Founded in 2019, Singapore-based startup STACS leverages its proprietary technology to develop environmental, social and governance (ESG) fintech solutions.

In May 2022, the ESG-focused fintech startup officially launched ESGpedia, a data platform that aggregates, records and curates sustainability data for decarbonization, and provides digital tools for effective ESG financing.

KASIA spoke with Benjamin Soh, Managing Director of STACS, to find out how fintech can support the ESG agenda and help companies decarbonize.

This interview has been consolidated and edited for brevity and clarity.

KrASIA (Kr): Share with us your proprietary financial technology, ESGpedia.

Benjamin Soh (BS): ESGpedia powers the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Greenprint ESG Registry. It is a data aggregator that digitizes data from non-digital sources, multiple industry sources, and verified sources globally.

Much sustainability data is fragmented and comes from a variety of sources. They include traditional data such as electricity and energy consumption information, which may not be easily accessible.

So what we’re doing is leveraging technology to aggregate, digitize, and organize that data. Through data engineering, we can make more meaningful use of this information.

Through ESGpedia, we can also provide other types of services. For example, we may track investment portfolios. As we aggregate company data, companies can be tracked in terms of sustainability efforts. This is an aspect that will be of particular interest to financial institutions as many of them want to green their portfolios.

The data also allows us to track suppliers, especially for companies looking to green their supply chain. We’re talking about companies willing to buy from suppliers who have achieved certain sustainability standards.

The ESGpedia registry also allows us to facilitate high-quality carbon offsets.

Kr: What is the scope of ESGpedia?

BS: We have over 60,000 companies and 90,000 assets covered in this database. Users of our platform include financial institutions and global corporations.

Kr: ESGpedia aspires to become a global database. But its effectiveness largely depends on its scope and size. What progress has been made on the database since its launch?

BS: The overall goal of being a global platform requires us to have access to a lot of data. Thus, the effectiveness of the database may be limited by our range and scope.

That said, we have already realized live use cases across Asia. Our objective remains unchanged and this head start in Asia gives us a momentum for growth.

Kr: Tell us about a major challenge you face in the ESG area.

BS: One is the lack of data, especially primary data of company-owned assets. Much of the ESG data available today is fragmented and only focuses on data from publicly traded companies.

Kr: What about greenwashing in the carbon market? How difficult is it?

BS: When data is freely available, anyone who practices greenwashing is discovered quite easily. But when the data is opaque or hard to verify, it’s easy for a company to claim it bought a certain amount of carbon credits and hit net zero.

So, the fundamental question we need to ask ourselves in our line of work is: what are the attributes of the carbon credits that companies buy? Only when you get this information can you assess how green the company really is.

At the same time, other factors need to be considered in a company’s ESG journey. For example, not all carbon credits are the same. Some carbon credits are certified, others are not. Then there are also carbon credits that are not certified by the same standards. It is therefore important to keep them in mind.

Kr: Financial institutions have often been accused of greenwashing. And a number of your clients and partners include global banks and asset managers. Do you see a conflict there?

SB: Some of them may have been accused of greenwashing, but I don’t think any of them do it intentionally.

It’s because there are too many issues, and I think we have to see things in perspective. They are big institutions with big clients. What they really want to do is meet their ESG goals and outline their net zero commitments. But they might struggle with the lack of data.

I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. I see them working hard in our partnerships and getting more data to know if they are on the right track. Sometimes they can end up mislabeling their activities if they’re not green, simply because they don’t have access to all the data sources.

So I personally think that greenwashing may not be intentional, especially the banks, because they have a lot more to lose than to gain.

In fact, many of them are already on the road to net zero due to banking regulations. They don’t make more money when they can no longer fund the oil and gas industries.

Kr: You mentioned earlier that data plays a central role in the transition to net-zero. How to manage data in the midst of emerging technologies?

SB: Essentially, disclosures need to be of higher quality.

One way for this to happen is to ensure that all data is backed by technology whenever possible to provide transparency and verification.

