Astorg has completed its EUR1 billion-plus financing to acquire a majority stake in Corialis.
The British Business Bank’s regional funds — the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) — have enabled more than GBP50 million of investment, including from the private sector, into small businesses in the Midlands and North of England to reduce their carbon footprint and support developing innovative solutions to tackling the climate emergency and reaching net zero.
Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) has invested GBP50 million on behalf of its strategic partner Phoenix Group (Phoenix) in Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (the Bank) supporting the implementation of its climate change strategy.
The management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues is moving up the board agenda for private equity, however climate risk exposure requires greater scrutiny, according to a new survey released by PwC.
By Sam Gilbert-Ward, business analyst, Pollen Street Capital – Looking to the future, post-Covid, the success of ESG impact investing can be secured by championing three key pillars. First, building ESG into the culture of organisations, supporting initiatives with the resource it deserves. Second, establishing best practice. And third, going beyond reporting, focusing on the actual impact and celebrating successes.
NorthEdge has launched its first ESG report in which it reviews the progress made by the firm in 2020 across sustainability, D&I and community, as well as setting out ambitious plans for the year ahead.
Given its inherently analytical nature, private equity is well placed to include environment, social and governance (ESG) factors in its investment process. The challenge lies in making sure the data being collected is relevant and material. This hurdle needs to be conquered as investors are starting to pass over managers who are not taking this matter seriously.
By Sam Gilbert-Ward, Business Analyst, Pollen Street Capital – With governments, businesses and people looking towards the ‘new normal’ post Covid-19 we begin to see the areas where the pandemic has been a catalyst for change. Across the globe businesses are galvanised to consider what ESG really means for them. The refocusing of priorities has given many the opportunity to re-assess their ESG framework and ensure that the strategy put in place creates real impact.
Eurazeo has launched the Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure thematic fund (the Fund) to finance more environmentally friendly infrastructure and technologies in the maritime sector that support the transition to a low carbon economy.
By Sam Gilbert-Ward, Business Analyst, Pollen Street Capital – Environmental, social and governance issues have been rising up the agenda across all industries, not least financial services. Within the sector, we’ve seen businesses eager to embed impact as an integral part of their overarching company strategy. However, while ESG has become a ‘buzzword’, a lot of businesses don’t know how best to maximise their impact.