European Data Cooperative to Measure Private Equity, Venture Capital ESG Contributions through Annual Data Tracking

• EDC to track European private equity emissions and progress towards net zero

• Will also measure women’s role in the board and staff of portfolio companies

As the authoritative data source on European private equity and venture capital, the European Data Cooperative (EDC) will collect detailed environment, social and governance (ESG) information as part of a new initiative to measure industry efforts in tackling environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues including climate change, female under-representation and bribery and corruption - highlighting the industry’s commitment to the highest ESG standards.

The EDC – the non-profit market-leading database established in partnership between Invest Europe and national private equity associations across Europe - gathers fundraising, investment, divestment and economic impact and performance data on more than 1,600 European private equity and venture capital firms and their portfolio companies, accounting for 90% of the €754 billion in capital under management in Europe.

From mid-2022, and as a result of EDC data collection efforts, Invest Europe and participating national associations will be able to comment on robust ESG data from private capital firms across Europe. The aim is to measure the industry’s performance on the ESG issues that matter to society, and to track progress on an annual basis.

The EDC serves as a single data entry point for all private equity and venture capital fund managers across Europe. Using one platform with a standardised methodology allows for consistent pan-European statistics that are comparable across the region. This better informs fund managers, investors, policymakers, regulators, media and other stakeholders.

Eric de Montgolfier, Co-Chair, EDC and CEO, Invest Europe, commented:

“European private equity and venture capital is committed to playing its part in combating climate change, encouraging greater diversity and inclusion, and being an exemplary corporate citizen. You cannot manage what you don’t measure, so this latest initiative will enable us to transparently present private equity’s ESG achievements, as well as the industry’s progress towards a cleaner, greener and fairer future for Europe.”

The regional and national private equity associations formally partnering with Invest Europe as part of the EDC include: BVCA – UK; France Invest – France; BVK – Germany; SVCA – Sweden; ASCRI – Spain; AIFI – Italy; NVP – The Netherlands; SECA – Switzerland; BVA – Belgium; NVCA – Norway; Active Owners Denmark – Denmark; FVCA – Finland; PSIK – Poland; LPEA – Luxembourg.