RobecoSAM, an investment specialist focused on sustainability, has launched a fund investing in small- and mid-sized companies across all sectors.
The firm, which has assets under management of $10.2 billion (€8.2 billion), says the fund is one of the first of its kind, combining companies that benefit from resource efficiency and have strong sustainability profiles.
The RobecoSAM Global Small Cap Equities Fund will focus on companies that provide solutions for water shortages, energy, food security and materials.
Rainer Baumann, head of public equity and member of the RobecoSAM executive committee, says: “We look for pioneers of innovative approaches to resource challenges. This includes businesses that have developed ways to use resources more efficiently or substitute supply-constrained resources with other materials.”
He adds that the firm has chosen to focus on small and mid-cap companies to capture alpha, because they are often innovative and can react quickly to resource scarcity challenges.
The fund’s portfolio includes 70-90 stocks, selected according to analysis of companies’ sustainability scores derived from the RobecoSAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment – an annual report covering around 2,400 small- and mid-cap companies – and their fundamental company valuation.
RobecoSAM expects this focus to generate lasting shareholder value, and offer investors access to the attractive valuations and strong growth potential of small and medium-sized companies.
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