Vindi Banga, CD&R Operating Partner, addressed global leaders from diverse sectors, disciplines, and geographies on the critical role of private capital in meeting the global climate challenge. His remarks came at the Sustainable Development Impact Summit hosted by the World Economic Forum alongside the United Nations General Assembly. 

During the panel, Mr. Banga outlined the constructive role private capital can play in business transformations, and how this is critical for many businesses seeking to embed ESG considerations into their core activities. He also highlighted the asset class’s focus on value creation and the growing awareness of ESG as a value creation lever. 

“When a private equity firm buys a business, it inherits a certain level of growth and margin and works to improve that to create value,” said Mr. Banga. “In the same way, each business comes with a carbon footprint and broader ESG profile and the potential to improve. As the market becomes increasingly sophisticated about ESG, I believe these accomplishments will only be more highly valued.” 

The panel, moderated by Bloomberg reporter Lisa Abramowicz, focused on how private equity can transform assets into commercially sustainable and ESG-compatible leaders, also included perspectives from President and Chief Executive Office of State Street Global Advisors Cyrus Taraporevala and leading ESG academic Robert G. Eccles. 

Mr. Banga joined CD&R as an Operating Partner in 2010, after a 33-year career at Unilever where, as executive board member and president of Global Foods, Home & Personal Care businesses, he led Unilever's sustainability agenda. Based in London, he has played the lead operating role on CD&R's investments in Diversey and Mauser Group and helped establish the Firm's joint venture in India. 

You can watch Mr. Banga’s full remarks here. 

About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
CD&R is a private investment firm with a strategy predicated on building stronger, more profitable businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of more than $35 billion in over 100 companies with an aggregate transaction value of more than $150 billion. The firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, please visit www.cdr-inc.com.