Our commitments

Attention to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) matters lies at the heart of PAI’s investment policy.  Our commitment to responsible investment is central to our activities, and fully integrated into our policies, processes and outcomes.

Integrating ESG within investment processes

We have always sought to drive sustainable growth, and our ESG strategy underpins how we invest, manage and realise value. In addition to acknowledging our own social and environmental impact and responsibilities, we also contribute to the wider industry’s ESG debate.

Ensuring timely improvement in ESG performance

Our dedicated reporting tool collects more than 1,800 datapoints across our portfolio on a yearly basis to obtain consistent ESG information. This enables our investment managers, portfolio companies and investors to monitor and improve performance at both the portfolio and company level.

Providing transparent information

We believe that transparency and accountability should be at the heart of sustainable private equity investment. We report annually to the Principles for Responsible Investment and on an ad-hoc basis to our investors, as well as on key performance indicators to our governing bodies including the Management Committee and the Investment Committee, and to investors.

Upholding the same ESG standards for portfolio companies, PAI offices and people

While every portfolio company faces a unique set of ESG challenges, issues such as governance and employee relations are universal to the companies we own and to PAI offices. Our dedicated team trains PAI teams and focuses on those macro themes so that risks can be monitored, lessons shared and opportunities identified.

Promoting ESG among peers and the investment industry

We publicly advocate responsible investment and share our experiences with the wider community:


  • In 2010, we signed the Principles for Responsible Investment, and have since adopted the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (Invest Europe) code of conduct, are a signatory to the French PE association (France Invest) charter, and adhere to the Walker Guidelines for Disclosure and Transparency in Private Equity

  • In 2015, we launched the Initiative Carbone 2020 along with four other private equity firms, with the joint mission of managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by portfolio companies

  • Our ESG Best Practice Honours awarded by SWEN Capital Partners in 2015 is a testimony to the way we promote our ESG activities among our employees and throughout our portfolio companies