RobecoSAM Global Green Bonds IH EUR

The Global Green Bond Index delivered a total return of 0.50% this month. The yield on 10-year German treasuries moved slightly lower to -0.21%. The US Treasury 10-year yield was down even more, dropping to 1.47% from 1.60%. The credit spread (OAS) on the Global Green Bond Index tightened 1 bp to 57 bps. Green bond issuance continued at a high pace, but the market was able to absorb the supply. Year-to-date ESG bond issuance in Europe has reached EUR 250 bln, already exceeding the full year 2020 volume. All major government bond markets posted positive returns in June, with the US (0.8%) and Australia (1.0%) leading the way. The central bank meetings of the Fed and the ECB were the main drivers of bond returns in June. The ECB managed to sound dovish by stating that its net PEPP purchases will be continued at a ‘significantly higher’ pace during Q3. The Fed meeting was considered hawkish. A majority of FOMC members now expects 50 bps in rate hikes for 2023 and Powell signaled a smaller tolerance for an inflation overshoot than indicated earlier. Front end yields rose, but long-term Treasuries rallied, which resulted in a significant flattening of the curve.

All currency risks are hedged.

The fund does not distribute a dividend.

The RobecoSAM Global Green Bonds strategy invests in bonds whose proceeds are used towards an environmental objective, referred to as green bonds. The eligibility of green bonds is based on an internally developed five-step framework. We assess if the issuer takes into account the ICMA Green Bond Principles, the Climate Bond Initiative and/or the EU Green Bond Standard. Then we identify and evaluate the allocation of the investment proceeds in line with the EU Taxonomy and EU’s six environmental objectives. We verify that the bond proceeds are allocated to projects that positively contribute to at least one of the six objectives, and do not significantly harm the other five: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, transition to a circular economy, waste prevention and recycling, pollution prevention and control, protection of healthy ecosystems. We require the bond issuers to report on the use of proceeds. In addition to the use-of-proceeds screening, we assess the wider sustainability strategy of the issuer. Finally, we require issuers to respect international norms related to conduct such as international labor rights, human rights and the UN Global Compact. In addition to the universe screening, our analysts integrate ESG factors in their fundamental analysis of companies and sovereigns.

RobecoSAM Global Green Bonds is an actively managed fund that invests in green bonds issued by governments, government-related agencies and corporates. The selection of these bonds is based on fundamental analysis. The fund's objective is to provide long term capital growth.The fund has sustainable investment as its objective within the meaning of Article 9 of the European Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. The fund finances/ re-financing new and/or existing environmentally-friendly projects by investing in green bonds which are designed to support specific climate-related or environmental projects. 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 engagement. The fund invests at least two-thirds of its total assets in global green bonds with a minimal rating of "BBB-" or equivalent by at least one of the recognized rating agencies. Green bonds selection is based on an internally developed framework for which more information can be obtained via the website www.robeco.com/si. The Benchmark is aligned with the sustainable investment objective of the fund by applying clearly defined rules for classifying green bonds. 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 currencies and issuers) to the extent of deviation from the Benchmark. This will consequently limit the deviation of the performance relative to the Benchmark. the Benchmark is aligned with the sustainable investment objective of the fund by applying clearly defined rules for classifying green bonds.

Risk management is fully embedded in the investment process so as to ensure that the fund's positions remain within set limits at all times.