Sustainability Exchange Podcast

Episode 1: Green Taxonomy

Simon meets with James Alexander, Chief Executive of The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) and Sarah-Jane Denton, Director of our Operational Risk & Environment team to evaluate the need, benefits, and practicality of implementing a UK-specific green taxonomy versus adopting the current EU framework.

The episode ends with a one-sentence answer from each expert guest to… does the UK need a green taxonomy?

Episode 2: Should the carried interest in my next fund be linked to sustainability outcomes?

In episode two of Sustainability Exchange Simon Witney's guests, Ross Butler, Managing Director of Linear B Group, and Tosin Adeyeri, Partner in our Funds team, debate opposing answers to this topical question. Listen now to learn what ESG-linked carried interest means and how it works, plus the pros and cons of incorporating non-financial KPIs into fund economics from their frontline perspective.

Episode 3: What should a European firm say to its US investors about ESG?

In this episode Simon, Trysha Daskam-Smith, Head of ESG Strategy at Silver Regulatory Associates and Michael Raymond delve into pressing issues faced by European fund managers when dealing with US investors amidst the current headlines. 

Tune in to explore:

1. A nuanced discussion of how the term ESG is perceived across different markets, especially US investors with varied stances in different states
2. Practical advice on communicating ESG commitments consistently and factually, avoiding political pitfalls while emphasising value creation
3. How international regulatory standards influence global fund marketing strategies

Episode 4: Should my next fund be an Article 8 fund?

In the fourth Sustainability Exchange of the series, Simon invites Paula Langton, Partner and head of the sustainability practice at Campbell Lutyens and Phil Bartram to unravel the complexities of SFDR classification.

Listen now to explore:

• How Article 8, 9, and 6 classifications truly differ, and why it matters in today’s fundraising climate
• Shifts in LP preferences, regulatory requirements, "sustainability tourists" and the evolution towards long-term value creation
• Navigating related obstacles and choosing the appropriate sustainability commitments for your investor base