Embera Partners

Embera Partners are pleased to share this week's key developments in capital markets, investor relations, and corporate governance. Each week, we provide actionable intelligence to help IR professionals stay informed on the latest trends shaping the industry. This week’s highlights include: ✅ Buy-side and investor relations insights – The 2025 Franklin Templeton Global Investment Survey offers fresh perspectives, while Norges Bank Investment Management moves into long-short equity strategies. ✅ Governance & sustainability updates – Financial Conduct Authority and PRA drop planned diversity rules, BlackRock’s DEI retreat sparks debate, and an MSCI Inc. study links poor governance to ESG financial risks. ✅ M&A & activism – SES S.A. puts activist resolutions to vote, Tesla loses a pension fund investor over labor concerns, and activist Palliser Capital gains backing from Glass, Lewis & Co. Lewis. Buy-Side & Investor Relations News 👉 Franklin Templeton’s Global Investment Survey: Key takeaways on investor trends in 2025. 👉 Norges Bank Investment Management Bank’s new hedge fund allocation: A move into long-short equity strategies. 👉 Schroders on active investment management: Why now is the right time to move away from passive strategies. Governance & Sustainability 👉 Regulatory shift: Financial Conduct Authority and PRA abandon new diversity and inclusion rules. 👉 BlackRock’s DEI retreat: Why some still see momentum despite policy shifts. MSCI Inc. study: How poor governance signals ESG-related financial risks. M&A, IPO & Activism 👉 SES S.A. shareholder showdown: Activist resolutions go to a vote. 👉 Denmark’s AkademikerPension exits Tesla: Citing workers' rights concerns. 👉 Palliser Capital’s activist campaign gains Glass, Lewis & Co. Lewis’ backing. Companies Mentioned in the Weekly 👉 Best & Worst Performers: HENSOLDT, Rheinmetall, DO & CO AG, Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, Lenzing Group, Swisscom, Henkel, PUMA Group, grenke, Logitech 👉 Short Interest & Options Activity: HUGO BOSS, Nagarro, Volkswagen, Forbo Group. E.ON, Fuchs Petrolub SE, thyssenkrupp nucera, RHI Magnesita, Peach Property Group AG. 📩 We welcome your thoughts—let us know what stood out to you this week! 🔗 Follow Embera Partners on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/dqMc_Zch 🌐 Subscribe for weekly intelligence https://lnkd.in/d3K6xnA7 📢 Stay ahead in capital markets. Follow us for expert insights on investor relations, governance, M&A, and more. #InvestorRelations #CapitalMarkets #MergersAndAcquisitions #Sustainability #CorporateGovernance #HedgeFunds #MarketInsights #ESG #InstitutionalInvestors #ActivistInvesting #IRStrategy

The 2025 #proxyseason is set to be a game-changer. #ShareholderActivism is surging, #proposals are at record highs, and #antiESG #filings are on the rise. Yet, overall support for proposals is dropping—except for #governance, which is making a comeback. To stay ahead, companies must engage #shareholders, track #policy shifts, and back proposals with solid cost-benefit analysis. Harvard Law School's latest report breaks it all down—essential reading for anyone navigating this landscape. #ProxySeason #ShareholderActivism #CorporateGovernance #ESG #InvestorRelations #Boardroom #SEC #Governance #ExecutiveCompensation #PublicCompanies #InstitutionalInvestors

#SustainabilityReporting is no longer just a PR exercise—it’s becoming a regulated, audited, and essential business practice. With the rise of mandatory #assurance, companies must ensure their #ESGdata is as reliable as financial reports. Embera Partners and Earthood have teamed up to bring #quality and #credibility to #SustainabilityAssurance, offering expert services that help businesses navigate this evolving landscape. This carousel breaks down why sustainability assurance matters, what’s driving it, and how companies can prepare. Kaviraj Singh Vishal Goel Andreas Posavac Banu T. Report link: https://lnkd.in/dQ98DEeW #Sustainability #ESG #CorporateReporting #SustainabilityAssurance #Greenwashing #CSRD #Audit #Trust #DataQuality #ESGInvesting #RiskManagement #Compliance #SustainableFinance #Regulation

