Impact investing is not the same as ESG: KKR

KKR’s global impact fund, which was launched in 2018 and closed in early 2020 with a committed capital of US$1.3 billion, focuses on investing in companies with solutions that address global challenges outlined by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

This, however, is not the same as integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into its investment consideration, said Robert Antablin, KKR’s co-head of global impact, on Thursday (May 19).

ESG considerations are material risk factors that KKR assesses for every investment it makes, both impact and non-impact, and are part of the private equity firm’s diligence process.