Our commitment to responsibility

Responsible investing, community engagement and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are important values for THL. We believe these principals contribute to our long-term sustainability as a firm.

Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

Our philosophy

We don’t claim to have all the answers on ESG, but we aspire to invest in and grow long-term, sustainable companies. We believe that when our portfolio companies focus on ESG initiatives, it can lead to sustainable growth.

Through our ESG policy, we aim to:

  • Consider environmental, public health, safety and social issues associated with portfolio companies
  • Grow and improve portfolio companies for long-term sustainability
  • Use governance structures that provide appropriate levels of oversight in audit, risk management and potential conflicts of interest
  • Be accessible to, and engage with, relevant stakeholders of portfolio companies
  • Remain committed to compliance with applicable labor laws in the countries in which we invest, support the payment of competitive wages and benefits to employees and support a safe and healthy workplace
  • Maintain policies that prohibit bribery and other improper payments to public officials
  • Respect the human rights of those affected by our investment activities
  • Provide timely information to our investors
  • Encourage our portfolio companies to advance best practices and guidelines

Some of our ESG focus areas include:

Environmental

  • Environmental Management and Climate Change
  • Supply Chain Management

Social

  • Social and Labor Conditions
  • DEI and Equal Employment
  • Opportunity Worker Health and Safety

Governance

  • Ethics and Compliance
  • Data Privacy and Security

OUR 3-PRONGED APPROACH

We don’t invent our own benchmarks. When we focus on ESG, we seek to align those ESG metrics with established, global frameworks such as the Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), of which we have been a signatory since 2020. As we grow and evolve our ESG program, we’re focused on applying a consistent approach to diligence, monitoring and reporting, where appropriate in light of the characteristics of each investment.¹

  • Diligence

    We strive to conduct ESG due diligence on new investments and partner with management teams to identify areas for development. ESG engagement varies, depending on the nature of a portfolio company’s business as well as the size of the Fund’s investment and level of control.

  • Monitoring

    We generally monitor portfolio companies during our investment period by participating as board members and issuing our annual ESG survey.

  • Reporting

    We update our investors on material ESG issues and initiatives and provide reporting to the UNPRI.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)

Our DE&I initiatives impact everything from the way we work together to the programming we offer employees and partners. As we grow, we are also increasing our commitment to building and maintaining a culture that embraces diversity, values equity and promotes inclusion.

Read More About DE&I at THL

Philanthropy

Programs that make a difference

We launched the THL Charitable Foundation in 2020 with the goal of making a meaningful impact by offering our company’s financial resources and professional expertise as well as our employees’ time. Our focus is primarily on effecting change in the greater Boston area, while also considering important causes further afield, particularly in moments of crisis.

Grants

We are committed to helping our neighbors in and around Boston, especially those from historically disadvantaged communities. Our signature Impact Programs select exemplary organizations to partner with over the course of a three-year funding commitment. The causes we support help people access basic needs such as food and housing, achieve academic success and prepare for bright futures through their college journey.

Volunteering

We connect our employees and advisory partners with opportunities to make a positive impact by providing mentorship, serving on the boards of businesses and charities as well as participating in Days of Service.

Giving Support

We encourage employee engagement in philanthropic initiatives by offering to match contributions, inspiring volunteerism through service programs and engaging in crisis support for emerging and urgent needs around the world.

Recent recipients of our support

  • Project Hope

    partners with women and families in the Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston, providing programs and family support to alleviate poverty and homelessness. The organization also provides medical equipment, supplies and support for aid workers on the frontlines of the Ukraine crisis, which was an initiative that THL was proud to support.

  • Boston Schools Fund

    invests strategically to increase access to high-quality schools for K-12 students from historically marginalized groups. Their work has helped to create more than 8,000 new high-quality seats in the city of Boston.

  • Steppingstone Foundation

    prepares students from historically marginalized communities to access, navigate and graduate from college. In Boston, they provide academic, social-emotional and college readiness programming from as early as fifth grade and continuing through college graduation.

  • Leadership Brainery

    works with prospective and current graduate students, academic institutions, employers and committed community members to eliminate systemic barriers to education and create inclusive communities.

 

¹ While THL has an ESG program, its funds are not ESG or sustainability funds. THL’s integration of ESG factors into the investment decision making and monitoring process does not mean that ESG is the sole, or primary, or a material consideration for such investment decisions and monitoring process. The extent of THL’s consideration of ESG factors varies depending on numerous factors. Please see the Important Information page for further information.

 

Want to know more?

Let’s explore how we can collaborate with your company.

Get in touch