June News Highlights
28 June 2018
This month includes news from Vienna, DSE, Nasdaq, Shanghai, Dublin, HKEX, Italy, JPX, LuxSE, Malaysia, Warsaw, NZX, SET, BME and more. Monthly news highlights are compiled by the SSE to give an overview of the capital markets sustainability news from that month. You can subscribe to our monthly news highlights by clicking here.
SSE INITIATIVE NEWS & EVENTS
Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited became a partner exchange of the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative June 24, 2018 Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited (DSE) has announced signing of a commitment letter with the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, making it the 75th stock exchanges worldwide committed to sharing information and working with stakeholders to promote the sustainability and transparency of capital markets.
EVENT: UN SSE 2018 Global Dialogue October 23, 2018 | Geneva, Switzerland The SSE flagship Global Dialogue is a unique global gathering designed to bring together market leaders to analyze, promote and foster communication on stock exchanges’ sustainability initiatives. You can now find the speaker list for this year's SSE Global Dialogue online here.WEBINARS AND EVENTS
The Future of ESG Reporting July 10, 2018 | New York City Featuring the latest trends and effective, multidisciplinary strategies to incorporate non-financial data into traditional reporting standards. Ceres will present findings from a forthcoming report benchmarking disclosure practices of the largest 500 companies on the global Forbes list. Register here. PRI in Person 2018 September 12-14, 2018 | San Francisco, USA PRI in Person is the leading global conference on responsible investment, offering a platform for PRI signatories and other investment professionals to learn, network and collaborate in person over a three day period. The annual event allows attendees to discuss topical issues and share experiences from their own organisation and region with peers from around the world. UNCTAD World Investment Forum 2018 October 22-25, 2018 | Geneva, Switzerland Established in 2008, the UNCTAD World Investment Forum (WIF) is the pre-eminent global forum for investment policy-making. It is a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue on investment in sustainable development and strives to achieve actionable outcomes for the world’s investment related challenges. Registration is now open here, and find the preliminary programme here. 2018 UNEP-FI Global Roundtable and Paris Climate Finance Day November 26-28, 2018 | Paris, France UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and Finance for Tomorrow, an initiative of Paris EUROPLACE, are joining forces to stage three days of action on sustainable finance in the city where decisive action on climate change was finally taken in 2015. The 4th Climate Finance Day and the UN Environment Finance Initiative’s biennial Global Roundtable will take place in Paris from 26-28 November 2018.CONSULTATIONS
SSE Regulator Guidance Deadline: July 9, 2018 The UN SSE initiative has sent out the first draft of a report being developed with the guidance of a multi-stakeholder advisory group on securities regulation for sustainable development. This draft of the report is now open for comment from members of the advisory group until July 9, 2018. One more draft will open for comment, and the final report will be presented on 23 October at the SSE Global Dialogue. If you would like to request to be included in the SSE's advisory group to review this report and help guide its development, email Tiffany.grabski@sseinitiative.org Climate Bonds Initiative opens new consultation on new land conservation and restoration Deadline: July 20, 2018 Comments are being sought on new sectors under the Climate Bonds Standard. ASX: Consultation on proposed 4th edition of the corporate governance principles and recommendations Deadline: July 27, 2018 The ASX Corporate Governance Council is consulting on proposals to update and issue a fourth edition of its Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations. The closing date for submissions is July 27, 2018.GENERAL NEWS
