The annual report lists everything that Robeco has done over the year, from assets under management, new products and initiatives, to its role as an employer and charitable work in the local Rotterdam community.
The year was dominated by Covid-19, which forced most staff to work from home from early March – a policy that is still in place over 12 months later. Given the need for the world to return to normal in the wake of the devastating pandemic, the title of the report is ‘There is no recovery without sustainability’.
There were several highlights during the year, led by a greater focus on climate change. In April, Robeco refreshed its climate policy and created two dedicated roles – a climate strategist and a climate data scientist. In August, Robeco was again awarded the highest possible sustainability A+ scores by the Principles for Responsible Investment, as well as being included in the 2020 PRI Leaders Group.
Exclusions extended
In September, the exclusion policy that pertains to companies involved in contentious business practices was extended to fossil fuels. Companies that derive 25% or more of their revenues from thermal coal or oil sands, or 10% from Arctic drilling, were barred from Sustainability Inside funds. Lower thresholds were applied to the more bespoke Sustainability Focused and Impact Investing ranges.
Zurich-based RobecoSAM was renamed as Robeco Switzerland in November. RobecoSAM remains an ingredient brand for selected SI research and intelligence that is used throughout the company. The name has also been retained to label the range of impact investing products offered from Switzerland.
Climate funds and net zero pledge
Two new funds were launched in December – Robeco Climate Global Bonds and Robeco Climate Global Credits – which follow a benchmark aligned with the Paris Agreement that was specifically created for this purpose. Other funds launched in 2020 include RobecoSAM Circular Economy Equities, which invests in the transition away from the linear economic model, and RobecoSAM Global Green Bonds, the first standalone capability in this area.
Also in December, Robeco announced its ambition to achieve net zero emissions across all its assets under management by 2050 within the framework of the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. In order to achieve this, specific decarbonization targets will be announced before the COP26 Climate Summit in November 2021.
Important information
The contents of this document have not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") in Hong Kong. If you are in any doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice. This document has been distributed by Robeco Hong Kong Limited (‘Robeco’). Robeco is regulated by the SFC in Hong Kong. This document has been prepared on a confidential basis solely for the recipient and is for information purposes only. Any reproduction or distribution of this documentation, in whole or in part, or the disclosure of its contents, without the prior written consent of Robeco, is prohibited. By accepting this documentation, the recipient agrees to the foregoing This document is intended to provide the reader with information on Robeco’s specific capabilities, but does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell certain securities or investment products. Investment decisions should only be based on the relevant prospectus and on thorough financial, fiscal and legal advice. Please refer to the relevant offering documents for details including the risk factors before making any investment decisions. The contents of this document are based upon sources of information believed to be reliable. This document is not intended for distribution to or use by any person or entity in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation. Investment Involves risks. Historical returns are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily reflect Robeco’s expectations for the future. The value of your investments may fluctuate. Past performance is no indication of current or future performance.