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In 2007, in response to the growing debate about the role of private equity in the UK, the British Venture Capital Association (‘BVCA’) suggested a review to examine ways in which levels of disclosure in companies backed by the UK private equity industry could be improved.
The review was led by Sir David Walker, who consulted widely and invited representations from within the private equity industry, other financial institutions, pension funds and the investment community, as well as more broadly with portfolio companies, trade unions and employer representatives. 3i actively supported the review, with involvement from the Chairman.
3i also endorsed the voluntary code which resulted in the ‘Guidelines for Disclosure and Transparency in Private Equity’, which was published in November 2007. Sir David Walker’s recommendations with respect to reporting for private equity firms and their relevant portfolio companies were on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. An overview of the guidelines together with the fourteenth annual report of the Private Equity Reporting Group (which monitors and reports on the UK private equity industry’s conformity with the guidelines) at December 2021 can be found at:
www.privateequityreportinggroup.co.uk
The only 3i portfolio companies which met the criteria set out in the guidelines and were included in the fourteenth annual report for the year to 31 December 2021 were Infinis, held within the 3i Infrastructure plc portfolio, and East Surrey Pipelines, held within 3i Managed Infrastructure Acquisitions LP, both of which are vehicles managed by 3i’s Infrastructure business.