The World Federation of Exchanges publishes revised ESG Guidance & Metrics June 27, 2018 Developed by the WFE's Sustainability Working Group and first published at the end of 2015, the WFE's ESG Guidance & Metrics are designed to provide a reference point for exchanges looking to introduce, improve or require ESG reporting in their markets. Since its publication, along with the SSE Model Guidance on Reporting ESG Information to Investors, over 35 stock exchanges around the world have issued or committed to issuing ESG reporting guidance for their listed companies. The SSE tracks progress on stock exchanges providing guidance on their website, here. Egypt's financial regulatory body launches dialogue on green bond guidelines June 27, 2018 Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority of Egypt, Mohammed Omran, who also chairs the SSE's working group on capital market regulation and sustainable development, opened a session of consultations over guidelines to foster the development of the country's green bond market. SET Organizes "SET Social Impact Fair 2018: Craft for Change" June 20, 2018 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and MBK pcl jointly organized “SET Social Impact Fair 2018: Craft for Change”, opening up a marketplace for 16 social enterprises skillful in hand-woven fabric products, aiming to create positive social impact by creating jobs and generating income for communities in 19 provinces nationwide, reinforcing SET’s vision “To Make the Capital Market ‘Work’ for Everyone”. The Fair is held during June 20-24 at MBK Center in Bangkok. Japan Exchange Group announces establishment of sustainability committee June 20, 2018 Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (JPX) will establish a Sustainability Committee that directly reports to Akira Kiyota, Group CEO, on July 1, 2018. The committee will promote JPX's activities as a member of the SSE initiative and its contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Nasdaq highlights sustainable bond issues in the Baltics June 18, 2018 The “green leaf” symbol, introduced on the Nasdaq Baltic website nasdaqbaltic.com, highlights sustainable bonds on the Baltic Bond List and is intended as a sign of support for green, social, and sustainable bond issues, underlining how capital markets can contribute to more sustainable development in the Baltics. Luxembourg Stock Exchange Committee Member Jule Becker discusses European Commission action plan on financing sustainable growth June 18, 2018 Former High Level Expert Group (HLEG) Sustainable Finance member, Luxembourg Stock Exchange's Julie Becker writes a blog explaining the legislative package put forward by the European Commission on sustainable finance. SET Strengthens social enterprises via 2nd SET Social Impact Gym June 15, 2018 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) together with Market for Alternative Investment (mai) and mai Listed Company Association (maiA) will organize the SET Social Impact Gym 2018 project for the second consecutive year to firm up social enterprises (SEs) for the benefit of the society. HK launches three-year green bond subsidy June 15, 2018 The Green Bond Grant Scheme will subsidize eligible "green bond issuers'' in obtaining certification under the Green Finance Certification Scheme by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency. ICMA releases Green Bond Principles and Social Bond Principles 2018 June 14, 2018 On the occasion of the 4th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Green Bond Principles held in Hong Kong,, the updated versions of the Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles and the Sustainability Bond Guidelines (the “Principles”) were published. A number of key documents that complement the Principles were also released. Borsa Italiana and Luxembourg Stock Exchange members of EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance June 13, 2018 The European Commission is today publishing the list of members of the Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance. The Group, which will start meeting as of July 2018, comprises 35 members from civil society, academia, the business and finance sector. Luxembourg Stock Exchange's Jane Wilkinson and Borsa Italiana's Sara Lovisolo are both members of the expert group. Shanghai Stock Exchange: New expert consultative committee, appraisal result for corporate governance sector unveiled June 13, 2018 The Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) has recently elected the 5th Expert Consultative Committee for the SSE Corporate Governance Sector and re-evaluated the sector in 2018. The new 15-member committee consists of renowned scholars in the field of corporate governance research and frontline experts of regulation on listed companies in China, which is of great representativeness. Launch of China-Lux Green Bond Channel: bringing Chinese securities to international investors June 11, 2018 The cooperation between the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange focuses on providing relevant information in English about Chinese green bonds to offshore investors. UNCTAD Launches 2018 World Investment Report, provides overview of stock exchange sustainability June 6, 2018 The 2018 UNCTAD World Investment Report shows continued growth and an upward trend of stock exchange engagement on sustainability topics. Chapter III.D covers capital markets and sustainability. Luxembourg Stock Exchange Secretary-General writes on the link between sustainable and Sukuk June 5, 2018 Maurice Bauer, Secretary-General of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange writes about the bridge from sustainable to Sukuk, discussing the opportunities in Islamic Finance. IFC and Monetary Authority of Singapore partner to accelerate growth of green bond asset class in Asia June 7, 2018 IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), agreeing to work together to accelerate the growth of green bond markets in Asia. The MOU marks the start of a closer collaboration between MAS and IFC to jointly advance the green finance agenda.ESG INDICES AND PRODUCTS
