Arcus celebrates another year of success in the 2023 GRESB Infrastructure Benchmark assessment
LONDON, United Kingdom (17 October 2023) – Arcus Infrastructure Partners (“Arcus”) is delighted to have been recognised once again for its leading position in ESG with strong results in the GRESB Infrastructure Benchmark.
GRESB assesses and benchmarks the ESG performance of real assets worldwide on an annual basis. The assessment is led by what investors and the industry consider to be material issues in sustainable performance of real asset investments and are aligned with international reporting frameworks, goals, and emerging regulations.
Once again, Arcus has demonstrated “best-in-class” ESG performance with Arcus European Trains (the Alpha Trains holding partnership or “AET”) being named Sector Leader in the Infrastructure Fund category. AET ranked first of 117 infrastructure funds which completed the full GRESB assessment, retaining its score of 100 out of 100 possible points.
Alpha Trains also secured a Sector Leader Award, placing first in the Rail Companies category with a perfect score of 100/100 for the second year running.
“To be named Sector Leader for another year, with recognition at both fund and asset level, and to achieve such strong results across our portfolio is something Arcus is very proud of. Year after year we prioritise best practice ESG management and performance and to be recognised for this ongoing commitment is testament to the progress made by our Asset Management, ESG teams, and Portfolio Companies.” says Ian Harding, Managing Partner.
AEIF2 maintained its position, receiving a 4-star GRESB rating and 91/100 points in the GRESB fund assessment, significantly above the average fund participant’s score of 81 points. This is particularly impressive as three new assets, namely Momentum, HB and Opus, completed the GRESB assessment for the first time with excellent results.
Momentum achieved an outstanding 95/100 points, while HB and Opus scored 73 and 82 respectively; impressive results for the first undertaking.
Other AEIF2 assets continued to perform well. Peacock saw the highest year-on-year increase, with 91/100 points, vs. 70/100 in 2022, testament to the hard work of the Peacock and Arcus teams over the last year. Constellation and SMA improved, both being given a 4-star rating, up from 3-star in 2022, and Horizon saw an increase of 2 points to 92/100, vs. 90 in 2022, retaining its 4-star rating.
Arcus’ latest fund, AEIF3, also participated in the GRESB assessment for the first year, scoring 67/100 points. Workdry was the only asset from AEIF3 which went through the assessment process, scoring 54/100 points.
The fund assessment comprises two components; a management component relating to ESG management at the fund level, and a performance component which relates the overall GRESB score of the underlying assets which make up the fund. AEIF3 performed well in the management component, scoring 29/30 points, demonstrating Arcus’ commitment and approach to best-in-class ESG across all Arcus funds. The performance component relates to Workdry’s underlying score and as we work with the management team to improve ESG at the company, we hope this will improve the performance component of the fund assessment next year.
Neil Krawitz, Head of ESG and Asset Management at Arcus, commented: “We’re delighted with the results of our investee companies this year, particularly those participating for the first time, but also of the overall improvements across our assets. The success we’ve achieved, both at asset and fund level, is proof of Arcus’ commitment to ensuring that ESG and sustainability are at the heart of what we do. We work continuously to ensure we are at the forefront of the evolving landscape as demonstrated by our year-on-year success. I’m proud of our 2023 results and look forward to working with our portfolio companies over the coming year to demonstrate even further improvement in 2024.”
2023 was Arcus’ seventh year of assessment, having joined GRESB in 2017 and assessed all investee companies over that time. Arcus has also been a member of the GRESB Infrastructure Standards Committee since October 2018.
“Reviewing the benchmarks for this year, it’s evident that the industry’s dedication to ESG principles is stronger than ever, as showcased by the continued increase in participation and broader data coverage. We applaud investors and managers in the real assets sector for their resolute pursuit of sustainability.” says GRESB. “GRESB Sector Leaders embody the industry’s champions, leading the charge towards a net-zero future and propelling the sector forward. We wholeheartedly commend this year’s Sector Leaders for their dedication, leadership and commitment to ESG principles and sustainability.”
Arcus media contacts:
Harriet Saywell-Lee
E: harriet.saywell-lee@arcusip.com
T: +44 7442 154256
About Arcus
Arcus Infrastructure Partners is an independent fund manager focused solely on long-term investments in European infrastructure. Arcus invests on behalf of institutional investors through discretionary funds and specialist co-investment vehicles and, through its subsidiaries, currently manages investments with an aggregate enterprise value of EUR c.21bn (as of 30 June 2023). Arcus targets mid-market, value-add infrastructure investments, with a particular focus on businesses in the digital, transport, logistics & industrials, and energy sectors. Further information on Arcus Infrastructure Partners can be found on www.arcusip.com.
About GRESB
GRESB is a mission-driven and industry-led organization providing standardized and validated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data to financial markets. Established in 2009, GRESB has become the leading ESG benchmark for real estate and infrastructure investments across the world, used by 150 institutional and financial investors to inform decision-making. For more information, visit GRESB.com.
