Boutique corporate finance specialist Lexington, which last month opened an office in Bath, is to provide its clients with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) advisory services to help with their carbon reduction goals.
The firm has teamed up with Green Ibex, a sustainability and ESG consultancy working with companies across the UK and EU to shape and deliver their sustainability strategies as they move towards net zero.
The partnership was prompted by the growing importance that banks and investors are placing on ensuring that the companies they invest in are good corporate citizens with a strong ESG policy.
Headquartered in London, Green Ibex was founded by experienced project manager Jonathan Jones and recently appointed former BBC Cymru Wales chief operating officer Gareth Powell as a non-executive director.
Lexington senior advisor Warren Lewis, pictured, left, with Jonathan Jones, said: “Within the investment community, there is a huge focus on environmental and social responsibility together with strong governance policies.
“It’s becoming increasingly apparent that businesses that prioritise this will make themselves more attractive to investors together with prospective employees and external stakeholders.
“All of this is being driven by customers who can vote with their feet and want to support organisations that ‘do the right thing’.”
He said Green Ibex was helping Lexington on its own ESG journey, as it was an issue that had always been core to the business.
“Both Lexington and Green Ibex are dynamic and ambitious, putting a real value on developing long-term relationships with clients, investors and intermediaries, and I’m looking forward to seeing where this partnership takes us,” he added.
Cardiff-headquartered Lexington, which specialises in disposals, acquisitions, buyouts, growth funding and private equity, opened on Bath’s Queen in May as its second office and a launchpad for its services in the South West.
Green Ibex works with companies to provide them with a road map that takes them from planning to action so that they can achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their carbon footprint.
Green Ibex founder Jonathan Jones said: “Moving to net zero presents commercial and economic opportunities to businesses of all sizes.
“Often businesses have good intentions, but they don’t know where to start, particularly where 90% of their emissions are out of their immediate control.
“We help businesses evaluate the challenges they face, and provide the knowledge, tools and support they need to make the changes they aspire to.
“I’m really excited by our partnership with Lexington, given its extensive ‘know-how’ in building the value of businesses, when business owners are seeking an exit, fresh investment, or funding from the investment community.”
The government has set a target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and research suggests that so far, four in five FTSE100 companies and 40% of SMEs are committed to achieving net zero. However, only 26% of SMEs have measured their emissions.
