Sustainable Leaders series: Ayala’s path to an ESG driven business | FinanceAsia

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With several ESG-backed initiatives in recent years, the Philippines-based conglomerate Ayala has solidified its commitment to sustainability. Operating across verticals including energy, finance, infrastructure, and real estate, Ayala has committed to net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. The conglomerate’s energy wing ACEN recently created the world’s first energy transition mechanism (ETM) in November 2022, backed by BPI and RCBC.

On the social front, Ayala’s GCash app and BPI’s BanKo have  played pivotal roles in financial inclusion for unbanked Filipinos and small to medium size enterprises. BPI and Globe are currently reviewing their framework to consciously focus on these areas.

When it comes to governance, Ayala’s boards are working towards an appropriate level of diversity and independence. This involves maintaining high standards when it comes to transparency and disclosure.

The 190-year-old company’s social and sustainability initiatives have a long history. Albert de Larrazabal, CFO at Ayala Corporation said, “We have always aligned ourselves to national interest and had very high standards of governance and stewardship. As we must be mindful of the ecosystems we operate under, ESG in various forms has always been part of our value proposition.”

Ayala’s approach to ESG

Today, ESG-based financing is a priority for Ayala. Apart from ACEN’s implementation of the world’s first ETM, Ayala has issued a social bond with the IFC in support of its cancer hospital. Larrazabal said, “We are looking to do KPI-linked social and ESG financing, which incorporates targets into the commercial terms and conditions of the loan.”

Even during the M&A process, the conglomerate is mindful of integrating new acquisitions into its ESG framework. Ayala has also taken steps to ensure that ESG is a priority that is ingrained at the highest levels of the organisation, leveraging its membership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The conglomerate’s board has received training which ensures they can play an active role in tracking and monitoring developments in the ESG space.

Corporates making public commitments to sustainability draw a lot of attention, not all of it positive. Asked how Ayala approaches concerns about greenwashing, Larrazabal said, “Sometimes it happens inadvertently because of incorrect measurements. That’s why we brought in South Pole. We have taken steps to ensure we are on the right track by committing to independent verification, to give people a degree of reassurance.”

Building a model for the APAC region

While the need for sustainable leaders is strongly felt across APAC, many countries in the region have a minimal contribution to emissions — the Philippines emits half the global average on a per capita basis. Larrazabal said, “Between 80% to 88% of our emissions — depending on individual businesses — are scope 3.” These emissions are defined as the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by a reporting organisation, but which are a part of its value chain. Larrazabal said, “Our scope 3 is somebody else’s scope 1 and scope 2. We need an environment that enables, incentivises, and if that fails, penalises those who disregard scope 1 and 2.”

Many emerging markets grapple with issues similar to those facing the Philippines — adopting renewable energy, while meeting the demands of a growing population and economy. As a result, ETM-like arrangements may be embraced to a greater extent. Asked for his advice on managing such a transaction, Eric Francia, president and CEO at ACEN said, “It is important for investors to reconsider their position on coal, so long as the principles are well understood. One may be investing in a coal plant, but for a good purpose, which is enabling its early retirement.”

Offering a financial perspective on the ETM, TG Limcaoco, president and CEO Bank of Philippine Islands added, “We provided lending and brought in other institutions. We took reduced rates of returns for equity and debt exposure, which allowed us to shorten the life of the plant by 10 to 15 years. It is a big win for everyone involved.”

For more on Ayala’s adoption of ESG and a deeper insight into the world’s first ever ETM, please watch the accompanying video.

 

 

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Asia’s ESG investors must ‘re-imagine role of capital’ | FinanceAsia

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A version of this story was first published by sister title, AsianInvestor.

Infrastructure investors in Asia can promote a new, more ambitious role for capital in funding social and environmental development, according to Nikhil Chulani, investment director covering the industries, technology and services sectors at British International Investment.

“On the markets that we at BII focus on in Africa and South Asia, there are huge opportunities for growth and achieving greater scale,” he told an audience at the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute conference in London in June.

“To accelerate progress in realising the potential of these opportunities, one key aspect is vision and ambition, and tapping into creative solutions via financial services sector to re-imagine the role of capital.” 

The UK development finance institution currently invests between $1.5 and $2 billion per year in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

He noted that, as ESG investing broadens from a focus on people to include the environment, the scope of allocations, and the range of problems they address, is widening. He said developing bottom-up strategies is more important than ever.

Being able to clearly identify and articulate which problems investors are aiming to address with their allocation is crucial, he added, emphasising the need to integrate impact and financial return within an investment model.

“Having an impact doesn’t exist separately from investing, it is a core part of investing,” Chulani said, adding that, while many investors still saw the ESG potential of their investment as distinct from its investment potential, attitudes were changing.

