Latest news with #divestment
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Flyer urging teachers to divest pension funds from Israel is illegally distributed in NYC schools: ‘Violated trust'
A controversial antisemitic flyer urging teachers voting in union elections to back a campaign to divest pension funds from Israel was improperly distributed in some New York City public schools, The Post has learned. The incendiary petition circulated as two Israeli Embassy staffers were killed by a suspected terrorist in Washington, DC, on Wednesday night. 'This UFT election season, vote for candidates who divest our pension from genocide,' the flyer said. 'Sign the petition to show UFT candidates that you will be voting with divestment in mind during the election.' Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the economic boycott, divestment and sanctions movement is antisemitic because it seeks to undermine and destroy the world's only Jewish state. Pro-Israel teachers said the handout had been distributed to at least three Manhattan schools: two in the same building on West 17th Street, the New York City Lab for Collaborative Studies Middle School and the Museum High School, as well as the Mosaic Preparatory Academy elementary school on East 111th Street, and at least one in the Bronx. Outraged teachers said the flyer has been handed out in schools by teachers claiming to be UFT officers, or who were not from their schools. 'I was definitely shocked. It violated the trust in the building. It came from a teacher from another school,' a staffer at the 17th Street building said. 'These are blood libels. They don't belong in the education space.' Another teacher who requested anonymity said, 'As a Jewish educator, I was deeply troubled when receiving this letter with clear antisemitic undertones — especially in the wake of the tragic killing of two civilians targeted for being Jewish. 'This act of hate is unacceptable. Our schools and communities must remain places of inclusion and respect for all.' Karen Feldman, co-founder of the New York City Public School Alliance, blasted the use of 'school channels to distribute political and antisemitic propaganda, especially during a union election.' 'The materials were filled with false claims of genocide and hate-filled rhetoric that incites violence — just like the horrific murder of two Israeli Americans in DC just last night.' The UFT said distribution of politically charged flyers violated its rules for electioneering for its internal elections of running for union positions are allowed to distribute campaign material about the slate they're running on — but not about other political issues. 'The flyer is a political document. No one should be handing out political materials under the guise that it is campaign material in the union's internal election. It is not,' a spokesperson for the UFT and president Mike Mulgrew said. A rep for city Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said the flyers are being removed from schools. 'New York City Public Schools has the right and responsibility to prohibit the distribution of materials that can be perceived as disruptive and offensive to staff and students. These flyers, which were not created by New York City Public Schools, are clearly disruptive, and we are taking appropriate action to remove them,' a Department of Education spokesperson said. The anti-Israel advocates said the New York City Teachers' Retirement System has $135 million of pension funds invested in Israeli holdings. The flyer said the Israeli military has slaughtered tens of thousands of civilians and children since Oct. 7, 2023, citing the anti-Israel Al-Jazeera media outlet as a source. It conveniently omits mentioning that was the date when Hamas precipitated the war in Gaza by invading Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking scores of hostages — some of whom still have not been released. It's just the latest controversy regarding Israel-bashing literature spreading in schools. Last month, a Department of Education newsletter claiming Israel is committing 'genocide in Gaza' was sent out to hundreds of teachers — prompting fuming Jewish educators to call it out as another example of ingrained antisemitism in the city's public school system. In response, Aviles-Ramos suspended release of mass communications sent to educators, students and parents without her approval.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
WithSecure has completed the transaction of Cyber security consulting divestment to Neqst
WithSecure Corporation, Stock Exchange Release, 31 May 2025 at 9:45 EEST WithSecure has completed the transaction of Cyber security consulting divestment to Neqst WithSecure announced on 23 January 2025 its intention to divest the cyber security consulting business to Neqst, Swedish investment company. On 31 May 2025, the parties completed the transaction in accordance with the sale and purchase agreement. EUR 13.5 million, corresponding to 60 % of the agreed enterprise value of EUR 22.5 million, deducted by the transferring net assets of the business, is paid in cash by the buyer. The remaining 40 % is variable purchase price, based on the performance of the business in 2025 and 2026, and it becomes payable in two installments in the beginning of 2026 and 2027. All closing conditions of the transaction have been fulfilled. With the transaction, approximately 230 employees located in Finland, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Singapore, Italy, and US will transfer to the buyer. 'I wish our former colleagues and their new company the best of luck in the future. As for WithSecure, the consulting divestment allows us to fully focus on our Elements strategy of becoming the flagship of European cybersecurity', states Antti Koskela, President and CEO of WithSecure. Contact information: Laura ViitaVP, Controlling, investor relations and sustainabilityWithSecure Corporation+358 50 487 1044investor-relations@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
