ESG
17 June 2021
KPMG joins campaign for reporting taxonomy
KPMG UK has become a founding member of Private Capital Data Standards Alliance (PCDS Alliance – formerly ADS Initiative)
18 June 2021
PE needs to spend more on data management
State Street's report found 70% of alternative asset managers said they need to spend more money on data management to handle increased pressures and demands
14 June 2021
LPs increasingly concerned by tax and regulatory changes
43% of LPs identified regulatory changes as the greatest risk to PE returns
14 June 2021
Role Call: D&I officer
The diversity & inclusion role is emerging in private equity, but how necessary is a dedicated officer?
10 June 2021
Comment: ESG and fund finance
Michael Mbayi of Wildgen and Thomas Hallett of Barclays explore how funds can embrace ESG fund finance solutions
9 June 2021
New horizons: Carbon pricing
Professor Gianfranco Gianfrate, Climate Finance Lead and Professor of Finance at the EDHEC-Risk Institute, says carbon pricing is happening and managers need to prepare
8 June 2021
Private equity must address climate change risk
“Climate change presents unprecedented business opportunities for the industry in addition to risks”
2 June 2021
Waterland closes €500m ESG-linked bridge loan
"We are rapidly moving towards a world wherein all finance is linked to sustainability in one way or another"
28 May 2021
Adams Street names director of ESG
Yohan Hill will develop strategies and solutions which aim to bring further transparency to ESG risks and opportunities within the firm's portfolios and investments
27 May 2021
Profile: Paul Yett, Hamilton Lane
The director of ESG & sustainability discusses the evolution of the firm's ESG processes, setting up its DE&I council and why diversity is important to him on a personal level
26 May 2021
Nordic Capital secures ESG-linked facility
The revolving facility is linked to Nordic Capital Fund X, which closed on €6.1bn in October 2020
20 May 2021
Comment: ESG fund financing trends
Sarah Lobbardi of Avardi Partners details the latest trends around ESG-linked fund finance
19 May 2021
SFDR: EFAMA calls for Taxonomy consistency
The association has identified key issues which need to be addressed by the ESAs
17 May 2021
KKR acquires ERM
KKR’s Core Investments strategy acquired the majority stake from Omers Private Equity
17 May 2021
In conversation: Cyber security, an ESG concern
A recent webinar discussion explored the treatment of cyber security as an ESG practice
13 May 2021
Climate change: all talk, less action
A new report from PwC found 90% of PE firms are concerned about climate change but only 50% are taking action
13 May 2021
Profile: Sedef Köktentürk, Blue Horizon
The managing partner & COO discusses upgrading the impact investor's technology and processes, how the niche strategy impacts her role, and how being an Olympic athlete taught her the value of collaboration and cooperation to achieve goals
10 May 2021
BlueMark creates impact benchmark
The benchmark aims to track best practices in impact management in a bid to eliminate impact-washing
10 May 2021
AlpInvest secures ESG-linked sub-line
ABN AMRO arranged the facility while Rabobank acted as sustainability co-ordinator
6 May 2021
Diligencing diversity
Gender diversity is a key issue for private capital markets, but are LPs digging deep enough when diligencing fund managers?
5 May 2021
A guide to improving gender diversity
What can PE houses do to better their employee ratios? Sasha Graham of Equality Group provides her top insights
4 May 2021
WATCH: What do LPs do with all the data?
A recent webinar discussion explored the way in which data is being communicated, how technology is helping both GPs and LPs, and what LPs are doing with all the information
4 May 2021
Procensus extends to PE
The regulated platform aims to help investors understand market consensus on macro topics such as key ESG issues, market transactions (M&A and IPOs), stocks and stock specific events
28 April 2021
LISTEN: Do we even need standardisation? Episode 2
The second instalment of a recent podcast discussion examined industry body reporting efforts, and asked if standardised reporting is still necessary?
27 April 2021
Blackstone adds new ESG roles
The firm has added new resources and capabilities within its business units and is building out a corporate ESG structure
26 April 2021
Accountability main focus for improving DE&I
ILPA Diversity in Action (DIA) signatories have set up cross-functional councils, committees or task forces
21 April 2021
NorthEdge names COO and head of ESG
The GP confirmed to The Drawdown this is the first COO role at the firm, as well it’s first dedicated role for ESG
21 April 2021
LISTEN: Do we even need standardisation? Episode 1
A recent podcast discussion explored technological advances in data transmission, and asked if standardised reporting is still necessary?
19 April 2021
WATCH: Cybersecurity, and ESG concern
Cybersecurity is a matter of good governance, as well as reputation and risk management - putting it at the heart of ESG practices
14 April 2021
MUFG IS partners with MJ Hudson on ESG reporting tool
The solution allows data to be collected in an automated way, with an overlay of ESG expertise from analysts, while being tailored to private markets
8 April 2021
Green washing up
The SFDR aims to combat greenwashing, but what is actually expected from PE firms, and what do the new rules mean for operational leaders?