Size matters

Michael Anderson, who was director general between 2010 and 2013 of the UK’s Department for International Development, a government department that was responsible for more than $6 billion in annual aid programmes, said that a pressing question for enterprises and projects with a social or environmental dimension was achieving the scale necessary to unlock large investments.

“It’s not that we need to do more to attract major investors, but when they are attracted they need to have the deal flow to enable large ticket sizes,” he said.

“Big investors with multibillion dollar funds can’t go after small deals,” he added. “The key challenge is thinking at a bigger scale, especially in areas beyond infrastructure.”

“There has been some good investment in green infrastructure, but not enough in other areas,” he noted, pointing to social services, social infrastructure, and businesses designed to have a positive social impact.

Anderson, who is founder and CEO of MedAccess, a social enterprise improving access to medical innovations wholly owned by the British International Investment, gave the example of essential medicines. 

“The critical reason that these drugs are not getting into markets where they are needed is that the companies who manufacture them don’t find it commercially viable to sell into those markets,” he said. 

Investors were essential in providing the “catalytic finance” to de-risk distribution into less profitable markets, he added. 

Anderson gave the example of a recent TB drug project mediated by MedAccess, where the finance provided reduced the per dose cost from $40 to $15. MedAccess also facilitated increased production by the drug company and worked with companies to secure distribution. 

“Sometimes this means lower margins [for manufacturers],” he noted. 

Local opportunities

However, Ana Nacvalovaite, research fellow at the Centre for Mutual and Co-owned Business to Kellogg College, University of Oxford, speaking at the same session, said small-scale, local projects offered considerable opportunities for ESG investors, given their strong social and environmental credentials in many cases.

Such projects that are aimed at securing specific social or environmental outcomes often involve joint investment by development banks alongside sovereign and other institutional investors such as pension funds.

But those institutions best placed to provide such “blended finance” are not necessarily the biggest, Nacvalovaite observed, pointing to the example of funding for rural farm co-operatives in Rwanda.

“The [Government Pension Fund of Norway] has its hands tied, since approval is required by the ministry of finance. But Rwanda’s fund [the Agaciro Development Fund, launched in 2012] could trial this. It is the right size and Rwanda has lots of co-operatives, so they are looking at these blended finance opportunities,” she said.

Nacvalovaite said that while single project investments with a finite lifecycle might produce tangible environmental or social benefits during their lifetime, they also created challenges when they complete.

“The community that has been built up around it has to pack up and move on,” she said.

By contrast, financing co-operatives and employee-owned businesses provided longer lasting social outcomes. “We are talking about people creating their own infrastructures,” she said.

 

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Ayala’s path to an ESG driven business | FinanceAsia

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In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

With several ESG-backed initiatives in recent years, the Philippines-based conglomerate Ayala has solidified its commitment to sustainability. Operating across verticals including energy, finance, infrastructure, and real estate, Ayala has committed to net zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. The conglomerate’s energy wing ACEN recently created the world’s first energy transition mechanism (ETM) in November 2022, backed by BPI and RCBC.

On the social front, Ayala’s GCash app and BPI’s BanKo have  played pivotal roles in financial inclusion for unbanked Filipinos and small to medium size enterprises. BPI and Globe are currently reviewing their framework to consciously focus on these areas.

When it comes to governance, Ayala’s boards are working towards an appropriate level of diversity and independence. This involves maintaining high standards when it comes to transparency and disclosure.

The 190-year-old company’s social and sustainability initiatives have a long history. Albert de Larrazabal, CFO at Ayala Corporation said, “We have always aligned ourselves to national interest and had very high standards of governance and stewardship. As we must be mindful of the ecosystems we operate under, ESG in various forms has always been part of our value proposition.”

Ayala’s approach to ESG

Today, ESG-based financing is a priority for Ayala. Apart from ACEN’s implementation of the world’s first ETM, Ayala has issued a social bond with the IFC in support of its cancer hospital. Larrazabal said, “We are looking to do KPI-linked social and ESG financing, which incorporates targets into the commercial terms and conditions of the loan.”

Even during the M&A process, the conglomerate is mindful of integrating new acquisitions into its ESG framework. Ayala has also taken steps to ensure that ESG is a priority that is ingrained at the highest levels of the organisation, leveraging its membership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The conglomerate’s board has received training which ensures they can play an active role in tracking and monitoring developments in the ESG space.

Corporates making public commitments to sustainability draw a lot of attention, not all of it positive. Asked how Ayala approaches concerns about greenwashing, Larrazabal said, “Sometimes it happens inadvertently because of incorrect measurements. That’s why we brought in South Pole. We have taken steps to ensure we are on the right track by committing to independent verification, to give people a degree of reassurance.”

