SEVEST is a committed and hands-on investor that helps to advance its portfolio companies by supporting management in building sustainable growth for the generations to come.
We take a long-term perspective in our investment- and portfolio management decisions. We assume responsibility for the employees of our portfolio companies and our co-workers, and towards customers, suppliers, business partners, the community and the environment, to create sustainable value for all stakeholders.
We listen, respect different views, and work together to create lasting value for all stakeholders
We are upright, honest, and sincere with our partners, co-workers and investors
We take ownership, engage, contribute, and commit to the broader society and the community we are active in
We envision to make a lasting positive contribution to the environment, resources and society
SEVEST is committed to a sustainable investment approach, which forms a vital part of our values and culture. We integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations both into all our investment decisions as well as continuously into the management of our portfolio companies. SEVEST supports ESG as defined in Art. 8 SFDR.
SEVEST is an alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the German Investment Code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch, KAGB) and as such publishes the following information in light of the consideration of sustainability-related aspects in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability disclosure requirements in the financial services sector (SFDR).
Art. 3 SFDR Sustainability Risk Policies Statement
SEVEST addresses sustainability risks in its investment decision-making process insofar as relevant. "Sustainability risk" means an environmental, social, or governance event or condition that, if it occurs, could cause an actual or a potential material negative impact on the value of the investment. When identifying a sustainability risk during the due diligence on potential investments, SEVEST decides in light of the specific situation taking due account of the proportionality principle whether it gives up on the investment or proceeds with the investment alongside appropriate measures to mitigate the relevant sustainability risk. SEVEST regularly reviews its policies to ensure that they address new and emerging risks as well as investors’ concerns.
Art 4 SFDR No Consideration of Principal Adverse Impacts
SEVEST does not consider principal adverse impacts of investment decisions on sustainability factors. "Sustainability factors" mean environmental, social and employee matters, respect for human rights, anti‐corruption and anti‐bribery matters. SEVEST does not use sustainability indicators. Considering the numerous legal uncertainties currently related to the application of the provisions of the SFDR and the Regulatory Technical Standards (“RTS”) – in particular with respect to the consideration of adverse impacts – and the administrative burden resulting from such uncertainties, SEVEST is not in a position to commit to such standard in light of its fiduciary duty to the fund and its investors. SEVEST will constantly monitor and review the evolution around such regulations and standards and considers changing its position on adverse impacts once (i) a best practice has evolved among market participants, (ii) there is clear guidance by the administrations on the application of such regulations and (iii) the consequences of a commitment towards the consideration of principal adverse impacts are reasonably clear to SEVEST.
Art. 5 Remuneration Disclosure
As a registered alternative investment fund manager within the meaning of the German Investment Code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch, KAGB), SEVEST does not have and does not need to have, a remuneration guideline or policy in accordance with the requirements of the KAGB. Sustainability risks are not considered with respect to the determination of remuneration.
First Release Date: 24-May-2023
Most Recent Update: 24-May-2023
Sustainability Related Disclosures for SEVEST Fund I GmbH & Co. KG
Sustainability Related Disclosures for SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder GmbH & Co. KG
SEVEST supports the following leading global initiatives and principles:
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SEVEST Management GmbH (“SEVEST”) is the alternative investment fund manager of SEVEST Fund I GmbH & Co. KG (“SEVEST Fund I”) within the meaning of the German Investment Code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch, KAGB) and as such publishes the following information in light of the consideration of sustainability-related aspects in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability disclosure requirements in the financial services sector (the “SFDR”).
Summary
This financial product promotes environmental or social characteristics but does not have as its objective a sustainable investment. The promoted environmental and/or social characteristics consist of sector exclusions, embedding ESG aspects within the investment process, and supporting and engaging in leading global initiatives. 100% of the investments will align with its investment strategy and investment restrictions. No reference benchmark has been designated to attain the environmental or social characteristics promoted by the financial product.
Zusammenfassung
Dieses Finanzprodukt bewirbt ökologische oder soziale Merkmale, strebt aber keine nachhaltigen Investitionen im Sinne der Definition des Art. 2 Nr. 17 SFDR an. Bei den beworbenen Merkmalen handelt es sich um Ausschlusskriterien, die Einbettung von ESG-Aspekten in den Anlageprozess, und die Unterstützung und Beteiligung an führenden globalen Initiativen. 100 % der Investitionen werden im Einklang mit der Anlagestrategie und den Anlagebeschränkungen getätigt. Es wurde kein Referenzwert benannt, um die mit dem Finanzprodukt beworbenen ökologischen oder sozialen Merkmale zu erreichen.
