Latest news with #ESG-themed
Mid East Info
a day ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Emirates NBD Celebrates World Environment Day 2025 with 'One Community, One Planet, Zero Plastic' Themed Events
Emirates NBD, a leading banking group in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye MENAT region, celebrated World Environment Day, observed annually on 5 June, with 'One Community, One Planet, Zero Plastic', themed events, aligned with the UAE's Year of Community and the United Nations' theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution'. The events, which ran over the course of a week, aimed to raise awareness, promote sustainable practices and highlight community engagement in environmental stewardship. The week commenced with a thought-provoking webinar led by Maryam Al Mansoori, founder of Rebound, titled 'Recycling in Action: Unmasking the Complexity of Materials for a Circular Economy.' In the session, Maryam explored the complexity of various materials, highlighting ways to enhance awareness and improve efficient recycling practices. Emirates NBD also prioritised impactful sustainability education through a series of staff activations and ESG-themed booths across the Group's three locations. Employees engaged in comprehensive learning experiences, gaining valuable insights into environmental responsibility and sustainable practices in collaboration with partners such as Goumbook, Green Arabia, Switch Foods, SNF, Merint, Enable, and Thrift for Good. Activities included American Sign Language (ASL) sessions and mini Climate Fresk workshops both facilitated by internal staff, along with other workshops designed to deepening understanding of critical sustainability challenges. To encourage participation and reinforce key learnings, staff also enjoyed the opportunity to 'spin the wheel' for prizes and engage in eco-challenges, such as adopting a mangrove tree. Vijay Bains, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group Head of ESG at Emirates NBD said: 'The theme 'One Community, One Planet, Zero Plastic' captures the bank's ongoing commitment to integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our operations and empowering our employees, customers and the wider community to take meaningful action towards a more sustainable future. At Emirates NBD, we believe that sustainability is not just a responsibility, but an opportunity to shape a better, a more inclusive future for all.' In line with the Year of Community, partner booths showcased the vibrant contributions of local businesses and community organisations. Employees explored plastic-free product alternatives, sampled organic food offerings, and admired inspiring art installations created by students of determination. To further engage employees and raise awareness on critical ESG topics, a fast-paced Kahoot Quiz covered climate change, sustainable finance and global environmental challenges. Participation in multiple activities, aimed at fostering community engagement and learning, made employees eligible for a raffle draw, reinforcing the collective commitment to a sustainable future. About Emirates NBD: Emirates NBD (DFM: Emirates NBD) is a leading banking group in the MENAT (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye) region with a presence in 13 countries, serving over 9 million active customers. As at 31st March 2025, total assets were AED 1 trillion, (equivalent to approx. USD 272 billion). The Group has operations in the UAE, Egypt, India, Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Russia and Bahrain and representative offices in China and Indonesia with a total of 839 branches and 4,539 ATMs / SDMs. Emirates NBD is the leading financial services brand in the UAE with a Brand value of USD 4.54 billion. Emirates NBD Group serves its customers (individuals, businesses, governments, and institutions) and helps them realise their financial objectives through a range of banking products and services including retail banking, corporate and institutional banking, Islamic banking, investment banking, private banking, asset management, global markets and treasury, and brokerage operations. The Group is a key participant in the global digital banking industry with 97% of all financial transactions and requests conducted outside of its branches. The Group also operates Liv, the lifestyle digital bank by Emirates NBD, with close to half a million users, it continues to be the fastest-growing bank in the region. Emirates NBD contributes to the construction of a sustainable future as an active participant and supporter of the UAE's main development and sustainability initiatives, including financial wellness and the inclusion of people of determination. Emirates NBD is committed to supporting the UAE's Year of Sustainability as Principal Banking Partner of COP28 and an early supporter to the Dubai Can sustainability initiative, a city-wide initiative aimed to reduce use of single-use plastic bottled water.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
AIFs gain traction as investments rise 32 pc to ₹5.38 lakh cr by March 2025
