Cathay Capital - Our Impact

Statement on the ESG Approach, Article 173 of the French Act on Energy Transition And article 3 of the Regulation (EU) 2019/2088

I. INFORMATION ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

1. ESG Approach

Cathay Capital Private Equity (CCPE) firmly believes that accounting for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) stakes in its activities is fundamental to its role as an investor. Integrating ESG factors in investment decisions is vital in determining risks and opportunities, and ensuring long-term, sustainable value creation for the company, for its portfolio companies, their management and employees, the environment, and society as a whole.

As such, CCPE formalized a responsible investment approach in 2017 by designing and implementing its ESG Management system. The approach which was decided upon strengthens CCPE’s consideration of ESG issues in all stages of the investment process, and also allocates Cathay’s roles and responsibilities with regard to accompanying portfolio companies in adopting sustainable practices and in implementing continuous improvement with regards to these issues.

CCPE implements France Invest’s recommendations regarding ESG disclosure and is considering the advisability of implementing the negative impact statement provided for by the Article 4 of Regulation 2019/2088defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088.

As acting as a portfolio Management company approved by the AMF, CCPE has a remuneration policy, including variable compensation linked to risk management and compliance with internal procedures and policies (incl. ESG issues).

2. Implementation of the ESG Management system to CCPE funds

Smallcap I and II, Sino-French Fund

These funds were created before the design & implementation of the ESG Management system

Smallcap III and IV, Midcap I and II

Complete implementation of the ESG Management system

Cathay’s ESG approach is regularly reviewed. An update of this approach and Cathay’s strategies is planned for 2021.

II. INFORMATION REGARDING ESG CRITERIA IN THE INVESTMENT POLICY

1. Reference ESG criteria

The ESG Management system defined CCPE’s commitments and sets out the criteria taken into account in investment decisions:

Safeguarding its activities from risks posed by ESG matters, thus minimizing any subsequent negative externalities;
Promoting good practices and encouraging positive externalities on all stakeholders;
Encouraging the efficient use of natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in portfolio companies’ value chains, protecting the environment and biodiversity when this subject is material given the characteristics of the investments;
Complying with ESG-regulations and standards, such as the International labor Organization Core Labor Standards, and aligning with good industry practices;
Encouraging portfolio companies’ in seizing the potential for positive impacts and opportunities in their business activities, such as strengthening their supply chain structures and management.

In 2018 and 2019, CCPE actively pursued this responsible investment approach, consolidating the ESG commitments formalized in 2017 and continuing to integrate ESG criteria into all stages of the investment process As CCPE’s investments are carried out on a wide scope of activities and countries, notably in Europe and in China, the ESG criteria cover an exhaustive perimeter.

Internationally recognised referentials were considered in determining the criteria:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The Principles of Responsible Investment
Commonwealth Development Corporation standards
The conventions of the International Labor Organization
The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
The United Nations Convention against Corruption

2. Integration of ESG criteria in the investment policy

CCPE’s management system approach focuses on ensuring that ESG issues are accounted for at all stages of the investment process, from the pre-qualification to the exit stage.

In the initial stages of investments (deal qualification and LOI stages), potential portfolio companies’ activities are screened to ensure none figure on CCPE’s Exclusion List (see Appendix). A report on any material ESG matter the company is associated with is also formalised, based on the initial review and investigation of public information regarding any adverse impact on local communities or the environment. The findings from the ESG report are discussed at the Local Executive Committee Level to identify any potential no-go decision.

During the transaction stage, CCPE launches an ESG due diligence which is performed by qualified, independent, external experts in order to assess the ESG risks and impacts of the proposed Portfolio Company’s operations. This report notably contains an assessment of operations into high, medium and low risks, based on the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) criteria and sector profiles.

The ESG due diligence includes:

An assessment of the prospective company’s compliance with Cathay Capital’s ESG requirements and of potential non-compliances;
A detailed action plan if appropriate.

The due diligence is presented to the Global Partners and Advisory Committee. No investment can be finalised unless the portfolio company has accepted the proposed action plan.

