Private equity investment firm Cimbria Capital announced the acquisition of ESG advisory, analytics and reporting firm Madeira capital. Cimbria stated that the acquisition aims to strengthen the company’s proficiency in the growing area of ESG while augmenting its investment diligence and management processes for the benefit of all stakeholders.

According to the companies, Madeira has developed a unique approach to pre-investment screening and post-investment analytics, utilizing a proprietary ESG evaluation and scoring framework, and applying a balanced emphasis on both financial and non-financial performance. Cimbria conducts growth capital and early-stage buyout investments focused on the water sectors in North America and the Nordics.

Cimbria announced that as part of the acquisition, Madeira’s co-founder and CEO Christina Alfonso will join the firm as ESG Senior Advisor. In her new role, Alfonso will help oversee ESG integration and serve as a direct advisor to the Cimbria’s investment committee and executive team.

Brian V. Iversen, Managing Partner of Cimbria, said:

“Under Ms. Alfonso’s leadership, Madeira has been an invaluable contributor to the broad adoption of ESG as an industry standard. The joining of Madeira’s strong ESG capabilities with Cimbria’s investment and value-add practices offers a sophisticated approach to risk mitigation and fiduciary responsibility that will serve to enhance the long-term value to our investors.”

Alfonso said:

“Cimbria’s leadership team truly understands the value of Madeira’s approach to ESG investing and how to leverage its proprietary methodology at scale. We are thrilled to merge the depth of our knowledge and resources with their commitment to bringing the highest-quality sustainable investments to this ever-growing market.”

Noah J. Sabich, Managing Director and head of Cimbria Capital’s Acceleration Program, added:

“Investment opportunities in the water industry and other resiliency-focused sectors have expanded exponentially in recent years, thanks in part to the rise in demand for ESG-related investments. However, only those private equity firms with domain-specific expertise and confirmed ESG professionalism will achieve the level of alpha generation, impact and accountability required for 21st-century limited partners. With the addition of Ms. Alfonso and Madeira, Cimbria adds yet another level of principal investor acumen and skillset diversification that will enable us to deliver superior results well into the future.”