Building a model for the APAC region

While the need for sustainable leaders is strongly felt across APAC, many countries in the region have a minimal contribution to emissions — the Philippines emits half the global average on a per capita basis. Larrazabal said, “Between 80% to 88% of our emissions — depending on individual businesses — are scope 3.” These emissions are defined as the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by a reporting organisation, but which are a part of its value chain. Larrazabal said, “Our scope 3 is somebody else’s scope 1 and scope 2. We need an environment that enables, incentivises, and if that fails, penalises those who disregard scope 1 and 2.”

Many emerging markets grapple with issues similar to those facing the Philippines — adopting renewable energy, while meeting the demands of a growing population and economy. As a result, ETM-like arrangements may be embraced to a greater extent. Asked for his advice on managing such a transaction, Eric Francia, president and CEO at ACEN said, “It is important for investors to reconsider their position on coal, so long as the principles are well understood. One may be investing in a coal plant, but for a good purpose, which is enabling its early retirement.”

Offering a financial perspective on the ETM, TG Limcaoco, president and CEO Bank of Philippine Islands added, “We provided lending and brought in other institutions. We took reduced rates of returns for equity and debt exposure, which allowed us to shorten the life of the plant by 10 to 15 years. It is a big win for everyone involved.”

For more on Ayala’s adoption of ESG and a deeper insight into the world’s first ever ETM, please watch the accompanying video.

 

 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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SUSTAINABLE FINANCE POLL 2023: Asian debt markets sharpen ESG focus | FinanceAsia

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It’s looking increasingly like the time for sustainable finance to shine. After a fall in the year-on-year volume of green, social and sustainability (GSS) instruments globally during 2022, a rebound is forecast this year – to around US$1 trillion in issuance, forecasts S&P Global.

Asia Pacific (APAC) is well-placed to capitalise on this upswing. S&P Global’s projections, for example, are that GSS issuance volume in the region will jump by as much as 20%, to reach US$240 billion, roughly a quarter of the global landscape.

The longer-term story looks promising, too, especially amid ambitious climate goals. Even in South-east Asia alone, about US$180 billion needs to be invested in clean energy projects every year until 2030 to keep the transition journey on track, based on the International Energy Agency’s Sustainable Development Scenario. Putting this in context, from 2016 to 2020, investment in clean energy was $30 billion per year, on average.

Adapting to climate change is certainly a key driver. But according to more than 100 investors and borrowers in APAC who took part in the 6th annual poll by ANZ and FinanceAsia in April and May 2023, multiple dynamics indicate an ever-bigger role for GSS instruments.

Among the key factors is a mix of policy and regulatory initiatives to foster greater transparency. This should, in turn, boost investor demand and issuer appetite. At the same time, as this segment of the region’s capital market continues to mature, active GSS bond investors and issuers can expect greater potential for newer formats of issuance to help bridge social and environmental priorities such as biodiversity and gender equality.

10 top takeaways from the survey

  1. 92% of all respondents have integrated GSS factors within their strategy, with 77% confirming that the market volatility over the past 12-18 months either hasn’t changed or has increased their focus on GSS.
  2. Nearly half (49%) of investors now have their own in-house ESG research and analysis capability, a notable increase from the 42% poll finding 12 months ago.
  3. 70% of investors have some type of experience with sustainable finance, with bonds much more popular than loans.
  4. While just under one-third of investors have exposure to transition finance instruments, another 45% are interested in investing in them, either in the next year or over the medium to long term.
  5. Although 92% of investors haven’t yet invested in Orange (gender equality) bonds, half of them say they would do so if they were more widely available.
  6. 88% of investors and 90% of borrowers believe further regulation of sustainability and sustainable finance would have a positive impact on the market overall.
  7. 49% of investors and 41% of issuers say a ‘greenium’ of at least 4 bps is typically priced-in to new GSS bond issues.
  8. Alignment with sustainability objectives, better access to capital and investor diversification are the top three drivers for issuers of GSS instruments.
  9. Time, availability of targets and set-up cost are the biggest hurdles to issuing GSS instruments.
  10. Only 19% of borrowers have never issued a GSS instrument – compared with 64% in last year’s poll.

Read more survey findings and analysis here

 

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FinanceAsia Volume Two 2023 | FinanceAsia

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By now, most of our subscribers will have received print editions of the latest FinanceAsia Magazine: Volume Two 2023. 

Over the course of the summer, we look forward to sharing online our in-depth magazine features, including the detailed rationale behind our jury’s selection of winners across our recent flagship FA Awards process.

You can access the full online edition here.

To whet your appetite, read on for our editor’s note.

