Integrating Sustainability and ESG in Private Equity

Esohe Denise Odaro is a sustainability executive with extensive experience in private equity, having overseen ESG strategy for portfolios exceeding €26 billion and participated in investment committees at firm and portfolio company levels. She has served on the Responsible Investment Advisory Group of UK Private Capital, the ESG Working Group of Invest Europe, and the Private Equity Task Force under the Sustainable Markets Initiative. Previously, she served as Global Head of Investor Relations and Sustainable Finance at the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC), where she spearheaded development of innovative sustainable finance products as part of a $17 billion annual funding program during which she chaired the Executive Committee of the Green, Social and Sustainability Linked Bond Principles administered by ICMA. She holds an MBA in Finance from Cornell University and an MSt in Sustainability Leadership from the University of Cambridge.Sasja Beslik is a Swedish financial expert promoting sustainability worldwide. He is currently working in Japan as Chief Investment Strategy Officer for SDG Impact Japan. He has held senior roles at ABN Amro, Nordea (as CEO of Nordea Investment Funds Sweden and Head of Responsible Investments), PFA Danish commercial Pension Company, and J. Safra Sarasin. Awarded a medal from His Majesty the King of Sweden for outstanding environmental contribution (2016) and recognized as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (2011). Sasja is author of several books and weekly newsletter “ESG on Sunday”

• DedicationDisclaimerList of TablesForewordPrefaceAcknowledgementsList of Acronyms and AbbreviationsPART I: FOUNDATIONSChapter 1: Private Equity Uncovered - From Wall Street to the WorldChapter 2: ESG Fundamentals for Investors - Building the FoundationChapter 3: Building ESG Advantage - From Compliance to Competitive EdgePART II: IMPLEMENTATION EXCELLENCEChapter 4: ESG Integration in Practice - The Systematic ApproachChapter 5: Due Diligence That Delivers - Finding Gold and Avoiding LandminesChapter 6: Value Creation Playbook - The First 100 Days and Beyond Chapter 7: Metrics That Matter - Measuring What Drives ValueChapter 8: The Exit Advantage - How Sustainability Boosts Your MultiplePART III: NAVIGATING COMPLEXITYChapter 9: Regulation Without Tears - Making Compliance Work for YouChapter 10: Portfolio-Level Optimization - Scaling ESG ExcellenceChapter 11: Technology and Digital Transformation for ESG ExcellenceChapter 12: The Sustainable PE Playbook - Lessons from the FieldChapter 13: Conclusion - The Future of Sustainable Private EquityAppendixGlossary of TermsAdditional ResourcesIndex

"An essential guide to the next phase of sustainability in private markets. The authors take an intellectually grounded but practical and coherent approach. An excellent read”- Alison Taylor, Clinical Professor, NYU Stern School of Business, Author of Higher Ground, HBR Press“A new standard for sustainable investing”- Chrissa Pagitsas, CEO Pagitsas Advisors"Essential reading for anyone who believes that business, like art, has the power to shape a better future"- Marine Tanguy - Founder & CEO, MTArt Agency"Finally—a playbook that transforms ESG from compliance burden to competitive advantage. Every PE professional and MBA student needs this roadmap to unlock real value creation."- Carlos Reyes, Head of Sustainability, Palladium Equity Partners "A masterfully crafted must-read to navigate the globally complex landscape of ESG integration in private equity”- Arunma Oteh, Academic, University of Oxford, former Treasurer World Bank“This comprehensive book bridges the much needed gap between academic foundations and practical implementation. Students and practitioners alike will find actionable tools for integrating ESG into private equity and the theoretical underpinnings highly useful.” - Emre Usmenez, Associate Professor and Director of Master’s in Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge"This book masterfully translates academic research into actionable frameworks, showing that rigorous ESG integration is not only principled but also smart investing backed by measurable returns" - Evan Greenfield, Managing Director, Head of ESG, Private Equity at British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)