What we do

What | The ESG Data Convergence Initiative is an open partnership of private equity stakeholders committed to streamlining the private investment industry’s historically fragmented approach to collecting and reporting ESG data. Our mission is to create a critical mass of meaningful, performance-based, and comparable ESG data from private companies.

Why | We seek to overcome the disparate constellation of ESG performance assessment frameworks and tools in the private equity industry. Converging as an industry on consistent definitions allows general partners (GPs) and their portfolio companies to benchmark their position and generate progress toward ESG improvements while enabling greater transparency and more comparable portfolio information for limited partners (LPs).

How | To create this convergence, the Initiative’s participating firms agree to report on a core set of ESG metrics drawn from existing frameworks. The categories include greenhouse gas emissions, net zero commitment, renewable energy, board and C-suite diversity, work-related accidents, net new hires, and employee engagement. GPs track the agreed-upon metrics for their portfolio companies and report them in a standardized format. The data are shared directly with invested LPs, and aggregated into an anonymized benchmark by the EDCI’s administrator, Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Who | The EDCI’s members include 375+ GPs and LPs representing ~$28 trillion in assets under management. In addition, a number of investment advisers and consultants are aligned with the effort. Private Credit firms are welcome to join and leverage the benchmark to support lending decisions and ESG Data Platforms can join to visualize EDCI data in their platform.

ESG categories & metrics

GHG Emissions
Net Zero
Renewable Energy
Diversity
Work-Related Accidents
Net New Hires
Employee Engagement

Join us and create your account

Becoming a member and getting started is easy:

  • Fill out our “Join Us” survey
  • Sign the Data Privacy agreement by checking the box at the bottom of the survey form to acknowledge the Terms and Conditions in order to formalize your membership (The EDCI Team will follow up via email with next steps)
  • Download data collection templates here and share with portfolio companies (if a participating GP)
  • Complete 2023 data collection by April 30, 2024 (if a participating GP)
General Partners

GPs struggle with a mounting volume of bespoke ESG data requests from their LPs, while their underlying portfolio companies navigate an increasingly complex set of ESG frameworks. In GPs’ interaction with current or prospective portfolio companies, they have been unable to draw on meaningful private market data to develop an understanding of their own relative performance on key dimensions.

The EDCI helps GPs address these challenges. It simplifies their process of reporting to LPs by using standard definitions and templated methods, enabling voluntary in-platform data sharing with LPs, and provides them with benchmark-driven insights into how their portfolio companies compare to their peers.

Limited Partners

LPs and investment managers have historically been unable to see meaningful, performance-based, and comparable ESG data across their portfolios.

The EDCI provides LPs with greater transparency on their portfolios by enabling industry-wide convergence on ESG metric collection and data submission. In addition, LPs can more effectively engage with their GPs based on an understanding of GP performance relative to the broader industry while requesting and accessing ESG data from their GPs directly in the EDCI platform.

Private Credit

Private Credit firms are increasingly needing to understand the ESG characteristics of the companies to which they are lending – both to enable their reporting requirements, and also to improve the quality of their investment decision making, effectively linking the cost of borrowing to the risk of the underlying assets. However, historically private credit funds have struggled to access this data, due to a lack of convergence around what to measure.

The EDCI has accelerated convergence around core ESG metrics for the private markets and is improving the availability of consistent, clearly defined, performance-based data. Private credit funds can join the initiative and benefit from accessing the EDCI benchmark, alongside requesting ESG data directly from participating PE GPs.

Data Platforms

Driving client engagement, increasing analytical functionality, and developing strategic partnerships are critical for ESG Data Platforms seeking to grow their business.

The EDCI offers Inbound and Outbound APIs which enable Data Platforms to connect with the EDCI to streamline EDCI data submissions for their clients while harnessing the benchmark’s data to unlock insights and increase engagement with EDCI member clients. Platforms are welcome to connect to one or both APIs.

Investment Consultants

Investment consultants have historically been unable to support their LP clients in harnessing meaningful, performance-based, and comparable ESG data across their portfolios, due to significant fragmentation in ESG data collection.

The EDCI enables ICs to support their LP clients in developing greater transparency on their portfolios by facilitating industry-wide convergence on ESG metric collection and data submission. In addition, ICs can harness the EDCI benchmark to support their LPs in better understanding their portfolios’ performance relative to the broader industry and identify opportunities for constructive engagement with underlying GPs.

What our members are saying

“This is not a new framework or standard; it’s about harnessing the collective energy of investors to converge on existing ESG metrics. The intention is not to give a score or a ranking, but instead to provide better information about progress over time.”

Meg Starr
Global Head of Impact, Carlyle 

“Through this collaboration, we expect to push toward comparable ESG performance measurement and wider adoption of ESG as an integrated objective of PE investments.”

Peter Branner
Chief Investment Officer, APG

“By supporting the ESG Data Convergence Initiative, we are committed to achieving full ESG transparency. PGGM, as a member of the ESG Metrics Steering Group, will play a role in driving the private equity market toward making more and better ESG disclosures.”

