Robeco Global Total Return Bond Fund FH EUR

Government bond returns were mixed in March. While US Treasuries were down 1.4% for the month, Australian government bonds managed to gain 1.0%. The euro periphery markets did relatively well, with plusses of 0.6% for Italian BTPs and 0.4% for Spanish Bonos. Eurozone government bonds were supported by the outcome of the ECB's March meeting. The Governing Council expressed the intention to conduct its PEPP bond purchases "at a significantly higher pace". New waves of Covid-19 infections in the EU and a slow vaccination pace probably tempered reopening enthusiasm, thereby also supporting Eurozone bonds. A helping hand from the central bank benefited Australian government bonds as well. In a speech, RBA governor Low pushed back against market expectations of hiking rates in 2022. Fed officials decided not to verbally intervene in the US Treasuries sell-off. Together with reopening enthusiasm this probably explains most of the lagging returns in this market.

Currency risks are hedged, however active currency positions of the fund are part of the investment strategy and will not be hedged.

All income earned is accumulated and not distributed as dividend. Therefore the total return is reflected in the share price development.

For Robeco Global Total Return Bond Fund, ESG factors play an important role in the investment process, both in country analysis and credit analysis. For investments in sovereigns, the Country Sustainability Ranking and underlying research is used as input for assessment of the structural outlook for a country. For credits, the ESG analysis is part of the fundamental scoring by the sector analyst.

Robeco Global Total Return Bond Fund is an actively managed fund that invests globally in developed government and corporate bonds but also has the flexibility to invest in Emerging Debt. The selection of these bonds is based on fundamental analysis.The fund's objective is to provide long term capital growth.The fund aims for a better sustainability profile compared to the Benchmark by promoting certain ESG (i.e. Environmental, Social and corporate Governance) characteristics within the meaning of Article 8 of the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and integrating ESG and sustainability risks in the investment process. In addition, the fund applies an exclusion list on the basis of controversial behavior, products (including controversial weapons, tobacco, palm oil and fossil fuel) and countries, next to engagement. The fund aims to deliver an attractive total return, also on a risk-adjusted basis. The fund is a well-diversified global bond portfolio, which aims to achieve attractive returns by means of a top-down asset-allocation policy. The fund will pursue an active duration policy with the objective to limit draw downs when bond yields rise and enhance returns when bond yields fall. The majority of bonds selected will be components of the Benchmark, but bonds outside the Benchmark may be selected too. The fund can deviate substantially from the weightings of the Benchmark. The fund aims to outperform the Benchmark over the long run, whilst still controlling relative risk through the applications of limits (on issuers and currencies) to the extent of deviation from the Benchmark. This will consequently limit the deviation of the performance relative to the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a broad market weighted index that is not consistent with the ESG characteristics promoted by the fund.

The fund aims to deliver an attractive total return, also on a risk-adjusted basis. The fund targets an ex-ante total return volatility within the range of 2 to 6% and can adjust the duration of the portfolio between 0 and 10 years. The leverage exposure of derivatives on a fund level is restricted as described in the prospectus.