Fintech PR
Cathay Financial Holdings Marks Third Consecutive Year at World Biodiversity Summit During Climate Week NYC, in Conjunction with UNGA 79
Taiwan’s Sole Signatory of the ‘Valuing Water Finance Initiative’
TAIPEI, Oct. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — During Climate Week NYC, Sophia Cheng, the CIO of Cathay Financial Holdings, shared her insights at the iconic World Biodiversity Summit by contributing to the session “Valuing Natural Capital: Creating Markets for Nature” on 26 September 2024. Cheng discussed the role of corporations in driving nature-positive investments, emerging trends, and actionable strategies. She was also invited by Ceres (Ceres Valuing Water Finance Initiative) as Taiwan’s sole representative to speak on “Building Corporate Climate Resilience through Water Resource Management.” It’s also been the third consecutive year that Cathay FHC has participated in Climate Week NYC, further demonstrating its global influence and Taiwan’s financial sector’s commitment to promoting nature-positive growth.
In her speech, Cheng emphasized the urgent need for increasing capital to support nature-positive initiatives, citing Bloomberg[1] research, which estimates that USD 166 billion is allocated annually to biodiversity conservation and restoration. However, this is five times less than the estimated USD 996 billion per year required by 2030 in the same report. Cheng urged, “We need more resources invested in sustainable supply chains, impact investing, and ecosystem building to expand the biodiversity market.” She pointed out that out of the 416 organizations from 51 countries that have adopted the TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures), 45% are from Asia. Cheng believes this signals that Asian companies are eager to engage in more nature-positive initiatives once global frameworks become clearer.
Recognizing the complexity of biodiversity and nature-related sectors, Cheng suggested that a global biodiversity project platform should be established. This platform would match diverse funding sources with nature projects across various risk profiles while setting consistent standards, such as developing market rules for biodiversity credits, to enhance market efficiency and stability. At the same time, more market participants need to see successful examples. She highlighted World Bank’s “Rhino Bond,” which links bond yields to the success of rhino conservation efforts. This initiative has already contributed to an 8% increase in the black rhino population, delivering dual benefits for both biodiversity and investors.
Throughout the discussions at Climate Week NYC, Cheng expressed concerns over the general lack of attention to biodiversity loss, a sentiment echoed by fellow panelists. To encourage the audience, the panelists adopted a positive and proactive stance, emphasizing the promising outlook for biodiversity. They highlighted practical measures such as the construction of the Global Biodiversity Framework, the rise of biodiversity credit schemes, the continuous development of technologies like AI, and numerous transnational collaborations aimed at promoting nature-positive growth. The notion “with great power comes great responsibility” emerged as a central theme, with both public and private sectors being urged to collaborate in building a larger, more impactful market that integrates biodiversity. As Cheng concluded, she stressed that “everyone can influence a stakeholder, and the more we engage, the more successful natural investments will be.”
At the Ceres Water Resources Forum, Cheng further emphasized the critical importance of water resources, quality, and stability for both human life and global ecosystems. She shared that, in addition to improving water efficiency in its operations, Cathay FHC and its subsidiaries analyze companies in their investment and financing portfolios with high water resource risks. This includes integrating water governance performance in industries such as semiconductors, power, and food into Cathay’s water resource investment management and engagement strategies. Cheng also praised Taiwan’s high-tech industries for their proactive responses to water-related risks and encouraged broader efforts in water governance, moving from targeted projects to more comprehensive strategies to avoid greenwashing risks.
Cathay FHC continues to lead with innovative financial models that promote nature-positive outcomes. As the only Taiwanese financial institution to sign the “Valuing Water Finance Initiative”, Cathay FHC has invested in and provided loans to water resource sector, including water treatment, water supply, and wastewater management. Cathay Life Insurance, one of Cathay FHC’s subsidiaries, as the first financial institution in Taiwan to join Nature Action 100, collaborated with 190 international institutional investors in 2023 to engage 100 companies in industries such as food, chemicals, forestry, and pharmaceuticals—sectors significantly impacting natural habitats and biodiversity loss. These engagements urged companies to take proactive measures to protect and restore natural ecosystems.
Cathay FHC has observed the rise of nature-themed asset management and insurance products, along with promising blended finance models that appropriately value ecosystem services, thereby attracting more investments. Cheng concluded by expressing hope for continued public-private sector collaboration in achieving nature-positive goals and overcoming financial barriers.
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[1] Biodiversity Finance Factbook: https://assets.bbhub.io/professional/sites/24/Biodiversity-Finance-Factbook_COP28-Edition.pdf |
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Fintech PR
Juniper Square to Acquire Forstone Luxembourg to Expand Global Fund Administration Footprint
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Juniper Square, the leading provider of innovative fund software and administration solutions for the private markets, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Forstone Luxembourg, a division of Forstone Group, to expand its global fund administration and fund services footprint. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals.