Eric-Jan Vink
Head of Private Equity, PGGM

Current EDCI members

Currently, 375+ total members (260 GPs and 115 LPs/IMs) have committed to the EDCI, representing ~$28T USD of AUM worldwide.

Participating General Partners

260 Partners
  • Carlyle (Co-Chair)
  • 5square
  • ABC Impact
  • Accel-KKR
  • Actis
  • Advent Partners
  • AE Industrial Partners
  • AEA Investors LP
  • Affinity Equity Partners
  • Affirma Capital
  • AG International
  • Alantra Private Equity
  • Altor Equity Partners
  • Ambienta Sgr
  • American Industrial Partners
  • American Securities
  • Amulet Capital Partners
  • Antin Infrastructure Partners
  • Apollo Global Management
  • Appian Capital Advisory LLP
  • Ara Partners
  • Arbor Investments Management, LLC
  • Archipelago Capital Partners
  • ARDIAN
  • Ares Management
  • Arsenal Capital Partners
  • Artá Capital SGEIC
  • Assured Healthcare Partners
  • Astorg
  • Athena Ventures
  • Audax Private Equity
  • Australis Partners Advisers
  • Avista Capital Partners
  • Axcel Management
  • Bain Capital
  • Baring Private Equity Asia
  • Base10 Partners
  • BayPine Capital
  • BC Partners
  • Birch Hill Equity Partners
  • Blackstone
  • Blue Earth Capital
  • Blue Horizon Corporation AG
  • Blue Wolf Capital Partners
  • Bluegem Capital Partners
  • Blume Equity
  • Bonaccord Capital Partners
  • Boscalt
  • Bregal Investments
  • Bridgepoint Group Plc
  • Butterfly Equity
  • Capital Mazapil
  • CapMan
  • Capvis
  • Centerbridge Partners
  • CenterOak Partners
  • Centurium Capital
  • Cerberus Capital Management
  • CGE Partners
  • Charterhouse Capital Partners LLP
  • Cinven
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
  • Clearlake Capital Group
  • Climate Investment
  • Cornell
  • Corsair Capital
  • Court Square Capital Management
  • Creador Sdn Bhd
  • Cresta Fund Management
  • Crestview Partners
  • CVC
  • Cycle Capital
  • Denham Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Development Partners International
  • Direct Capital
  • DPE Deutsche Private Equity
  • Egeria
  • EIG
  • Elvaston Capital Management GmbH
  • EMK Capital
  • Endless LLP
  • Energy Capital Group
  • Energy Impact Partners
  • Enhanced Capital
  • EQT AB
  • Equistone
  • Ergon Capital
  • Everstone Group
  • Excelsior Capital Asia
  • Exponent
  • FCDE
  • Ferd AS
  • Fifth Wall
  • Firmament
  • Five Arrows
  • Forgepoint Capital
  • FountainVest Partners
  • Frazier Healthcare Partners
  • Freshstream
  • Frumtak Ventures
  • FSN Capital
  • FTV Capital
  • FullCycle Climate Partners
  • Gallant Capital Partners, LLC
  • GENUI
  • Georgian
  • GHO Capital
  • GI Partners
  • GK Ventures
  • Global Infrastructure Partners
  • Goldman Sachs Asset Management
  • Grain Management LLC
  • Graphite Capital
  • GREENPEAK Partners
  • GroundForce Capital
  • GTCR
  • Gulf Capital
  • Hermes GPE
  • Hg
  • HGGC, LLC
  • HPE Growth
  • HPS Investment Partners, LLC
  • Huron Capital
  • Iberis Capital
  • IDG Capital
  • IK Partners
  • Impilo AB
  • Inflexion
  • Insight Partners
  • InterAlpen Partners
  • Inverness Graham
  • Investcorp Holdings
  • Investindustrial
  • IP Group
  • J.F. Lehman & Company
  • Keensight Capital
  • Kinderhook Industries
  • Kinzie Capital Partners LP
  • KLAR Partners
  • L Catterton
  • LDC
  • Leonard Green Partners
  • Lime Rock New Energy
  • Linden Capital Partners
  • Lindsay Goldberg
  • Linzor Capital
  • Livingbridge
  • Lone Star Funds
  • LongRange Capital
  • Lovell Minnick Partners
  • LS Power
  • Madison Dearborn Partners
  • Manna Tree Partners
  • Manulife Investment Management
  • Mayfair Equity Partners
  • McRock Capital
  • Meanings Capital Partners
  • Mesirow Private Equity
  • MidEuropa
  • MML Capital Partners
  • Monk's Hill Ventures
  • Montagu Private Equity
  • Montefiore Investments
  • Monterro
  • Multi Green Properties
  • Mundi Ventures
  • Navigate Ventures
  • Navis Capital
  • NAZCA CAPITAL
  • NB Renaissance
  • New Mountain Capital
  • Next World LLC
  • NGP Energy Capital Management
  • Nordic Capital
  • NorthEdge
  • Norvestor
  • NPM Capital
  • Oakley Capital Ltd
  • Oaktree Capital Management
  • Onex
  • Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS)
  • Orion Resource Partners
  • PAG
  • PAI Partners
  • Paine Schwartz
  • Palatine Private Equity
  • Palistar Capital LP
  • Palladium Equity Partners
  • Paragon Partners
  • Parcom Capital Management
  • Passion Capital
  • Permira
  • Pioneer Point Partners
  • Piper PE
  • Polaris
  • Pollen Street Capital
  • Portobello Capital
  • Presidio Investors
  • Quadriga Capital
  • Quantum Energy Partners
  • Regeneration.vc
  • Renewal Funds
  • Resource Capital Funds
  • Rivean Capital BV
  • Riverstone Holdings LLC
  • Roc Partners
  • Samara Capital
  • Sandbrook Capital
  • Searchlight Capital Partners
  • SK Capital Partners
  • SkyKnight Capital
  • Stanley Capital Partners
  • Sterling Organization
  • STG
  • Stirling Square Capital Partners
  • Suma Capital
  • Summa Equity
  • Synova
  • TA Associates
  • Tailwater Capital
  • Tailwind Capital
  • TDR Capital
  • Tenex Capital Management
  • The Jordan Company
  • The Lightsmith Group
  • The Riverside Company
  • The Rohatyn Group
  • The Westly Group
  • Tikehau Capital
  • Tishman Speyer Properties
  • Tower Capital Asia
  • TowerBrook
  • Trill Impact
  • Triton Partners
  • True North
  • Two Sigma Impact
  • TZP Group
  • Unison Capital
  • UpperStage Capital
  • Vance Street Capital
  • Veritas Capital
  • Vespa Capital
  • Vestar Capital Partners
  • Vista Equity Partners
  • Vitruvian Partners
  • Volery Capital Partners
  • Waterpoint Lane
  • Wellington Management
  • Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
  • Wind Point Partners
  • Wynnchurch Capital
  • Ysios Capital
  • Z Capital Group, LLC