No sustainable investment objective
This financial product promotes environmental or social characteristics but does not have as its objective sustainable investments.
Environmental or social characteristics of the financial product
The promoted environmental and/or social characteristics consist of sector exclusions, embedding ESG aspects within the investment process, and supporting and engaging in leading global initiatives.
Sector exclusions
SEVEST uses its best effort not to invest in a company with predominant business activities in arms & weapons, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, pornography and human cloning. Also, SEVEST Fund I will not invest in businesses that produce or trade any product or activity deemed illegal under laws or regulations or international conventions and agreements, or subject to international bans applicable to SEVEST Fund I or the relevant portfolio company or which systematically use harmful or exploitative forms of forced or child labour.
ESG in the investment process
SEVEST integrates material ESG factors during the investment and portfolio holding process from screening and sourcing potential opportunities through to the exit. (See “Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics” below for details on each step of the investment process).
SEVEST Fund I is supporting and engaging in the following global initiatives:
- Climate Neutral Now
- Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP)
- UN PRI
Investment strategy
SEVEST Fund I is a DACH-focused private equity fund that is the entrepreneurial partner of choice for DACH-based industrial, industrial technology and related software and business services companies.
Policy to assess good governance practices of the target companies
Good governance practices include sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff, and tax compliance, amonst others. As part of the due diligence and ongoing investment management, the investment team will review whether a potential portfolio company has good governance practices in place.
Proportion of investments
SEVEST Fund I will invest fully in line with its investment strategy and investment restrictions. SEVEST Fund I will not invest a portion of its capital in any other asset class.
Monitoring of environmental or social characteristics
The investment team for SEVEST Fund I will initially and continuously monitor whether the investment restrictions are abided by and whether the investment falls within the investment policies.
The UN PRI form the guiding blocks of consideration during ESG due diligence, stewardship and monitoring, and reporting process for potential and actual investments made through the partnership.
(See also: “Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics” below for more details on monitoring during the investment process)
Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics
The investment screening process includes a checklist that incorporates the IFC Exclusion List and Principles of the UN Global Compact.
After the screening process, which includes, but is not limited to, ESG factors, for all relevant potential investments, SEVEST will identify whether there are any material ESG risks and opportunities.
In order to assess the ESG risks and opportunities of each potential investment, the investment team evaluating the opportunity will be required to complete an ESG assessment checklist. SEVEST may instruct external experts to perform additional ESG due diligence. Where material issues are identified, the investment committee may request further action to be taken to ensure that these issues are properly investigated, before proceeding to invest. The potential investment may be rejected if the material issues identified cannot be mitigated.
The investment team will document all material ESG risks identified, in order to ensure appropriate monitoring, and where appropriate, value creation, of the portfolio companies’ ESG performance during the ownership period.
Additionally, SEVEST Fund I will use ESG-related clauses in their shareholders’ agreements. Notable clauses include, insofar as the portfolio company does not already maintain it, adopting an ESG policy at the latest within 12 months following the closing, and completing the annual ESG survey sent by SEVEST Fund I to report on ESG metrics.
The operations teams will proactively engage with portfolio companies to help them deliver high levels of sustainable performance, both within the company and at board level to measure and address key ESG opportunities and risks, and progress made against these year-on-year.
To ensure that ESG progress made during the holding period is sustained and continued under new ownership, SEVEST will carefully review a potential buyer’s reputation regarding ESG matters, the commitment to the principles of responsible investing, and their ESG plans for the portfolio company.
Data sources and processing
SEVEST Fund I receives data provided by the (future) portfolio companies as part of the due diligence process and at regular intervals after the investment. Where necessary or beneficial, SEVEST Fund I also makes use of publicly available data. Data processing is exclusively internal and DSGVO compliant. Estimates of data are not made.
Limitations to methodologies and data
SEVEST is partly reliant on the information provided by (future) portfolio companies during the due diligence process. Moreover, in the post-investment phase, SEVEST is reliant on the company’s reported data. In both cases, complete data may not always be available due to the nature of investments. The information is verified only if and to the extent, misrepresentations are suspected.
