A Closer Look : Environmental Defense Fund and the Carlyle Group

  PM Network  

At first, it might seem strange. Why would a global private investment giant partner with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) to help manage its project portfolio?

Yet that’s just what The Carlyle Group, one of the largest private equity firms in the world with nearly US$100 billion of assets under management, did when it joined forces with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The notfor- profit is known for its work in global warming, ecosystem restoration, ocean and human health projects.

Though the two organizations have markedly different goals and strategies, they’ve been working together toward a common purpose: to develop an innovative due-diligence screening process that will help private firms identify opportunities for value creation through environmental innovation.

Unlikely Allies

“The Carlyle Group believes that being a good corporate citizen represents good business practice and creates long-term value for our investors,” says Bryan Corbett, Washington, D.C., USA-based principal in global government and regulatory affairs for the company.

Convincing it to join forces on this project took some serious stakeholder management, though. “The Carlyle Group was not used to working with nongovernmental organizations as part of its investment process, and it took some time to get the internal audience to buy into the …

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