Founded in 2021, Forstone Luxembourg provides fund administration, transfer agency, and other fund services in Luxembourg. The strategic acquisition of Forstone Luxembourg brings additional expertise and an established presence in the European market, which reinforces Juniper Square’s commitment to providing a global and comprehensive suite of services to its clients, enabling them to navigate the complexities of cross-border operations with greater ease and efficiency.
Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-founder of Juniper Square commented, “This acquisition stems from the approach we’ve taken since day one: working closely with our customers to deeply understand their needs and finding new, innovative ways to support them. Our global expansion efforts, which began earlier this year in India, are further strengthened with this acquisition. We’re thrilled to welcome the Forstone Luxembourg team to Juniper Square and bring their deep knowledge and expertise on the Luxembourg market to our clients.” Robinson added, “As we got to know Forstone Luxembourg, it became clear that they share our values, passion, and vision for transforming the private markets, and we’re excited to welcome them to the Juniper Square family.”
Arnaud Brive, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Forstone Luxembourg said, “Juniper Square is making a tremendous impact in the private markets, and their innovative approach sets them apart in the industry. We’re excited to join forces and are confident that together, we will achieve great things.”
Christine Egbert, General Manager for Fund Administration at Juniper Square, who will oversee integrating Forstone Luxembourg’s team, existing client base, and technology stack into the Juniper Square environment, commented, “I joined Juniper Square to help scale a world-class service organization that delivers a truly modern solution to its clients. With the acquisition of Forstone Luxembourg, we can now offer Luxembourg-based administration services to our customers, an important milestone for our company.”
The transition is subject to final regulatory approval, following which Forstone Luxembourg will operate as Juniper Square Luxembourg. The Forstone Group will continue to execute its strategy to service the Luxembourg market by leveraging its expertise in the private markets and real estate sector through core services such as traditional bookkeeping and consulting.
Juniper Square is the leading provider of innovative fund software and administration solutions for the private markets, helping GPs and LPs seamlessly connect and communicate across every stage of the investment lifecycle. From fundraising and onboarding to investor management and fund administration, Juniper Square empowers investment managers to accelerate fundraising, scale operations efficiently, and improve investor satisfaction. With over 2,000 GPs relying on its platform to manage more than 38,000 investment entities, 600,000 LP accounts, and $1 trillion in investor equity, Juniper Square continues to invest in cutting-edge technology. The firm’s focus on mastering data management and leveraging modern solutions delivers a compelling and seamless experience for both fund managers and their LPs. Learn more at https://www.junipersquare.com/.
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Fintech PR
CoinDesk bolsters information services offering with strategic acquisition of CCData and CryptoCompare
NEW YORK and LONDON, Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CoinDesk, one of the most trusted media, events, indices, and data companies for the global crypto economy, today announced that it has acquired CCData, a U.K. FCA-regulated benchmark administrator and one of the leading providers of digital asset data and index solutions, including its trusted retail site, CryptoCompare, which serves over 300,000 active users. The acquisition significantly scales CoinDesk’s information services and data products, while offering enhanced cross-sell opportunities to CCData and CryptoCompare’s extensive number of institutional and retail clients.
For over a decade, CCData has been providing its institutional-grade data solutions, digital asset index suite, and award-winning research to government, institutional, and retail clients navigating the digital asset ecosystem. The acquisition of CCData’s robust data platform and retail platform CryptoCompare further strengthens CoinDesk’s data offerings, immediately increases subscription revenues, and complements the existing suite of solutions offered by CoinDesk Indices and CoinDesk Media.
“Over the past ten years, CCData has become one of the most respected and reliable data platforms for digital assets, earning the trust of numerous users seeking to understand and leverage their potential,” said Sara Stratoberdha, CoinDesk CEO. “We are thrilled to begin integrating CCData’s high-quality, robust, and trusted data platform and retail suite across CoinDesk’s existing products and services to unlock greater opportunities for our customers.”
“We are incredibly excited to join forces with CoinDesk as we embark on the next chapter of CCData’s journey,” said Charles Hayter, CEO and Co-Founder of CCData. “CoinDesk is an integral pillar of the digital asset sector, from its award-winning journalism to flourishing index business. I am deeply proud of what CCData and CryptoCompare have accomplished over the past decade, and with CoinDesk as our partner, I’m confident that we will continue to build a legacy that supports and empowers our clients and the broader crypto industry.”
CoinDesk business update
Since 2014, CoinDesk Indices has been at the forefront of the digital asset revolution, empowering investors globally with tens of billions of dollars in benchmarked assets. Flagships such as the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX) and the CoinDesk 20 Index set the industry standard for measuring, trading, and investing in digital assets. Since launching in January 2024, the CoinDesk 20 perpetual futures contract has attracted substantial institutional interest, driving a trading volume of over $8 billion.