New Delhi, India's affluent investors are increasingly turning to Alternative Investment Funds , with investments in the space reaching ₹ 5.38 lakh crore by the end of the March 2025 quarter, a surge of 32 per cent from the year earlier. This increase is being driven by heightened market volatility and shifting global macroeconomic conditions, prompting the wealthy to seek more diversified and resilient portfolio options, according to investment advisory firm Multi-Act Trade and Investments. This trend marks a departure from the traditional equity-debt mix, as the country's affluent investors or High Networth Individuals move into the AIFs space, which include private equity, hedge funds, real assets, private credit, and other non-traditional instruments that typically have low correlation with public markets. The appeal of these alternatives is driven by their potential to offer higher returns as well as stability during periods of market stress. "As HNIs navigate persistent volatility, global macroeconomic shifts, and a low-yield environment, the demand for diversified and resilient portfolios is on the rise," Multi-Act noted. To support this view, Sebi data showed that cumulative investments in Indian AIFs surged 32 per cent year-on-year to ₹ 5.38 lakh crore in Q4 FY2025 from ₹ 4.07 lakh crore in Q4 FY2024. This suggests a clear shift in asset allocation strategy among HNIs and family offices. "Family office portfolios have a really long horizon, so their ability to participate in private investments is much higher than most other investors," the firm added, highlighting a key advantage that allows these entities to engage in alternative assets. Multi-Act attributed this increase to a combination of factors such as the need for diversification, a hedge against inflation, and access to expert management. AIFs have been divided into three categories I, II, and III covering early-stage venture capital, private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and long-short hedge strategies each offering a unique mix of risk, return potential, and liquidity. By allocating across these diverse strategies, HNIs can reduce their dependence on public markets, manage concentration risks more effectively, and build investment portfolios that are structurally more resilient across market cycles. Moreover, HNIs are allocating across a diverse range of alternative asset classes such as private equity & venture capital, real estate AIFs, hedge funds & PMS strategies, credit alternatives, and sustainable & impact alternatives. As per the investment advisory firm, many young affluents prefer ESG-themed AIFs, climate-tech venture funds, to blended finance vehicles and sustainable alternatives. According to Knight Frank Global Wealth Report 2025, India is now home to 85,698 individuals with assets exceeding USD 10 million. This accounts for 3.7 per cent of the world's ultra-wealthy population, positioning India fourth globally after the US , China , and Japan . This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Mint
5 days ago
- Business
- Mint
AIFs gain traction as investments rise 32 pc to ₹5.38 lakh cr by March 2025
New Delhi, India's affluent investors are increasingly turning to Alternative Investment Funds , with investments in the space reaching ₹ 5.38 lakh crore by the end of the March 2025 quarter, a surge of 32 per cent from the year earlier. This increase is being driven by heightened market volatility and shifting global macroeconomic conditions, prompting the wealthy to seek more diversified and resilient portfolio options, according to investment advisory firm Multi-Act Trade and Investments. This trend marks a departure from the traditional equity-debt mix, as the country's affluent investors or High Networth Individuals move into the AIFs space, which include private equity, hedge funds, real assets, private credit, and other non-traditional instruments that typically have low correlation with public markets. The appeal of these alternatives is driven by their potential to offer higher returns as well as stability during periods of market stress. "As HNIs navigate persistent volatility, global macroeconomic shifts, and a low-yield environment, the demand for diversified and resilient portfolios is on the rise," Multi-Act noted. To support this view, Sebi data showed that cumulative investments in Indian AIFs surged 32 per cent year-on-year to ₹ 5.38 lakh crore in Q4 FY2025 from ₹ 4.07 lakh crore in Q4 FY2024. This suggests a clear shift in asset allocation strategy among HNIs and family offices. "Family office portfolios have a really long horizon, so their ability to participate in private investments is much higher than most other investors," the firm added, highlighting a key advantage that allows these entities to engage in alternative assets. Multi-Act attributed this increase to a combination of factors such as the need for diversification, a hedge against inflation, and access to expert management. AIFs have been divided into three categories I, II, and III covering early-stage venture capital, private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and long-short hedge strategies each offering a unique mix of risk, return potential, and liquidity. By allocating across these diverse strategies, HNIs can reduce their dependence on public markets, manage concentration risks more effectively, and build investment portfolios that are structurally more resilient across market cycles. Moreover, HNIs are allocating across a diverse range of alternative asset classes such as private equity & venture capital, real estate AIFs, hedge funds & PMS strategies, credit alternatives, and sustainable & impact alternatives. As per the investment advisory firm, many young affluents prefer ESG-themed AIFs, climate-tech venture funds, to blended finance vehicles and sustainable alternatives. According to Knight Frank Global Wealth Report 2025, India is now home to 85,698 individuals with assets exceeding USD 10 million. This accounts for 3.7 per cent of the world's ultra-wealthy population, positioning India fourth globally after the US , China , and Japan .
