Sustainability
Sustainability is an important part of how we invest in and build businesses at Permira.
We leverage sustainability to build resilience, enhance performance and contribute to long-term growth as part of the Permira funds’ transformational investment approach.
Proportion of invested capital that has committed to setting a target or has an SBTi-validated target
(Includes eligible companies under SBTi)1
Proportion of buyout companies that reported scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions1
Proportion of buyout companies with an employee engagement survey1
Average female representation on buyout company boards1
Proportion of buyout companies with a sustainability strategy1
ESG Margin Ratchets since inception across Credit strategies1
Sustainability Report 2025
Sustainability Report 2025
Sustainability strategy
Our sustainability strategy contributes to our overall goal to create lasting value for Permira and the funds’ portfolio companies.2 Our strategy focuses on the topics that are most significant for us as a business, for the funds’ portfolio companies and our key stakeholders.
We embed material sustainability considerations throughout the investment life cycle to evaluate risk exposure, cost implications and opportunities, in order to enhance portfolio company performance. Our approach prioritises robust due diligence: active engagement; achieving fund-level sustainability aspirational goals; and applying our Responsible Investing Framework.
We embed material sustainability considerations throughout the investment life cycle to evaluate risk exposure, cost implications and opportunities, in order to enhance portfolio company performance. Our approach prioritises robust due diligence and active engagement; achieving fund-level sustainability aspirational goals; and applying our Responsible Investing Framework.*
We seek to create long-term value by supporting portfolio companies to prepare for a low-carbon economy and climate-related physical risks. Our priorities include Permira’s Science-Based Target (SBT), including supporting portfolio companies to set their own SBTs, and assessing and managing climate risks and opportunities.
We believe that building inclusive, high-performing teams with a variety of experiences and perspectives contributes to innovation, retention, a positive working environment and ultimately leads to better outcomes for businesses. Our strategy centres on building strong employee engagement, creating inclusive teams, promoting respect for human rights, and supporting employee wellbeing and safety.
We aim to operate to a high standard of integrity and embed robust governance controls. We focus on embedding rigorous cybersecurity and data protection controls, driving robust business ethics process and promoting AI governance.
Creating and preserving value through sustainability
Sustainability contributes to value preservation and creation across the private equity portfolio through several key drivers - spanning risk and cost reduction, revenue protection and growth, brand enhancement and exit readiness.3
Customer expectations around sustainability-related issues are
increasing and many portfolio companies now need to meet explicit
criteria, such as Science-Based Targets or sustainability ratings,
to remain eligible for contracts.
Investing in operational resource efficiencies and building resilient workforces supports portfolio companies to deliver measurable cost reductions.
Portfolio companies need to actively manage sustainability risks
to avoid regulatory costs, operational disruption and reputational
damage.
Portfolio companies are using sustainability to strengthen brand
positioning, with growing evidence that it supports customer
acquisition, loyalty and spending as consumer preference shifts
toward more sustainable brands.
In response to growing customer demand, we are seeing innovation in sustainability-linked products and services, with portfolio companies generating revenue from areas including sustainability advisory,
renewable energy brokerage, circular economy platforms, safety and compliance, cybersecurity, sustainable consumer products, and
sustainability data and reporting.
Strong sustainability performance can expand exit optionality and
strengthen the equity story. Sustainability is increasingly a focus
during buyer diligence and can be positioned as part of the next
owner’s value creation plan, where there is a credible pathway for
further growth.
Spotlight on climate
Permira has validated targets with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), an organisation that seeks to support companies and financial institutions to set GHG emissions targets in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement. To learn more about our approach please see our latest Sustainability Report.
We also invest in energy transition opportunities as we believe this remains one of the most significant economic shifts of our generation. Our dedicated Energy Transition Team is working in this space, both on standalone opportunities and in collaboration with our Services and Technology Teams. Our focus spans key areas of capital deployment including lower carbon energy, grid modernisation & resilience, and resource efficiency & circular economy, alongside adjacent sustainability solutions. For further details see here.
Industry engagement
Permira continues to engage in a range of industry associations and initiatives, to contribute to action across the wider private equity and credit markets and support the development of our own sustainability strategy.6
The PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) is a global organisation with 5,000+ signatories committed to a shared goal of responsible investment. Permira has been a signatory of the PRI since 2011 and, as such, discloses its approach to integrating sustainability factors into its investment process to the PRI as required (typically on an annual basis). Permira’s annual PRI Transparency Report is publicly available.
The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) has a mission to facilitate action between world leaders and CEOs to position sustainability at the heart of global value creation. In 2021, Permira joined the Private Equity Taskforce of the SMI (PESMIT) which focused on three key areas: climate change, metrics and reporting, and biodiversity. Kurt Björklund co-chaired the Climate Working Group between 2021-2024. PESMIT published practical guidance on valuing potential carbon liabilities and opportunities during the investment lifecycle. We have integrated relevant aspects into our investment process.
