RobecoSAM Smart Mobility Equities S USD

The global stock markets were mixed as investors weighed bets on faster economic growth in the US against the backdrop of stalling progress in the Covid pandemic in Europe. The US Treasury yields continued to rise, with the 10-year rates reaching 1.7%. Comments from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell that any inflation risks will be neither particularly large nor persistent allayed fears that the central bank would tighten monetary policy anytime soon. The 'Smart Mobility' theme continued to be attractive, as the transformation of the automotive industry towards electrification maintained its momentum. Notably the European electric vehicles (EV) market continues to show very healthy Y/Y growth rates, with EV sales penetration (both plug-ins and pure EVs) maintaining high levels after reaching a rate of close to 20% at the end of 2020 (or approximately 9% for the full year).

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.

The RobecoSAM Smart Mobility Equities strategy invests in companies that benefit from secular trends in urbanization, electrification, and automation that are driving sustainable solutions in mobility and transportation. 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 incorporate 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 Smart Mobility Equities is an actively managed fund that invests globally in companies that benefit from the emerging megatrend of electric vehicles. 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 furthes the decarbonization of the global transportation sector through investments in its electrification by investing in companies that advance the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): Affordable and Clean Energy goal, Decent work and economic growth, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities, and Responsible consumption and production. 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 criteria as part of the stocks selection process and through a theme specific sustainability assessment. The portfolio is built on the basis of an eligible investment universe that includes companies whose business models contibute to the thematic investment objectives. The assessment regarding relevant SDGs uses an internally developed framework about which more information can be obtained via the website www.robeco.com/si. 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 the investment guidelines.