Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG) is in talks to hand sustainability consultancy Anthesis Group to Bridgepoint Group, after the firm’s private credit arm helped finance Carlyle’s 2023 acquisition with a private loan, according to Bloomberg.
Discussions are understood to be ongoing, and no decision has been made regarding the deal.
The discussions underscore how ESG funds have faced pressure from weaker performance, political backlash, and changing investor preferences, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Exits Remain Difficult
Last year, Carlyle’s private equity unit Caryle AlpInvest announced the launch of a new co-investment partnership with the California State Teachers Retirement System. The initiative aimed to identify climate-related opportunities that demonstrated positive sustainability outcomes across a range of themes.
Meanwhile, private equity has been struggling to offload companies as the exit market remains challenging. The median holding period for North American private equity-backed companies reached 5.4 years at the end of 2025, according to With Intelligence data cited by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Firms have increasingly turned to tools such as continuation vehicles to extend ownership timelines while returning capital to investors.
Continuation vehicles allow private equity firms to extend ownership of high-performing companies while providing liquidity to existing investors who want to exit. EsinerAmer’s Nick Tsafos, Partner-In-Charge of the New York Office told Benzinga that the trend reflects a broader shift in the industry as managers focus on maximizing portfolio company growth rather than rushing toward a sale.
“I think what’s happening is private equity and venture capital are realizing that a longer time period is providing a lot more value,” Tsafos said.
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