Case study

ESG Investment Strategies: How SGA Enabled a Client to Decode ESG Adoption in the Private Market

CLIENT OVERVIEW

The client specializes in a range of services, including audit and assurance, tax advisory, and consulting, with a strong focus on financial services, technology, and sustainability.

BUSINESS SITUATION

The client sought to understand the investment strategies and adoption of ESG principles across different asset classes in the private market. This included examining Private Equity, Private Debt, Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Funds of Funds.

Their goals were:

To evaluate the current asset management trends.
To identify the drivers and barriers for ESG adoption in investment processes.
To understand how companies are integrating sustainability into their strategies and targeting ESG-focused opportunities.

SGA STRATEGIC APPROACH

SGA designed and targeted an online survey with 400 respondents across the European Union, the US, the UK, APAC, and Switzerland.
Targeted respondents included decision-makers in strategy, product, operations, and sustainability/ESG functions. This included C-level executives (CEOs, CFOs, COOs, CIOs, and CSOs) and Heads of Departments.
The questionnaire was structured around four key stages:

- ESG/Sustainability Ambition Level: Assessing corporate ambition
- Product Design: Evaluating ESG alignment in product-level investments
- ESG Operations: Reviewing investment processes, non-financial reporting, and governance structures
- Sector-specific Insights: Including ESG in real estate and other asset classes
SGA delivered insights through MS Excel and SPSS (statistical software) and segmented data by demographics to identify key trends in ESG investments.

ENGAGEMENT

Through collaboration with stakeholders, SGA facilitated robust data collection by engaging senior executives and key decision-makers. This enabled the client to gain direct insights into how ESG priorities are shaping investment strategies across asset classes.

BENEFITS & OUTCOME

Market Trend Insights:
Provided a comprehensive understanding of ESG adoption trends, including asset under management (AUM) and investment verticals.

Driver Analysis:
Highlighted key motivators and barriers to ESG adoption, supporting the client in refining their strategy.

Strategic Planning:
Helped the client identify actionable ESG topics and align their investments with long-term sustainability goals.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Adoption Momentum:
ESG adoption is gaining traction, driven by corporate ambition and stakeholder expectations.

Regional Insights:
Varying ESG priorities were observed across regions, with the EU showing higher maturity compared to other regions.

Integration Challenges:
Companies are facing hurdles in integrating technology, governance structures, and reporting processes within ESG frameworks.

Case studies

View all