The way we live and work together as a society will change dramatically in the coming decades. The main trends are:
- Climate change and the necessary transition to a low-carbon society
- Growing pressure on our scarce natural resources
- Increasing urbanisation
- Demographic ageing and consequently a shrinking active labour force
- Demand for new skills
- Changing lifestyles due to trends such as an increasing focus on responsible choices
These companies are active in areas such as:
- Robotics and automation: production robots, sensors, etc.
- Energy transition: wind turbines, electric vehicles, home batteries, etc.
- Efficient agricultural and forestry management: drip irrigation, use of drones, etc.
- Clean soil, air and water: industrial air filters, water treatment, biodegradable plastics, etc.
- Circular economy: recycling of materials, etc.
- Clean transport: charging stations, railway lines, hydrogen vehicles, etc.
- Smart logistics: automated storage solutions, distribution centres close to customers, etc.
- Building materials and equipment
- Basic materials, industrial equipment and freight transport
- Lending to businesses and governments
By opting for this responsible fund, you exert a positive influence on the world we live in. In this regard, the fund invests in companies and/or countries that contribute towards:
- achieving specific targets relating to the environment, social issues and corporate governance (ESG) and a reduction in carbon intensity (CO2)
- achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Companies that specialise in controversial activities (such as tobacco, gambling and weapons) are excluded.
- Entry charge: 3%
- Exit charge: None (5% but only if you sell units within a month of purchase)
- Ongoing charges: 2.15% (factored into the net asset value)
- Anti-dilution levy: In exceptional situations*
* If net entries and exits involve exceptionally large amounts, KBC Asset Management may decide to levy additional charges on the investors concerned (those buying or selling fund units on that day) to mitigate the negative impact on the net asset value. The size of this levy is based on the transaction charges incurred by the fund manager. Applied in very exceptional situations, this levy is in the interests of those investors remaining in the fund.
- Withholding tax on dividends: 30% (only for distribution units)
- Withholding tax upon exit: None
- Stock market tax upon exit: 1.32%, with a maximum charge of 4 000 euros (only for capitalisation units)
This tax treatment applies to individual investors subject to Belgian personal income tax and may change in the future.
KBC Equity Fund We Shape Responsible Investingaims to generate a return by investing primarily in shares of companies that are shaping the society of the future through their products and services, such as:
- Automation and robotisation
- Solutions for energy transition and storage
- Infrastructure and installations for transport and freight vehicles
- Facilities needed in a circular economy
- Water purification, soil decontamination and air quality improvement
- Machines and installations for more efficient agriculture and forestry
- Industrial plants and machines
- Building materials and construction activities
- Materials
- Logistical solutions
- Credit facilities and financial services to companies and governments
- Etc.
A current overview can be found at www.kbc.be/thematic-funds.
The fund pursues responsible investing objectives based on a dualistic approach: a negative screening and a positive selection methodology. This approach will be gradually implemented in the portfolio from 2 September 2022.
The negative screening entails that the fund may not invest in assets of companies that are excluded based on exclusion criteria (including tobacco, gambling activities and weapons). More information on the exclusion policy can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Exclusion policy for Responsible Investing funds.
The positive selection methodology is a combination of portfolio targets and supporting sustainable development. Portfolio targets are based on a reduction in carbon intensity and an improvement in ESG characteristics versus its benchmark. Sustainable development is supported by investing in companies that contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. More information on the positive selection methodology and the concrete goals of the compartment can be found at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents > Investment policy for Responsible Investing funds.
More sustainability-related disclosures can be found at www.kbc.be/en/SRD.
KBC Equity Fund We Shape Responsible Investingis actively managed with reference to the following benchmark: MSCI All Countries World - Net Return Index (www.MSCI.com).
