Investors seeking robust returns should turn their attention to companies with strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings, as a new study by Kroll, a leading independent provider of global risk and financial advisory solutions, demonstrates.
Kroll analysed over 13,000 companies globally and found that those with higher ESG ratings significantly outperformed their lower-rated peers, with UK firms leading the pack.
Pan African Resources PLC (AIM:PAF, OTCQX:PAFRY, JSE:PAN, OTCQX:PAFRF) said a "much-improved rand gold price" helped to compensate for production and power issues in the year just ended.
Profits at the South Africa-based gold miner in the year to end June 2023 were US$60.7 million (US$75 million) with cash generated from operation around US$100 million against US$110 million in the previous year.
Poolbeg Pharma PLC (AIM:POLB, OTCQB:POLBF) said it is actively in discussions with prospective partners to further explore oncology indications for POLB 001.
The company strategically expanded the scope of its lead asset into the area of cancer with a patent filing in January 2023.
Empire Metals Ltd (AIM:EEE) said the first phase of the company's next major exploration campaign at the Pitfield project in Western Australia starts next week.
A total of 1,500 metres (m) of diamond core drilling is planned to prove up the scale of this giant, titanium-enriched mineral system.
Primary Health Properties PLC (LSE:PHP, OTC:PHPRF) has made its largest acquisition in Ireland, snapping up the country’s first Enhanced Community Care facility in Cork for a total of €29.64 million.
Already fully let, the former office building’s 25-year lease will see rent reviewed every five years against Irish consumer price inflation, compounded annually.
NetScientific PLC (AIM:NSCI), the venture capital group specialising in deep tech and life sciences, has announced that its portfolio company, Q-Bot, has successfully closed a £3.5 million investment programme.
The fundraising was spearheaded by EMV Capital, NetScientific's venture capital firm, and included a syndicate of private investors and family offices.