ESG
10 October 2024
Don’t Draghi me down
The possibility of a Pan-EU regulator for financial markets is terrifying for Luxembourg but the track record of ESMA also makes it implausible
30 September 2024
Atlas Metrics raises €12.2m in Series A
Fresh funds to be invested in the team, geographical expansion and development of the company’s ESG compliance and performance management services
30 September 2024
RepRisk launches regulatory hub
Company introduces briefings hub on ESG and regulatory topics
30 September 2024
No country for old men
As PE’s pioneers begin to head off into the sunset, Matthias Plötz heads into the prairie to find out how the next generation will earn its spurs
23 September 2024
Integrum ESG receives backing from YFM
ESG data insights provider receives £3m investment
19 September 2024
Profile: Daria Pawelko, Innova Capital
The ESG director discusses the implementation of the firm’s ‘Beyond Profit’ strategy
16 September 2024
Sesamm launches ESG controversy exposure score
Large language model assesses intensity and volume of ESG incidents to support GPs with their risk assessment
13 September 2024
ERM and Osapiens partner up for ESG data
ERM and Osapiens collaborate to help companies in due diligence and ESG compliance
12 September 2024
Integrum ESG partners with CSRHub
Partnership sees ESG consensus ratings integrated into Integrums offering
9 September 2024
EcoVadis acquires Ulula
Sustainability and intelligence platform EcoVadis acquires Ulula
9 September 2024
Profile: Natasha Buckley, principal, ESG at HarbourVest
HarbourVest has made ESG central to its investment strategy, with Buckley and her team leading these efforts
3 September 2024
Alvarez & Marsal launches ESG practice
Formerly EY’s global private equity ESG leader, Will Rhode is set to spearhead the new offering
2 September 2024
Sweep teams up with Capgemini on CSRD reporting
Partnership aims to integrate offerings and provide tools, research and joint client events
2 September 2024
Column: Responsible investment
Dörte Höppner, chief sustainability officer of The Riverside Company, on how ESG is impacting European and US private markets
22 August 2024
Walker Guidelines to get a touch up
The BVCA is undertaking an overdue review of its corporate reporting rules
22 August 2024
5 minutes with… John Byrne, Corlytics
The CEO and founder discusses the growth and divergence in compliance and how service providers can keep up with their clients’ demands
1 August 2024
Equipped.ai launches ESG module
Part of the company’s Minerva platform, it aims to provide streamlined reporting and compliance, as well as inform decision-making
26 July 2024
Sesamm launches ESG heatmap
Company aims to allow clients to manage their ESG reputational risk
25 July 2024
‘Data is the core to painting the picture’
To harness sustainability-linked loans and improve the top and bottom lines of portfolio companies, GPs need to solve the data challenge
8 July 2024
Apiday receives €10m in Series A
The ESG data firm will use the funding to expand its team
3 July 2024
HSF launches ESG tracker
Law firm aims to empower through information and provide an early warning system
1 July 2024
Conundrum of ESG choice
Amid a myriad of software, partnerships and consultants, how do GPs make the right choice?
