Sustainability

Apax’s success is built on a commitment to create a positive impact on the people and communities around us. We know this drives sustainable, long-term value and increases returns for our investors.

Delivering sustainable returns has been a key focus for Apax and the Apax Funds’ portfolio companies for over a decade. Apax has a strong track record in responsible investing and has made a substantial effort and investment over time to measure our impact on society and deliver sustainable financial returns while encouraging sustainable business practices.

The Operational Excellence Practice (“OEP”) helps deal teams identify key ESG risks and value creation opportunities while also delivering ESG-related value creation or risk mitigation directly to portfolio companies. The team also drive improvements at the overall portfolio level, such as enhanced inclusion & diversity initiatives.

To support this work, Apax has been collecting ESG indicators from portfolio companies since 2012 in order to consider the environmental and human impact of our activities. With the increased importance of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”), the ESG indicators also help provide deeper insights into which portfolio companies are contributing to specific SDG targets and we are pleased to report that many are through activities in areas such as climate action.

Spotlight on climate & carbon

One of Apax’s core focus areas is climate change and carbon reduction. As part of Apax’s approach to taking responsibility for the firm’s impact on the environment, we have partnered with climate and sustainable development expert ClimateCare to offset carbon emissions associated with the firm’s activities.

At Apax, we’re constantly looking for ways to measure and reduce emissions both from our own firm and from the Apax Funds’ portfolio companies. In partnership with ClimateCare, all CO2 emissions from Apax’s own operations for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 will be offset through two projects – the Mycorrhizal Forestry project, working to restore degraded land in rural Chile; and the Mississippi Valley Reforestation project in the US.

Find out more about ClimateCare here and the Mississippi Valley project here.

Sustainability Committee

Apax’s Sustainability Programme is coordinated by a dedicated Sustainability Committee drawn from members of the Operational Excellence Practice, Investor Relations, Communications and Compliance.   

Led by Seth Brody and Ellen de Kreij, the Committee meets monthly to review all aspects of the implementation of the Apax sustainability effort, including ensuring that ESG matters are appropriately addressed by Apax investment professionals and Board members of the Apax Funds’ portfolio companies.