Since SEVEST Fund I investments are made for a multi-year investment period, SEVEST places a high priority on establishing a trusting working relationship with the portfolio companies to ensure that data is submitted reliably and completely and that the above restrictions are met.
Due Diligence
SEVEST considers the promoted ESG aspects when sourcing new portfolio companies for SEVEST Fund I and during the due diligence on targeted portfolio companies. The due diligence is performed by obtaining all information relevant to SEVEST Fund I using a due diligence questionnaire, which is then reviewed internally. If necessary, further specific information is also obtained from the potential portfolio companies, should this still be necessary after the detailed questioning. The due diligence process is not externally monitored.
Engagement policies
SEVEST Fund I invests in the portfolio companies for a period of several years. Therefore, SEVEST makes it a priority to establish and maintain a trusting working relationship with the portfolio companies in order to continuously comply with the investment restrictions. SEVEST thus also intends to establish or strengthen the consideration of sustainability risks at the portfolio level and, therefore, is in constant dialogue with the portfolio companies.
First Release Date: 24-May-2023
Most Recent Update: 24-May-2023
SEVEST Management GmbH (“SEVEST”) is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder GmbH & Co. KG (“SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder”) within the meaning of the German Investment Code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch, KAGB) and as such publishes the following information in light of the consideration of sustainability-related aspects in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability disclosure requirements in the financial services sector (the “SFDR”).
SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder is a feeder fund that exclusively invests in SEVEST Fund I GmbH & Co. KG (the "SEVEST Fund I"). SEVEST acts as AIFM for both SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder and SEVEST Fund I. While SEVEST considers sustainability-related aspects as described below on the level of SEVEST Fund I, it equally applies for the SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder via its exposure to SEVEST Fund I.
Summary
This financial product is a feeder fund and promotes environmental or social characteristics by investing exclusively in SEVEST Fund I, which SEVEST has determined promotes environmental or social characteristics within the meaning of Article 8 of the SFDR. SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder does not have as its objective a sustainable investment. The environmental and/or social characteristics promoted by SEVEST Fund I consist of sector exclusions, embedding ESG aspects within the investment process, and supporting and engaging in leading global initiatives. 100% of the investments will align with its investment strategy and investment restrictions.
No reference benchmark has been designated to attain the environmental or social characteristics promoted by the financial product.
Zusammenfassung
Dieses Finanzprodukt ist ein Feeder Fund und bewirbt ökologische oder soziale Merkmale, indem es ausschließlich in SEVEST Fund I investiert, den SEVEST als Finanzprodukt, das ökologische oder soziale Merkmale im Sinne des Artikel 8 der SFDR bewirbt, eingestuft hat. SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder strebt keine nachhaltigen Investitionen im Sinne der Definition des Art. 2 Nr. 17 SFDR an. Bei den Merkmalen, die SEVEST Fonds I bewirbt, handelt es sich um Ausschlusskriterien, die Einbettung von ESG-Aspekten in den Anlageprozess und die Unterstützung und Beteiligung an führenden globalen Initiativen. 100 % der Investitionen werden im Einklang mit der Anlagestrategie und den Anlagebeschränkungen getätigt.
Es wurde kein Referenzwert benannt, um die mit dem Finanzprodukt beworbenen ökologischen oder sozialen Merkmale zu erreichen.
No sustainable investment objective
This financial product promotes environmental or social characteristics but does not have as its objective sustainable investments.
Environmental or social characteristics of the financial product
SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder promotes environmental or social characteristics by investing exclusively in SEVEST Fund I, which SEVEST has determined promotes environmental or social characteristics within the meaning of Article 8 of the SFDR. The environmental and/or social characteristics promoted by the SEVEST Fund I consist of sector exclusions, embedding ESG aspects within the investment process, and supporting and engaging in leading global initiatives.
Sector exclusions
SEVEST uses its best effort not to invest in a company with predominant business activities in arms & weapons, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, pornography and human cloning. Also, SEVEST Fund I will not invest in businesses that produce or trade any product or activity deemed illegal under laws or regulations or international conventions and agreements, or subject to international bans applicable to SEVEST Fund I or the relevant portfolio company or which systematically use harmful or exploitative forms of forced or child labour.
ESG in the investment process
SEVEST integrates material ESG factors during the investment and portfolio holding process from screening and sourcing potential opportunities through to the exit. (See “Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics” below for details on each step of the investment process.)