1 July 2024
Moody’s and MSCI team up
Partnership to enhance ESG transparency and explore private credit market opportunities
24 June 2024
Stanley adds ESG associate to transformation team
Katharina Franke joins the firm from Boston Consulting Group
21 June 2024
ESAs propose SFDR improvements
Suggestions include adopting a sustainability indicator, improving sustainability definitions and two simplified voluntary product categories
18 June 2024
Persefoni partners with First Street
Partnership instigates launch of climate physical risk tool
14 June 2024
The Drawdown Awards 2024: Winners announced
The winners of The Drawdown Awards 2024 were announced at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London, hosted by comedian Rhys James
10 June 2024
Towards accounting for net-zero
Recent IASB approval shows larger trend towards net-zero accounting and untapped opportunities
7 June 2024
FIS launches climate risk financial modelling tool
SaaS offering to support clients with assessing, reducing and reporting risks tied to climate change
4 June 2024
Abrdn launches sustainability committee
Chair Sarah Moody (right) has been promoted to chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer while Kristina Church (left) joins as global head of corporate sustainability
3 June 2024
Ecosystemic change
Matthias Plötz investigates the forces driving diversity and inclusion in private equity
30 May 2024
Holtara appoints inaugural global chief commercial officer
Formerly with TimesSquare Capital Management, Yovanka Bylander Arroyo takes up the mantle of global CCO and head of Americas
29 May 2024
Beauhurst launches ESG dataset
Tool to support users in identifying investment opportunities and evaluating current portfolios
29 May 2024
Edda launches Hera AI
The Drawdown catches up with CEO and founder Clémént Aglietta post-launch to discuss the new tools
28 May 2024
Position Green launches ESG DD tool
Tool to include ESG measures, pre-mitigation risk levels identification, and recommended mitigation actions
24 May 2024
Fair HQ and Ciphr team up
Collaboration to help firms accelerate their DEI progress and embed behavioural change in the workplace
23 May 2024
Profile: Charles Rousset, Revaia
The CFO/COO shares milestones from the emerging manager’s journey and dives into operational due diligence and collaborating with one’s LPs
23 May 2024
Manaos updates SDR reporting solution
Alternative asset managers can make use of the platform’s database of more than 20 ESG tech providers to help with impending SDR reporting
22 May 2024
Novata receives fresh funds
Repeat investors Hamilton Lane and S&P Global are joined by Motive Ventures; fresh capital to support platform development and geographical expansion
21 May 2024
HSF launches ESG reporting tool
Law firm’s tool to analyse corporate structures and create reports including legal advice on reporting obligations
15 May 2024
SFDR complaints laid bare
The European Commission’s summary of feedback from its SFDR consultation reflects the PE industry’s ongoing perception of the disclosure regime
14 May 2024
ESMA publishes ESG fund name guidelines
The report states at least 80% of investments within a fund must satisfy sustainable investment criteria to use related terminology
9 May 2024
FCA gets ready to scrub
Financial watchdog’s anti-greenwashing rule is effective from 31 May 2024; The Drawdown checks it to make sure PE ticks all boxes
23 April 2024
Comment: Impact assessment
John Young, international counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton, assesses social impact under the SFDR and SDR
18 April 2024
Ocorian launches ESG reporting tool
The SFDR and SDR reporting tool is powered by technology from Treety
15 April 2024
EFRAG approves double-materiality guidelines
ESRS FAQ has been updated to explain when mitigating actions are considered, among other updates
12 April 2024
Manaos and SESAMm team up
Partnership to provide ESG controversies data for LPs, asset managers and private equity firms
11 April 2024
Rio launches 2.0 version
Updated product to assist with managing regulatory landscape of sustainability
11 April 2024
Preqin launches ESG performance benchmarks
Offering to support LP investment decision-making, GP’s ESG reporting and ESG intelligence for advisers
11 April 2024
Impact intact?
How impact investment firms use in-house reporting tools to report back to LPs and the arguments for standardisation of reporting procedures
9 April 2024
Dasseti and Colmore form partnership
The combined forces aim to improve LP post-investment and ESG managed service data collection and reporting
4 April 2024
5 minutes with… John Rastrick, founder & CEO of Flotilla
Rastrick discusses the increasing importance of robust ESG data and need to focus more on outcomes than metrics
4 April 2024
Maestro launches ESG survey module
Company aims to support GPs with tracking portfolio ESG data
3 April 2024
IVSC releases survey on ESG in valuations
The international council aims to collect market feedback on how ESG is being used as part of the valuation process
2 April 2024
Persefoni releases Scope 3 supply chain management software
Persefoni Pro enables portfolio companies to easily report GHG emissions
27 March 2024
Whatever happened to ESG-linked loans?
As tools for ESG transformation they seem to have been abandoned but they still have their place
25 March 2024
Reporting in good nature
Why are voluntary sustainability reporting regimes such as TNFD being adopted by PE firms?
