Alameda Capital believes that the transformative power of technology is the key to an even better future — a smarter economy, a healthier planet, diverse and inclusive communities, and a broader path to prosperity. Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices and policies guide us in our effort to be responsible stewards of our fund clients (“Funds”) and Fund investors who have entrusted us with their investment capital.
We recognize our responsibility to encourage positive societal and environmental benefits through our investment and operating decisions. Our ESG policy guides our stewardship role and reflects our commitment to creating value for our stakeholders. Alameda Capital is a signatory to a number of international ESG commitments, which help define, operationalize and prioritize our engagement efforts.
This policy intends to reflect a general framework for our approach to ESG across Alameda Capital's internal operations and investment strategies, including our private equity and permanent capital, credit, and public equity strategies; however, in certain cases, this document draws distinctions between our ESG approach within various investment strategies.
Given our focus on enterprise software, we have identified certain material ESG risks and opportunities that we believe to be important investment considerations. Our approach to incorporating these considerations is dependent on our influence over the management of each investment which may vary depending on the investment structure and terms, and our engagement will be tailored accordingly.
In cases where Alameda Capital determines it has limited ability to conduct due diligence or to influence and control the consideration of ESG issues in connection with an investment, whether at the investment or at the Fund level, Alameda Capital will only apply those elements of this ESG policy that it determines to be practicable. Examples of such cases at the investment level include where Alameda Capital is a minority shareholder, has limited governance rights or where other circumstances affect Alameda Capital's ability to assess, set or monitor ESG-related performance goals. Examples of such cases at the Fund level include a jointly managed fund, a separate account where the underlying investor maintains significant influence over investment decisions, where Alameda Capital is a lender with no indicia of influence or control, or where Alameda Capital holds a small, passive public equity interest.
Alameda Capital understands the importance of ESG in driving long-term success, and we strive for broad understanding and accountability of our ESG principles and actions across our organization.
Alameda Capital is committed to implementing leading ESG practices that are specific to our focus on software investing. In addition to investing, our firm-level ESG strategy includes:
Alameda Capital seeks to integrate ESG considerations during the investment life cycle with engagement approaches designed to match Alameda Capital's influence over the investment.
During pre-investment due diligence, Alameda Capital leverages an ESG framework to analyze material ESG risks and opportunities in potential investments.
Alameda Capital experts conduct an in-depth review of the company's technology, cybersecurity and data privacy practices before every platform investment and add-on acquisition. Additionally, we engage law firms and consultants to assess the material ESG factors in a company's industry, approach to ESG, and potential risks and opportunities. Material findings are communicated to the investment committee and management teams and are included as part of the company's value creation plan.
We seek to monitor ESG issues and engage with the board of directors and management teams when appropriate throughout our ownership period. We are committed to transparent and regular communications on ESG with our Fund investors.
To integrate ESG considerations into Alameda Capital's investment processes, Alameda Capital has created a bespoke framework that encompasses specific focus areas important to enterprise software companies.
This framework draws upon global ESG standards and serves to highlight significant risks and opportunities throughout the investment lifecycle.6 These focus areas are routinely reviewed to ensure that they reflect current events and macrotrends. Areas include (but are not limited to):
We seek to systematically engage with our majority-owned7 portfolio companies to encourage ESG integration within the business. Our engagement tactics, in collaboration with investment teams, value creation team, company management and board members, may include the following:
For substantial private credit and minority-owned investments, we have assigned primary points of contact for ESG within the investment teams who notify outside counsel and/or ESG consultants to evaluate and/or report material ESG risks and opportunities during investment due diligence through the form of a bespoke management questionnaire.
These findings are shared with the ESG team and with investment professionals and may be considered within the investment decision-making process. In select situations, the findings may also be shared with company management and Alameda Capital may undertake a concerted dialogue to encourage action.
An ESG committee, consisting of team members within the compliance, investment and ESG functions, will seek to meet quarterly with oversight from Alameda Capital Credit Fund leadership, with the intent to oversee the management and application of ESG within our private credit investments.
In evaluating investments in public companies, our investment team includes ESG disclosure scores reflecting the level of ESG-related disclosure by an individual issuer as part of the overall investment review process. This information is shared with the ESG team and is reported to investment professionals. In select situations, where practicable, we may partner with management to either improve the level of disclosure and/or performance of the ESG metrics.
An ESG committee, consisting of team members within the compliance, investment and ESG functions, with oversight from Alameda Capital Public Strategies (VPS) leadership, will seek to meet quarterly, with the intent to oversee the management and application of ESG within our public equity investments.
Through our commitment to the PRI, Alameda Capital plans to report on its ESG approach and performance each year. Beginning in 2023, this disclosure will be publicly available on the PRI website. Alameda Capital's ESG Report highlights our progress to date and how we plan to advance ESG throughout the firm.
Alameda Capital utilizes a software platform to track private equity portfolio company ESG engagement. The ESG team seeks to report our progress and other data gathered from this platform to leadership and relevant stakeholders where feasible and appropriate.
This policy is subject to change and is intended to be reviewed annually by the Committee. In addition, this policy shall supersede and replace any prior Alameda Capital ESG policy and shall cover on a going forward basis, subject to the limitations discussed herein, Alameda Capital's existing and future investments.
Firm
Strategies
San Francisco, CA 94108
2420 Sand Hill Road, Suite 204
Menlo Park, CA 94025
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