UK Private Capital (formerly the BVCA) is the industry and public policy advocate for the private capital industry in the UK. Permira joined the Responsible Investment Advisory Group in 2016 and joined the Sustainability Steering Committee and the Value Creation Taskforce in 2026. Insights from these groups helps to shape and strengthen our approach.
ILPA ESG Data Convergence Initiative (EDCI) is a global private markets initiative which aims to drive convergence around meaningful, comparable sustainability metrics. Permira was a founding member of EDCI and served on its Steering Committee from 2021 until the end of 2024. Permira requests EDCI metrics from portfolio companies, as appropriate, and reports data to the EDCI and LPs using a standardised format.
Initiative Climat International (iCI) is a global, practitioner-led community of private markets investors. In 2020, Permira became a founding signatory of iCI’s UK network. Signatories commit to recognise that climate change will have both risks and opportunities for investments and actively engage with private equity backed companies. Permira contributes to iCI’s Net Zero and Private Credit working groups. Through the iCI Permira has contributed to the development of several industry guidelines, including the Private Markets Decarbonisation Roadmap in 2023 and the SBTi consultations on the Corporate Net-Zero Standard and Financial Institutions Net-Zero Standard in 2025.
Permira is a signatory of the ILPA ‘Driving Inclusion in Alternatives’ (DIA) initiative which brings together private equity participants committed to fostering respectful, transparent, and performance driven workplaces that drive long-term value and innovation. Permira has developed a systematic approach to talent management across the portfolio, for more information see our Sustainability Report.
Invest Europe represents the private equity community across Europe, helping to connect private equity firms & stakeholders. Permira’s Head of Sustainability was an affiliate member on the Invest Europe Responsible Investment Roundtable from 2017 to 2022. In 2023, Permira’s Head of Sustainability became a member of the Invest Europe ESG committee and contributes to various initiatives where relevant, which support Invest Europe members.
The European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA) is a trade association. Permira Credit became a member in 2020 and is a member of the ESG Committee. We disclose our investment approach, engagement activities and sustainability reporting practices through the ELFA CLO ESG Questionnaire, helping to promote greater transparency and consistency across the leveraged finance market.
Recognition
Over the past several years, our sustainability work has been recognised by a range of independent industry awards, reflecting the efforts of our teams and portfolio companies.
Won PEI Large-Cap PE Firm of the Year – ESG 20255
Named 20 Most Influential in ESG 20255
Won the New Private Markets (PEI) Multi-strategy firm of the year – ESG 20245
Won ESG Champion of the Year (Large Cap) at the Real Deals PE Awards 20245
Won UK Private Capital (formerly BVCA) Excellence in Sustainability award – 20225
Portfolio company sustainability reports
As part of our ongoing commitment to provide greater visibility on sustainability-related issues, we encourage sustainability reporting across the Buyout and Credit fund's portfolio.
CABB Sustainability Report 2025
Sustainability Team
A statement made by relevant Permira Entities in accordance with Articles 3, 4 and 5 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation is available here.
Click here to view Permira’s sustainability policy, which applies to the Permira group, including the Private Equity business and Private Credit business.
Disclaimers
1. Data referenced above has been collected from 48 portfolio companies across five buyout funds: Permira IV (including Permira IV Feeder), Permira V, Permira VI, Permira VII and Permira VIII and relates to the period 01.01.2025 to 31.12.2025. 16 ESG Margin Ratchets as at 31.12.2025 across Direct Lending and Strategic Opportunities
2. Permira’s sustainability strategy relates to the firm, Private Equity and Credit strategies, however certain aspects are less relevant for Credit strategies, where priorities are tailored to reflect the level of influence and control the funds have with underlying investments. Fund-level sustainability aspirational goals only apply to certain private equity funds.
3. There can be no assurance that Permira will be able to implement its investment strategy or achieve its investment objectives. Examples contained herein are for illustrative purposes only. It should not be assumed that investments made in the future will be comparable in quality or performance to the investments described herein.
4. Eligible companies in relation to SBTi includes all listed equity investments, and unlisted private equity investments where Permira has a board seat and the funds have ≥25% equity. Companies that have been held for less than two years and do not have commitments or validated targets are excluded.
5. Awards described have been maintained by the relevant listed third-party organisations based on their own methodologies and criteria. Permira did not pay a fee to be considered for each award. For the PEI award, Permira submitted an entry and winners were chosen by a judging panel of senior editorial staff from across PEI Group’s various publications; it was announced in February 2026 and relates to the calendar year 2025. More information regarding the award can be found here. For the Private Equity News award, the list is curated by Private Equity News’ editorial team; it was announced in April 2025 and relates to activity in 2024-2025; more information regarding the award can be found here. These awards are not indicative of any Permira fund’s future performance and do not mean that any Permira funds may meet an investor’s own sustainability goals. Third party logos do not indicate affiliation with or endorsement by such entities.
6. Engagement with the listed industry initiatives above does not require delivering on any specific sustainability-related targets.