21 March 2024
No tiff with the LTAF
The Drawdown catches up with Schroders as it gears up to launch LTAF number three to chat operations, investor base and liquidity management
20 March 2024
Comment: Technology’s sustainability challenge
It is time to embrace the opportunities that come with the technology industry’s shortcomings, according to Bettina Denis, head of sustainability at Revaia
20 March 2024
ESG considerations are here to stay
Dasseti’s Billy Cotter and Evan Crowley discuss the most talked-about acronym in the private equity industry
18 March 2024
Atominvest partners with Greenly
Partnership to make Greenly’s carbon calculation platform accessible to Atominvest’s clients
12 March 2024
Comment: This far, but no further
Charlie Chipchase, managing director and head of Europe at Petra Funds Group, assesses whether the SEC’s long-awaited Climate Disclosure Rule goes too far or not far enough
8 March 2024
UK government set to regulate ESG ratings providers
A separate consultation will follow the announcement, which came as part of the Spring Budget
6 March 2024
Atlas Metrics partners with Bunch
The partnership combines Bunch's investor portal with Atlas Metric's ESG reporting platform
6 March 2024
Kirkland appoints ESG partner
Rebecca Perlman joins after a 12-year tenure at Herbert Smith Freehills
22 February 2024
Vespa appoints sustainability manager
Linda Höglund joins the firm from Newton Investment Management Group
20 February 2024
Trinity Communications launches
Charles Clarke founded the public relations agency for asset managers and investors to help GPs grow and retain their assets in a tough fundraising environment
14 February 2024
Video: Unravelling ESG
What better time to unpick key ESG trends than at the Real Deals ESG Conference 2024? Silvia Saccardi speaks to Investindustrial’s Dr Serge Younes, IP Group’s Bran Pathmanāban and Ambienta’s Fabio Ranghino
8 February 2024
ESG: The fund-of-funds perspective
Once removed from the underlying portfolio, this type of LP is focused on private equity’s journey rather than instant compliance
8 February 2024
Column: Youth appeal
The Riverside Company's chief sustainability officer Dörte Höppner examines the crucial role of sustainable investing for younger investors
7 February 2024
Apollo appoints ESG counsel
Previously a legal secondee at the firm, Angus Brown joins from Simmons & Simmons
7 February 2024
ESG ratings providers to comply with transparency requirements
The European Commission and Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on how ESMA can supervise these entities
6 February 2024
Deloitte partners with Workiva and Informatica
The collaboration integrates AI data management and cloud-based reporting into the advisory’s ESG compliance services
5 February 2024
Comment: PE must act now on climate
John Rastrick, founder and CEO of Flotilla outlines the three things PE should be doing post-COP28
2 February 2024
Dasseti and Clarity AI team up on sustainability
Partnership to enable Dasseti’s clients to benchmark ESG performance
2 February 2024
International Valuations Standards updated
The revised version includes ESG valuation considerations in additional chapters on data and inputs and valuation models
31 January 2024
The carrot in addition to the stick
FCA’s proposed regime on non-financial misconduct shines light on firms’ workplace culture
29 January 2024
Ocorian partners up
Recently announced partnerships include those with ESG reporting solution Treety and investor onboarding platform Goji
29 January 2024
5 minutes with… Kate Pljaskovova, founder of Fair HQ
The digital D&I tool aims to assist GPs to develop in-house and portfolio company HR strategies through scientific research and industry benchmarks
18 January 2024
Novata launches carbon navigator
Company’s new product aims to simplify carbon data management and reporting
18 January 2024
Ecovadis adds Vitals to IQ Plus platform
Vitals is a questionnaire aimed at helping businesses manage supply chain sustainability risks
18 January 2024
Profile: Philippe Renauld, Sienna Investment Managers
The CFO and COO shares his passion for operational excellence, highlights the importance of an LP-centric culture and talks ‘democratisation’ of private markets
16 January 2024
Flexstone appoints MD for its sustainability strategy
Samira Boussem joins the firm from Natixis Investment Managers Solutions
12 January 2024
Una Terra appoints founding partner and COO
Yves Frey joins the Swiss VC from investment manager SUSI Partners
12 January 2024
Apex launches new ESG brand
Holtara is a combined effort from Apex and MJ Hudson, providing data, reporting and advisory services
11 January 2024
Profile: Jesper Frydensberg Rasmussen, Axcel
The CFO discusses the importance of clearly defined roles and how CFOs can support their firm in uncharted economic environments
9 January 2024
Infrared’s Sarah Gledhill joins Climate Asset Management
Gledhill joins the asset manager as COO
4 January 2024
Profile: John Mansvelt, Apheon
CFO and AIFM conducting officer tells the story of his transition from audit to PE, his key governance duties and shaping a new cultural identity
21 December 2023
Efama argues for sustainable product categories
Call comes in wake of publication of the UK’s SDR and as SFDR consultation is underway
19 December 2023
Voluntary ESG ratings code of conduct launches
ICMA and IRSG have launched the code to increase transparency in the services of ESG data providers
15 December 2023
Comment: Time for a new model
Fintech has the potential to revolutionise climate risk assessment in asset management during the next three years, writes Sergei Grechkin, chief risk officer at UFG Capital
12 December 2023
Confluence partners with Manaos on SFDR reporting
Confluence to provide ESG and disclosure templates through Manaos’s platform
11 December 2023
What DEI you mean?