Participating Limited Partners & Investment Managers

115 Partners
  • CPP Investments (Co-Chair)
  • Abrdn
  • Adams Street Partners
  • Afore Sura
  • AIMCo
  • AlpInvest Partners
  • AltamarCAM Partners
  • AP2
  • AP3
  • AP4 (Fjärde AP-fonden)
  • AP6
  • APG
  • Arcano Partners
  • Argentum Asset Management
  • Azalea Investment Management Pte. Ltd.
  • Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK)
  • Border to Coast Pensions Partnership
  • Bregal Private Equity Partners
  • British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)
  • Caledonia Investments PLC
  • California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
  • Cambridge Associates
  • Cambridge University Endowment Fund
  • Canada Post Pension Plan
  • Capital Innovations
  • Church Commissioners for England
  • Church of England Pensions Board
  • Citibanamex Afore
  • Columbia Threadneedle Investments
  • COMMITTED ADVISORS
  • Cubera Private Equity
  • Curo Capital
  • Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited
  • Dejardins
  • Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island
  • Enhanced Capital
  • Esses Capital Partners
  • Fondaco SGR
  • GCM Grosvenor
  • Glendower Capital
  • Golding Capital Partners
  • GroFin
  • Guy's and St. Thomas' Foundation
  • Hamilton Lane
  • HarbourVest Partners
  • Harvard Management Company
  • Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan
  • HRM Pension Plan
  • HSBC
  • IH International Advisors
  • Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO)
  • Jada
  • Japan Investment Corporation
  • Japan Post Bank
  • Japan Post Insurance
  • Kinneret Group
  • KIRKBI A/S
  • KLP
  • LGPS Central Limited
  • LGT Capital Partners
  • Local Pensions Partnership
  • Makena Capital Management
  • Man FRM
  • Meketa Investment Group
  • Menora Mivtachim
  • Mercer
  • Mizuho Bank
  • Moonfare
  • Neuberger Berman
  • New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF)
  • Nippon Life Insurance Company
  • Nomura Asset Management
  • Nordea Bank
  • Norinchukin Bank
  • Norinchukin Zenkyoren Asset Management(NZAM)
  • Northleaf Capital Partners
  • Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
  • OPTrust
  • Pantheon Ventures
  • Pathway Capital Management
  • Pensioenfonds PGB
  • Performance Equity Management
  • Permodalan Nasional Berhad
  • PGGM
  • Proteccion
  • PSP Investments
  • Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
  • Rabo Investments
  • San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS)
  • Schroders Capital
  • SEB Private Equity
  • StepStone Group
  • Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank
  • SwanCap Investment Management S.A.
  • The Guardian Life Insurance Company
  • The Pictet Group
  • Third Swedish National Pension Fund
  • Trans-Canada Capital, Inc.
  • UBC Investment Management
  • Unigestion
  • United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
  • Universities Superannuation Scheme
  • University of Pennsylvania, Office of Investments
  • University Pension Plan Ontario
  • VidaCaixa
  • Washington State Investment Board
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Wilshire
  • WTW
  • YIELCO Investments AG