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In the course of its worldwide expansion campaign, the consulting firm ERM has taken over the energy and sustainability company E4tech. The move takes place shortly after KKR supported the company’s global ambitions with a large investment contract.

Keryn James, CEO of ERM, commented, “We are rapidly expanding our capabilities to support our customers at all stages of their decarbonization journey … We are excited to welcome E4tech to our growing team.”

As climate ambitions accelerated in both the public and private sectors in recent years, pressure from shareholders, investors, regulators, and consumers on businesses and governments to set and achieve ambitious, science-led goals is mounting. The latest acquisition aims to strengthen ERM’s ability to help customers develop decarbonization pathways and capitalize on the opportunities presented by low carbon technologies.

ERM is a multinational consulting company headquartered in London. With more than 5,500 employees in 160 offices in over 40 countries, the sustainability consultancy supports customers in their green ambitions with a focus on strategy and implementation, health and safety and the implementation of best practices in the areas of environment, social affairs and governance (ESG). ERM has grown rapidly over the past decade, accelerated by a buy-and-build strategy that has seen over 20 acquisitions since 2010, including First Option in early 2021 and Sustainalize in April.

E4tech, meanwhile, is helping companies and governments identify transition opportunities through the next generation of technologies aimed at decarbonising key sectors of the economy. Since 1997, it has assisted clients in analyzing, investing in, and deploying the latest low-carbon technologies, sometimes for the first time, and in developing and implementing appropriate strategies and guidelines to keep them working. Becoming a part of ERM will also help the E4tech team as the move will enable them to leverage their skills in low carbon technology to address the challenges ERM’s customer base – including some of the world’s leading companies – is facing.

Ausilio Bauen, Director of E4tech, said: “Since our inception, we have endeavored to combine a deep understanding of low carbon technologies, policies and business requirements to help our customers grow.”

The news follows a long-term investment by KKR, one of the world’s largest private equity groups (and a longstanding client of ERM’s advisory services). In a deal sealed in May, KKR acquired a majority stake in ERM from OMERS Private Equity and Alberta Investment Management Corporation, while ERM’s management team and partners remain minority investors. In its statement on the E4tech deal, ERM said the cash injection from KKR “will further increase the company’s ability to drive differentiation and leadership through strategic mergers and acquisitions.”