Apex Group, a global financial services provider, has been appointed to provide full environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and advisory services for Elysian Capital, an independent private equity fund investing in the UK and Ireland lower mid-market.
Apex will provide ESG ratings, reporting and advisory, and gap analysis services to ensure consistent standards of monitoring and reporting of ESG matters across Elysian Capital’s underlying portfolio.
These services include collection of over 300 ESG data points, quantitative scoring and reporting, as well as benchmarking against ESG standards, sector peers and UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Apex explains that its ESG gap analysis offering provides Elysian Capital with tailored advice on how to drive ESG performance, aligned to sector best practice, leading ESG standards and UN SDGs.
With these services in place, Elysian Capital will be able to identify reputational risks, track ESG progression over time, and ensure the integration of responsible investing principles.
This includes integrating ESG considerations into deal processes, investment decisions and ownership; incorporating all relevant information about ESG matters into investment decisions; and ensuring the investment teams understand the reasons, issues and opportunities behind ESG matters.
Additionally, Elysian Capital will be able to actively engage with portfolio companies and their management teams to promote and seek better ESG performance.
Will Chignell, chief commercial officer, Apex ESG Ratings & Advisory, comments: “We are delighted to be working with Elysian Capital to deliver a high quality, independent ESG service tailored to meet the specific needs of private markets. Quality ESG data capture, analysis and reporting is now a critical component of risk mitigation and ensuring sustainable returns for the private equity industry and its and their investors.”
Tom Falcon, operating partner, Elysian Capital, says: “Elysian Capital engaged Apex ESG as the market leader in delivering an accurate and independent ESG rating, reporting and benchmarking service for our portfolio.”
Falcon adds: “We have been really impressed by Apex’s client service and in-depth, practical analysis that will help us and our portfolio companies drive significant ESG improvements.”
This announcement follows the launch of Apex’s Invest Check tool,designed to help financial market participants collect the necessary data to report on and comply with the upcoming EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
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