Argentus and Westbridge Advisory, the German, independent companies specialising in the areas of sustainability and the optimisation of operating costs for properties, have announced plans to join forces.

ESG advisory merger

ESG Advisory Merger

According to both parties, the merger will create the 'leading ESG service provider for the German property sector'. Financial details have not been disclosed.

Said Christopher Feliks, managing partner of Westbridge Advisory: 'Throughout Europe, portfolio managers and owners are facing the major challenge of making their portfolios climate-neutral – and we are the right people to speak to from A to Z.

'From energy and operating cost management to all sustainability and ESG issues. Thanks to our expertise, we can help others to make the right economic and ecological decisions.'

Added Simon Szpyrka, managing partner of Argentus: 'Together, we form the perfect team to embed the crucially important subject of sustainability in the minds of decision-makers.

'The regulations show us that anyone who doesn’t get on board of the sustainability train soon is running the risk of not getting where they’re going.'

The merger between Argentus and Westbridge, in combination with the joint venture between Westbridge and agradblue, marks a key step towards serving the major customer demand in the segment and helping the industry to achieve its sustainability goals, the firms said.

Westbridge and Argentus will benefit from substantial synergy effects, which the firms say will be passed to their clients including investors, portfolio managers, owners, asset managers and property managers.

Managing partner of Westbridge, Rüdiger Salzmann added: 'Simon, my co-founders Christopher and Patrick and I have known each other since our youth, and we are looking forward to working together as a team. Together, our combined team counts more than 100 sustainability experts.

'The merger will leave us ideally positioned to successfully handle even complex problems for our customers. More than ever, we are able to substantially accelerate our customers along the path to the decarbonisation of their property portfolios.'

Moving forward, the operational companies will be headed by the managing directors Ralf F. Bode, Hajo Engelke, Christopher Feliks, Patrick Kämpfner, Rüdiger Salzmann, Daniel Schwab, Simon Szpyrka and Sandra Zengerling.

Dr Konrad Jerusalem, the co-founder and managing partner of Argentus, will take the merger as an opportunity to withdraw from the day-to-day running of the company. He will continue to support the joint group in an advisory capacity.