Responsible investing

We believe that responsible investing is fundamental to achieving a better and more sustainable risk-return profile across our portfolio.

At CBPE, we take the full range of our ESG responsibilities seriously, from critical business decisions to day-to-day operations.

View our ESG policy

A message from our Co-Heads of ESG

At CBPE, we have an established track record of investing responsibly and have fully embedded our comprehensive ESG programme into our investment strategy.

We strongly believe in the importance of implementing ESG best practices across each of our portfolio companies by working closely alongside our management teams to manage and mitigate any potential risks while creating sustainable long-term growth.

Each year, in collaboration with external experts, we engage and evaluate the ESG performance of our portfolio companies. It enables us to identify their strengths, opportunities, and provide actionable recommendations. As Co-Heads, we are proud of the ongoing achievements made by each portfolio company.

We remain dedicated to empowering our businesses and our people to embrace the very best ESG practices, compliance and innovation in order to create a better environment and society for our future generations.

View the full report

Laura West

Head of Investor Relations

Matt Murphy

Portfolio Partner

Across our portfolio we focus on the following areas:

To underline our commitment to understanding our impact on the planet and how we can reduce our footprint, all of our portfolio companies measure their greenhouse gas emissions.

Across our portfolio, all of our companies have committed to a Net Zero target and, in addition, we are proud to say the whole portfolio is carbon neutral (Scope 1 + 2) through reduction, removal and offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions through verifiable projects.

At CBPE, we have also made a Net Zero commitment, as well as measure our carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3) and offset our emissions via United Nations Carbon Offset projects. Furthermore, each year, we personally plant trees in the UK, creating a legacy for the next generation of investors while we offset our emissions in the short term.

Across our portfolio, our companies recognise the importance of understanding and evaluating the composition of their workforce and providing Diversity and Inclusion training.

All of our portfolio companies have anti-bribery and corruption policies, in addition to providing regular training on business ethics and implementing third party whistleblowing policies. We believe our commitment to ethical business conduct provides a culture where people are able to succeed in a diverse workforce, by facilitating an inclusive environment where our people are free from harassment and discrimination.

At CBPE we are committed to finding ways to champion diversity in the financial sector. We participate in the 10,000 Black Interns Foundation and Girls are INvestors, as well as continuing to actively support women in private equity through Level 20, and our LGBQT+ community through OutInvestors.

To mitigate risk, we support our portfolio companies to have appropriate governance and policies in place, with the key issues monitored and discussed at board level.

At CBPE, we continue to strengthen our approach to governance and strategy on climate-related risks, and disclose in line with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and against the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). As a member of PRI, we are assessed annually and are proud of the progress we have made as a responsible investor.

Recognising the ever-present cybersecurity threat in modern times, we actively implement measures across our organisation and portfolio companies to address this growing challenge.

Each year, we perform annual cybersecurity reviews across the portfolio to assess and highlight any threats, and have action plans in place to ensure continual improvement including robust policies, regular penetration testing, and comprehensive employee training.

Approach

Investing responsibly

We work with our portfolio companies to develop long-term, sustainable strategies, creating value and driving success within our investments. Within our portfolio, there is an enormous amount of expertise and knowledge, and we see our role as supporting them with the tools to maximise their opportunities.

We have reviewed our responsible investment processes to support our approach on ESG, generated fund-level KPIs aligned to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and annually review the maturity of ESG management within the portfolio.

In April 2022, we became a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) and are committed to applying and following the UN PRI’s six principles. We build the Principles for Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact Ten Principles into our strategy, operations, and overall approach to ESG.

Our Co-Heads of ESG, Matt Murphy and Laura West are responsible for advancing ESG across our organisation and work in collaboration with the management teams and investment teams to drive ESG improvements.

Working in partnership with our portfolio companies’ designated ESG lead, we develop a tailored set of tools and techniques for best practice, which include robust due diligence processes, yearly performance evaluations, and access to support from experts in their field.

To ensure our investors and other key stakeholders remain well-informed, we provide transparent updates on CBPE's and the portfolio's annual ESG performance through our ESG report.

Process

Portfolio ESG management and process

ESG is evolving, and at CBPE we are at the forefront of best practice.

Our end to end ESG programme covers all stages of the deal cycle aimed at both identifying and managing ESG risks pre-investment, and creating and protecting value in alignment with UN PRI Principles.

