BVCA Responsible Investment Awards
Doughty Hanson has won the BVCA's inaugural Responsible Investment Award. Presented by the Mayor of London at the BVCA Summit, the award celebrates private equity houses that have made a notable commitment to the responsible investment agenda.
Judged by an independent panel of institutional investors and led by Alan MacKay, Chief Executive of Hermes GPE, there were also special commendations for three other firms:
- KKR, for the work they have done around their 'Green Portfolio' and responsible sourcing initiative;
- Bridges Ventures for their impact in the social investment sphere; and
- BC Partners, for the rapid progress that they have made in recent years in embedding ESG policies.
Welcoming the award, Stephen Marquardt, CEO of Doughty Hanson, said: "We are committed to ensuring that ESG considerations are embedded in our investment analysis and ownership practices. This enables us to create additional value for our investors and reduce the financial and reputational risks to which all our stakeholders are exposed. We are particularly proud to win this award, which is a tremendous endorsement of our approach from the institutional investor community."
Alan Mackay, head of the judging panel and Chief Executive of Hermes GPE, said: "For all investors in private equity, not least the major UK pension funds, it is great to see the BVCA recognise private equity firms leading the way in delivering exceptional investment performance through a responsible investing approach."
Mark Florman, Chief Executive of the BVCA said: "Private equity is firmly committed to responsible investment and we wanted to honour those of our members who had shown such dedication to improving their ESG standards. Congratulations to Doughty Hanson and all of the commended firms, they are all worthy winners."
Notes to editor
- The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has approximately 520 member firms, representing the overwhelming number of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.