Business Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Issue 150: S-E Asia's ESG indices outperform; Sembcorp builds up regional pipeline
This week in ESG: CGS-CIMB sees structural drivers for ESG investing; Sembcorp in Malaysia-Singapore-Vietnam energy consortium Sustainable investing ESG pays off in South-east Asia Despite a pushback against environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in the developed West, the sustainability theme continues to present potentially attractive investment opportunities in South-east Asia. A new analysis by CGS-CIMB shows that a number of well-followed ESG-themed stock indices have been outperforming their vanilla benchmarks since 2022. From May 2022 to May 2025, the FTSE4Good Asean 5 index of ESG leaders listed in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand achieved an annualised return of 5.07 per cent. That surpassed the FTSE Asean All-Share index's 1.56 per cent annualised return over the same period. The Malaysia-only FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia benchmark's annualised return was 3.46 per cent, more than the 3.10 per cent annualised return generated by the FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS index. That outperformance was comparable with Thailand's SETESG index, which lost 6.03 per cent annually on average versus the broader SET 100's steeper 6.41 per cent annual loss. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up CGS-CIMB attributes the outperformance to a structural shift towards integrating ESG into allocation decisions. Institutional investors are embedding ESG principles into their mandates, and regulators are making sustainability disclosures mandatory. The impact of these changes is long-term and widespread. Furthermore, businesses perceive competitive advantage through ESG-related branding, the firm says. Businesses in South-east Asia are no longer approaching ESG as mere compliance, but as a way to differentiate themselves from competitors. CGS-CIMB expects South-east Asian ESG to remain an attractive investment theme for a few reasons: Regional economic growth remains above the global average Inflation is not a major problem in South-east Asia's key markets Valuations are still attractive from an income and price upside perspective Markets are rewarding ESG outperformance and punishing misalignment Besides CGS-CIMB's report, a considerable amount of recent research has also turned the spotlight on investment opportunities in climate adaptation and resilience, with Singapore sovereign wealth investors GIC and Temasek publishing reports on that topic. The MSCI Sustainability Institute in April released a report that highlighted investment opportunities in Asian companies that provide resilience solutions against heat. Heat resilience solutions providers are particularly attractive in the universe of climate adaptation and resilience investment plays because their products are likely to draw significant private-sector demand, the MSCI authors say. A list of example companies that fall within the category of heat resilience solutions providers included SP Group – a leading supplier of district cooling solutions in Singapore – and Keppel – a Singapore-based asset manager with businesses in water treatment and sustainable real estate. The CGS-CIMB and MSCI reports are examples of a positive trend of investment research focused on ESG in Asia or South-east Asia. CGS-CIMB explains in its description of its proprietary ESG screening framework that global scoring models face limitations in South-east Asia due to regional circumstances that don't fit with the norms of developed markets where many of these models are developed. In the same way, it is difficult for most investors to translate ESG investment ideas that originate from outside the region to the regional context. For example, the energy and nature transitions in South-east Asia won't follow the same pathways as those in China or India, or even between countries within the region. Investors also need experts familiar with the region to connect ideas about big ESG trends to actual companies and products that are investable. Locally relevant research can help to unlock ESG-discerning private capital in South-east Asia. That could, in turn, provide market-based discipline to support better ESG performance among listed companies in the region. Just as growing coconut trees can provide a community with many benefits, nurturing domestic ESG research could help South-east Asia's market regulators to boost interest in their markets and to improve ESG performance at the same time. Sustainable business Sembcorp's growing South-east Asia pipeline Gas and renewable energy group Sembcorp Industries has been busy sowing seeds in South-east Asia so far in 2025. The latest announcement involves a strategic partnership with a Malaysian consortium and a subsidiary of Vietnam's state-owned oil company PetroVietnam to explore exporting renewable energy from Vietnam into Malaysia and Singapore. The deal includes a feasibility assessment for a potential undersea cable from Vietnam to Malaysia. Earlier in the month, Sembcorp said it had clinched S$650 million of contracts to provide chemical and energy solutions provider Aster with gas, power and utilities solutions