ESG
ESG Approach
Our purpose of “partnering to build responsible prosperity for the long term”, transcends across all operations including our ESG approach. We believe embracing ESG is about taking a broader, holistic view on a company’s strategy and using ESG considerations as a critical lens to build businesses that are more resilient and relevant for the long term.
Our journey
Guiding principles
ESG is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each company faces unique challenges and priorities based on its sector, activities, and impact, and not all topics are equally relevant for every company. As an investor with a broad portfolio spanning a diverse range of sectors, understanding and overseeing ESG efforts can be challenging. To navigate this complexity, we have developed ESG Dimensions that ensure our ESG approach is both consistent and meaningful. Our three ESG Dimensions, ESG Compliance, ESG Awareness, and ESG Opportunity provide a structured framework to identify and address the most critical ESG factors while aligning with the principle of materiality—helping us focus on what truly matters.
ESG Governance
We believe addressing ESG requires a multi-layered and comprehensive engagement across the entire company and investment process. That is why ESG responsibility lies not with one person. Instead, ESG ownership is shared across all levels, teams and seniorities. From deal sourcing to ownership, internal to external, our team covers the various different ESG aspects. Our teams can rely on in-house or external expertise to upskill their knowledge, ensuring they have the necessary resources to identify ESG risks and opportunity effectively and integrated them into the investment process.
More detail on our approach can be found in our Responsible Investment Policy, published on our website (link: https://www.cobepa.com/ themes/cbp/docs/Responsible_Investment_ Policy.pdf?v=1.2).
It details the principles we strive to uphold and the processes we employ to incorporate these principles into our operations.
Communication
& Sustainability
Manager
Determines, validates
and controls ESG ambitions
and approach
Board of
Directors
The extent to which the company currently controls the compliance aspects of ESG (e.g., GDPR, nondiscrimination,
fraud, ethics and regulations)
The extent to which the company is currently aware of ESG and the (potential) positive impact (opportunities) and negative impact (risks) it has on its business and takes the necessary action
accordingly
Our ESG
Dimensions
ESG captures a wide range of underlying topics. Our dimensions help us sharpen our focus, to better understand the topics that matter most to them and for them.
Launch Employee Coaching Program
Upgrade Reporting Tool
Baseline assessment
Implementation Reporting Tool
Redefined Purpose Stateme
Publication Responsible Investment Policy
Implementation Due Diligence Tool
Establishment CSR Working Group
Publication first ESG Report
Launch first Employee Satisfaction Survey
Addition ESG Advisor
First GHG calculations of Cobepa
Launch weekly employee workload survey Integration of ESG into Annual Operating Review
ESG
Compliance
(risk)
ESG
Awareness
(manage)
ESG
Opportunity
(competitive advantage)
The extent to which the company
integrates
ESG aspects in its business model compared to its competitors
Executive
Committee
Sets the objectives, monitors
implementation and validates
CSR projects
Investment
Committee
Challenges and validates ESG findings and considerations
from the ESG due diligence process
Investment Team
Understands, masters and implements ESG strategy using various tools as described on p44
ESG Representative
Appointed member of the Investment Team who liaises, dialogues and collaborates with the portfolio company to closely follow the progress on ESG strategy and provide support where needed
Coordinates & oversees
ESG approach
ESG Advisor
Provides expertise and
insights to support the
investment team & portfolio
companies in their
ESG strategy
Oversees Cobepa’s internal
and external CSR projects
CSR Working
Group