Positive predictions

As a snake (according to the Chinese zodiac), I have so far fulfilled my Year of the Rabbit prophecy in securing opportunity for career growth within the Haymarket Asia business. A successor will soon have the good fortune to step up as editor in my place, as I become content and business director and oversee the editorial strategy of our finance publications: FinanceAsia, CorporateTreasurer and AsianInvestor.

It is said that those born in 2023 will be blessed with vigilance and quick-mindedness. Very useful personality traits, I would think, as artificial intelligence (AI) advances globally, at pace. We are witnessing great development in this field in Hong Kong – and across the wider Asian economy, as emerging tech becomes the next positive disruptor and the capital markets work to respond through evolving regulation and new listing regimes.

In this summer issue, Christopher Chu delves into the value disruption put forward by generative AI, with consultants estimating its worth to breach $16 trillion by 2030. He explores its sophistication and how its potential is interwoven with political factors, while questions are posed around data ownership.

Also intertwined within the realm of transformative technology, is this edition’s flagship interview with BNP Paribas’ CEO for Asia Pacific, Paul Yang. He shares his journey navigating a career path that has taken him from IT coding in Paris, to leadership of the bank’s Asia Pacific business. He offers insights around his accomplishments to date and details plans to progress the bank’s 2025 Growth, Technology and Sustainability (GTS) strategy.

Reviewing activity across Southeast Asia, Liza Tan inspects the market’s prominent position in the ongoing start-up story, through assessment of the current venture capital (VC) fundraising landscape. Her discussion with experts asserts that fintech is inherently fused with human approach and that quality conversations and connections are key to future success.

Indeed, as FinanceAsia’s recent in-person awards celebration underlined, we have much to look forward to in the second half of the year and it is the human elements involved in dealmaking that have capacity to shape the road ahead. I think we all agree that recognising and nurturing talent is vital and so I hope you enjoy reading our evaluation of market resourcefulness, ingenuity and skill that informed the jury’s selection of award winners, amongst truly outstanding competition.

Finally, Sara Velezmoro and I explore the outlook for Asia’s debt capital markets – investigating what opportunity is on offer alongside the changing environment; and whether the momentum surrounding Japanese equities can be sustained, if the government were to reverse yield curve control.

Amid uncertainty we must focus on potential, so please join me in acknowledging the positive strides being taken by Asia’s market movers.

Ella Arwyn Jones

(Please feel free to send feedback or suggestions to [email protected])

 

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FA Sustainable Finance Forum: Top Five Takeaways

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In terms of sustainable development goals (SDG), business and investment have long and difficult journeys ahead.  Sobering figures from a draft report published by the United Nations (UN) last month reveal that at the end of 2022, just 12% of the SDGs were on track to meet their 2030 targets.

“It’s time to sound the alarm,” the report warned.

“At the mid-way point on our way to 2030, the SDGs are in deep trouble. A preliminary assessment of the roughly 140 targets with data show only about 12% are on track.”

“Close to half, though showing progress, are moderately or severely off track and some 30% have either seen no movement or have regressed below the 2015 baseline.”

The audience at FinanceAsia’s recent Sustainable Finance Asia Forum on April 18 heard that although there is plenty of road to make up on the journey to net zero, so too is there substantial opportunity. 

ESG imperatives are changing the way institutional investors approach decision-making, develop sustainable products and operate within new regulatory frameworks.

While the over-arching message of the forum underlined that sustainable goals and driving yield are not inimical, how exactly institutions approach sustainable finance will shape the future.

The following are FA’s top five takeaways from a forum focussed on these frameworks.

***

1. Creativity is key

While sufficient capital may be out there to bootstrap transitional finance in Asia – a region that is bearing the physical brunt of climate change – getting it where it needs to go in emerging markets (EMs) is not working at the scale and speed necessary to effect change.

Emily Woodland, head of sustainable and transition solutions for APAC at BlackRock, told a forum panel exploring the state of play of Asia’s SDG commitments that, as well as climate and transition risks, investors also face the common-or-garden risks that come from operating in EMs.

“There are the general risks of operating in these markets as well – that’s everything from legal, to political, to regulatory to currency considerations,” she said. 

“Where finance can help develop new approaches, is around alleviating risks to attract more private capital into these innovation markets, and this is where elements like blended finance come into play.”

To make emerging market projects bankable, de-risking tools are urgently needed.

“That means guarantees, insurance, first loss arrangements, technical assistance which can help bring these projects from being marginally bankable into the bankable space, offering the opportunity to set up a whole ecosystem in a particular market.”

2. Regulation drives change

As investment in sustainable development goals moves from the fringe to the mainstream, institutions are bringing with them experience and learnings that are accompanied by policy, regulation and clear frameworks from regional governments.

Institutions are being asked to lead mainstream investment in the space as increasingly, investment in ESG becomes a viable funding choice.

