SLR Consulting Continues Run Of Sustainability-Focused Acquisitions With Purchase Of frc environmental

SLR Consulting Continues Run Of Sustainability-Focused Acquisitions With Purchase Of frc environmental

SLR Consulting, a PE-owned international environmental and sustainability consultancy, continues to expand its geographical reach and service line coverage with its latest acquisition of frc environmental. Since 2004, PE firms have had either a minority stake (2004-2018) or a majority stake (2018-present) in SLR and have been supporting the organization to grow using strategic acquisitions.

At the beginning of February 2024, SLR acquired aquatic ecology consultancy group frc environmental, which specializes in freshwater, estuarine and marine environments. This acquisition will enhance the advisory firm’s ecology and biodiversity consulting capabilities and grow its services offering in South East Queensland, Australia. SLR also bolstered its Australian presence with another acquisition in February: Queensland- and South-Australia-based consultancy Groundwork Plus.

Continued global expansion is a key part of the firm’s growth strategy. UK-headquartered SLR acquired Canadian environmental consultancy Palmer in November 2023, and two ESG advisory firms in June 2023: IBIS Consulting, with market focus in Africa and Asia, and Carnstone, with staff in Europe and Asia.

Furthermore, SLR has been purchasing consultancies with subject matter expertise in quickly expanding climate and sustainability service lines. For example, in January 2024, the firm bought ITPEEnergised, a UK consultancy focused on the renewables sector. The acquisition of frc environmental – in addition to signifying an enhanced depth of knowledge and specific skillsets being brought into SLR – is indicative of the growing demand for nature and biodiversity specialist consultants. Upcoming regulations requiring firms to manage and disclose their nature-related dependencies and impacts will drive demand for consulting services. Organizations will need to comply with regulations such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which expects firms to report on biodiversity using a double materiality lens, and the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which requires firms selling specific commodities to prove they are deforestation-free. Additionally, from February, all major housing developments in England have been required to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain, driving a surge in required ecological assessments.

For more information on which climate and sustainability consulting service lines we anticipate to grow the fastest, take a look at Verdantix Market Size And Forecast: Climate Change Consulting 2022-2028 (Global) and Verdantix Market Size And Forecast: ESG And Sustainability Consulting 2022-2028 (Global).