Green consultancy makes sixth acquisition in PE-backed M&A drive
Thu, 12 Oct 2023 | BUSINESS SALE
Environmental consultancy APEM Group has completed the acquisition of Oxfordshire-based ecological planning consultancy Aspect Ecology. The deal is APEM’s sixth acquisition since it was backed by private equity firm WestBridge in 2021.
The deal adds more than 40 additional ecologists to APEM Group’s terrestrial ecology team. Following the acquisition, the Stockport-headquartered group now has an employee headcount of more than 600 staff.
The takeover follows APEM’s acquisitions of Sligo-based environmental and sustainability consultancy Woodrow in July 2021 and Galway-based marine surveys specialist AQUAFACT and planning and environmental services consultancy GoBe Consultants in 2022. Earlier this year, the group acquired Dublin-based landscape and visual consultancy services provider Macro Works and shipping, navigation and maritime risk consultancy NASH Maritime.
Aspect Ecology provides a full range of consultancy services to property developers, covering stages from pre-purchase site acquisition and planning applications and appeals through to post planning and implementation of necessary mitigation works, including ecological licensing for protected species.
APEM Group Chief Executive Leah McGimpsey commented: “Aspect Ecology bring deep expertise in terrestrial ecology to the Group, building on our existing market-leading capabilities and significantly increasing our strength and depth. This acquisition provides substantial opportunity to continue our expansion into the infrastructure and built environment market.”
“As the need for clean infrastructure increases, Aspect’s knowledge and work with clients in assessing the biodiversity of a developer’s plans and how to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain solutions, will be of real value to APEM’s own clients.”
Aspect Ecology co-founder and Senior Director Alistair Baxter added that joining the APEM Group would provide “great opportunities” for the firm’s team “and allows us to take forward our current operations with the added support of the Group infrastructure.”
Baxter continued: “Joining forces with APEM will enable us to access new markets and offer additional services to our clients as well as more rapidly develop our technological capabilities aided by APEM’s market leading position.”
WestBridge partner Peter Barkley said that the acquisition of Aspect builds on APEM Group’s “existing capabilities in terrestrial ecology, broadens the service offering and further enhances APEM’s reputation in the environmental consulting marketplace.”
He added: “The APEM Group Leadership Team continue to add culturally aligned businesses to the Group via its strategic acquisition strategy, while delivering value adding services to clients.”
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