“The next phase, which is the forever phase, will be when sustainability becomes mandatory rather than just a choice,” Andrew Pidden, Global head of sustainable investments at DWS Group told the forum.

“In the future, you will not be able to make an investment that has not been subject to due diligence with a view to doing no harm – or at least to doing a lot less harm than it is going to supply.”

“People may think this is never going to happen, but people thought this phase (of ESG investment becoming mainstream) was never going to happen 10 or 15 years ago.”

3. China is an ESG bond behemoth

Make no mistake, China is an ESG debt giant. Assets in China’s ESG funds have doubled since 2021, lifted by Beijing’s growing emphasis on poverty alleviation, renewable power and energy security.

According to Zixiao (Alex) Cui, managing director CCX Green Finance International, in 2022, green bond issuance volume alone totalled about RMB 800 billion ($115.72 billion), marking a 44% increase year-on-year (YoY). In the first quarter of 2023, there were 113 green bond issuances worth almost RMB 20 billion.

“Actually, this number decreased compared to last year because right now in the mainland, the interest rate for lending loans from banks is very low so there’s really not much incentive to issue bonds,” he told the audience during a panel on the latest developments in Chinese ESG bonds and cross-border opportunities.

“But over the long term, I think we are on target to achieve a number no less than last year.”

At the heart of this momentum is China’s increasingly ESG positive regulation.

“Policy making is very critical because in the mainland, we have a top-down governance model mechanism which has proven effective in terms of scaling up the market – especially on the supply side.”

4. Greenwashing depends on your definition

When is greenwashing – the overstating of a company’s or product’s green credentials – technically measurable, and when is it a matter of opinion?

Gabriel Wilson-Otto, head of sustainable investing strategy at Fidelity International, told a panel addressing greenwashing and ESG hypocrisy issues, that these transparency and greenwashing concerns are often problems of definition.

“There is a bit of a disconnect between how these terms are used by different stakeholders in different scenarios,” he says.

On one side, is the argument around whether an organisation is doing what it says it is, which involves questions of transparency and taxonomy.

“In the other camp there’s the question of whether the organisation is doing what’s expected of it. And this is where it can get incredibly vague,” he explained.

Problems arise when interests and values begin to overlap.

“Should you, for instance, be investing in a tobacco company that’s aligned to a good decarbonisation objective? Should you pursue high ESG scores across the entire portfolio?” he queried.

“Depending on where you are in the world, you can get very different expectations from different stakeholders around what the answer to these sub-questions should be.”

5. Climate is overtaking compliance as a risk

While increased ESG regulation means that companies must take compliance more seriously, this is not the only driver. According to Penelope Shen, partner at  Stephenson Harwood, there is a growing understanding that climate risks are real.

“The rural economic forum global risk survey shows that the top three risks are all related to financial failure directly attributable to climate risk and bio-diversity loss,” she highlighted during a panel called ‘ESG as a component of investment DNA and beyond?’

“In fact, if you look at the top 10 risks, eight of them are climate related.”

The prominence of climate as a risk factor has consistently ranked top of the survey over the past 10 years, she explained.

“Other more socially related factors such as cost of living and erosion of social cohesion and societal polarisation are also risks that have consistently ranked highly,” she noted.

What’s your view on the outlook for green, social and sustainable debt in 2023? We invite investors and issuers across APAC to have your say in the 6th annual Sustainable Finance Poll by FinanceAsia and ANZ.

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Exploring the investible opportunity in life sciences & healthcare in the Asia Pacific region

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It has been a tumultuous time for the life sciences and healthcare space in the Asia Pacific region over the last three years. A post-pandemic boom saw a rapid surge in private equity buyouts in the sector through 2020 and 2021, followed by a sharp correction through last year.

However, 2023 promises to be a year in which life sciences and healthcare regains its spot among the top priorities of investors, with several macroeconomic, demographic, and digital adoption trends buoying interest.

To gain deeper insights into what the future holds for this critical sector, FinanceAsia in partnership with DFIN created the Life Sciences & Healthcare Report 2023. Our report is based on a study of the most significant recent trends in the sector so far; as well as a glimpse into what the future holds via bespoke research involving key stakeholders.

