This case is the first of a two-part series that follows Ramez Sousou and his team at TowerBrook Capital Partners as they face a challenging investment decision in February of 2013. Since its founding, TowerBrook has prided itself on its purpose-driven investing philosophy and responsible ownership practices, seeking to incorporate these ideals in each step of the life cycle of a deal. Thus, the TowerBrook investment process extends beyond financial returns and consideration for the bottom-line. This investment decision was a tough one: some TowerBrook team members were excited about the company's growth potential, while others were concerned about the optics of its social impact. Overall, this case can be used to understand how private equity firms are integrating ESG considerations into their decision-making processes.

This case is the second of a two-part series that follows Ramez Sousou and his team at TowerBrook Capital Partners as they face a challenging investment decision in February of 2013. It is intended to be distributed at the end of the discussion of "TowerBrook: ESG in Action (A)" (HBS No. 221-046). This case describes the outcome of the investment decision and the steps that TowerBrook has taken since 2013 to systematically address ESG considerations across the life cycle of their deals. It also discusses TowerBrook's B Corp certification process.

This case assesses Actis' optimal exit route for Umeme, a Ugandan electricity distribution company in their investment portfolio. Actis, a private equity firm that invests exclusively in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, had spent seven years substantially transforming Umeme. In their search for a suitable exit, the partners at Actis weighed their ability to leave Umeme well positioned to continue the operational and financial improvements that Actis had made during their investment period, while also ensuring a robust return for Actis' investors. By exploring the various routes available to Actis, this case demonstrates the factors at play in the creation of social and economic gains through private equity investment.