Dynamo’s latest report on ESG reporting finds LPs and GPs have different expectations when it comes to DEI reporting
11 December 2023
The UK’s nice green labelling machine
Response to FCA’s SDR positive as regulatory arbitrage remains around applicability to overseas funds, portfolio management and practice of its highly anticipated anti-greenwashing rule
7 December 2023
Comment: Appeals to better nature
William Yonge, a partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, analyses the recommendations of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and how GPs can respond
6 December 2023
ESAs add granularity to RTS
The draft technical standards have some suggested amendments, improving the detail of the disclosures made
1 December 2023
ESG, retail investors and you
The latest Efama conference brought together regulators and asset managers who championed the idea for product instead of fund labels and brainstormed ideas for retailisation
29 November 2023
SDR policy launched
The FCA is introducing an anti-greenwashing rule, four product labels and marketing requirements for investment funds
28 November 2023
Luxembourg’s private debt industry expands
According to a KPMG survey, AUM grew by 51% during the last year; changes in fund vehicles but LP base largely unchanged
28 November 2023
Carbon Accounting Alliance launches
Group of 35 organisations represents emissions of 24,000 companies
27 November 2023
Profile: Martim Avillez, Limerston Capital
The COO and founding partner discusses setting up the firm’s operations, combining them with his investment duties and navigating difficult times
20 November 2023
Firm identity
A tight fundraising environment and ESG fund naming conventions warrant a closer look at the names of private equity entities, writes Matthias Plötz
16 November 2023
Novata expands ESG platform
The technology has improved its SFDR tools to assist fund managers with data analysis and reporting requirements
14 November 2023
Abris Capital launches DEI code for portfolio
Firm makes commitments across education, governance, ownership and process with the aim of influencing industry practice
9 November 2023
Driftwood Climate comes ashore
Boutique consulting firm to advise on climate strategy, decarbonisation and climate impact
7 November 2023
PE sustainability initiatives launch decarbonisation roadmap
The PMDR has been launched by the Initiative Climat International and the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Private Equity Task Force, supported by Bain & Company
1 November 2023
CMA publishes Green Agreements Guidance
GPs and LPs are unlikely to infringe upon UK competition law for pursuing environmental sustainability agreements
30 October 2023
TMF launches ESG administration
Company aims to assist firms with setting up, defining and reporting on ESG frameworks
27 October 2023
Clarity AI and Next Gate Tech join forces
Sustainability tech platform and fintech firm team up to automate sustainability data collection across portfolios
24 October 2023
PRI launches co-design process for Progression Pathways
Association aims to clarify different roles investors play in a sustainable financial system and enable increasingly targeted support
23 October 2023
DIF Capital appoints head of ESG
Lorraine Becker steps into the role after two years as principal consultant at Environmental Resources Management
23 October 2023
Rubbish in, rubbish out?
The latest SFDR consultation gets the industry thinking about improving entity-level disclosures
20 October 2023
European Parliament rejects ESRS objection
MEPs call for private sector to contribute to corporate sustainability transparency
19 October 2023
Profile: Gerwin Theiler, capiton AG
The CFO and partner reflects on how the industry has changed and talks shop about continuation vehicles and succession planning
16 October 2023
Column: Everyone an ESG expert? Forget about it
Natalia Ramsden of Sofos Associates considers digital dementia, ESG and the value of prioritising critical thinking