BGF appoints Apex Group for portfolio ESG Rating & Advisory

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.

Apex’s 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. Apex ESG Health Check will provide BGF with:

• A quantitative overview of ESG performance at company and portfolio levels focussed on 30-40 of the most important data points;
• An easy-to-answer dataset aligned with key ESG standards and regulations, ensuring rigor and relevance;
• Access to Apex’s ESG portfolio for efficient data upload and independent verification; and
• Support and advice from Apex’s team of ESG experts and analysts.

BGF has taken measures to firmly embed ESG factors into its investment process. 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, 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. Apex are the clear market leaders, delivering meaningful, accurate, efficient analysis and reporting, at scale.”

About Apex Group

Apex Group Ltd., established in Bermuda in 2003, is a global financial services provider. With 85 offices in 42 countries worldwide and over 10,000 employees upon the close of announced acquisitions, Apex delivers an extensive range of services to asset managers, capital markets, private clients and family offices. The Group has continually improved and evolved its capabilities to offer a single-source solution through establishing the broadest range of services in the industry; including fund services, digital onboarding and bank accounts, depositary, custody and super ManCo services, business services including HR and Payroll and a pioneering ESG Ratings and Advisory service for private companies.

About BGF

BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested over £3bn in more than 450 companies, making it the most active growth capital investor in the UK. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, based on shared long-term goals with the management teams it backs. BGF invests in growing businesses in the UK and Ireland through its network of 16 offices. In 2018, Canada launched its equivalent – the Canadian Business Growth Fund – and in 2020, Australia did the same, both based on BGF’s approach and funding model.

See: www.bgf.co.uk / Social media: @BGFinvestments

Press contacts:

Antonia Powell, Head of Media Relations, Apex Group | antonia.powell@apexfs.com | +44(0) 778 990 2279
Alex Birch, BGF | Alex.Birch@BGF.co.uk | +44 20 8078 1309