Sustainability expert Westbridge Advisory / Argentus / Agradblue (Westbridge) has brought a second strategic investor on board after GENUI. The pan-European private equity firm KADENS Capital (KADENS), which specializes in real estate and real estate companies, has secured a minority stake in the leading ESG service provider and energy optimization expert for the German real estate industry. The transaction was made on behalf of a major Norwegian sovereign wealth fund with a long-term investment horizon. Westbridge gains direct access to international markets through its new shareholder and opens up a direct link to real estate markets outside Germany through KADENS' platform and investor spectrum. Therefore, the addition of KADENS to the shareholder base represents another important building block in Westbridge's strategy of international growth.
Matthias Cordier, Founding Partner of KADENS Capital, says: "The ongoing regulatory pressure and the growing need for low-carbon energy sources in the real estate industry make professional consulting in this field a long-term growth segment, both in Germany and internationally."
"The entry of KADENS as a strategic investor is a milestone for Westbridge and shows that we are on the right track. Dedicating ourselves fully and wholeheartedly to the topic of ESG, and being able to present and map it in all its facets, has put us in a unique position to deliver fundamental added value in terms of sustainability to our clients, whether at home or abroad," adds Rüdiger Salzmann, Managing Partner of Westbridge. "Against the backdrop of the further rollout of our range of services within the housing industry and the ongoing internationalization of our company, we are now even more strongly positioned as an ESG expert."
"We see our involvement with Westbridge as a clear win-win situation for both sides. Through KADENS' platform and international network, Westbridge can tap into valuable contacts with a view to expanding its business internationally. Conversely, we secure direct access to market-leading know-how and comprehensive expertise in the field of sustainability, which is of great interest to our international investor base. This year's ESG report by BMC, which lists Agradblue and Westbridge/Argentus in the top 3 in the area of "strategic sustainability consulting", shows that we have knocked on the right door," Cordier concludes.