Singapore’s First Corporate Green Retail Notes with Frasers Property Limited

Sustainability is a key priority for Frasers Property Limited, who has committed to achieving net-zero carbon by 2050. To support its commitment, Frasers Property launched Singapore’s first corporate green retail notes in September 2022. The proceeds from the retail notes will go towards financing or refinancing new and existing green projects in accordance with the issuer’s Green Finance Framework. OCBC acted as the Sole Green Finance Advisor and a Joint Lead Manager and Bookrunner of the offer.

Hong Kong’s First Sustainability-Linked Loan in the Logistics Industry with Kerry Logistics

OCBC Hong Kong successfully issued the city’s first sustainability-linked financing in the logistics industry, reinforcing the Bank’s strategy of innovating and supporting diversified industries on their ESG journeys. The Bank acted as the sole lender and sustainability advisor to Kerry Logistics Network (KLN), the largest international logistics company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX). By achieving predetermined ESG targets, including reduction in energy consumption intensity and water consumption intensity, KLN will be incentivised with interest savings for their HK$980 million loan (equivalent to $165 million).

Supporting the Needs of Society with Innovative and Accessible Financial Solutions

With an increasing focus on personal health and wellbeing, Kydra, a local activewear brand, thrived, with a turnover in the millions. However, the need for financing increased in order to keep up with the growing customer demands amid the lengthy production lead time.

To meet Kydra’s growing financing needs, OCBC provided invoice financing at a competitive rate. This allows Kydra to unlock valuable capital tied up in unpaid invoices and improve its business cash flow.

Skills-based Volunteering for Lasting Impact

Skills-based volunteering leverages our employees’ unique skills to serve the community. Though it requires more planning and development work than one-off projects, skills-based volunteering generates greater and longer-lasting impact. Imparting skills like digital literacy, entrepreneurship and personal management will go a long way in helping individuals and families to succeed.

Our completed projects include teaching seniors to draft wills and lasting power of attorney documents, organising activities to teach special needs youths financial literacy, and helping a food charity utilise data to track demand and stock sufficient supplies for low-income families while minimising waste.

OCBC Cyber Smart Programme: Uplifting Employees’ Cyber Vigilance and Competencies

The OCBC Cyber Smart Programme is a strategic initiative to hone employees’ knowledge, skills and demonstrated behaviour in managing risks associated with social engineering, data loss and cyber security.

As part of the Cyber Smart Programme, OCBC held a Cyber Resilience Webinar that drew over 500 participants. The aim of the webinar was to educate employees on how to become more cyber resilient and to mitigate the risks of falling prey to cyber-attacks. External speakers were invited to share their insights on cyber threats targeting individuals and how criminals take advantage of victims’ emotions and mindsets. The webinar also included a panel session for the panellists to share their knowledge and experience in cyber resilience.

We also held our first Cyber Escape Room Online Competition to enhance employees’ cyber competencies. Over 150 participants from various entities and locations across the Group were divided into 38 teams. The participants were given one hour to crack a series of puzzles, failing which ‘sensitive information’ would be released resulting in damage to a fictional company. The intent was to enhance employees’ cyber competencies.

Strengthening Anti-Fraud Detection and Prevention Measures

Given the increasing importance to safeguard against frauds and scams, OCBC works together with key stakeholders to bolster the security of digital banking. For instance, together with ABS and MAS, we continuously collaborate with the industry to review and strengthen our fraud detection and prevention measures. We have also worked alongside the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to reinforce our anti-scam measures, and have formed an Anti-Scam unit within the SPF’s new Anti-Scam Command Office which operates 24/7 to enable a timely response in the case of a scam incident.

Additionally, we have enhanced our Fraud Management System to better manage incidents in real time, including the ability to reject transactions and suspend suspect accounts, sending automated email and SMS notifications to warn customers of potential frauds, and refining the Bank’s flexibility in creating and amending fraud rules to better protect our customers against financial crimes.