Prior to investing, we carry out due diligence via third party experts:

Detailed materiality assessment to identify specific risks, opportunities, and actions to help understand what is required post-investment
Share information about ESG risks and opportunities with the Investment Committee, to consider as part of the investment decision

For all investments we follow our on-boarding process:

Develop an initial ESG action plan to address any key risks and opportunities
Put mechanisms in place to prepare for annual monitoring and review
Monitor ESG performance through non-executive board seats and regular reviews of portfolio performance against agreed targets and action plans
ESG to be discussed regularly at board meetings with ESG metrics reported annually

Portfolio

Responsible Investment in Practice

In line with frameworks and standards such as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), World Economic Forum (WEF), Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and others, we have developed an ESG programme focused on the four P's.

Planet

Our approach to the environment, helps create value for our portfolio companies by becoming more efficient and sustainable. We support our teams to measure and manage their carbon footprint as a priority along with developing long-term, sustainable strategies as part of our commitment to mitigate the impact we have on our planet.

Our portfolio companies also identify and assess their exposure, risks and opportunities that may arise as global temperatures continue to rise. Understanding the risk and opportunity arising from climate change helps our businesses to become resilient.

100%

of our investments measured their Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint in addition to two companies making Net Zero commitments

People

Employee Engagement and Diversity & Inclusion are key areas of focus to help create value.

To attract the diverse, talented workforce all businesses need, it is essential to create an accepting, inclusive and supportive working environment for everyone.

We commit to supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace, with engaged staff who face zero harassment and discrimination.

100%

of our investment businesses have a Diversity and Inclusion policy.

Principles

To protect value across our portfolio we believe through robust governance and management, our companies can make a positive contribution to their communities along with managing and assessing risk.

ESG is reported at the highest levels across our portfolio to ensure best practise is followed on issues such as whistleblowing, grievance management, and business ethics.

100%

100% of our investment businesses have policies on managing grievances, harassment and bullying and working hours

Protection

Cybercrime is a significant risk to all businesses. As the threat continues to rise globally, we want to ensure our portfolio companies are adequately equipped to address it.

We support our companies with annual cybersecurity reviews and scoring in order to assess their current status and potential exposure. Working with the teams, we create bespoke action plans to improve and minimise any risks highlighted. Our approach enables both CBPE and our portfolio companies to understand their progress, and use insights gained from across the portfolio to continually strengthen their approach.

100%

of our investment businesses have a data privacy policy

Portfolio

Our portfolio companies are continuously improving and creating value, as highlighted by the achievements across the portfolio:

Banner Group has joined the UN Climate Neutral Now Initiative and has pledged to be Net Zero by 2050. Banner is carbon neutral (scope 1, 2, 3) and has been awarded triple golds by UN CNN for their climate actions for measure, reduce and contribute.

Snigel has announced it has become the first publisher ad monetisation and header bidding company to be certified Carbon Neutral. Recognizing that the internet accounts for 2-4% of global carbon emissions – on par with the airline industry – Snigel was inspired by its partners Google and OpenX, both of which have achieved carbon-neutral status.

BKL is very proud to share that is a Certified B Corporation (B Corp): a worldwide community of businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. As part of BKL’s long-term commitment to making a difference – which includes setting up its own charitable foundation and being accredited by Inclusive Employers – they began the B Corp application process in 2021 and succeeded with its first submission.

Blatchford is committed to protecting the environment and demonstrating high standards of environmental responsibility in all of its operations by minimising the environmental impacts associated with its activities, products, and services. Blatchford recognises the importance of decarbonising its business and has set an ambitious goal for its operations to achieve net zero by 2050 via its Carbon Neutral Policy, developed with support from third party experts.

Veincentre is happy to announce it has joined almost 50 providers across the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) in England in signing up to an ambitious industry-wide pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2035. Whilst the 2035 goal of net zero emissions is voluntary, Veincentre believes strongly in the business helping fight climate change, limiting its impact on the planet.

Responsible Investing

ESG at CBPE

Our largest impact comes from supporting our portfolio companies and management teams, helping cultivate and advance robust ESG practices that will extend beyond our tenure. At CBPE we recognise the importance of minimising our carbon footprint, supporting the well-being of our team, and maintaining sound governance within our organisation.