Another is to ensure the availability of data on an ongoing basis and not through a one-time disclosure. For example, a monthly report should be done through a technology platform that allows investors to track this data through regular, automated notifications. Without technology, you won’t be able to do it and scale it manually.

Kr: So when can we expect such technology to be available?

BS: This is exactly what we are trying to do now at STACS. When aggregating this data, we want to ensure that certain tools are made available, such as portfolio tracking tools or vendor tracking tools, through which automated notifications are generated for users to inform them of issues such as if there is a change in the company profile.

Kr: McKinsey recently published a report on the transition to net zero and economic and societal adjustments that implies. According to the study, disruptions to the transition are expected. How do you feel about overcoming this kind of disruption?

SB: Better to do it sooner than later. If we start now, the cost of this transition will be soft instead of doing it later when it will be much more difficult.

For example, the carbon tax. It may only be 5 SGD in 2024, but by 2030 it’s expected to be a much higher figure, so it’s going to be a lot more expensive.

Everyone should start the transition early so they can set incremental goals rather than forcing a drastic change in behavior or buying decision later.

Kr: In your opinion, what is the key element for a successful transition like this?

BS: I think technology scaling is important to facilitate a successful transition. Data is a key part of this.

Especially when specific types of data are needed to extend funding for certain infrastructure projects, for example, clean infrastructure.

These are sustainability projects that require specific ESG data on the performance of their assets in order to quantify their benefits.

That’s why it’s essential to start leveraging technology earlier, including data, to generate more capital toward game-changing infrastructure. This will reduce the disruptions we will face as we transition to net zero.

Kr: In terms of financing, how should capital allocation be done to successfully facilitate the push towards sustainability?

SB: There is certainly not enough funding for sustainability projects. But it’s getting better, which is obvious, especially in the last couple of years. We are seeing new partnerships in the ESG space between public and private finance, or blended finance.

For example, there is also the Panther Green fund, set up by Singaporean public investment firm Temasek Holdings and HSBC. The fund will invest in projects with a longer return on investment, such as hydrogen energy projects.

These projects are those for which private investors generally have little patience. I think such financing can be an important way to scale up decarbonization.

On Nov. 16, AGCO Co. (NYSE: AGCO) Director George E. Minnich completed a transaction that sold 1,500 shares of the company. At an average price of $123.70 per share, the shares were able to earn a total of $185,500.00 after being sold. As a result of the transaction, the director now owns 12,543 shares of the company, which are currently valued at approximately $1,551,669. 10 This information about the transaction was included in a filing with the SEC, which can be found at following this link.

AGCO’s (NYSE: AGCO) latest quarterly earnings report was released on November 1, which is a Tuesday. Earnings per share for the quarter were reported by the company that makes industrial items at $3.18, up $0.06 from the $3.12 forecast by analysts. AGCO’s return on equity was 23.61% and the company had a net margin of 7.13%. Revenue for the quarter was $3.10 billion, lower than analysts’ expectation of $3.30 billion. During the same period a year earlier, the company generated earnings of $2.41 per share. Revenue growth for the third quarter was 13.8% higher than the same period last year. According to analysts’ projections, AGCO Co. will bring earnings of 11.86 cents per share for the current fiscal year.
Additionally, the company announced a quarterly dividend, which will be distributed the following Thursday, December 15. On Tuesday, November 15, registered shareholders will be eligible to receive dividend payments equivalent to $0.24 per share. This translates into a dividend payout of $0.96 per year and a yield of 0.78%. The date which constitutes the ex-dividend date for this dividend is 14 November. The payout ratio for AGCO is currently 8.47%.

The price of NYSE:AGCO fell $0.72 on Friday, hitting $123.04. Out of a total volume of 592,193, the company’s shares were traded 11,196 times. The company’s simple moving average for the last 50 days is $111.68 and the simple moving average for the last 200 days is $111.35. A quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.58 and a debt ratio of 0.52 are all values ​​that can be found in the formula. The one-year low for AGCO Co. is $88.55, while the one-year high for the company’s shares is $150.28. The company has a market capitalization of $9.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.86, a growth price-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.44. All of these metrics indicate that the stock is relatively expensive.

