Lasting Impact through Responsible Business
As part of our commitment to lasting impact, Bain Capital strives to be a good corporate citizen and to integrate ESG factors into our investment process.
Guidelines For Responsible Investment
With approximately $75 billion in assets under management, Bain Capital and its business units utilize a strategic, fact-based and diligence-driven investment approach that by definition includes a multitude of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.
Bain Capital believes that these ESG practices lead to better investment outcomes while considering the firm’s broader impacts on the environment and society. The firm takes its responsibility seriously and continually monitors the broad consequences of every investment to ensure we are taking all of our stakeholders’ needs into account. By living these values, we create lasting impact for our investors, teams, businesses and communities where we live and work...
Bain Capital takes the following considerations into account when making investments:
- Consider environmental, public health, safety, and social issues associated with target companies when evaluating whether to invest in a particular entity, as well as during the period of ownership.
- Be accessible to relevant stakeholders either directly or through representatives of portfolio companies, as appropriate.
- Respect the human rights of those affected by our investment activities and seek to confirm that our investments do not flow to companies that utilize child labor or forced labor or maintain discriminatory policies.
- Provide information to limited partners on the matters addressed herein, and work to foster transparency about our activities.
- Encourage our portfolio companies to advance these same principles in a way which is consistent with fiduciary duties.
- Maintain strict policies that prohibit bribery and other improper payments to public officials consistent with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, similar laws in other countries, and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
- Maintain strict policies that prohibit bribery and other improper payments to public officials consistent with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, similar laws in other countries, and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention.
While the consideration of ESG factors has traditionally fallen under the purview of active equity investors with a greater ability to influence outcomes, we believe that credit and other minority investors also have an obligation to take into account ESG factors. In evaluating minority investments, teams:
- Examine the impact a company has on society and the environment during the diligence process. Where applicable, take into consideration not only the specific products or services a company provides, but also the manner in which it does business and conducts itself in the broader world.
- Seek to comprehend and consider ESG factors from a company-specific and sector-wide perspective.
- Encourage companies, where appropriate, to adopt responsible practices and promote transparency.
- Treat the responsibility of acting as a shareholder seriously and continue to diligence holdings throughout the course of ownership.
- Engage companies via proxy voting, corporate actions and board seats, where applicable.
- In certain funds, utilize a negative screen to avoid investing in companies having more than 10% of their revenue in gaming, munitions, alcohol, tobacco and adult entertainment.
When making control investments, Bain Capital undertakes the following additional activities:
- Seek to grow and improve the companies in which we invest through long-term sustainability initiatives, while also considering stakeholders on environmental, social and governance issues. We work through appropriate governance structures (e.g. board of directors) within portfolio companies with respect to environmental, public health, safety and social issues, with the goal of improving performance and minimizing adverse impacts in these areas.
- Seek to use governance structures that provide appropriate level of oversight in the areas of audit, risk management and potential conflicts of interest and to implement compensation and other polices that align the interests of our funds and management.
- Remain committed to compliance with applicable national, state and local laws in countries in which we invest; support the payment of competitive wages and benefits to employees, provide a safe and healthy workplace in the conformance with national and local law; and, consistent with applicable law, respect the rights of employees to decide whether or not to join a union and engage in collective bargaining.
ESG snapshots
Many of the portfolio companies across Bain Capital’s business units operate leading-edge environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives that have benefited employees, communities, and the bottom line. Below are just a few examples of the work that portfolio companies are doing to promote diversity, increase sustainable sourcing and product development, and improve strategic philanthropy.
Our Own Responsible Business Practices
Respecting the environment.
In 2013, Bain Capital was recognized with gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program for the environmentally responsible design of its Boston Headquarters. The design enabled Bain Capital to reduce water usage by 39 percent and electricity use by 27 percent, and enabled 1,500 tons of construction waste to be diverted from landfills. Bain Capital continues its commitment to reducing its own footprint through initiatives such as switching from plastic to glass water bottles and glassware. Back Bay, the Boston neighborhood of Bain Capital’s Boston offices, has a Walk Score of 99/100, a Transit Score of 100/100, and a Bike Score of 86/100.
Building diverse and inclusive teams
Bain Capital believes that diverse teams are stronger teams, and it is committed to hiring the best and the brightest who offer varied perspectives. Bain Capital develops relationships with campus groups, leadership development organizations, and associations at universities across the country to ensure we reach a broad audience in recruiting. Bain Capital is also a supporter of a number of groups that encourage diverse workplaces, including Level 20, which aims to inspire women to join and succeed in the private equity industry; Out for Undergrad, which helps high-achieving LGBTQ students reach their full potential; and a number of others.
Supporting our communities
Since our founding, Bain Capital has supported a wide array of nonprofits in communities around the world with our time, expertise and resources through our two signature initiatives – Bain Capital Community Partnership and Bain Capital Children’s Charities.