for its Pulau Bukom and Jurong Island facilities. The two parties also signed a memorandum of understanding to explore strategic initiatives across Singapore, Indonesia and the rest of South-east Asia. So far this year, Sembcorp has also announced a solar contract with a Meta Platforms subsidiary, a hydropower import project with Sarawak Energy, two industrial park projects in Vietnam with partner Becamex IDC, the S$105 million purchase of a solar farm in the Philippines from CleanCurrent Renewable Energy, and a utility-scale solar and storage project in Indonesia. Not every announcement has been positive. Sembcorp said in March that a deal to import gas from Indonesia would be terminated because regulatory approval in Indonesia was not obtained. Not all of the deals will lead to revenue soon. For instance, the Vietnam energy import agreement is still in very exploratory stages. Outside of Singapore, Sembcorp's largest markets in terms of revenue are the UK, China and India. The rest of Asia – Sembcorp does not report South-east Asia as a separate geographical segment – makes up less than 5 per cent of total revenue. However, taken together, the recent announcements reflect a growing pipeline in South-eat Asia for Sembcorp. Other ESG reads
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hong Kong raises ESG disclosure standards for MPF managers
Hong Kong's pension regulator said money managers would need to raise their disclosure standards on environment, social and governance (ESG) funds to help contributors understand their risk management and investment strategies The 12 participating fund managers, or trustees, including HSBC and Manulife, should improve the transparency levels on ESG-related reporting in their pension schemes, the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) said on Monday. The trustees must clearly state ESG strategies and focus on risk management in their brochures, as well as how they monitor and measure the ESG factors in their funds, managing director Cheng Yan-chee said. They should also assess their achievements and disclose them in annual governance reports to investors, he added. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "This approach enables scheme members to evaluate whether the funds' ESG performance aligns with their expectations," Cheng said. "It is also intended to help deepen their understanding of ESG funds and make better investment decisions." Managing director Cheng Yan-chee (left) and executive director (members and supervision) Kenneth Chan, speak at a media briefing in Wan Chai on February 24, 2025. Photo: Enoch Yiu alt=Managing director Cheng Yan-chee (left) and executive director (members and supervision) Kenneth Chan, speak at a media briefing in Wan Chai on February 24, 2025. Photo: Enoch Yiu> A total of 47 ESG-related funds with HK$36.6 billion (US$4.71 billion) of assets will be affected by the new measure, according to Kenneth Chan, an executive director in charge of MPF members and supervision. New ESG-themed funds would also need to comply when launched, he added. While the directive was effective immediately, the fund managers would be given until September 30 to ensure their ESG disclosure levels match the new guidelines, Cheng added. The MPF scheme is a compulsory government-run retirement plan established in 2000, involving the city's 4.75 million salaried workers. The scheme had HK$1.326 trillion in total assets on September 30, including investment gains. Its members may choose to cash in after reaching 65. The MPFA said it was important that fund managers applied serious investment and risk tools to weigh climate change and other sustainability elements while chasing returns. Incorporating sustainability factors would allow MPF members to also contribute to a more sustainable future, Cheng said. The MPFA's move to elevate ESG disclosure falls in line with efforts to make the local capital markets "greener" by cutting pollution and minimising the impact of climate change. Hong Kong's biggest listed firms, which together account for nearly two-thirds of the city's market capitalisation, were required to disclose greenhouse gas emissions from their operations, according to rules introduced by bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. They would be required to disclose emissions attributable to their supply chain partners from 2026. Ayesha Macpherson Lau, chairwoman of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. Photo: Edmond So alt=Ayesha Macpherson Lau, chairwoman of Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority. Photo: Edmond So> Meanwhile, the MPFA would also kick off the second phase of its eMPF Platform on March 5 as part of its sustainability efforts, chairwoman Ayesha Macpherson Lau said on Monday. The eMPF project aims to reduce costs and paper consumption, making the MPF operations more eco-friendly, she added. "Our aim in the long run is to continue to move towards a greener operating environment, with the ultimate goal of being fully paperless and 100 per cent digital," she said. The eMPF's goal is to introduce a single platform to replace several separate systems adopted by the fund managers or trustees since the MPF was launched in 2000. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
