ALL4 Acquires Spain-Based Laragon To Boost European EHS Digital Services Capacity

ALL4 Acquires Spain-Based Laragon To Boost European EHS Digital Services Capacity

The European market is currently underserved by consulting firms with an EHS digital strategy and software implementation capability. So it was a smart move by Philadelphia-headquartered ALL4 to acquire Spanish firm Laragon, which is one of the few specialists in Europe with EHS digital services capabilities. The deal also supports growth opportunities for ALL4 in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. Now with 300 EHS consulting professionals and a strong digital mindset, ALL4 is emerging as a new breed of midsize player in a market that saw a huge amount of consolidation in the mid-2010s.

There is a lot to play for in the European market for EHS consultancies, which are alert to the sustainability agenda and bring digital skillsets to the table. The global market for EHS digital services was worth $2.2 billion in 2023, representing 5% of the total market for EHS services – which reached $42.9 billion in 2023. The European EHS services market was worth $8.7 billion in 2023 and the Latin American EHS services market $3.2 billion. Verdantix forecasts that the global market will grow at a 6.9% CAGR from 2022 to 2029, and EHS digital services will grow at a slightly higher rate of 7.7%. European growth is expected to be 6.3% over the same period.

Midsize EHS consulting firms like ALL4 have a great opportunity to sail on the tailwinds of multiple growth vectors in the European market. Firstly, spending to comply with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is belatedly kicking in, with the first reports due in February 2025. This is driving investment in digital systems for carbon reporting and enterprise-wide EHS compliance in the mid-market, which has historically taken a lowest possible cost approach. Secondly, more powerful generative AI large language models will facilitate the work of nimble operators like ALL4, staffed with people who are digitally savvy. Incident data is already being automatically assessed with AI to better identify root causes of accidents. Complex permits are being unpacked by tools like ehsAI. Tech vendors like Benchmark Gensuite are pioneering a wide range of AI initiatives to improve the value add of EHS software. Thirdly, tech vendors backed by some of the world’s largest private equity funds – such as Apax and Hg – need services partners to help them expand their serviceable market. Accessing Spain, Latin America and other European countries via ALL4 will help facilitate these growth plans.