The Dutch pension fund says it will push for improvements in ESG practices of its portfolio companies in South Korea and Japan with active engagement, including lobbying the government and the media and using its voting rights.
Korea
Major asset owners, such as APG, NZ Super and AustralianSuper, are looking to invest in data centres in Asia even as the demand for these assets outstrips the current supply.
NPS head of Americas private equity and global hedge funds team leaves after 11 years; AIA hires director of tactical asset allocation from JP Morgan Asset Management; Manulife appoints chief risk officer for Asia; Bruce Tomlinson leaves Australian Retirement Trust; Franklin Templeton makes senior appointments in Malaysia; Eastspring loses three C-suites; and more.
Concerns remain on whether interest rate hikes by the Fed will be able to slow economic activity and tame inflation — or push the US economy into recession, triggering major uncertainties for Asian capital markets.
India’s Life Insurance Corp initial offering was oversubscribed 2.95 times, with participation from Norges Bank Investment Management, GIC, ADIA, and domestic funds; the Saudi Public Investment Fund will allow investments in Israeli companies for the first time with a $2 billion commitment in private-equity firm Affinity Partners; Hong Kong's Exchange Fund posts $7 billion quarterly loss; and more
FX strategist joins GIC from JP Morgan; BNP AM Singapore CEO Christian Bucaro to leave; QIC appoints transport partner; Abrdn names head of product strategy as its wholesales distribution director for Apac leaves for BlackRock; Hyundai- and Rockefeller-backed Sylban Group appoints vice-chair and Singapore-based MD; Franklin Templeton appoints Korea head; and more.
Norges Bank Investment Management, GIC and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority are among anchor investors in the initial public offering of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India; Future Fund warns of heightened risks as it reports -1.5% returns for Q1 2022; Five Japanese insurers invest $367.3 million in World Bank sustainable bond; and more.
The leading Dutch pension fund is beefing up its real estate headcount as it looks for more opportunities - and alpha - beyond developed Asia.
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC takes up 49.9% stake in Wee Hur’s student housing portfolio in Australia; China's Sunshine Insurance reportedly looking to list on HKEX in potentially the largest IPO of the year; New China Insurance issues a warning that its first-quarter profit might decline 70%; and Temasek sends stern warning on corporate governance to portfolio companies; and more
Investor interests in the Internet and technology and ESG sectors may prop up the private equity market amid global uncertainties.
Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund to invest $2.72 billion in toll roads; Singapore's MAS tightens tax criteria for family offices; Harvard University's endowment among risk-averse US institutional investors looking to reduce commitments in China; and more.
Australia’s second largest super fund has emphasised its commitment to affordable housing at the same time as a leading campaigner for affordable housing has criticised Korea’s NPS over its property investments.
