The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024 was significant, thanks to the wider range of public listed companies (PLCs) in the fray and new award categories.

Editor’s note

As the pressure for businesses to adopt ESG continues, the private sector and investors play a crucial role in the transition towards a low carbon economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

Driving decarbonisation through innovation and resilience

The biggest winner in the PLC category was Vitrox Corporation Bhd (KL:VITROX), which took home two gold awards for being the best performer in the technology sector and for the most improved ESG performance over a three-year period for companies with a market capitalisation of over RM5 billion.

Emerging star award introduced to recognise best new performers

George Kent (M) Bhd’s (KL:GKENT) dedication to sustainability has been rewarded with a gold win in the construction category of The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

George Kent bags gold in construction sector

MGB Bhd (KL: MGB) has won the silver award in the construction category for the second year in a row at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

MGB Bhd wins silver award two years in a row

The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024 sees first-time winner Karex Bhd (KL:KAREX) taking home gold for being the best performer in the consumer products and services sector. Its CEO Goh Miah Kiat attributes the win to the company shifting away from its reliance on migrant workers, having frozen the hiring of new migrant workers since 2019.

Karex Bhd focuses on hiring and retaining local talent

Nestlé (M) Bhd (KL:NESTLE), which emerged as a silver award winner in the consumer products and services sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024, has been championing initiatives such as its Project Save that manage post-consumer waste, emphasise plastic neutrality and drive the transition towards a circular economy.

Nestlé Malaysia champions the circular economy

For the second year running, Deleum Bhd (KL:DELEUM) has emerged as the gold winner in the energy sector at The Edge Mal...

Deleum prioritises ESG principles to drive operational efficiency

Wasco Bhd (KL:WASCO) has won two silver awards in The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024, for best  performer in the energy sector and most improved ESG performance over three years for companies with a market cap between RM800 million and RM5 billion.

Wasco aims for responsible and sustainable practices

CIMB Group (KL:CIMB) took home the gold award in the financial services category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024. The company attributed the win to its focus on finding ways to systematically create synergy across its value chain.

CIMB sees sustainable finance from an ecosystem perspective

Allianz Malaysia Bhd (KL:ALLIANZ) won the silver award in the financial services sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024. This is thanks to the company’s team spirit and the commitment of its stakeholders, namely the board, senior management and operational managers.

Sustainability more than just a tick in the box for Allianz

For the second year in a row, Duopharma Biotech Bhd (KLSE:DPHARMA) has won gold in the healthcare sector at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024. Group managing director Leonard Ariff Abdul Shatar says one of the achievements he is proudest of is the progress made in the company’s climate action efforts.

Duopharma gets closer to net zero goals

For Hartalega Holdings Bhd (KL:HARTA), which emerged as the silver winner in The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024 healthcare category, a significant milestone in 2024 was becoming the first in the glove industry to announce third-party reviewed carbon footprint data for three of its core products. This has set a new industry ESG benchmark.

Hartalega sets new industry benchmark

Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (KL:PCHEM) has won the silver award in the industrial products and services category at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2024.

PetChem drives innovations in plastics circularity

Cboe Global Markets Inc. said it is set to list the first cash-settled index options related to the spot price of Bitcoin, marking the latest addition of cryptocurrency-related securities to traditional exchanges.

Cboe to launch cash-settled Bitcoin ETF options as crypto booms

French defence and technology firm Thales said on Friday it was denying unspecified allegations after Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced a joint investigation with French authorities into suspected bribery and corruption.

Thales denies wrongdoing as Anglo-French bribery probe hits shares

As the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) chair for 2025, Malaysia has a key role in strengthening the Asean community and tackling complex regional challenges, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.

Malaysia to strengthen Asean community, tackle regional challenges as Asean chair 2025 — Mohamad

A weekly round-up of tanker and dry bulk market (Nov 22, 2024)

Baltic Exchange shipping updates: Nov 22, 2024

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday.

Allianz Malaysia, Bumi Armada, Bintulu Port, D&O, Sarawak Plantation, Favelle Favco, CSC Steel, BM Greentech, SkyWorld, Lagenda Properties, Solarvest, SMI, Icon Offshore, Top Glove, MNRB, Chin Hin Group Property

The S&P 500 and the Dow touched over one-week highs on Friday after data showed a still robust economy, while small-cap stocks outperfomed large-cap indexes.

The S&P flash PMI showed manufacturing activity stood at 48.8 in November, in line with estimates from a Reuters poll of economists.

S&P 500, Dow touch over one-week highs after business activity data

Vizione Holdings Bhd (KL:VIZIONE) said its unit has served a notice to Inspirasi Langkawi Sdn Bhd to terminate its employment as main contractor for the development of a 14-storey hotel in Langkawi, claiming it had not been properly paid for its works so far.

Vizione quits RM116 mil hotel construction job over alleged unpaid works

A measure of US business activity raced to a 31-month high in November, boosted by hopes for lower interest rates and more business-friendly policies from President-elect Donald Trump's administration next year.

