Generating stronger returns through sustainable investment

Abris’ management team speaks with Real Deals about the firm’s focus on sustainable investment, carbon neutrality and diversity and inclusion.

Real Deals: You have recently been awarded for your ESG efforts. Are you now heading towards being an Article 8 fund under SFDR?

Pawel Gierynski: Yes, our next vehicle will qualify an Article 8, mid-green fund.
We’re hugely proud to have already been recognised for our work in this area, especially since the award comes from a specialized jury of experts. However, at the same time it is humbling, as we know how much further we have to go as an industry. Within private equity as a whole we are really only just starting; there is a lot more to learn and a lot more work to be done. In particular we need to work even more closely with our portfolio companies, increasing awareness of ESG – to this end, in 2019 we have launched the Abris ESG Academy education program, which is helping to change the mindset of regional entrepreneurs. Each year, we also choose our annual ESG theme which becomes the new field to explore. In recent years we have focused on corporate governance, carbon footprint and risk-based management.

Real Deals: How do you see things developing from here in terms of investor communication?

Monika Nachyla: In recent months we have seen investors at the larger end of the market agree to standardize reporting on ESG performance of portfolio companies. At the same time, the European Data Co-operative (EDC) has announced it will begin tracking European private equity’s emissions and progress towards net zero. We support these initiatives, but until standardisation emerges across the industry it remains incumbent upon all firms to do their best on ESG and investor reporting. Thanks to our processes already in place, particularly the data we gather in our Scoring Application, we are ready and able as of today to disclose under Article 8 of SFDR.

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