A guide to greener banking: I divested my personal finances and you can too – here's how
What if your money was quietly fuelling the climate crisis – and you had no idea? If you bank with one of the big four or have retirement savings in superannuation, there's a good chance it is. In Australia, many major banks and most default super funds continue to invest in fossil fuel companies and their coal, oil and gas projects, driving global warming. That's where the global divestment movement comes in. Divestment means shifting your money out of harmful industries and into more ethical, climate-positive alternatives. It's the opposite of investment – you simply pull your capital out of companies or funds that contribute to environmental or social harm. Over the past few years, I've delved into divesting my personal finances and learned some key ways this shift can make a real difference. If you only tackle one area of divestment, make it your super – it's often your largest pool of money beyond property, and too often it's channelled into fossil fuels. The climate lobby group Market Forces estimates $150bn of Australians' retirement savings – roughly $6,200 per member account on average – could be tied up in 190 global companies driving the most climate damage. And such investment is growing, meaning our retirement savings are increasingly being used to create a more polluted world to retire into. One way to find a better option is to use the Market Forces comparison tool. It profiles more than 70 fund options, pinpointing just seven that fully exclude fossil fuels and the so-called 'Climate Wreckers Index' of the world's worst polluters. Using this type of information, I divested from a large Australian super fund which has known investments in fossil fuels and moved to a fund that excludes major polluters such as Woodside, Whitehaven Coal, Santos, Origin and AGL. Justin Medcalf, co-founder of Ethical Advisers' Co-op and Unless Financial, says to beware the 'devil in the detail'. For example, some funds use a tiered threshold screening, which may allow investment in companies earning limited amounts of their revenue from coal mining. 'A lot of investors assume that having a screening process in place means zero exposure to fossil fuels. It can be a rude surprise to discover there is still exposure,' Medcalf says. 'Ultimately, there is no perfect portfolio. For now, it's 'how do we create the best version of something that isn't perfect?'' All four of Australia's big banks – ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac – pour billions into fossil fuel projects each year, as do many other major players. In 2021, when searching for my first mortgage, I saw the chance to divest from a big four bank and switch to a more ethical option. I told my broker I wanted a home loan that was both competitive and backed by a bank that doesn't fund fossil fuels. We landed on one of the few with a cleaner track record. To find out where your bank stands, use Market Forces' Compare Banks tool. It includes a 'tell them to stop' button, so you can quickly send a message and easily demand change. That's crucial, says Medcalf. 'A lot of people move their money but don't say anything, so the bank never knows why. A key part of the divestment movement is communicating,' he says. And it works. Just last year, Commonwealth Bank broke ranks and announced it would stop financing fossil fuel companies that don't comply with Paris climate goals. 'That was quite a considerable win and a lot of that is attributed to the divestment movement,' Medcalf says. If you're investing in shares, ETFs or managed funds, beware of greenwashing. Many mainstream investment products – even those labelled 'sustainable' or 'balanced' – still include major polluters. Tools like the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia's certification and the Ethical Advisers' Co-op's Leaf rating can help you find investment products and services that meet high standards of environmental, social and ethical performance. 'We need a mindset shift,' Medcalf says. 'Rather than thinking 'what can I avoid?', think 'what can I actively invest in?' Yes, we want to avoid industries that aren't creating a positive future, but we can also get behind the industries of the future.' And divesting doesn't have to mean missing out financially – it may even boost your returns. RIAA's 2024 Benchmarking Report shows responsible investment funds have outperformed mainstream ones by 3% over 10 years, and 1.5% over five years. For long-term investors, especially those in their 30s and 40s, Medcalf says it makes sense to start factoring in environmental risk. Fossil fuel assets are increasingly seen as vulnerable, with tightening regulations and the growing risk of becoming 'stranded' and unprofitable. If you want to go a step further, consider strategically buying into a polluting company along with fellow shareholder activists who then band together to demand change from the inside. You can get started with as little as $500 using the Sustainable Investment Exchange (SIX) platform. Whether you divest, reinvest or become an activist shareholder, the point is the same: your money is powerful and you can actively choose whether it props up harmful industries or helps build a better future.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
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. DFI Retail Group
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
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 first became a significant minority shareholder in RRHI in 2018 through the share-for-share swap transaction involving Rustan Supercenters, 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 remains confident in RRHI's long-term prospects and the continued success of their exclusive distribution of Meadows and Guardian 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 #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.