We surveyed nearly 70 investors, legal and financial advisors who are actively engaged in the space, as well as professionals operating in life sciences and healthcare companies across the APAC region, to obtain informed insights on the opportunities and challenges that come with investments in the sector.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

  • The life sciences and healthcare sector is expected to bounce back in 2023: After a challenging 2022 in which factors like rising interest rates and a post pandemic rationalisation saw a decline in interest in the space, respondents across categories demonstrate optimism about the sector’s prospects.
  • An overwhelming 80% of investors expect to be involved in a transaction (funding, M&A, public listing): Over the next two years, a vast majority of investors surveyed believe they will engage with the life sciences and healthcare space. This is particularly significant since only 40% have engaged in transactions in the sectors over the last two years. Among investors who have not associated with the sector so far, 100% are ready to invest, given the right opportunity.
  • APAC will receive increased investor focus: The regions aging population, rising pressure on the public healthcare systems in some markets, as well as a sharp increase in health consumerism and digital innovations are among the major factors driving investor interest. While the life sciences and healthcare space has underperformed in the region compared to North America and Europe, innovative solutions in this space will be embraced by the region’s digital savvy middle class population which is growing in affluence.
  • Investors expect heightened M&A activity and more foreign investment: This is particularly true of mature markets. Most investors (56.3%) expect to see a growth in both volume and value of M&As over the next two years.

Read the report for a comprehensive overview of the life sciences and healthcare space including:

  1. The verticals most likely to attract investor interest and M&A.
  2. The impact of a recessive climate on investment.
  3. The biggest opportunities within the life sciences and healthcare according to investors, advisors, and professionals.
  4. The most critical challenges that the sector is dealing with.
  5. A forward-looking view on the scope and potential of life sciences and healthcare in the APAC region.

The report is essential reading for investors engaged in or thinking of engaging with the life sciences and healthcare, companies operating in the sector looking for growth opportunities, as well as advisors serving the space.
 

Download the full report now

 

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Asia’s Best Managed Companies 2023 – Market winners

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Every year, FinanceAsia publishes its highly regarded benchmark of Asia’s best companies.

Based on nomination by Asia’s active community of influential investors and financial analysts, the poll evaluates the corporate behaviour and performance of Asian peers over the past 12 months.

It is with this in mind that the FA team is delighted to announce the winners for 2023.

Following very positive market participation, we have decided to award up to three medals per category to reflect corporate achievements. Gold, silver and bronze medallists are detailed where applicable.

Read on for the winners of the following categories:

– Best Overall Company
– Best Large-cap
– Best Mid-cap
– Best Small-cap
– Best Corporate Esg Strategy
– Best DEI Strategy
– Best Investor Relations
– Best CEO
– Best CFO

Don’t forget to read about our Industry Winners here.

Thank you to all those who participated and congratulations!

—  WINNERS BY MARKET —

— Best Overall Company —

China
Gold – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd.
Silver – Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Bronze – Xiaomi Inc.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Silver – Link Real Estate Investment Trust
Bronze – Swire Pacific Ltd.

India
Gold – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. & Tata Power Company Ltd.
Silver – Infosys Consultants Private Ltd.
Bronze – Hdfc Bank Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk
Bronze – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc. / Megawide Construction Corporation
Silver – Bank Of The Philippine Islands
Bronze – Ayala Corporation

Singapore
Gold – Amtd Group Company Ltd.
Silver – Dbs Bank Ltd.

Taiwan
Gold – Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.
Silver – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. & Wistron Neweb Corporation

Thailand
Gold – Ptt Global Chemical Public Company Ltd.
Silver – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.
Bronze – Central Retail Corporation Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup Joint Stock Company
Silver – Vinfast Joint Stock Company
Bronze – Vinhomes Joint Stock Company

— Best Large-cap —

China
Gold – China Mobile Ltd.
Silver – Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Pt Bank Central Asia Tbk

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
Silver – Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.

— Best Mid-cap —

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Asiainfo Technologies Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Perusahaan Minyak Nasional
Bronze – Pt Mayora Indah Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Silver – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc.
Bronze – Gt Capital Holdings, Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

— Best Small-cap —

China
Gold – Yiren Digital Ltd.
Silver – Tarena International Inc.
Bronze – Hello Group Inc.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sa Sa International Holdings
Silver – Far East Consortium International Ltd.
Bronze – Viva China Holdings Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt Bank Keb Hana Indonesia
Silver – Pt Perikanan Nusantara (Persero)
Bronze – Pt Adi Sarana Armada Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Manila Water Company, Inc.
Silver – Security Bank Corporation
Bronze – Megawide Construction Corporation

Singapore
Gold – Amtd Digital Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Wistron Neweb Corporation
Silver – Hwahsia Glass Co., Ltd.

Thailand
Gold – Dohome Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Forth Corporation Public Company Ltd.
Bronze – Gunkul Engineering Public Company Ltd.

— Best Corporate Esg Strategy —

China
Gold – China Telecom Corporation, Ltd.
Silver – Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc.
Bronze – Meituan Inc.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Silver – Sino Land Company Ltd.
Bronze – The Mass Transit Railway Corporation

India
Gold – Infosys Consultants Private Ltd.
Silver – Tata Power Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Ayala Corporation
Silver – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc.
Bronze – Sm Investments Corporation

Singapore
Gold – Sp Group Pte. Ltd.

