Tag: Firms

Asia-Pacific firms can become ESG global citizens, Deutsche Bank regional ESG head says

by  on  in Business Development

From manufacturing clothing in sweatshops to poor environmental practices, Asia-Pacific businesses have lagged behind the rest of the world for years on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.

Asian investors and businesses are increasingly considering how to address environmental and social factors at the start of their discussions about investing in projects or constructing portfolios, rather than trying to screen out bad actors late in the game, Khan said.

“This is an opportunity for them [to say] I can establish myself through ESG as a global citizen,” Khan said. “It is an opportunity for Deutsche Bank to support such companies,

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Exodus of US firms from Hong Kong to avoid sanctions imposed in wake of security law would hit office market already hurt by unrest, coronavirus

by  on  in Business is Fun

A potential exodus of American companies from Hong Kong to avoid sanctions from US legislation that seeks to punish those who undermine the city’s freedom is likely to put pressure on landlords to reduce rents of prime office space, analysts said.

The fallout could be as much as a 30 per cent cut in rents, given that American companies are now the single largest occupier of prime office space in the city, according to one estimate. If the scenario plays out, it will further damage an office market that has been battered by a year of social unrest, and the

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Public Stakes in Small Firms

by  on  in News

(Bloomberg) — European policy makers who frantically assembled plans to help their economies weather the coronavirus lockdowns are starting to focus on how to prevent cascading bankruptcies that could derail the rebound.

The next big idea gaining traction among officials and economists is potentially taking stakes in small and medium-sized businesses, in contrast to early efforts that relied heavily on loans to keep corporations afloat.

The European Commission and the Bank of England have both floated the concept, and France’s finance ministry is examining the option. So is Germany’s economy ministry, according to a spokesman. The nation’s DIHK business association,

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Austin-based PeopleFund Gains Capital To Help Small Firms

by  on  in Business Development

AUSTIN, TX — Opportunity Finance Network — a leading national network of community development financial institutions — announced on Thursday that Austin-based PeopleFund was recipient of capital to support small businesses amid the coronavirus.

PeopleFund was one of four community development financial institutions (CDFIs) benefiting in the first round of Grow with Google Small Business Fund loans and grants from Google.org, officials said. PeopleFund will use the capital to support small businesses in its service area that were the hardest hit from economic loses stemming from both coronavirus and civil unrest stemming from police abuse protests, according to a news

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