Embera Partners are pleased to share this week's key developments in capital markets, investor relations, and corporate governance. Each week, we provide actionable intelligence to help IR professionals stay informed on the latest trends shaping the industry. This week’s highlights include: ✅ Buy-side and investor relations insights – Small-cap equities in Europe gain momentum, investor sentiment signals potential market turning point. ✅ Governance & sustainability updates – Vanguard shifts to direct shareholder voting, State Street revises proxy policies, academic insights on governance ratings. ✅ M&A & activism – Elliott Investment Management L.P. takes a short position against Total Energies, activist board seat demands on the rise, Commerzbank AG and UniCredit discussions intensify in front of BaFin Buy-Side & Investor Relations News 👉 BNY's market outlook: Macro trends are boosting interest in Euro small caps. 👉 AI & investing: Insights from IBM and Vanguard on AI's impact in asset management. 👉 Investor sentiment shift: Weakening sentiment may signal a market turning point. Governance & Sustainability 👉 State Street Global Advisors adjusts voting policy: Reducing its focus on diversity initiatives. 👉 Vanguard empowers shareholders: Investors in index funds gain more control over voting. 👉 Academic study: Governance ratings don’t always align with corporate performance. M&A, IPO & Activism 👉 Elliott Investment Management L.P.'s new bet: Short position against TotalEnergies Energies. 👉 Activists push for board seats: Harvard Business School Business Review on the rising trend. 👉 Commerzbank AG & UniCredit: Potential deal under regulatory review by BaFin. Companies Mentioned in the Weekly Best & Worst Performers: Heidelberg Materials, Nordex Group, SMA Solar, Geberit, voestalpine, Vonovia, Evotec, Grand City, Richemont, CA Immobilien Anlagen AG (CA Immo) Short Interest & Options Activity: Deutsche Börse, TAG Immobilien AG, BAWAG Group, Meyer Burger Technology AG, Tecan, HelloFresh, Swatch Group, INFICON. 📩 We welcome your thoughts—let us know what stood out to you this week! 🔗 Follow Embera Partners on LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/dqMc_Zch 🌐 Subscribe for weekly intelligence https://lnkd.in/d3K6xnA7 📢 Stay ahead in capital markets. Follow us for expert insights on investor relations, governance, M&A, and more. #InvestorRelations #CapitalMarkets #MergersAndAcquisitions #Sustainability #CorporateGovernance #HedgeFunds #MarketInsights #ESG #InstitutionalInvestors #ActivistInvesting #IRStrategy

Embera Partners is pleased to share this week's key developments and food for thought in capital markets, investor relations, and corporate governance. Each week, we provide actionable intelligence to help IR professionals stay informed on the latest trends shaping the industry. This week’s highlights include: ✅ Buy-side and investor relations insights – Investor targeting remains a key challenge, regulatory scrutiny on hedge funds intensifies. ✅ Governance & sustainability updates – The EU’s regulatory simplifications, BlackRock’s shift on DEI, and key sustainability themes from MSCI Inc.. ✅ M&A & activism – Activism-focused M&A accelerates, short-sellers increase bets against tech stocks. 👉 Buy-Side & Investor Relations News 🔷 Amundi’s outlook: Germany’s new coalition faces major challenges. 🔷 Defense spending impact: Increased military budgets will pressure Europe’s public finances. 🔷 Hedge funds under scrutiny: Regulators tighten oversight of leveraged macro bets. 👉 Governance & Sustainability 🔷 EU’s ‘Simplification Omnibus’: A new regulatory package affecting sustainability reporting. 🔷 BlackRock shifts DEI strategy: Ends diversity goals, consolidates ESG teams. 🔷 MSCI Inc. insights: The most pressing sustainability issues for investors. 👉 M&A, IPO & Activism 🔷 Rise in M&A activism: More deals are being influenced by activist investors. 🔷 Appaloosa’s demands at SES: The hedge fund is pushing for key AGM resolutions. 🔷 Tech stocks under pressure: Short-sellers are increasing bets against the sector. 👉 Companies Mentioned in the Weekly 🔷 Best & Worst Performers: Brenntag, SCHOTT, PATRIZIA Deutschland, Lenzing Group, Schlatter Industries AG, Rheinmetall, AIXTRON SE, Alzchem Group AG, Holcim, wienerberger, Infineon Technologies, Springer Nature, ABB, Erste Group 🔷 Short Interest & Options Activity: Lindt & Sprüngli, HelloFresh, Siegfried Pharma AG 📩 We welcome your thoughts—let us know what stood out to you this week! 🔗 Follow Embera Partners on LinkedIn here https://lnkd.in/dsfjZ2VP 🌐 Subscribe for weekly intelligence https://lnkd.in/d3K6xnA7 📢 Stay ahead in capital markets. Follow us for expert insights on investor relations, governance, M&A, and more. #InvestorRelations #CapitalMarkets #MergersAndAcquisitions #Sustainability #CorporateGovernance #HedgeFunds #MarketInsights #ESG #InstitutionalInvestors #ActivistInvesting #IRStrategy