During the holding stage, the deal team follows up on the relevant Action Plan and more generally on continuous improvements on a regular basis, and ESG topics are addressed by the company’s Board on a minimum yearly basis. In addition, CCPE has implemented an annual ESG reporting framework in order to publish the consolidated ESG performance of portfolio companies. This reporting provides additional disclosure on the ESG impacts of portfolio companies and continuous improvement actions.

Lastly, at the exit stage, the Exit Memorandum for the Portfolio Company contain an overview of the ESG improvements made along the investment period.

III. INVESTOR INFORMATION

For the funds in the scope of the ESG Management system, CCPEP provides its investors with:

An annual report on the fund’s ESG performance;
Upon request, information on the implementation of the ESG management system, the ESG analysis performed during ESG due diligences, and the action plans validated with portfolio companies.

IV. APPENDIX: EXCLUSION LIST

Activities involving any use of forced labour or child labour;
Activities that are illegal under the law of the host country or under international treaty, convention or regulation, in particular activities not consistent with the Kimberley Process concerning trade in diamonds and activities counter to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) agreement;
Production of, or trade in, arms or ammunition;
Production of, or trade in, tobacco; and alternative tobacco products, such as
Vaporisers and electronic cigarettes (tobacco heating products);
Gambling, casinos and equivalent activities;
Trade in wildlife and products within the scope of CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora);
Production of, or trade in, radioactive materials;
Production of, or trade in, or use of, asbestos;
Commercial deforestation or purchases of equipment for such purposes in tropical rain forests;
Production of, or trade in, products containing polychlorinate biphenyl (PCBs);
Production of, or trade in and storage or transport of significant volumes of dangerous chemicals, or the use of dangerous products for commercial purposes;
Production of, or trade in, pharmaceutical products subject to international prohibition or destruction requirements;
Production of, or trade in, pesticides or herbicides subject to international prohibition or destruction requirements;
Production of, or trade in, ozone depleting substances subject to international destruction requirements;
Fishing at sea with the use of floating nets of a length exceeding 2.5 km;
Production on, or investment in, land belonging to, or claimed in an adjudication process by, an indigenous people without the duly documented agreement of the same people;
Activities contrary to applicable ADS or IFC policies (whichever is stricter in the case concerned);
Threats to the status of individuals, leases, companies or private institutions;
Production or distribution of, or trade in, pornographic material;
Prostitution;
Products and commodities subject to French or European embargo. ;
Production of, or trade in, narcotics (including cannabis and any product with cannabis as an ingredient);
Production of, or trade in, drugs and substances;
Upstream or downstream palm oil value chain (it being understood that upstream and downstream palm oil value chain does only refers to companies involved in the extraction, production and distribution of palm oil and not to companies which use palm oil in their products);
(i) Construction (including expansion and upgrading) of a coal-fired power plant, or (ii) power generation sector that owns or operates coal-fired power plants and for which coal-fired power accounts for at least 30% of its total installed power generation capacity;
(i) Exploration, development and production of oil sand and/or shale oil and gas, or (ii) arctic oil and gas exploration projects, or (iii) pipelines transporting a significant volume of oil sand and/or shale oil and gas, as well as LNG export terminals supplied by a significant volume of shale gas; and
(i) Greenfield and/or expansion of existing mining projects, covering mine planning and development, operation, on-site processing of extracted ore, mine closure and rehabilitation, or (ii) owns mining assets representing a significant share of its total assets and is involved in exploration, development or operation of such mining assets.

ESG Policy

Our Impact

I. INFORMATION ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

1. ESG Approach

2. Implementation of the ESG Management system to CCPE funds

II. INFORMATION REGARDING ESG CRITERIA IN THE INVESTMENT POLICY

1. Reference ESG criteria

2. Integration of ESG criteria in the investment policy

III. INVESTOR INFORMATION

IV. APPENDIX: EXCLUSION LIST

GROUP

CATHAY INNOVATION

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ESG Policy

Our Impact

I. INFORMATION ON THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

1. ESG Approach

2. Implementation of the ESG Management system to CCPE funds

II. INFORMATION REGARDING ESG CRITERIA IN THE INVESTMENT POLICY

1. Reference ESG criteria

2. Integration of ESG criteria in the investment policy

III. INVESTOR INFORMATION

IV. APPENDIX: EXCLUSION LIST

GROUP

CATHAY INNOVATION

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER

FOLLOW US

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