CoinDesk Media provides news, analysis and real-time insights on digital assets and blockchain technology and holds large-scale conferences for industry professionals. CoinDesk Media’s products and services reached an estimated audience of 45.5 million people during the first half of 2024. The Consensus conference, one of the world’s largest and longest-running digital asset events, attracted over 15,000 registrations in 2024. Consensus Hong Kong and Consensus Toronto will take place on February 18-20 and May 14-16 in 2025, respectively.
Advisor
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal advisor to CoinDesk on the transaction.
Media contacts
CoinDesk
CCData
About CCData
CCData is an FCA-regulated benchmark administrator and global leader in digital asset data, providing institutional-grade digital asset data and settlement indices. By aggregating and analyzing tick data from globally recognised exchanges and seamlessly integrating multiple datasets, CCData provides a comprehensive and granular overview of the market across trade, derivatives, order book, historical, social, and blockchain data.
To learn more about CCData, go to: www.ccdata.io.
About CoinDesk
CoinDesk is one of the most trusted media, events, indices, and data companies for the global crypto economy. CoinDesk Indices offers expertise in digital asset indices, data, and research to educate and empower investors. Since 2013, CoinDesk Media has led the story of the future of money and investing, illuminating the transformation in society and culture that comes with it. Our award-winning team of journalists delivers news and unparalleled insights that bring transparency, comprehension, and context. CoinDesk Events gathers the global crypto, blockchain, and Web3 communities at annual events such as Consensus, the world’s largest and longest-running crypto festival.
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Fintech PR
HGC Global Communications Launches Data Center Interconnect Clusters to Transform Connectivity Across Asia
HONG KONG, Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged ICT service provider and network operator with extensive global coverage, is pleased to announce the launch of Data Center Interconnect (DCI) clusters in key mature and emerging data hubs across Asia. This strategic initiative aims to elevate exceptional in-country and inter-country connectivity, providing enterprise solutions specifically designed to meet the evolving demands of the globe digital landscape.
HGC as the Leading Operator in Establishing In-Country DCI Clusters Across Asia
HGC’s expertise in navigating the criteria shaping the digital transformation of emerging hubs in Southeast Asia has enabled the successful launch of DCI in key locations such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Coupled with mature hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore, this initiative forms an extensive DCI infrastructure that connects major data centers across Asia. HGC fully manages well-established infrastructure and local expertise in each location within DCI cluster, ensuring low latency and a swift mean time to recovery (MTTR). With over 30 years of experience, the HGC team in Hong Kong headquarters will provide comprehensive support to regional operations while enhancing local services. The DCI clusters will be offered to our carriers partners, combining to their networks enhancing its strength and integration to their DCI infrastructure. By combining experienced headquarters support with local expertise, HGC is dedicated to further elevating and uplifting its service offerings.
Expanding Inter-Country Connectivity: HGC’s Unique Proposition in Regional DCI Clusters
Building on HGC’s In-Country DCI clusters, the company presents a unique proposition within the regional DCI landscape across Asia. This strategic advantage allows HGC to deliver diverse and flexible cross-country DCI services, facilitating seamless access for customers from Africa, Americas, Europe and the Middle East who are looking to enter the region.
With extensive experience in expanding international markets, HGC’s well-trained team excels at managing unexpected incidents. In such situations, HGC is equipped to provide alternative services for affected clients, utilizing its extensive global connections.
HGC’s Connectivity Solutions: Navigating the Digital Transformation
In response to increasing demand of AI and other emerging applications in the digital era, there is a heightened need for robust connectivity. Leveraging HGC’s strengths in both In-Country and inter-country presences, the company is ideally positioned to provide a variety of customized low-latency cross-border connectivity, ICT services, and cybersecurity solutions, all built on a robust regional DCI fabric. These connectivity services include Eyeball-as-a-Service, IP-related services, and AMS-IX – the internet exchange solution.
Ravindran Mahalingam, Senior Vice President, International Business of HGC said: “We are eager to showcase HGC’s DCI clusters which we believe will perfectly meet the digital transformation needs of enterprises. Our unique strengths in Asia, combined with our global reputation and network, position this solution to effectively address the challenges of shifting the emerging economies to modernize inclusively in the rapidly digitalising era.”
About HGC Global Communications Limited
HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international telecom operator and ICT solution provider. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 21 global offices and staff presence in 33 cities worldwide. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate, SME and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibreoptic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. In 2019, HGC Group completed the acquisition of Macroview Telecom Limited (Macroview), a leading digital technology solution and managed services provider. The addition of Macroview further accelerates HGC Group’s digital transformation path and positioning as a pioneering ICT and digital services leader. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities, transport, social infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and environmental infrastructure in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.
To learn more, please visit HGC’s website at: www.hgc.com.hk
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hgc-global-communications-launches-data-center-interconnect-clusters-to-transform-connectivity-across-asia-302277733.html
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