Notification of fund changes to various Robeco funds
We have been notified by the board of directors of Robeco Capital Growth Funds (the “Company”) of changes to the funds detailed below, which feature in our defined fund ranges. These changes are effective from 7 May 2025 (the “Effective Date”).
AVAILABLE IN OUR DEFINED FUND RANGE PRODUCTS SHOWN OPPOSITE
| Fund name, including share class and ISIN | |
|---|---|
| Affected Fund 1 | Robeco Smart Energy D Acc CHF - LU2145461674 Robeco Smart Energy D Acc EUR - LU2145461757 Robeco Smart Energy D Acc USD - LU2145461914 |
| Affected Fund 2 | Robeco Sustainable Water D CHF - LU2146190751 Robeco Sustainable Water D EUR - LU2146190835 Robeco Sustainable Water D USD - LU2146191130 |
| Affected Fund 3 | Robeco Global SDG Credits DH Acc EUR - LU1811861357 Robeco Global SDG Credits DH Acc USD - LU1811861605 |
| Affected Fund 4 | Robeco Sustainable Healthy Living D Acc EUR - LU2146189407 Robeco Sustainable Healthy Living D Acc USD - LU2146189589 |
| Affected Fund 5 | Robeco Global Gender Equality D Acc EUR - LU2145458969 Robeco Global Gender Equality D Acc USD - LU2145459009 |
(together the “Affected Funds”)
Background
The Company has advised that it is making a number of amendments to the prospectus of the Affected Funds in order to comply with new guidelines published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) regarding environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) or sustainability related terms.
Change relating to Affected Funds 1-5
The Company applies its Robeco Exclusion Policy criteria, at either level 1 or level 2, as part of its sustainable investment approach when selecting securities for the investment universe. The differences between level 1 and level 2 are presently detailed in the Robeco Exclusion Policy which can be found on the Company's web site. The sustainability disclosures section of the prospectus of the Affected Funds will be updated from the Effective Date, specifying which exclusion level applies to each individual fund.
Removal of sustainable benchmark of Affected Fund 1
From the Effective Date, the current binding element to achieve a better carbon footprint than the Custom Bloomberg Climate Transition Benchmark, will be replaced with an alternative binding element, that more closely reflects the investment theme of the Affected Fund 1.
Changes relating to Affected Funds 1-3
From the Effective Date, additional environmental/social characteristic, sustainability indicator and binding element will be added to Affected Funds 1-3, to adhere to exclusion criteria from the Paris-aligned Benchmarks. Paris-aligned Benchmark exclusions broadly prohibit investments in companies involved in controversial weapons or tobacco; having violated UN Global Compact principles or OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; or deriving revenues above certain specified thresholds from coal, oil, gas or electricity generation.
Changes relating to Affected Funds 4-5
Affected Funds 4-5 will be updated from the Effective Date, in order to comply with ESMA guidelines on fund names which include sustainability or ESG related terms. Additional environmental/social characteristic, sustainability indicator and binding elements will be added to Affected Funds 4-5 from the Effective Date to adhere to exclusion criteria of the Climate Transition Benchmarks. Climate Transition Benchmarks incorporate specific objectives related to emission reductions and the transition to a low-carbon economy (based on the scientific evidence of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) through the selection and weighting of underlying constituents.
Change relating to Affected Fund 4
In line with the ESMA guidelines, Affected Fund 4 will be renamed from the Effective Date:.
| Name before Effective Date | Name after Effective Date |
|---|---|
| Robeco Sustainable Healthy Living D Acc EUR | Robeco Healthy Living D Acc EUR |
| Robeco Sustainable Healthy Living D Acc USD | Robeco Healthy Living D Acc USD |
Updated pre-contractual disclosure documents will be made available as part of the prospectus of the Affected Funds following the Effective Date.
Please refer to the Robeco shareholder notice opposite for full details of the above changes.
These changes will take effect automatically and policyholders do not need to take any action. We recommend that policyholders seek the advice of their usual financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
For more information on Robeco funds visit: www.robeco.com