Taiwan
Gold – Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.
Silver – Wistron Neweb Corporation
Bronze – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

Thailand
Gold – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Ptt Global Chemical Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vinfast Joint Stock Company
Silver – Vingroup Joint Stock Company
Bronze – Vinhomes Joint Stock Company

— Best DEI Strategy —

China
Gold – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd.
Silver – Baidu, Inc.
Bronze – Trip.Com Group Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Far East Consortium International Ltd.
Silver – Asiainfo Technologies Ltd.

India
Gold – Tata Power Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk
Bronze – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Wistron Neweb Corporation
Silver – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.

Thailand
Gold – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vinfast Joint Stock Company

— Best Investor Relations —

China
Gold – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd.
Silver – Asiainfo Technologies Ltd.
Bronze – Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Far East Consortium International Ltd.
Silver – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Bronze – Asiainfo Technologies Ltd.

India
Gold – Tata Power Company Ltd.
Silver – Tata Motors Ltd.
Bronze – Titan Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk
Bronze – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc.
Silver – Bdo Unibank, Inc.
Bronze – International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Wistron Neweb Corporation
Silver – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd. & Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.

Thailand
Gold – Central Retail Corporation Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Dohome Public Company Ltd.
Bronze – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vingroup Joint Stock Company
Silver – Vinhomes Joint Stock Company
Bronze – Vinfast Joint Stock Company

— Best CEO —

China
Gold – Liu Qiangdong – Jd.Com, Inc
Silver – Pony Ma Huateng – Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Bronze – Ke Ruiwen – China Telecom Corporation, Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Adrian Cheng – New World Development Company Ltd.
Silver – David Chiu – Far East Consortium International Ltd.
Bronze – Raymond Kwok – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.

India
Gold – Rajesh Gopinathan – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
Silver – Sandeep Bakhshi – Icici Bank Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Sunarso – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Royke Tumilaar – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk
Bronze – Jahja Setiaatmadja – Pt Bank Central Asia Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Jeffrey C Lim – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc. & Tg Limcaoco – Bank Of The Philippine Islands
Silver – Edgar Saavedra – Megawide Construction Corporation
Bronze – Enrique K Razon – International Container Terminal Services, Inc. /Bloomberry Resorts Corporation

Singapore
Gold – Piyush Gupta – Dbs Bank Ltd.

Taiwan
Gold – Chee Ching – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
Silver – Douglas Tong Hsu – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Bronze – Jeffrey Gau – Wistron Neweb Corporation

Thailand
Gold – Preeyanart Sunthornwatha – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Phawat Witoopakorn – Eastern Polymer Group Public Company Ltd.
Bronze – Gunkul Dumrongpiyawut – Gunkul Engineering Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Le Thi Thu Thuy – Vinfast Joint Stock Company

— Best CFO —

China
Gold – Li Yuchao – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd.
Silver – Li Yinghui – China Telecom Corporation, Ltd.
Bronze – Li Ronghua – China Mobile Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Vanessa Lau – Hong Kong Exchanges And Clearing Ltd.
Silver – Brian Sum – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Bronze – Edward Lau – New World Development Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – Viviana Dyah Ayu Retno K – Pt. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – Sigit Prastowo – Pt Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – Novita Widya Anggraini – Pt Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk

Philippines
Gold – John Nai Peng Ong – Sm Prime Holdings, Inc.
Silver – Estela Tuason-Occena – Bloomberry Resorts Corporation
Bronze – Riza Maniego – Globe Telecom, Inc.

Singapore
Gold – Chng Sok Hui – Dbs Bank Ltd.

Taiwan
Gold – David Wang – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
Silver – Jona Song – Wistron Neweb Corporation

Thailand
Gold – Siriwong Borvornboonrutai – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – David Mansfield – Vinfast Joint Stock Company

 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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Asia’s Best Managed Companies 2023 – Industry winners

By:
On:
In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

Every year, FinanceAsia publishes its highly regarded benchmark of Asia’s best companies.

Based on nomination by Asia’s active community of influential investors and financial analysts, the poll evaluates the corporate behaviour and performance of Asian peers over the past 12 months.

It is with this in mind that the FA team is delighted to announce the winners for 2023.

Following very positive market participation, we have decided to award up to three medals per category to reflect corporate achievements. Gold, silver and bronze medallists are detailed where applicable.

Read on for the winners of the following categories:

– Best Basic Materials Company
– Best Consumer Cyclicals Company
– Best Consumer Non-Cyclicals Company
– Best Energy Company
– Best Financial Company
– Best Healthcare Company
– Best Industrials Company
– Best Real Estate Company
– Best Technology Company
– Best Telecommunications Company
– Best Utilities Company

Don’t forget to read about our Market Winners here.

