Apex Group has been appointed by BGF, the UK and Ireland’s capital investor, to provide ESG ratings and advisory services to over 230 high-growth companies in its portfolio.
BGF is an established, independent investment company, supporting private businesses and smaller listed companies. It joins over 350 GPs in over 45 countries already using Apex’s ESG services, to report on their investments in-line with ESG standards and regulations.
ESG principles are integrated into BGF’s investment approach, as it works, not only to champion sustainable practices within its portfolio, but to also back businesses that are looking to make a real-world impact in their markets and sectors across the ESG spectrum.
Apex’s ESG Health Check solution will help BGF to support its portfolio on ESG matters, including providing measurable and comparable ESG data, to drive improvement and outperformance over time. BGF will also benefit from expert support for investment due diligence processes and Gap Analysis reporting for all new investments.
ESG Health Check is designed for minority equity, venture capital or credit investors who do not have a controlling stake in their private company investments but require a high quality and efficient mechanism to assess their portfolio.
BGF has taken measures to firmly embed ESG factors into its investment process. It. As well as being a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, and the Investing in Women Code, BGF is a pilot member of the Diversity VC standards and is a sponsor of the New Entrepreneurs Foundation.
William Chignell, Chief Commercial Officer, ESG at Apex Group comments: “As a long-term partner, BGF is uniquely placed to help drive sustainable growth for its portfolio and to invest crucial capital into businesses which benefit people and planet. From diversity to energy transition, accurately capturing ESG data is essential to understanding which companies can improve their impact on society, the environment and business communities, now and in the future.”
Alistair Brew (pictured), Head of Investment Operations, BGF further adds: “BGF exists to help brilliant businesses grow, and that includes supporting and championing enhancements in the ESG credentials of our investees. We back more than one new company a week, which means we need a scalable ESG Ratings & Advisory solution which can meet the needs of our growing portfolio and help investees to build strong, sustainable businesses.”