US business activity gauge rises to 31-month high in November

Global investment conglomerate Bin Zayed International Group of Companies (BZI) has committed to investing US$2 billion (RM8.93 billion) in Malaysia over the next five years. 

Bin Zayed International (M) Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Dr Shamir Kumar Nandy said as part of its strategic expansion plan, the group would tap into real estate, renewable energy and financial services to attract investments into the country.

Bin Zayed International commits US$2 bil investment in Malaysia over next five years

Property developer SkyWorld Development Bhd (KL:SKYWLD), which made its Main Market debut in July last year, said it is on target to launch developments with an estimated gross development value of RM4.6 billion by 2026, having achieved RM1.1 billion worth of launches so far.

SkyWorld nears deal for Vietnam joint venture on completion of due diligence, says on track for RM4.6b launch target by 2026

Top Glove Corp Bhd (KL:TOPGLOV) has entered into a joint venture (JV) with US glove importer Tronex (Asia) Ltd, and Polywel International Trade Co Ltd for the production and distribution of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) gloves.

Top Glove in JV for high density polyethylene glove biz

Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) became the best performing constituent member of the FBM KLCI index year to date after its share price breached the RM5 mark on Friday, ahead of its third-quarter (3Q) earnings announcement expected next week. &nbsp;

Sunway is best FBM KLCI constituent YTD after shares shoot past RM5

Malaysia's international reserves rebounded and added about US$400 million (RM1.79 billion) by the middle of November.

Malaysia's foreign exchange reserves rebounded to US$118b in mid-November, BNM data show

Mah Sing Group Bhd's (KL:MAHSING) M Luna condominium development in Kepong has achieved a Qlassic score of 86%, the highest for an M Series project, according to a press statement on Friday.

Mah Sing's M Luna condo in Kepong achieves 86% Qlassic score

Offshore oil-and-gas services firm Bumi Armada Bhd (KL:ARMADA) said on Friday its third quarter net profit rose 19% from a year earlier as operating margins expanded with lower costs.

Bumi Armada's 3Q net profit rises 19%, no update on merger with MISC's offshore unit

Analysts are projecting a stronger showing from Sunway Construction Group Berhad (KL: SUNCON) in 4Q2024, driven by significant job progress, especially data centre (DC)-led projects.

Analysts expect stronger 4Q for Sunway Construction

Solarvest Holdings Bhd (KL:SLVEST)’s wholly owned subsidiary Atlantic Blue Sdn Bhd has been awarded a RM142 million engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract from SM01 Sdn Bhd, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which the group owns a 33% stake.

Solarvest bags RM142 mil EPCC job for 30MWac solar plant in Kedah

Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said on Friday it will continue to investigate the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, his wife and other family members.

MACC says will continue to investigate late Daim, wife, family members

Buyout firm Affinity Equity Partners is in talks to acquire Malaysian seafood supplier Golden Fresh Sdn Bhd, according to people familiar with the matter.

Affinity is said to be in talks to buy Malaysian seafood supplier Golden Fresh, Bloomberg reports

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 22): Chin Hin Group Property Bhd (KL:CHGP)&nbsp;has established a RM500 million perpetual notes programme.&nbsp;

Chin Hin Group Property establishes RM500m perpetual notes programme

The largest shareholder of South Malaysia Industries Bhd (KL:SMI) has called for an upcoming extraordinary general meeting (EGM) scheduled for Jan 9, 2025, to appoint six new directors to the company’s board, including former Perak police chief Datuk Pahlawan Mior Faridalathrash Wahid.

SMI's largest shareholder calls for EGM to appoint six new directors including ex-Perak police chief

Vizione Holdings Bhd (KL:VIZIONE) said its unit has served a notice to Inspirasi Langkawi Sdn Bhd to terminate its employment as main contractor for the development of a 14-storey hotel in Langkawi, claiming it had not been properly paid for its works so far.

Sarawak Plantation Bhd (KL:SWKPLT) has announced a second interim dividend of 15 sen per share, as its latest third quarter net profit rose 14.6%, despite lower revenue, thanks largely to a higher fair value gain on its biological assets.

Sarawak Plantation pays bumper 15 sen dividend as 3Q profit hits record

Global investment conglomerate Bin Zayed International Group of Companies (BZI) has committed to investing US$2 billion (RM8.93 billion) in Malaysia over the next five years.&nbsp;

Bin Zayed International (M) Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Dr Shamir Kumar Nandy said as part of its strategic expansion plan, the group would tap into real estate, renewable energy and financial services to attract investments into the country.

India will offer up to US$5 billion (RM22.4 billion) in incentives to local electronics companies to make components for gadgets from mobiles to laptops, two government officials said, in a bid to bolster the burgeoning industry and wean off supplies from China.

India to offer up to US$5b in incentives to local electronics firms, wean off China

Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Friday.

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The Edge ESG Awards 2024

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The Edge ESG Awards 2024

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