Integrating Environmental, Social & Governance Factors in Private Equity

Summary

Our private markets experts Maura Reilly Kennedy and Jennifer Signori discuss how private equity managers have evolved when it comes to integrating Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices into their businesses. They draw on their extensive experience conducting due diligence on private equity companies, exploring the shift from avoidance and negative screens towards true integration that they’ve seen emerge over the past 10 years.

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Maura Reilly Kennedy

Maura Reilly Kennedy is a Managing Director of Neuberger Berman and a senior member of the private equity investment team. Ms. Kennedy focuses on designing and implementing both customized private equity solutions and registered private equity solutions for clients. Additionally, she leads the development, implementation and investment management of ESG and impact investing strategies within private equity. Prior to joining Neuberger Berman in 2008, she worked at Landmark Partners, focusing on secondary private equity transactions. Ms. Kennedy serves on limited partner advisory boards and is a member of Neuberger Berman’s ESG Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Associate of Investment Companies, the largest network of diverse-owned private equity firms and hedge funds. Ms. Kennedy received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Jennifer Signori

Jennifer Signori is a Managing Director at Neuberger Berman, and joined the firm in 2017. Jennifer leads the development and implementation of impact investing strategies with a portfolio management focus on private equity. Jennifer also oversees environmental, social, and governance integration in private markets and multi-asset class solutions. Previously, Jennifer was a Director at Bridges Fund Management, a specialist impact investing private equity fund manager, where she played a key role in fund expansion and executing due diligence and impact management of investments. Jennifer began her career in investment banking at J.P. Morgan, where she conducted credit analysis and structured syndicated leveraged loans and bonds. Jennifer also worked in a number of investment and advisory roles focused on impact investing, including at Imprint Capital and Next Street. Jennifer received a BS of Foreign Service in International Economics from Georgetown University and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Jennifer is on the Principles for Responsible Investment Private Equity Advisory Committee, Wharton Private Equity Venture Capital Association Board, and Impact Management Project Advisory Board.

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