Latest news with #DFI
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
DFI Retail Group Divests Shares in Robinsons Retail
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 May 2025 - DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited ('DFI' or the 'Group') today announces the sale of 315,309,310 common shares in Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. ('RRHI'), representing approximately 22.2% of RRHI's outstanding shares. This transaction reflects DFI's strategic pivot from a portfolio investor to a focused operating company, enabling the Group to divest minority positions and redeploy capital to support the growth and higher returns of subsidiary businesses. DFI first became a significant minority shareholder in RRHI in 2018 through the share-for-share swap transaction involving Rustan Supercenters, Inc. Following this divestment, the Group will review the use of the divestment proceeds to support its capital allocation strategy and long-term growth priorities which include - but not be limited to - expanding digital retail media, advancing own brand innovation, and enhancing omnichannel capabilities across its key markets. DFI remains confident in RRHI's long-term prospects and the continued success of their exclusive distribution of Meadows and Guardian brands. Scott Price, Group Chief Executive of DFI Retail Group, said, 'We would like to sincerely thank the Robinsons Retail team for their hard work, partnership, and commitment over the years. Our collaboration has been instrumental in growing our presence in the Philippines, and we look forward to continuing this strong relationship as we each focus on our strategic priorities.' 'This transaction represents a significant step in our evolution as an operating company, enabling us to redeploy capital to support growth and enhance shareholder returns across our subsidiary businesses. We will evaluate the deployment of divestment proceeds to ensure alignment with our capital allocation strategy and long-term growth ambitions.' The transaction was executed via a special block sale on the Philippine Stock Exchange, with pricing agreed upon based on prevailing market conditions and strategic considerations. Hashtag: #DFIRetailGroup The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. DFI Retail Group DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer, driven by its purpose to 'Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments'. As at 31 December 2024, the Group, its associates and joint ventures operated over 10,700 outlets, of which more than 5,000 stores were operated by subsidiaries. The Group, together with associates and joint ventures, employed over 190,000 people, with over 45,000 people employed by subsidiaries. The Group had total annual revenue in 2024 of US$24.9 billion and reported revenue of US$8.9 billion. The Group is dedicated to delivering quality, value and service to Asian consumers through a compelling retail experience, supported by an extensive store network and highly efficient supply chains. The Group, including associates and joint ventures, operates a portfolio of well-known brands across six key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings, restaurants and other retailing. The Group's parent company, DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing in the equity shares (transition) category of the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group's businesses are managed from Hong Kong. DFI Retail Group is a member of the Jardine Matheson group.
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
DFI Retail Group divests 22.2% stake in Robinsons Retail for undisclosed sum
[SINGAPORE] DFI Retail Group said on Friday (May 30) that it has divested 22.2 per cent – or about 315.3 million – of Robinsons Retail's outstanding shares for an undisclosed sum. DFI became a significant minority shareholder in Robinsons Retail in 2018 through a share-for-share swap transaction involving Rustan Supercenters. Rustain Supercenters is an operator of food retail formats and supermarkets in the Philippines. 'This transaction reflects DFI's strategic pivot from a portfolio investor to a focused operating company, enabling the group to divest minority positions and redeploy capital to support the growth and higher returns of subsidiary businesses,' it said. Following this divestment, DFI said it will review the use of the divestment proceeds to support its capital allocation strategy and long-term growth priorities. These include, but are not limited to, expanding digital retail media, advancing own-brand innovation, and enhancing omnichannel capabilities across its key markets. The group added that it remains confident in Robinsons Retail's long-term prospects and the 'continued success' of their exclusive distribution of the Meadows and Guardian brands. Scott Price, DFI Retail's group chief executive, said its collaboration with the Robinsons Retail team has been 'instrumental' in growing the group's presence in the Philippines, with the transaction representing a 'significant step' in DFI's evolution as an operating company. The transaction was executed via a special block sale on the Philippine Stock Exchange, with the agreed price based on prevailing market conditions and strategic considerations, the group added. Shares of DFI closed at US$2.76, up US$0.08 or 3 per cent on Friday, before the announcement.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
India fails to meet target of doubling farmers' income: Report
NEW DELHI: Most of the states in India failed to achieve the goal to double farmers' incomes (DFI) by the 2022-23 period, a target set by the Narendra Modi government in 2016-17. However, Bihar, Uttarakhand, along with the Union Territories, have successfully achieved this goal. This information was revealed in a new policy paper titled 'Doubling Farmers' Income: A Promising Target Fraught with Challenges,' released by former Union Agriculture Secretary Siraj Hussain. The analysis indicates that India has fallen short of the DFI goal by 25 per cent. Furthermore, the contribution of the farm sector to doubling farmers' incomes has decreased compared to the non-farm sector. In 2016-17, the Indian government set the goal of doubling farmers' total income by 2022-23, using 2015-16 as the baseline year. The study extrapolated farmers' income from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and compared it with the government's target. It showed that only two states—Bihar and Uttarakhand—and the combined North-eastern states achieved the target. The study suggests that the possibility of attaining DFI in the near future is higher in states like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, as these states have registered income growth trends ranging from 20% to 50%. However, the study emphasizes the slim chances of achieving the DFI goal in five states: Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, and West Bengal.
Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Blended finance deals in East Asia and the Pacific hit US$4 billion in 2024
[SINGAPORE] Blended finance deals in East Asia and the Pacific surged to US$4 billion in 2024 from US$1.1 billion the year before, an increase of almost four times, according to a Wednesday (May 21) report by blended-finance organisation, Convergence. Most of the sum was channelled to South-east Asia, particularly Indonesia and Vietnam, said Ritesh Thakkar, senior adviser and head of Asia-Pacific at Convergence, who was speaking with The Business Times in a separate interview the same day. This increase was primarily driven by the impact investing arm of private equity firm TPG, which had raised US$1.25 billion for its Global South Initiative. On average, blended finance deals – featuring a mix of grants and concessional loans designed to lower the cost of capital and attract more commercial capital – have been averaging around US$3 billion annually in South-east Asia. And volumes have been trending upwards, said Thakkar. Deals in the region also have the highest median size at US$100 million, compared to US$46 million in sub-Saharan Africa, and US$91.5 million in Europe and Central Asia, stated the report. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up In total, blended finance volumes fell to US$18.3 billion in 2024, with 123 deals approaching their close, compared to US$23.1 billion the year before. In the five-year period between 2020 and 2024, annual blended finance volumes rose by an average of US$1.7 billion every year, from US$11.5 billion to US$18.3 billion last year. This shows the market's resilience as a countercyclical tool for mobilising capital, even during periods of macroeconomic uncertainty, the report said. Climate-related projects continue to dominate the blended finance landscape, accounting for 49 per cent of deals in 2024. There was a rise in median ticket size of deals in 2024; three transactions exceeded US$1 billion. But while deal sizes have been going up, the reported noted that scaling blended finance entails more than larger deal sizes. 'A lack of structural standardisation continues to slow the rollout and replication of blended structures; in many cases, concessional capital mobilises only sponsor equity or development finance institutions (DFI) and multi-lateral development banks (MDB) commercial funding, rather than attracting new third-party private investors,' read the report. Among private investors, financial institutions are playing a bigger role in blended finance transactions in 2024. The share of commitments from commercial banks and other financial players grew to 55 per cent in 2024, up from 45 per cent. More than half (56 per cent) of the commitments from this investor class were driven by DFI and MDB efforts to support their on-lending activities; 15 per cent were the bank's direct investments in projects, and 14 per cent went to companies. The majority of top private investors are financial institutions, with SMBC leading with 13 committed deals between 2022 and 2024. MUFG was second with eight. Financial institutions accounted for a third of all deals – higher than project transactions (17 per cent) and funds (9 per cent), which have traditionally been the main capital providers. Deals financial institutions are involved in support their own commercial portfolios. This enables them to increase lending to key underserved sectors and diversify their lending operations. While local investors tended to account for only a small component of blended finance deals, the report noted that local capital investments are proportionally higher in East Asia and the Pacific. Transactions in the region with regional investors typically include two or more local investors, signalling that local participation can instill confidence and attract other local investors, said the report. It added that commercial investment from local public investors have been relatively high in South Asia (at 20 per cent) and East Asia (19 per cent). This activity is highly influenced by government blended finance initiatives such as the Self Reliant India Fund in South Asia, and Indonesia's SMI, a state-owned enterprise focusing on infrastructure development. Local investment in the region has also been enabled by the strong presence of public commercial actors, such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Singapore's state investor, Temasek.