There have been a few different research articles written on AGCO. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered its target price on AGCO shares in a report released on Wednesday, November 2. The new price is $129.00, down from $137.00. Citigroup raised its price target for AGCO to $125.00, as shown in research released Tuesday, August 9. Wednesday, November 2. AGCO’s coverage was echoed by Robert W. Baird in a report published September 27. They suggested an “outperform” rating for the stock and a price target of $156.00 for the stock price.
Last but not least, in a research note published on Wednesday, September 28, Stifel Nicolaus lowered his price target on AGCO shares from $170.00 to $150.00 while maintaining his “buy” rating. The recommendations of four financial analysts are to maintain a hold position, while eight analysts recommend buying the stock. According to Bloomberg.com, the stock is rated as having a “moderate buy” consensus and the price target is rated as having a consensus of $140.25.

Recent events have resulted in an increase or decrease in significant investor interest in the company. River & Mercantile Asset Management LLP increased the percentage of AGCO shares held by 1% during the third quarter. Following the acquisition of an additional 560 shares in the previous quarter, River & Mercantile Asset Management LLP now owns 59,051 shares of the industrial goods company, worth $5,687,000. The number of shares held by Captrust Financial Advisors in AGCO increased by 42.5% during the third quarter. Following the acquisition of 913 additional shares in the previous quarter, Captrust Financial Advisors now owns a total of 3,059 shares of stock in the industrial goods business. The current value of these shares is $294,000. The purchase of a new stake in AGCO by Balyasny Asset Management LLC cost the company $42,196,000 during the third quarter. During the third quarter, Covington Capital Management saw a 227.5% growth in the size of its stake in AGCO. Following the purchase of 262 additional shares in the previous quarter, Covington Capital Management now owns a total of 377 shares of the industrial products company, which is currently valued at $36,000.
Finally, State Street Corporation added an additional 1.3% of AGCO shares to its portfolio during the third quarter. After making other purchases throughout the period, State Street Corp. currently owns 1,711,193 shares of the industrial products company. The current market value of these shares is equal to $164,565,000. Institutional investors hold 74.94% of the company’s shares.

Md Rezaul Karim, Chairman of the Bangladesh Shippers Council.– Photo Press Release

Chairman of Bangladesh Shippers Council, Md Rezaul Karim is heading to India by IndiGo Airlines on Sunday to attend the International Transport and Logistics Conference to be held on November 23 at Hyderabad International Convention Centre.

The Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organizing the conference.

He will also attend a seminar titled “Fit for Future Waterways System” on November 25 at the Oberoi Grand Hotel in Kolkata, jointly organized by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Inland Waterways Authority of India, according to a statement. Press.

It is a multidisciplinary international conference to share the latest and innovative ideas focusing on the concept, model, method and tools for shipping and logistics.

SCB Director Arzu Rahman Bhuiyan will accompany the President.

They are expected to return to Bangladesh on November 27.

And now for a horror served underwater.

The film adaptation of the popular Bioshock the video game is evolving rapidly, with both director Francis Lawrence (hunger games) and screenwriter Michael Green (Blade Runner 2049) on board. And confidence seems to be there for the film.

Lawrence recently told Collider that Green “is writing it right now. We already have our plan, so everything is done. He is now writing.

the original Bioshock The game follows a man exploring the now-vanished and decimated underwater city called Rapture. Now, in the once-promising utopia, dangerous mutants are left to become twisted and violent in a society ravaged by civil war.

Asked about the problems inherent in adapting such a video game to the screen, Lawrence said, “First of all, I think it’s one of the best games ever made. It is also one of the most visually unique games. The other thing is that it’s very thematic.

The director added that there are “real ideas and philosophies under the ownership of the game, and it’s really well thought out. A lot of games don’t have the weight and gravity that Bioshock Is.”

