RobecoSAM Global SDG Equities F EUR

The rise in yields for long-term US government bonds remained the dominant theme on the capital markets. After the 10-year US Treasuries exceeded the mark of 1.7%, investors desperately tried to interpret what this means for the equity market. Is it a warning sign of surging inflation or rather an expression of long-lasting economic recovery? Some indicators such as a steep acceleration in freight rates, higher commodity prices and disruption in supply chains hint towards higher production costs, increasing the risk for declining corporate margins and higher consumer prices. On the other hand, Fed Chairman Powell tried to calm investors, reiterating that "inflation will be neither particularly large nor persistent". After some initial volatile days, the stock recovered gradually and reached a new all-time on 17 March. The rotation from technology into cyclical sectors continued. Towards month-end, however, defensive quality sectors such as consumer staples began to catch up, while pressure on risky, unprofitable technology companies intensified.

The fund is allowed to pursue an active currency policy to generate extra returns and can engage in currency hedging transactions.

In principle the fund does not intend to distribute dividend and so both the income earned by the fund and its overall performance are reflected in its share price.

RobecoSAM Global SDG Equities invest in companies whose products and services create a positive impact on the SDGs. It employs systematic, bottom-up stock selection that combines proprietary Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) data and research throughout the investment process. ESG criteria for exclusions and theme-specific suitability are applied during universe construction. An in-house Sustainability Investing (SI) research team integrates financially-material sector and company-specific sustainability analysis into investment cases. A dedicated thematic equity team incorporates SI research within fundamental analysis and stock valuations. Impact assessments of controversial incidences affecting portfolio holdings provide additional risk management. An active ownership and engagement team interacts directly with company management of fund holdings, offering additional channels for sustainable impact.

RobecoSAM Global SDG Equities Strategy is an actively managed fund that intentionally invests globally in companies that positiviely contribute to the achievements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The selection of these stocks is based on fundamental analysis. The fund's objective is to achieve a better return than the index. The fund has sustainable investment as its objective within the meaning of Article 9 of the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. The fund advances the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by investing in companies whose business models and operational practices are aligned with targets defined by the 17 UN SDGs. The fund integrates ESG (i.e. Environmental, Social and corporate Governance) in the investment process, applies an exclusion list basis controversial behavior, products (including controversial weapons, tobacco, palm oil and fossil fuel) while avoiding investment in thermal coal, weapons, military contracting and companies that severely violate labor conditions, next to voting and engaging.The strategy integrates sustainability along the different steps of the investment process. It uses as an interanally developed framework (about which more information can be obtained via the website www.robeco.com/si) to identifiy companies whose produts & services create a material positive impact on the the SDGs. Companies that exhibit an inferior overall ESG assessment are exluced from the investent universe.The majority of stocks selected will be components of the Benchmark, but stocks outside the Benchmark may be selected too. The investment policy is not constrained by a benchmark but the fund may use a benchmark for comparison purposes. The fund can deviate substantially from the issuer, country and sector weightings of the Benchmark. There are no restrictions on the deviation from the Benchmark. The Benchmark is a broad market weighted index that is not consistent with the sustainable objective of the fund.

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