We’re pleased to share this week’s edition of the Embera Partners Capital Markets & IR Weekly, highlighting key trends in markets, investor sentiment, and governance. This week’s highlights: 📈 Investor Sentiment Shift – European equities continue to attract strong inflows, with equity funds receiving $8.55 billion last week—the highest since December 2024. Factors driving this trend include attractive valuations, optimism around a Ukraine ceasefire, and expectations of looser fiscal policies in Germany. 💡 Market Overview – The STOXX 600 hit another all-time high for the ninth consecutive week, though the FTSE 100 and DAX posted their first weekly losses in months. Banks and Healthcare outperformed, while Travel & Leisure and Retail struggled. 🔎 Top Market Stories  👉 The EU braces for a $28 billion hit from Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs. 👉 Austria advances talks toward forming a centrist government. 👉 The EU explores ways to seize a portion of Russia’s frozen $280 billion in assets. 💰 M&A and Activism Updates – 👉 German bank OLB bank prepares for a rare IPO, while speculation rises over a bid for ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. Meanwhile, Elliott Investment Management L.P. pushes for bp divestments after becoming its largest investor. ✒️ Food for though, from: 👉 BNP Paribas Asset Management on why proxy voting is critical 👉 OECD - OCDE looks behind the ESG ratings 👉 BNY and what DeepSeek AI means for the US 👉 DWS Group on the impact of the German elections 👉 Prudential Financial on the state of global labor markets Companies discussed in this issue include: Mercedes-Benz AG, ZEISS Medical Technology, Deutsche Wohnen Gruppe, PIERER Mobility, Perrot Duval Holding SA, Richemont, Swatch Group, Rheinmetall, thyssenkrupp, RENK Group, Nestlé, wienerberger, Österreichische Post AG, MTU Aero Engines, Delivery Hero, Formycon AG, Holcim. 🚀 Upcoming Events – Key investor conferences include the Goldman Sachs European Technology Conference (Feb 26) and the J.P. Morgan European Opportunities event (Mar 11). For full insights, market data, and investment trends, please find the newsletter attached or visit our website:https://lnkd.in/dg8Md3Kg Let us know if you'd like to discuss any topics further or explore how Embera Partners can support your investor relations and capital markets strategy.

#ShareholderActivism Just Hit a Record High—And 2025 Could Be Even Bigger, according to Diligent. 2024 saw over 1,000 companies globally go head-to-head with #activists. In the #US alone, nearly 600 #publiccampaigns were launched—a 7% jump from 2023 and 16% higher than 2022. But activists aren’t just pushing for #boardroom shake-ups—they’re coming for #CEOs: ◆ 𝟔𝟕 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐂𝐄𝐎𝐬 exited in 2024 after an activist demand—almost 3x more than in 2023. ◆ The M&A boom is fueling a new wave of activism in 2025, with #deal -related demands 𝐮𝐩 𝟑𝟑% 𝐘𝐨𝐘. ◆ In #Europe, activists are targeting low #valuations, with 𝐔.𝐊. 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝟐𝟖% ◆ In #Japan, activists are using #stockexchange reforms to drive change. But here’s the kicker: despite the universal proxy card raising the bar, activists are still finding new ways to win. 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. Boards, investors, and executives—are you ready? 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐦: 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐬@𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦 #shareholderactivism #corporategovernance #MandA #CEOs #investorrelations #boardrooms #proxybattles #corporatefinance #activistinfluence #capitalmarkets #investmenttrends #leadership

#Investor sentiment is shifting fast! The latest Bank of America #fundmanager survey reveals record-high #riskappetite, growing skepticism about #USequities, and a potential turning point for the U.S. dollar. Here are the key insights in numbers. Don't forget to follow us! #investing #markets #stocks #finance #economy #trading #fundmanagers #USstocks #globalmarkets #interestRates #marketinsights #investmentstrategy #capitalmarkets

The Voluntary Carbon Market (#VCM) is at a crossroads. Quality is improving, but due diligence remains crucial. Pricing is stabilizing, but #removalcredits still command a premium — even when they lack strong #greenhousegas (#GHG) integrity. This breakdown of the latest data and trends from Calyx Global and ClearBlue Markets explains what’s happening, why it matters, and what buyers should watch out for in 2025. Vishal Goel Earthood #carbonmarkets #voluntarycarbonmarket #carboncredits #sustainablefinance #climatefinance #GHGintegrity #capitalmarkets #investing #finance #netzero #emissionsreduction #carbonremoval #carbonpricing #duediligence #CORSIA #ICVCM #sustainability #environmentalfinance #impactinvesting

#Integratedreporting is more than #compliance — it’s a strategic edge. Workiva’s 2025 study, based on insights from 1,601 #executives and 222 #investors, uncovers a confidence gap in #data accuracy. Companies that embrace secure #AI, strong #datagovernance, and reliable #sustainability reporting will gain an edge. Is your company ready? #IntegratedReporting #ESG #Sustainability #CorporateReporting #DataGovernance #AI #Investors #RiskManagement #Compliance #FinancialPerformance #Workiva #SustainabilityDisclosures #ESGCommitment #ClimateReporting #Regulations #CompetitiveAdvantage #InvestorTrust #SustainabilityLeadership #DataAccuracy #InvestorExpectations #SustainabilityData #FinancialData #ConfidenceGap #AIinFinance #SecureAI #Automation #RiskMitigation #AIforInvestors #DataTransparency #MachineReadableData #FinTech #RegulatoryCompliance #InvestmentRisk #ReputationManagement #FutureofReporting #FutureofFinance #SustainabilityLeadership #CorporateGovernance #Workiva2025