Additionally, Lawrence said, “One of the other things I like is this mix of genres – it feels like a period piece, mixed with body horror, mixed with science- fiction.”

With so many questions still unanswered about this film, keep reading Horror News Network for all updates on the adaptation of Bioshock.

Few film franchises are as beloved as Indiana Jones. Although Disney now owns Star Wars, Marvel, and the entirety of 21st Century Fox, the IndianaJones The franchise still feels somewhat different and special, perhaps due to the limited amount of content Disney has squeezed out of the series inspired by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg’s B-movies. However, all of that is about to change very soon.

Since 2008, the IndianaJones franchise consisted of four films, these being The Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), directed by Steven Spielberg, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008). However, a fifth film is set to debut in 2023.

Of course, Harrison Ford will reprise his iconic role as Henry Jones Jr., better known as Indiana Jones. It was explicitly stated that it will be Ford last film with the franchise.

It has been reported that test screenings of the new film are not going well, to say the least. A report claims that Disney tested six different endings for the upcoming film, and all of them left audiences less than satisfied. Some rumors even claimed that Disney was considering sending the movie straight to Disney+ lest it “flop” in theaters.

In a curious turn of events, however, director james mangold addressed the rumors head on, saying there were no test screenings. Mangold revealed this in a response to someone asking about drug testing on Twitter:

No. There was no screening.

No. There was no screening.

— Mangold (@mang0ld) November 10, 2022

mangold too denounced rumors of Indiana Jones replaced in the film. “Well, Paulo, it’s up to you who you believe – an anonymous troll named ‘basement dweller’ and ‘doomcock’ or the actual director of the film. No one will ever replace Indiana Jones. Not in no any script. Not in any cut. Never discussed.

News recently broke that Disney was developing a IndianaJones series for his Disney+ streaming service, although Disney hasn’t officially confirmed the project. Rumors have swirled about Indy’s fate in the upcoming film, with Ford even hinting at his time when the beloved character could meet a real end.

The untitled Indiana Jones 5 The film is set to be released on June 30, 2023.

Are you looking forward to “Indiana Jones 5”?

It’s earnings season on Wall Street. Many American companies have produced financial statements in the past month or so. It was also a busy month for director relations. Directors at Merck & Co., JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs sold shares just as the interim statements were released. Directors of other blue chips, including Coca Cola, bought shares in the company they run. Directors are not required to disclose why they bought or sold, but we may be able to review the interim results of these companies to assess whether directors are likely to be optimistic or pessimistic about the future. Let’s take a look at Merck & Co, the pharmaceutical and healthcare giant…

Are directors benefiting from Merck’s success?

On October 28, Merck & Co reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter sales and profits. The company benefited from a jump in demand for cancer vaccines and immunotherapy. Additionally, some analysts believe that as the pandemic recedes, increased hospital utilization would support Merck’s practice-focused drug portfolio. The positive Q3 results helped the stock price hit $100, the highest point reached in the previous 52-week period. Administrators had the opportunity to take advantage of the price momentum. On Oct. 31, company president Kenneth C. Frazier used options to buy 867,084 shares at $57.04, which he then sold at $100.44 per share, earning him a profit of 37 millions of dollars. The table below presents the other transactions carried out by directors exercising option plans (see EX in the Type column).

Investment Banking Sales Manager

JP Morgan saw a series of director sales in October. So did Goldman Sachs, whose CEO David Solomon sold $2.5 million worth of stock on Oct. 28. Many of these trades were option-related (see below), but we shouldn’t overlook the possibility that the sales reflect a lack of optimism about the future. On the one hand, higher interest rates could generate higher profits as banks earn more in terms of net interest income. However, these gains could be offset by a slowdown in investment banking activity. Indeed, JP Morgan reported lower net profit as investment banking activity fell amid continued market volatility. Third-quarter profits fell $9.74 billion. It wasn’t as steep as some analysts had expected, but a 17% drop nonetheless. Profits also fell at Goldman Sachs. The quarterly results, released on October 14, revealed…

The highly anticipated development star wars The film stopped and was cancelled.

star wars has become one of the most acclaimed franchises of all time, spawning a total of 12 movies and nine TV series, but that doesn’t mean Disney and Lucasfilms are ready to slow down just yet. As fans anticipate the next season of The Mandalorian, they also look ahead to what might be expected for new movies to come.

