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Three quarters of charities expect to increase active management allocations

Three in four charities (71%) expect to increase allocations to active strategies over the next three years, according to research from Rathbones. The researchers also found 11% predict a ‘dramatic increase,’ while 29% said allocations to active funds will remain the same over the period. None plan to reduce allocations. Around 100 senior charity executives, including board directors, finance directors,…

Environmental, Carbon Markets Platforms Climate Impact X, Carbonplace to Merge

Environmental, Carbon Markets Platforms Climate Impact X, Carbonplace to Merge

Singapore-based environmental markets exchange Climate Impact X (CIX) and London-based carbon market platform Carbonplace announced today an agreement to merge, in a transaction described by the companies as bridging two of the world’s leading financial and carbon market hubs, backed by a group of global banks and investors. CIX was launched in 2021 through a joint venture between DBS, Singapore Exchange (SGX),…

MassMutual Ventures Launches $150 Million Climate Tech Startup Fund

MassMutual Ventures Launches $150 Million Climate Tech Startup Fund

MassMutual Ventures (MMV), the venture capital investment arm of financial services and insurance company MassMutual, announced the launch of Climate Technology Fund II (CTF II), a $150 million venture capital fund targeting early-stage companies applying climate technology and artificial intelligence to real assets. According to MMV, the new fund will focus on the intersection of several long-term trends, including the…

Investors raise ESG concerns ahead of Shein IPO

Chinese online retailer Shein is preparing to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, but investors remain concerned about the company’s environmental impact, labour standards and corporate governance. Shein is now expected to float on the stock exchange with a potentially deflated valuation following concerns among regulators and politicians about the firm’s labour practices and harm to the environment. At…

Aker, Microsoft Partner to Advance Maturity, Delivery of Carbon Capture and Removal Projects

Aker, Microsoft Partner to Advance Maturity, Delivery of Carbon Capture and Removal Projects

Energy-focused global engineering and technology company Aker Solutions announced a new agreement with Microsoft, with the companies collaborating to advance the maturity, bankability and delivery of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects globally. Under the new agreement, Aker said that it aims to engage with developers, emitters, transport and storage providers, industry stakeholders and governments…

ESG should be seen as an economic foundation – not an accessory 

For years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have been framed – sometimes derisively – as an ethical overlay on financial decision making. To critics, ESG has too often been caricatured as “virtue investing”, a well-meaning but optional add on. But the global reverberations from the Iran crisis have forced a necessary reframing. What is unfolding in the Strait of Hormuz…

Lookthrough Acquires Real Estate ESG Data and Reporting Platform BuildingMinds

Lookthrough Acquires Real Estate ESG Data and Reporting Platform BuildingMinds

Real estate decision intelligence platform Lookthrough announced an agreement to acquire Schindler-owned real estate portfolio ESG data and reporting platform BuildingMinds, in a transaction described by the companies as aimed at creating an AI platform for institutional real estate, combining ESG and operational data serving institutional investors, governments and global technology companies. Launched in 2018 by elevator and escalator manufacturer…

responsAbility Raises $461 Million for Asia-Focused Climate Fund

responsAbility Raises $461 Million for Asia-Focused Climate Fund

M&G’s impact investing unit responsAbility Investments announced that it has raised $461 million in commitments at the final close of its Asia Climate Fund, aimed at deploying capital into companies positioned to benefit from Asia’s energy transition, infrastructure build-out and demand for more efficient, resilient business models. According to responsAbility, the final closing establishes the fund as the firm’s largest…

World Bank issues new $4bn sustainable development bond

The World Bank has announced it has raised $4bn through issuing a new seven-year benchmark Sustainable Development Bond. The bond, which was issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, carries a 4.50% coupon and matures in August 2033.  It will support the financing of a combination of green and social projects and programs in member countries, with the aim…