Barings has acted as sole lender of secured credit facilities in the merger of Westbridge Advisory (Westbridge) with Argentus (Argentus), a portfolio company of GENUI.
GENUI acquired a significant stake in Argentus in 2021, subsequently merging it with Westbridge in 2022, Argentus’ largest peer in Germany. The merger will create a leading Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) and operating efficiency advisor, serving the German and Pan-European real estate industry. The companies’ founders remain significant shareholders alongside GENUI.
Westbridge offers ESG consulting, operating cost optimisation, facility management consulting and real estate management services, with the aim of improving property efficiency in the long term. Argentus provides support in the commercial and technical optimisation of operating costs, set-up of sustainable real estate operations and streamlining of building infrastructure.
Barings acted as the sole lender in the deal, providing a senior term loan as well as an acquisition facility for future acquisitions. The financing also includes a tailored ESG margin ratchet.
