RobecoSAM Global SDG Credits BxH USD

The Global Aggregate Corporate Bond Index returned -0.35% (hedged to EUR) last month. Credit spread and interest rate moves were mixed. The 10-year US Treasury yield moved to 0.91% from 0.84%. And the German 10-year yield remained unchanged at -0.57%. The credit spread on the Global Corporate Bond Index tightened 7 bps to 1.00%.The final month of a very interesting year. Fiscal and monetary actions removed most if not all systematic risk in the market. A Brexit deal was signed at the last possible moment. And new (third) lockdowns materialized in Europe during Christmas. In the US, transfer payments and additional unemployment benefits have been increased until mid-March. The ECB has announced more of the same: a rolling over of the PEPP program and TLTROs. Sectors that have been hit hardest by the virus, such as leisure, are still slow to recover, despite increased occupancy levels at hotels. The positive sentiment changed again in December, as fund flows slowed down, valuations tightened, macro rhetoric increased and most important of all, Covid-19 cases increased in developed markets. And yet, simply the best set of possible outcomes is priced in by the markets.

All currency risks are hedged.

The fund make use of derivatives for hedging purposes as well as for investment purposes.

This share class of the fund will distribute dividend.

In the RobecoSAM Global SDG Credits strategy we look for investments with a positive societal impact, whilst generating healthy financial returns. We define impact as an alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We identify and evaluate the impact that specific credits have on the SDGs, and score all the issuers under coverage of the analyst team. These scores categorize credits as having either a Positive, Neutral, or Negative impact on the SDGs. The scores are then used in a screening process, to define the investable universe that exclude credits with a Negative impact on the SDGs. In addition to the universe screening, our credit analysts integrate ESG factors in their analysis of the companies fundamental credit quality.

RobecoSAM Global SDG Credits invests in a diversified portfolio of global investment grade corporate bonds. Core of the portfolio is invested in investment grade credits, complemented by best opportunities in High Yield and Emerging Markets The selection of these bonds is based on fundamental analysis. The fund aims to contribute to realizing the UN SDG goals by assessing the SDG score of all companies in the universe. The fund does not invest in companies that do not contribute to these goals. The investment philosophy is based on managing a solid diversified portfolio with a long term view. Companies that don't contribute to the realization of the SDG Goals as set by the UN are excluded from the universe. Top-down beta positioning is based on the outcome of our credit quarterly outlook meeting, which defines the current credit environment and where we are in the credit cycle. This analysis is based on a fundamental, valuation and technical perspective. Bottom-up issuer research is executed by our credit analysts, who undertake  the fundamental analysis. Analyst research reports are discussed in approx. 500 credit committees per year. The portfolio managers are responsible for the portfolio construction. A proprietary developed risk management approach avoids high risk concentration in the portfolio. As the investment process is well-structured and proven over time, it contributes to repeatable performance delivery.

Risk management is fully embedded in the investment process to ensure that positions always meet predefined guidelines.