Speaker Series with The Carlyle Group
In this speaker event, Emily Speyer and Steve Hatfield, respectively Private Equity Associate and Head of US ESG at the Carlyle Group, presented on the $290 billion firm’s integration of ESG principles. Attendees were given insights into each step of the acquisition process at Carlyle, with ESG benchmarks playing a somewhat segregated yet robust role in the decision-making process. Firstly, the Carlyle Group looks for exploitable deals in the market. When the firm finds an attractive acquisition, they call in their ESG Due Diligence team. This team anchors their analysis in the SASB rating system (described as industry standard), which in turn allows Carlyle to align sustainability management within the framework of their business’ fundamental practices.
In concluding the presentation, Speyer and Hatfield broadened the conversation to the field of ESG and Impact Investing as a whole. The pair offered nuanced and informed opinions on where the sector was heading and commented that more progress needs to be made in terms of accountability.
Speaker Profile:
Emily Speyer is a private equity analyst at the Carlyle Group. She graduated from Princeton University in 2017.
Steve Hatfield is the Head of US ESG and focuses on diligence and value creation across portfolio companies. Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Hatfield helped lead ESG integration across investments at Cerberus Capital Management. Prior to that, Mr. Hatfield was a Manager at PwC where he advised clients in many sectors, including private equity and asset management, on ESG and sustainability related matters.