Thank you to all those who participated and congratulations!

— WINNERS BY SECTOR —

— Basic Materials Company —

Indonesia
Gold – PT Aneka Tambang Tbk
Silver – PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk & PT Petrokimia Gresik

Philippines
Gold – Nickel Asia Corporation

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

— Consumer Cyclicals Company —

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – ANTA Sports Products Ltd.
Silver – Viva China Holdings Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk
Silver – PT Erajaya Swasembada Tbk
Bronze -mPT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Megawide Construction Corporation

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

— Consumer Non-Cyclicals Company —

China
Gold – Chongqing Hongjiu Fruit Company, Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Hengan International Group Company, Ltd.
Silver – Chongqing Hongjiu Fruit Company, Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk
Silver – PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk
Bronze – PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.

— Best Energy Company —

China
Gold – China Shenhua Energy Company Ltd.
Silver – CNOOC Ltd
Bronze – China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation

Indonesia
Gold – PT Perusahaan Minyak Nasional
Silver – PT Adaro Energy Indonesia Tbk
Bronze – PT AKR Corporindo Tbk & PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero)

Philippines
Gold – Aboitiz Power Corporation
Silver – ACEN Corporation & Semirara Mining And Power Corporation

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

Thailand
Gold – B. Grimm Power Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Energy Absolute Public Company Ltd. & Gunkul Engineering Public Company Ltd.

— Best Financial Company —

China
Gold – Industrial and Commercial Bank Of China (Asia) Ltd.
Silver – China Life Insurance Company Ltd.
Bronze – American International Assurance Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero), Tbk & PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk
Bronze – PT Bank Central Asia Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Bank Of The Philippine Islands
Silver – BDO Unibank, Inc. & Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company

Taiwan
Gold – Cathay Financial Holding Company, Ltd.
Silver – Chailease Holding Company Ltd. & First Financial Holding Company Ltd.

— Best Healthcare Company —

China
Gold – Wuxi Biologics Cayman Inc. & Innovent Biologics, Inc.
Silver – Akeso, Inc.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd.
Silver – Canbridge Pharmaceuticals Inc.

India
Gold – Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd

Indonesia
Gold – PT Prodia Widyahusada Tbk
Silver – PT Kalbe Farma Tbk
Bronze – PT Medikaloka Hermina Tbk

Thailand
Gold – Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Intermedical Care and Lab Hospital Public Company Ltd.
Bronze – Praram 9 Hospital Public Company Ltd.

— Best Industrials Company —

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – TK Group Holdings Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Astra International Tbk
Silver – PT United Tractors Tbk
Bronze – PT Krakatau Steel (Persero) Tbk

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

— Best Real Estate Company —

China
Gold – China Resources Land Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Far East Consortium International Ltd.
Silver – Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd.
Bronze – Swire Properties Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Ciputra Development Tbk
Silver – PT Bumi Serpong Damai Tbk
Bronze – PT Pakuwon Jati Tbk

Philippines
Gold – SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
Silver – Ayala Land, Inc. & Robinsons Land Corporation

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation

Thailand
Gold – Origin Property Public Company Ltd.
Silver – Quality Houses Public Company Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vinhomes Joint Stock Company

— Best Technology Company —

China
Gold – Tencent Holdings Ltd.
Silver – JD.Com, Inc.
Bronze – Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Asiainfo Technologies Ltd.
Silver – BYD Electronic Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT DCI Indonesia Tbk
Bronze – PT Elang Mahkota Teknologi Tbk

Taiwan
Gold – Wistron Neweb Corporation
Silver – Sercomm Corporation
Bronze – Topco Scientific Co. Ltd.

Vietnam
Gold – Vinfast Joint Stock Company

— Best Telecommunications Company —

China
Gold – China Mobile Ltd.
Silver – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd.
Bronze – China Telecom Corporation, Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Silver – China Tower Corporation Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT XL Axiata Tbk
Bronze – PT Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Globe Telecom, Inc.
Silver – Converge ICT Solutions Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Chunghwa Telecom Company, Ltd.
Silver – Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., Ltd.
Bronze – Taiwan Mobile Corporation Ltd.

— Best Utilities Company —

China
Gold – China Power International Development Ltd.
Silver – China Datang Corporation Ltd.

Hong Kong SAR
Gold – Tian Lun Gas Holdings Ltd.

India
Gold – Tata Power Company Ltd.

Indonesia
Gold – PT Jasa Marga (Persero) Tbk
Silver – PT Indonesia Kendaraaan Terminal Tbk
Bronze – PT Kencana Energi Lestari Tbk

Philippines
Gold – Manila Water Company, Inc.

Taiwan
Gold – Far Eastern New Century Corporation
 

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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