Apex Group has launched ‘ESG Data as a Service’, a verified ESG database and benchmarking index for the private markets.

The product includes private market ESG data from more than 400 GPs, 1,500 portfolio companies in more than 45 countries since 2019 producing a verified ESG database for benchmarking performance.

The ESG DaaS database will include data points for peer comparison including environmental and carbon footprints, disclosure and management of climate-related risks and opportunities, DE&I statistics, cybersecurity breaches and best practice, as well as revenue generation from green, sustainable or socially impactful products and services.

The ESG DaaS offering consists of four main solutions:

1) ESG benchmarking index for private markets: global and anonymised private market dataset, independently verified by Apex Group ESG experts;

2) Tailored advisory services with granular sector benchmarking: expert recommendations tailored to individual companies, to identify and improve area of under-performance;

3) Regular market insights and research updates: aggregated research on verified ESG data trends in the private markets to drive understanding and positive change through best practice insights;

4) Correlation of ESG and financial performance metrics: access to analysis on verified relationships between ESG and financial performance.

Joshua Brunert, Global Head of Product Development, ESG at Apex Group says, “When it comes to ESG, it is no longer acceptable for private markets investors to ‘mark their own homework’ in-house. Independent data assessment, verification and benchmarking is essential to ensure the integrity of ESG reporting and to drive positive change. Verified and accurate data underpins meaningful comparisons against international standards and to monitor change over time. With Apex Group’s pioneering ESG Data as a Service Solutions, private markets investors can now, for the first time, accurately compare ESG performance against their peers and sector.”