NZ's first green bond, issued by Aukland Council, starts trading on NZX June 28, 2018 NZX said the first green bond, created to fund projects that have environmental or climate benefits, started trading on the exchange operator's debt market on 28 June. "The listing of today’s inaugural green bond in New Zealand supports the exchange’s strategic commitment to grow our country’s environmental markets," NZX said in a statement. Vanguard Group makes regulatory filings to launch two green ETFs June 27, 2018 The Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF will track the FTSE US All Cap Choice Index and the Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF will track the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Choice Index. Both ETFs are expected to start trading in September. Vienna Stock Exchange announces new composition of VÖNIX sustainability index June 18, 2018 The composition of the VÖNIX sustainability index on the Vienna Stock Exchange changed effective June 18. ICBC London lists $1.58bn equivalent green bond on the London Stock Exchange green bond segment June 15, 2018 The green bond, part of ICBC’s $10 billion MTN programme, is the largest ever green bond listing on London Stock Exchange and the first Chinese issuance on ISM. SET to launch new ESG index June 15, 2018 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announced it will launch SETTHSI, an extension of the current annual Thailand Sustainability Investment list, which will offer stocks with prominence onESG aspects, and calculates fromthe listed companies, included in the latest THSI list. Goldman Sachs turns social impact ranking into ETF June 12, 2018 Goldman Sachs is turning Just Capital, billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones' nonprofit foundation that produces a ranking of companies based on social impact, into a real financial product. Basque Government's first sustainable bond issue to be admitted to trading on BME June 12, 2018 The 500 million-euro sustainable bond takes place within the framework of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and includes projects on education, health, socio-economic progress, job creation and renewable energies. FTSE4GOOD Bursa Malysia June 2018 Semi-Annual Review June 7, 2018 Bursa Malaysia announced 12 new additions to the constituents of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia (“F4GBM”) Index.MANAGEMENT NEWS
New CEO at Euronext Dublin June 28, 2018 Euronext announced that Deirdre Somers has resigned from her position as CEO of Euronext Dublin, to be replaced by Daryl Byrne as CEO of Euronext Dublin, Head of Debt & Funds Listings and ETFs and member of the Managing Board of Euronext N.V. SET announces four new senior executive vice president appointments June 28, 2018 Thirapun Sanpakit is promoted to Senior Executive Vice President - Head of Information Technology Division. Pataravasee Suvarnsorn is promoted to Senior Executive Vice President-Head of Market Operations Division. Manpong Senanarong is appointed as Senior Executive Vice President-Head of Issuer Marketing Division. Aphisak Kiewkarnkha is appointed as Senior Executive Vice President-Head of Finance & Investment Division. Changes on the Warsaw Stock Exchange Supervisory Board June 20, 2018 The Ordinary General Meeting of the Warsaw Stock Exchange on 19 June 2018 changed the composition of the Supervisory Board of the Warsaw Stock Exchange (Exchange Supervisory Board). Janusz Krawczyk was elected as a new member of the Supervisory Board. The new member of the Supervisory Board was elected following the resignation of Chairman of the Exchange Supervisory Board Wojciech Nagel. HKEX: Renewal of contract of Chief Executive June 13, 2018 Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEX”) announces that the Board of Directors of HKEX (the “Board”) has approved the renewal of the employment contract of Mr Li Xiaojia, Charles (“Mr Li”) as the Chief Executive of HKEX for a further 3-year term from 16 October 2018 to 15 October 2021, inclusive.About the SSE
The SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE’s mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services.
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