Qatar Tribune
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
DFI unveils programme for Doha Film Festival
Tribune News Network Cannes (France)/Doha (Qatar) Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced the programming and awards sections for the upcoming Doha Film Festival (DFF), reaffirming its commitment to fostering bold, original storytelling and spotlighting underrepresented cinematic voices and diverse perspectives from around the world. The announcement was made during the 78th Cannes Film Festival which marks the 15th anniversary of Doha Film Institute, first announced in Cannes in 2010 by DFI Chair HE Sheikha Al Mayassa. With a total prize money of over $300,000, DFF will feature a dynamic official selection of films in four competition strands: International Feature Film Competition, showcasing powerful new works by emerging and established filmmakers from around the world; International Short Film Competition, highlighting innovative storytelling in a concise format; Ajyal Film Competition, judged by the festival's unique youth jury that offer fresh, generational perspectives; and the Made in Qatar Competition, dedicated to celebrating the creativity and talent of filmmakers based in Qatar. Running from November 20-28, 2025, the festival will also feature industry sessions, community screenings with a special programme for youth, and a range of engaging events, transforming Doha into a vital global meeting point for filmmakers, thought leaders, artists and audiences passionate about thought provoking cinema. Fatma Hassan Alremaihi, chief executive officer of Doha Film Institute and festival director, said: 'Doha Film Festival is not only a celebration of cinema, but a platform for purpose-driven storytelling amplifying important voices that are redefining the global film landscape with depth, nuance, and truth.' 'It is the next chapter in our continued mission to nurture independent filmmakers, inspire new perspectives and foster cultural dialogue through cinema. The festival will offer a vibrant meeting point for film lovers, a stage for powerful stories and a launchpad for a new generation of cinematic talent. DFF is an expansion of the strong foundation we built with Ajyal Film Festival as a unique platform for self-expression and creative empowerment, and we look forward to guests celebrating the unifying power of film with us in Doha this November.' she added. DFF will retain popular elements of Ajyal while introducing new dimensions and represents the next step in Qatar's journey of cultural leadership, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and dialogue to benefit the global film community. Selected films will span a wide range of genres and themes, unified by a shared commitment to authenticity, artistic vision, and cultural relevance. Each competition will present awards that recognize excellence in filmmaking and provide meaningful support through funding and international exposure. At the heart of the festival are four main competition sections, each with distinguished international juries: the International Feature Film Competition jury will consist of five industry experts selecting winners in Best Narrative (with a prize money of US$75,000), Best Documentary (US$50,000), Best Artistic Achievement for feature narrative or documentary (US$45,000), and Best Performance (US$15,000) categories. A certificate of Special Mention will also be presented to a feature narrative or documentary. In the International Short Film Competition, judged by a three-member jury, films will compete for Best Film – Narrative or Documentary (US$20,000), Best Director (US$12,000), and Best Performance (US$7,000). Made in Qatar Competition will celebrate talent based in Qatar with awards for Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$15,000), Best Director (US$10,000) and Best Performance (US$5,000) reinforcing DFI's commitment to celebrating homegrown storytellers. Continuing the proud legacy and tradition of Ajyal, Ajyal Film Competition with a youth jury aged 16-25 will have an important presence at Doha Film Festival presenting awards for Best Feature – Narrative or Documentary (US$35,000) and Best Short – Narrative or Documentary (US$12,000). An Audience Award will also be presented during the festival with the winner receiving a certificate and trophy. Doha Film Festival will transform iconic locations across Doha into dedicated festival venues. Katara Cultural Village will host red carpet events and premieres, while Msheireb Downtown Doha will become the central hub for industry sessions and special events. The Museum of Islamic Art will present an intimate setting for short film screenings. The complete festival programme, jury members and competition titles will be announced in the coming months. For more information about Doha Film Festival, visit and
