Adams Street Partners, LLC ("Adams Street Partners") is a leading private markets investment firm, providing primary and secondary partnership, co-investment, direct venture capital and growth equity, and private credit investment management capabilities to institutional investors. Adams Street Partners has offices in Beijing, Boston, Chicago, London, Menlo Park, Singapore and Tokyo. Adams Street Partners is one of the largest managers of private equity investments in the world and has one of the longest histories. Together with its predecessor organizations, Adams Street Partners has been investing in private equity partnerships since 1979, and managing direct private equity investments since 1972. Adams Street Partners established the first private equity fund of funds for institutional investors and has been a pioneer in the development of the secondary market, completing its first secondary investment in 1986. Adams Street Partners is well-known internationally for its continuous commitment to, and deep understanding of, the private equity industry.
Adams Street Partners believes that environmental, social and governance ("ESG") considerations are an integral part of an investment decision-making process aimed at maximizing returns for investors. As part of its investment diligence process, Adams Street Partners considers such factors as a fund's or portfolio company's governance practices, the quality, sustainability and transparency of the operations of the fund or portfolio company, and the geographic scope, industry focus, and other impacts of the fund's investments or the portfolio company's business. In furtherance of its objective to formalize the various ESG considerations that factor into Adams Street Partners' investment process, Adams Street Partners adopted an Environmental, Social, and Governance Policy (the "ESG Policy"). Pursuant to the ESG Policy, Adams Street Partners commits to integrate ESG factors into its analysis of current and potential investments. Where consistent with its fiduciary responsibilities to its clients, Adams Street Partners will, for example:
- Consider general ESG factors associated with particular industry sectors and use this information to evaluate potential investments;
- Evaluate specific ESG factors associated with particular general partners and portfolio companies and integrate these considerations into its investment decision-making process;
- Seek opportunities to raise general partner and portfolio company awareness of the ESG Policy and promote dialogue with them regarding the investment risks associated with ESG factors; and
- Evaluate Adams Street Partners' integration of ESG factors into its investment decision-making and the ESG performance of general partners and portfolio companies.
In addition to integrating ESG considerations into its investment decision-making process, Adams Street Partners has instituted a diversity and inclusion initiative. The goal of this initiative is to increase access, contribute to education and engage staff in outreach opportunities designed to raise awareness and bring greater numbers of women and men of diverse backgrounds into the industry. In furtherance of this goal, Adams Street Partners has employed interns in partnership with the Sponsorship for Educational Opportunity program. Adams Street Partners supports organizations that foster leadership development and career opportunities for diverse finance professionals and actively engages with community organizations that share in the commitment to diversity, eliminating discrimination, and attracting as well as promoting the long-term development of individuals in the financial, investment management, and private equity industries.