Private equity services
Private equity, investors and M&A
Sustainability is now a core lever in investment performance, and the most forward-looking investors are embedding it across the full investment cycle.
Sustainability is now a core lever in investment performance
We are investors ourselves, who work daily with investments in our Article 9 impact venture fund and fully understand the link between commercial value creation, risk management and strategic sustainability. From the outset of The Footprint Firm, we’ve worked closely with private equity firms, institutional investors, and M&A advisors to integrate ESG and impact into investment decision-making, ownership, value creation and exit.
We partner with leading PE firms across the Nordics and Europe, at fund level, with portfolio companies, and in transactions on both the buy and sell side. Our work spans funds of all sizes and Article 6, 8, and 9 classifications, as well as specialised investors in infrastructure, energy, shipping, climate, and impact.
ESG due diligence
We conduct ESG and impact due diligences across all sectors, all company maturity levels and tailored to specific fund strategies across article 6, 8 and 9. Our approach is tailored to the specific requirements of each fund – whether assessing traditional businesses or high-impact targets.
We offer four levels of due diligence:
- Light ESG due diligence focused on risk and compliance
- Standard ESG due diligence covering risk, compliance, and potential value creation levers
- Full impact ESG due diligence including theory of change and value creation potential plan
- Combined commercial due diligence (CDD) and ESG due diligence on impact cases, including assessment of EU Taxonomy and article 9 alignment
Depending on scope, our analyses can include double materiality assessments, peer benchmarking, risk mapping across the value chain, regulatory driver analysis, and maturity and gap assessments. We also support development of theory of change, define impact KPIs, evaluate EU Taxonomy alignment, and identify value creation levers and potential exit narratives. Our due diligence work is never just a one-size-fits-all approach but always carefully scoped to drive the most value in the process: fit with your fund strategy, target size, maturity and sector, calibration of focus vis-a-vis other DD streams and applying our business acumen to all analyses.
Exit preparation and ESG vendor due diligence
We work with companies, investors, and M&A advisors to prepare for exits, ensuring ESG performance is clearly articulated, and value creation opportunities are well positioned. This includes pressure-testing ESG data and systems, assessing regulatory implications, benchmarking against peers, closing material gaps, and preparing management teams for sustainability-related positioning in exit processes.
Additional expertise areas include
- Sustainability alignment under SFDR/EU Taxonomy
- Training on ESG and sustainability topics for investment teams and portfolio companies
- Development of fund sustainability strategy and frameworks, including reporting and impact KPIs
Our featured private equity services
- CataCapabout ?overlay=catacap
CataCap
ESG due diligence with assessment of EU Taxonomy alignment potential for private equity investor
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EQT
ESG due diligence of 3Shape investment
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Polaris
Sustainability strategy & ESG reporting benchmark in private equity
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Summa Equity
Establishing the foundation for Biodiversity & Nature work across investment portfolio for impact fund
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Anna Søndergaard
Co-Founding Partner & CEO
“From fund strategies to due diligence, value creation under ownership to preparing for exit, we support investors in turning sustainability into a lever for better deals, stronger portfolios, and long-term competitive advantage.”
Explore our full range of services supporting every step of the sustainability journey
- Private equity and investors
- Strategy and value creation
- Reporting and regulation
- Nature and resources
- Climate
We support investors across the full investment cycle, from fund strategy and impact priorities to Due Diligence, ownership and exit. Our work helps embed sustainability and impact throughout, unlocking long-term value and stronger outcomes.
- Sustainable fundsabout /services/sustainable-fundsSustainable funds
- Private equity servicesabout /services/private-equity-servicesPrivate equity services
Explore our full range of services supporting every step of the sustainability journey
We support investors across the full investment cycle, from fund strategy and impact priorities to Due Diligence, ownership and exit. Our work helps embed sustainability and impact throughout, unlocking long-term value and stronger outcomes.
- Sustainable fundsabout /services/sustainable-fundsSustainable funds
- Private equity servicesabout /services/private-equity-servicesPrivate equity services
EQT
ESG due diligence of 3Shape investment
EQT is a global investment organisation with nearly three decades of strong performance across regions, sectors, and strategies. As part of the fund’s investment in 3Shape, a global leader in digital dentistry, EQT partnered with The Footprint Firm to lead the ESG due diligence, ensuring that environmental, social, and governance factors were fully integrated into the investment decision.
Services
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- Value creation & commercialisationabout /services/value-creation-and-commercialisationValue creation & commercialisation
Industries
- Private equity
The project
In connection with EQT’s minority investment in 3Shape in December 2021, we were responsible for the ESG track during the due diligence process. The goal was to assess both potential risks and untapped opportunities related to ESG, and to identify how sustainability could support long-term value creation.
Our approach
The ESG due diligence included a materiality assessment based on the SASB framework and considerations aligned with the TCFD. We evaluated 3Shape’s ESG performance, identified key risk areas, and pinpointed opportunities to strengthen sustainability as a strategic asset.
The process also included forward-looking recommendations for how 3Shape could further develop its sustainability efforts - highlighting initiatives and focus areas that could enhance both impact and commercial positioning.
The impact
Our work helped ensure that ESG factors were meaningfully integrated into EQT’s investment decision-making and post-investment planning.
The analysis supported EQT in identifying where 3Shape could mitigate risks, unlock value, and position itself as a sustainability leader within the fast-growing digital health and dental technology space.