Apax: Growing Assessment Capabilities at Sedex

Apax has agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Sedex, a company that provides supply chain sustainability platforms. The investment amount has not been disclosed.

The transaction could enable Sedex to expand its assessment capabilities and provide customers with better tools for monitoring supplier performance across multiple tiers.

According to the announcement, the deal is subject to customary closing conditions.

Visibility across supply chain tiers

Sedex operates platforms that track labour practices, environmental standards and corporate responsibility across global supply chains. The company currently serves major brands including Nestle, Unilever and KFC.

The acquisition could allow Sedex to extend its reach in fast-moving consumer goods and retail markets. The company also plans to expand into additional sectors and regions.

Sedex aims to broaden its product offerings to address more risk factors. The platform currently provides site-level data that allows companies to assess conditions at individual facilities.

Enhanced audit intelligence forms part of the expansion strategy. This could mean customers gain access to more detailed information about supplier compliance and performance.

Risk management at facility level

"Sedex has developed a uniquely powerful offering that equips companies around the world with the tools to manage risk, demonstrate improvement and drive responsible practices across the tiers, regions and facilities of complex supply chains," says Jon Hancock, CEO at Sedex.

The platform helps businesses identify potential issues before they affect operations. Companies use the system to monitor working conditions, environmental impact and corporate governance across their supplier networks.

Sedex's approach involves collecting data from facilities in multiple countries. This information allows procurement teams to compare performance across different suppliers and regions.

Jon said the investment could strengthen strategic partnerships with customers and deepen data capabilities: "This investment enables us to further build on that foundation, strengthening our strategic partnership with customers, deepening our data capabilities and expanding our global reach, so we can better support customers in delivering responsible, resilient supply chains at scale."

Operational improvements through data

Sedex Holdings, the current major shareholder, will retain a minority stake after the transaction closes. The entity will operate under the new name SHL Membership.

SHLM will continue working to improve labour, environmental and corporate responsibility practices in supply chains. It will use net proceeds to enhance global supply chain conditions and establish a charitable trust for targeted philanthropic investments.

The organisation plans to consult with members to guide its activities. This could mean existing customers have input into how funds are allocated for supply chain improvement initiatives.

"Sedex helps make supply chains more ethical, transparent and safe for the workers within them," say Anders Meyerhoff, Partner, and Thomas Crewe, Principal at Apax.

LDC, Sedex's existing minority investor, will exit as part of the transaction. According to Dan Gluckman, Investment Director at LDC, the company's revenue more than doubled from 2022 to 2025.

LDC's 2023 investment helped Sedex develop its data platform and assessment tools. These solutions support businesses in understanding supplier performance across different tiers of the supply chain.

"Jon and his team have built a genuinely market-leading platform underpinned by unmatched site-level data, while expanding their global footprint and proving the commercial viability of supply chain risk management at scale," says Dan.

The platform helps clients simplify compliance requirements and reduce audit costs. Sedex measures sustainability performance to help companies reach their goals and increase transparency between suppliers and buyers.