The acquisition in Australia brings APEM’s construction rate to eight

Stockport-based environmental consultancy APEM has made its third acquisition this year, which will see the private equity-backed buy-and-build group employ 215 people Down Under.

The transaction further strengthens APEM’s presence in Australia and comes just three months after it expanded its presence and capabilities in the country with the acquisition of ecology and cultural heritage consultancy Biosis. Attexo’s inclusion in the Group means Stockport-based APEM now employs 215 consultants across 11 offices in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, opening up significant opportunities in the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region.

WestBridge supporters say the deal is part of a strategy to build “the world’s leading environmental consulting firm.”

Leah McGimpsey, chief executive, told TheBusinessDesk.com that the acquisition of Attexo, one of Australia’s leading providers of environmental advisory and consulting services to the renewable energy sector, was in line with APEM’s ethos.

“The addition of Attexo to the Group builds on our commitment to growing our Australian business, while giving our colleagues in Australia and across the Group the opportunity to collaborate on new and exciting client projects and pursue opportunities to further their career development,” she said.

She added that Attexo “will further enhance our existing environmental, biodiversity, heritage and geospatial permitting capabilities and add new land, property and environmental management capabilities to the Group.”

“We look forward to demonstrating the depth and breadth of our capabilities in Australia to support our clients throughout the lifecycle of their projects,” she said.

Private equity investor WestBridge said all of APEM’s acquisitions are “thoughtfully integrated with the core business” and are expected to contribute to growth in the coming year through APEM’s common approach to cross-selling.

Peter Barkley, partner at WestBridge, said: “With eight strategic acquisitions under our belt, it is no surprise that APEM has grown so phenomenally and is on track to become the world’s leading environmental consultancy.

“The team’s immediate goal is to ensure that all three acquisitions completed this year are fully and sympathetically integrated into the business so that all clients continue to receive best-in-class service based on breadth and depth of expertise.

“The Australian Government’s commitment to renewable energy, combined with the team’s commitment to supporting the world in transitioning to Net Zero, sets the stage for an ambitious and exciting future organic trajectory for APEM Group across all geographies. Moreover, as a preferred destination for ambitious founder-led companies, there remains enormous potential for future acquisitions once those completed in 2024 are fully incorporated into APEM.”

Guy Davies, managing partner at WestBridge, said: “The acquisition truly caps off a phenomenal year for the company. Looking forward to 2025, the stronger-than-expected determination of the AMP cycle, the position the company has built in Australia, cross-selling opportunities from acquisitions in 2024, and the positive tailwinds that continue to drive the core business mean that APEM has huge potential for organic growth over the next few years.”

WestBridge operates in the UK with offices in London, Manchester and Cardiff.