Although we thought we had an idea of ​​what was to come next for the star wars franchise, it seems those plans have taken a back seat.

Last year, acclaimed screenwriter and director JD Dillard was tapped to be the next to helm a new star wars project, which was rumored to be potentially exploring the dark side of the force.

The 2021 report of THR read:

… a new Star Wars project is in the works: JD Dillard, best known for writing and directing the sci-fi thriller Sleight, and Matt Owens, a writer for the Marvel shows Luke Cage and Agents of SHIELD, have been tapped to develop it . But insiders say it’s undecided whether the project will be for the big screen or for Disney’s high-priority streaming platform.

Details of the plot, characters, and settings are unknown and are kept in the murky underworld of Exegol. It’s also unclear if Dillard would direct if the project went ahead. The Dillard project is believed to be unrelated to a Star Wars movie pitch by Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige and the potential work of Last Jedi director Rian Johnson.

However, we have learned through his last comments that this project has been cancelled.

Dillard shared that his father was an airman and that the film’s premise could have included a deeper look at TIE fighters and the like.

“My dad being an aviator, we had a bunch of flight simulators, including TIE Fighter,” Dillard said. “I’ve been playing this game for months. And my dad drives it with me. And I’m like, ‘Man, this game is so cool.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you know, this game is from a movie series.’ And I was like, ‘You’re kidding me.’ That’s where I looked star wars for the first time and realized the full extent of what it meant to build a world because I was playing this pseudo-16-bit game.

In addition to the cancellation of this movie, we also previously reported that Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, which was to be a spin-off film released in 2023, has been removed from Disney’s release schedule. It hasn’t been confirmed as “cancelled,” but all signs point to it not happening, at the very least, for an extended period of time.

What do you think of the future of the star wars franchise? Let us know in the comments!

Green energy, green initiatives and now green jobs are coming data bank. The leading provider of colocation, connectivity and managed services announced this week the appointment of Jenny Gerson as senior director of sustainability. Gerson will work closely with the team to achieve the company’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030, as outlined by DataBank’s parent company, DigitalBridge.

Gerson is responsible for creating and implementing DataBank’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. Gerson will also oversee ESG areas which include:

• Diversity
• Employee contract
• Health and Safety Initiatives
• business ethics
• cyber security
• Risk management
• A robust governance structure

Gerson also conducts a materiality assessment to engage internal and external stakeholders and determine high priority ESG topics that impact DataBank.

“I’m excited to be part of the DataBank core team and lead the company’s ESG initiatives and data-driven strategy,” Gerson commented. “With an increased level of transparency and the full support of DataBank’s leadership team, DataBank is strongly positioned to achieve our ESG goals, create a rewarding and valuable workplace, and help transition the world to a more sustainable future. .”

DataBank has strengthened its commitment to combating climate change by becoming a founding member of the historic Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) Climate Accord earlier this year. DataBank and 70 other organizations are committed to accelerating the digital infrastructure industry’s journey to carbon neutrality.

For more information on DataBank’s sustainability efforts, or to request a quote, visit databank.com or call 800-840-7533.

In this episode of National Security PodcastOutgoing Director General of Australian Secret Service Intelligence, Major General Paul Symon AO (Retired), joins Professor Rory Medcalf AM to reflect on his long career in the national security community.