7 April 2021
The Techwork: Ahmed Khamassi, Stirling Square Capital Partners
“The main improvement we want to make in terms of technology is to ensure it is designed with our people in mind.”
30 March 2021
MUFG IS launches ESG reporting tool
The reporting tool initially uses RepRisk data and MUFG IS plans to add further data sources
30 March 2021
European GPs continue to outperform on ESG
New ratings from ASI’s 2020 ESG survey found the majority of European GPs scored highly
25 March 2021
Domicile watch: March 2021
Key takeaways from the major PE domiciles: including Jersey's changes to its AML/CFT handbooks, Guernsey's review of its Green Fund accreditation and Ireland's Green Team network launch
25 March 2021
Comment: An opportunity to fly ahead of the curve
Mikaela Murekian, director and head of ESG at Greenbrook, asks if a new approach to air travel could help GPs in their response to increased ESG pressure from LPs
24 March 2021
Advisory / Consultancy: ESG award winner: Sancroft International Limited
Senior consultant Ivaylo Dimov discusses the importance of knowing what ESG means to a firm and equally what it doesn’t or shouldn’t mean
23 March 2021
Verdane hires sustainability lead
Axel Elmqvist is responsible for fully integrating and strengthening sustainability as a core value creator across Verdane
23 March 2021
Valutico explores ESG valuations
Valutico has received a €200,000 innovation grant from the Vienna Business Agency to support the project
22 March 2021
Advent achieves top rank D&I score
The firm is closely followed by EQT (65%) as well as TowerBrook Capital Partners and Investcorp (both 63%)
22 March 2021
Protecting and enhancing value: Managing human rights risks across your portfolio
Sam Eastwood, James Ford, and Libby Reynolds of Mayer Brown predict greater focus on human rights due diligence processes
18 March 2021
ASI hires ESG manager
Manuela Fumarola is responsible for developing, embedding and overseeing an ESG strategy for private markets investments at Aberdeen Standard Investments
10 March 2021
SFDR comes into effect
SFDR imposes new transparency obligations and periodic reporting requirements on financial market participants
10 March 2021
Palatine invests in Anthesis
The fresh capital will support Anthesis’ growth plans, both organic and acquisitive, as well as accelerating its digitalisation
4 March 2021
Deeper Perspective: The UK Funds Regime
Benjamin Lamping, founder of Reframe Capital asks: Are we at risk of missing a potential watershed moment for the UK funds industry, and a genuine post-Brexit opportunity?
25 February 2021
Profile: Alexis Crusey, Aberdeen Standard Investments
The director of private markets product strategy, impact & ESG discusses the differences between ESG and impact investing, the importance of D&I as well as how its portfolio risk platform PRISM considers ESG factors
11 February 2021
5 minutes with… Guy Battle, Social Value Portal
As ESG’s visibility continues to increase, finding ways to measure and report efforts remains tricky. Social Value Portal’s CEO Guy Battle explains how their framework attributes monetary values to social impact
11 February 2021
Profile: Jasi Halai, 3i
The group financial controller & operating officer discusses working within the finance dept of a listed firm, leading system implementations and transformations as well as her role in the firm's committees
4 February 2021
eFront integrates RepRisk ESG data
RepRisk’s dataset enables eFront clients to proactively identify ESG risk exposure in private investments
4 February 2021
Third of GPs prioritising returns over ESG
According to the latest figures from EY, while 68% of GP respondents take ESG seriously when it comes to investment decisions, a large minority - 32% - said returns are more important
27 January 2021
Domicile watch: January 2021
Key takeaways from the major PE domiciles: including Jersey's new definition for AML legislation, changes to Guernsey's private fund regime and Ireland's prep for SFDR
21 January 2021
Private Equity Service Provider Awards: Winners announced
Winners of the Private Equity Service Provider Awards revealed
20 January 2021
ACA launches ESG advisory practice
Dan Mistler and Crista DesRochers will head up the new division, while Dani Williams joins the team to focus on ESG in financial regulation
18 January 2021
Apex launches tool for ESG regs
Invest Check is a tool to help financial services firms collect data to report and comply with upcoming ESG rules
15 January 2021
Palatine promotes Wall to ESG director
As part of her new role, Stephanie Wall joins the firm's senior management team
11 January 2021
The ESG tech wave
From static and infrequent DDQs to real-time, performance linked, fully integrated improvements; ESG is fast-becoming a tech play
8 January 2021
LPs want better ESG reporting
LPs are seeking more granular detail when it comes to ESG reporting, according to Intertrust Group
7 January 2021
Flexstone names head of ESG
Caroline Gibert will lead Flexstone’s ESG approach at both firm and investment level
5 January 2021
BWAM gains PE sponsors
Blackstone, CD&R, Goodwin, Latham & Watkins and Livingbridge join as institutional members and sponsors
22 December 2020
2020 in review: D&I firmly on the agenda
A look back at our diversity & inclusion highlights in PE during 2020