However, it is not the aim of the fund to replicate the benchmark. The composition of the benchmark is taken into account when compiling the portfolio. In line with its investment policy, the fund may not invest in all the instruments included in the benchmark. When compiling the portfolio, the manager may also decide to invest in instruments that are not included in the benchmark, or indeed not to invest in instruments that are included. Due to the above responsible investing methodology, the portfolio's composition may differ from the benchmark's.
The benchmark is also used to determine the fund's risk limitation mechanism. This limits the extent to which the fund's return may deviate from the benchmark. The long term expected tracking error for this fund is higher than 4.00%. The tracking error measures the volatility of the fund's return relative to that of the benchmark. The higher the tracking error, the more the fund's return fluctuates relative to the benchmark. Market conditions may cause the actual tracking error to differ from the expected tracking error.
KBC Equity Fund We ShapeResponsible Investing may make limited use of derivatives*. This means that derivatives can be used either to help achieve the investment objectives (for instance, to increase or decrease the exposure to one or more market segments in line with the investment strategy), or to neutralise the portfolio’s sensitivity to market factors (by hedging an exchange rate risk, for example).
The fund is denominated in Euro.
The above objectives and investment policy have been taken in their entirety from the Key Information Document (KID). Neither the capital nor the return is guaranteed or protected.
This information is governed by the laws of Belgium. Please read the Key Information Document and the prospectus before subscribing. Both documents are available free of charge in Dutch and English (and in French for the key information document) from your KBC or CBC branch or at www.kbc.be/investment-legal-documents or www.cbc.be/documentation-investissem*nts. You will also find a summary of your rights as an investor there in Dutch, English, French and German.
The net asset value can be found on www.beama.be, in KBC Mobile or CBC Mobile.
If you have a complaint, the contact details for KBC are complaints@kbc.be, tel. 016 43 25 94 orombudsman@ombudsfin.be and the contact details for CBC are gestiondesplaintes@cbc.be, + 32 81 803 163 orombudsman@ombudsfin.be for CBC.
* For the complete overview of financial and economic terms,go to www.kbc.be/lexicon of www.cbc.be/lexique.
I'm a seasoned expert in the field of responsible investing, with a deep understanding of the societal shifts and trends shaping our future. My expertise is rooted in comprehensive knowledge of the key concepts mentioned in the article you provided.
The main trends driving societal change in the coming decades, as outlined in the article, are:
-
Climate Change and Transition to Low-Carbon Society:
- Emphasis on reducing carbon intensity (CO2).
- Investment in companies contributing to specific environmental targets.
-
Growing Pressure on Scarce Natural Resources:
- Focus on efficient agricultural and forestry management.
- Investment in clean soil, air, and water technologies.
-
Increasing Urbanization:
- Smart logistics solutions, including automated storage and distribution centers.
- Investment in building materials, equipment, and infrastructure.
-
Demographic Ageing and Shrinking Labour Force:
- Investment in automation, robotics, and solutions for efficient agriculture.
-
Demand for New Skills:
- Recognition of the need for skills in areas like robotics, energy transition, and smart logistics.
-
Changing Lifestyles and Responsible Choices:
- Companies active in clean transport, circular economy, and responsible practices are favored.
The article also introduces a responsible fund, the KBC Equity Fund We Shape Responsible Investing, which aligns with these trends. The fund focuses on investing in companies that contribute to societal and environmental goals. It follows a dualistic approach:
-
Negative Screening:
- Excludes companies engaged in controversial activities such as tobacco, gambling, and weapons.
-
Positive Selection Methodology:
- Aims for a reduction in carbon intensity and improvement in ESG characteristics.
- Invests in companies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The fund actively manages its portfolio, deviating from the MSCI All Countries World - Net Return Index as it pursues responsible investing goals. It may use derivatives to achieve its objectives and operates under Euro denomination.
Investors should note the entry charge, ongoing charges, and potential anti-dilution levy. The fund's objectives and policies are detailed in the Key Information Document (KID) and prospectus, emphasizing that neither capital nor return is guaranteed.
For additional information, investors can refer to and .
Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions or if you'd like further clarification on any aspect.
