Sustainability at Polaris
- Sustainability
- Top Commitment
- Polaris Sustainability
- Sustainability Management
- Polaris ESG
- Polaris' ESG Investing and Initiatives at Portfolio Companies
- ESG investing
- Initiatives at Portfolio Companies
《Polaris ESG》
Environment
By supporting the sustainability management of portfolio companies, we promote the enhancement of corporate value and are working to play a part in achieving a decarbonized society.
Measuring, Disclosing, and Reducing GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Emissions
Polaris Capital Group has been measuring and disclosing GHG emissions since December 2022. In addition, we concluded a comprehensive agreement with Zeroboard Inc. to support the calculation, management, and reduction of GHG emissions for all investees. This leads to the reduction of GHG emissions and the promotion of sustainability management.
Polaris Capital Group GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in 2022
Scope 1 and 2 | 34t-CO2 |
Scope3 | 34,083t-CO2 (Scope 3 Category 15 emissions from portfolio companies are calculated by estimating the Scope 1 and 2 emissions of each portfolio company.) |
Social
We strive to respect human rights, practice diversity and inclusion, and contribute to society through the work of diverse staff. We also aim to create a society where each individual can pursue happiness and purpose in life. In the field of education, we will continue our efforts to play a role in improving the financial literacy of students through the provision of endowed courses and internships.
Initiatives for Diversity and Inclusion
Contributions in the Field of Education
We opened endowed courses at Hitotsubashi University in 2017 and Kyoto University in 2019. In these endowed courses, we provide lectures based on our abundant investment experience to date, such as on the relationship between enhancing corporate value and ESG, and the roles and challenges of private equity funds. Lectures with real-world atmospheres, such as when inviting the presidents of portfolio companies as guests, are very popular with students and serve as a place for recurrent education and reskilling for the large number of working students enrolled. In addition, we are actively working in the education field and introduced an internship system in 2022.
■Outline of Kyoto University Polaris endowed courses
(examples)
First term: Venture ecosystems | Second term: PE and corporate value improvement |
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Social Issues and "Venture Ecosystems" | Expansion and Issues of PE |
About Venture Capital | The Current Situation of PE Funds and Polaris's Efforts |
Prospects for University-originated VCs / University-originated Startups | Investors and PE Funds |
Development of a Business Succession-type Search Fund | M&A and PE |
Start-ups and IPOs | Investment Banks and PE |
Venture-backed Companies that Solve Social Issues | Case Studies of Specific Investees |
Carbon Neutrality and Venture Capital | Large Companies (business restructuring) |
Initiatives of Venture-backed Climate Tech Companies | Growth-supporting Small Cap PE Funds |
PE and the Future | Summary |
■Outline of internship (examples)
Concept |
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Through internships, undergraduate and graduate students are exposed to the knowledge of investment fund management operations we have cultivated since our founding, and learn about the significance and fun aspects of these operations. |
Specific details |
In this program, participants experience the Investment Committee, which is the decision-making body for execution of investment. The program covers a series of investment flows, such as verifying the appropriateness of investments and proposing measures to improve corporate value. |
Governance
We will conduct management with high transparency and fairness in order to be a company that offers value to all stakeholders. We promote the exercise of corporate governance functions not only in the management of our company, but also in investment decision-making and post-investment monitoring.
Corporate Governance
Our Company’s Board of Directors consists of six members, three full-time directors and three outside directors, and the supervisory function from outside directors is exercised appropriately.
As general partners (GPs) who appropriately manage the assets entrusted by investors, the members of the Investment Committee responsible for investment decision-making must be nominated by the Board of Directors. The Investment Committee is chaired by the President & CEO, and decisions are made subject to a majority of the committee members present.
■Corporate Governance System
Compliance
Polaris has established compliance regulations and compliance manuals, and the Compliance Officer plays a central role in managing the operation of these regulations under the supervision of the Internal Control General Manager.
As for compliance with investees, we promote compliance activities in accordance with our basic policy, just as we do at Polaris.