The head of the Australian intelligence agency responsible for collecting human intelligence around the world is about to retire. In a rare appearance, Major General Paul Symon AO (retired) joins Professor Rory Medcalf AM in conversation. They discuss the growing need for transparency from intelligence agencies, the evolving mission and capability requirements of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia’s complex strategic circumstances and the nation’s adequate preparedness. in case of conflict. Listen now: https://bit.ly/3DxJIaz

Major General Paul Symon AO (retired) is the Director General of ASIS. Prior to leading the organization, he had a highly successful military career, spanning 35 years and culminating in the rank of Major General.

Professor Rory Medcalf is head of the ANU’s National Security College. His professional experience spans over two decades in diplomacy, intelligence analysis, think tanks and journalism.

We would love to hear from you! Send your questions, comments and suggestions to NatSecPod@anu.edu.au. You can tweet us @NSC_ANU and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any of the next episodes. The National Security Podcast is available at A casting, Apple podcast, Spotifyand wherever you find your podcasts.

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Hong Kong government today released a statement titled “Hong Kong Virtual Asset Development Policy Statement” which sets out its position and approach to developing a “vibrant virtual asset (“VA”) industry and ecosystem in Hong Kong.”

The statement said the Hong Kong government and financial regulators are working to create an environment conducive to the sustainable and responsible development of Hong Kong’s AV industry. It also signals that the government is stepping up its preparatory work for a new licensing regime and preparing to allow retail investment in virtual assets under certain conditions. He points out that the government is exploring a number of pilot projects to test the technological benefits brought by the virtual asset industry.

Following the announcement, OKX Chief Financial Markets Officer Lennix Lai offered the following information on what the changes are likely to mean for Hong Kong, the industry and the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume:

Regarding Hong Kong’s promise as a virtual asset hub, Lai said:

“Factors that determine which markets will become the crypto hubs of the future include the jurisdiction’s rule of law, financial market infrastructure, capital availability and talent pool. Hong Kong offers almost unparalleled potential in many of these areas and has always emphasized investor protection, which is of the utmost importance.

“Approaches taken in regions like the UAE and Singapore have shown that it is possible to balance investor protection with the commercial needs and practical realities of the crypto market.”

On what the statement means for OKX and the industry, Lai said:

“It is expected that many players in the crypto industry, ourselves included, will seek to refocus their efforts on the Hong Kong market and increase their presence at a regional hub level, or even global.”

“This signal from the Hong Kong government is very important and gives us a better idea of ​​the regulatory direction it has in mind for the industry. As the government reconsiders its position and potentially opens the market to some retailer participation, this increasingly open attitude has given us enough confidence to make the Hong Kong market a priority. For the crypto ecosystem to thrive there, players headquartered in Asia Pacific in Hong Kong will need to attract plenty of talent. This will require both the presence of crypto-minded professionals and a net migration to Hong Kong.

Lai also said OKX will closely monitor upcoming regulatory developments and dedicate resources to ensure compliance.

In conclusion, Lai remarked that:

“Hong Kong has been waiting for years for this industry-friendly regulatory clarity. The Hong Kong government has sent a strong signal that it wants to support the development of virtual assets, which provides the fundamental foundation the industry needs. to invest and develop business presences in Hong Kong.

“The crypto industry is still young and it needs accommodating yet caring environments in which to thrive. OKX is very pleased to see that Hong Kong has signaled its willingness to be such an environment as it continues its leadership career as a global innovation hub.

For more information, please contact:

Media@okx.com

About OKX

OKX is the world’s second largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 ecosystem. Trusted by over 20 million customers worldwide, OKX is known to be the fastest and most reliable crypto trading app for investors and professional traders around the world.

As the preferred partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City FC, McLaren Formula 1, golfer Ian Poulter, Olympian Scotty James and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, OKX aims to energize the fan experience with new financial and commitment opportunities. OKX is also the Tribeca Festival’s Top Partner as part of an initiative to attract more creators to the web3.

Beyond the OKX exchange, the OKX wallet is the platform’s latest offering for people looking to explore the world of NFTs and the metaverse while trading GameFi and DeFi tokens.

To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com

Copyright 2022 GlobeNewswire, Inc.