Robeco partners with UBS to launch Engagement Fund focused on SDGs

Robeco partners with UBS to launch Engagement Fund focused on SDGs

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Robeco has launched its RobecoSAM Global SDG Engagement Equities fund, developed in partnership with UBS Global Wealth Management (GWM). This is Robeco’s second SDG-focused equities fund. In 2018 the asset manager launched RobecoSAM Global SDG Equities.

As exclusive partner for the six months following the launch of the fund, UBS GWM, the world’s leading wealth manager with a globally diverse client base, has initiated funding this month, with a target to invest USD 1.5 billion.

SDG Engagement Equities is a high conviction strategy with a sustainable investment objective to drive a clear and measurable improvement in a company's contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) over three to five years.

The objective is to motivate invested companies to improve their fulfilment of the UN SDGs by actively engaging and having an active dialogue with them. Additionally, the fund aims to provide long term capital growth and to integrate ESG considerations, while at the same time integrating sustainability risks in the investment process. The benchmark is the MSCI All Country World Index (Net Return, USD).

The fund is run by a core team of seasoned professionals from Robeco’s Fundamental Equities, Emerging Markets Equities, Active Ownership and SI Research. Michiel Plakman is the fund’s lead portfolio manager, supported by Daniela da Costa, Peter van der Werf, Giacomo Moroni and Jan Anton van Zanten.

The launch of the funds reflects the shared conviction of Robeco and UBS that engaging and having an active dialogue about SDG’s is vital in supporting positive change that benefits people and planet.