SEVEST Fund I is supporting and engaging in the following global initiatives:
Investment strategy
SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder exclusively invests in SEVEST Fund I. SEVEST Fund I is a DACH-focused private equity fund that is the entrepreneurial partner of choice for DACH-based industrial, industrial technology and related software and business services companies.
Policy to assess good governance practices of the investee companies:
Good governance practices include sound management structures, employee relations, remuneration of staff and tax compliance. As part of the due diligence and ongoing investment management, the investment team will review whether a potential investee company has good governance practices in place.
Proportion of investments
SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder will invest fully in line with its investment strategy and investment restrictions. SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder will not invest a portion of its capital in any other asset class.
Monitoring of environmental or social characteristics
The investment team for SEVEST Fund I will initially and continuously monitor whether the investment restrictions are abided by and whether the investment falls within the investment policies.
The UN PRI forms the guiding blocks of consideration during ESG due diligence, stewardship and monitoring, and reporting process for potential and actual investments made through SEVEST Fund I.
(See also: “Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics” below for more details on monitoring during the investment process)
Methodologies for environmental or social characteristics
The investment screening process includes a checklist that incorporates the IFC Exclusion List and Principles of the UN Global Compact.
After the screening process, which includes, but is not limited to, ESG factors, for all relevant potential investments, SEVEST will identify whether there are any material ESG risks and opportunities.
In order to assess the ESG risks and opportunities of each potential investment, the deal team evaluating the opportunity will be required to complete an ESG assessment checklist. SEVEST may instruct external experts to perform additional ESG due diligence. Where material issues are identified, the investment committee may request further action to be taken to ensure that these issues are properly investigated, before proceeding to invest. The potential investment may be rejected if the material issues identified cannot be mitigated.
The deal team will document all material ESG risks identified, in order to ensure appropriate monitoring, and where appropriate, value creation, of the portfolio companies’ ESG performance during the ownership period.
Additionally, SEVEST Fund I will use ESG-related clauses in their shareholders’ agreements. Notable clauses include, insofar as the portfolio company does not already maintain it, adopting an ESG policy at the latest within 12 months following the closing, and completing the annual ESG survey sent by SEVEST Fund I to report on ESG metrics.
The operations teams will proactively engage with portfolio companies to help them deliver high levels of sustainable performance, both within the company and at board level to measure and address key ESG opportunities and risks, and progress made against these year-on-year.
To ensure that ESG progress made during the holding period is sustained and continued under new ownership, SEVEST will carefully review a potential buyer’s reputation regarding ESG matters, the commitment to the principles of responsible investing, and their ESG plans for the portfolio company.
Data sources and processing
SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder receives data provided by the portfolio companies to SEVEST Fund I as part of the due diligence process and at regular intervals after the investment. Where necessary or beneficial, SEVEST Fund I Affiliates Feeder also makes use of publicly available data. Data processing is exclusively internal and DSGVO compliant. Estimates of data are not made.
Limitations to methodologies and data
SEVEST is partly reliant on the information provided by portfolio companies during the due diligence process. Moreover, in the post-investment phase, SEVEST is reliant on the company’s reported data. In both cases, complete data may not always be available due to the nature of investments. The information is verified only if and to the extent, misrepresentations are suspected.
Since SEVEST Fund I investments are made for a multi-year investment period, SEVEST places a high priority on establishing a trusting working relationship with the portfolio companies to ensure that data is submitted reliably and completely and that the above restrictions are met.
Due Diligence
SEVEST considers the promoted ESG aspects when sourcing new portfolio companies for SEVEST Fund I and during the due diligence on targeted portfolio companies. The due diligence is performed by obtaining all information relevant to SEVEST Fund I using a due diligence questionnaire, which is then reviewed internally. If necessary, further specific information is also obtained from the potential portfolio companies, should this still be necessary after the detailed questioning. The due diligence process is not externally monitored.
Engagement policies
SEVEST Fund I invests in the portfolio companies for a period of several years. Therefore, SEVEST makes it a priority to establish and maintain a trusting working relationship with the portfolio companies in order to continuously comply with the investment restrictions. SEVEST thus also intends to establish or strengthen the consideration of sustainability risks at the portfolio level and, therefore, is in constant dialogue with the portfolio companies.
First Release Date: 12-October-2023
