchmark).
RobecoSAM parent Robeco was founded in 1929 to offer financial products and services. t has been part of Rabobank Group, one of Europe’s leading financial institutions based in the Netherlands. Rabobank has activities in banking, asset management, insurance and real estate. Measured in Tier One capital, Rabobank Group is one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
In February 2013, Rabobank announced a strategic alliance with Tokyo-based ORIX, an investment services organization which is pursuing a growth strategy of “Finance + Services.” ORIX is to acquire 90% of Robeco; Rabobank will retain a 9.99% share; and ORIX will allocate treasury stock to Rabobank as part of the acquisition price (EUR 1,935 million).
The plan is for Robeco to become ORIX’s primary platform for future growth in global asset management. ORIX has an established network in Asia and the Middle East and purchased Mariner Investment Group in the USA in 2010.