IBIS Consulting joins SLR to build one of the largest global ESG & impact advisory teams

SLR has agreed to acquire leading emerging market ESG advisory firm – IBIS Consulting. IBIS, which has a strong market focus in Africa and Asia, works predominantly with financial institutions and their underlying investments as they transition to adopting more sustainable, responsible, and impact-focused investment strategies.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to complete at the end of June. IBIS brings a 100-strong team of highly experienced ESG and Impact advisory professionals in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, UK, and France.

IBIS are primarily supporting Development Financial Institutions (DFIs), Private Equity investors, Banks, Export Credit Agencies, Asset Managers, Impact Investors and Venture Capital firms in driving internationally accepted sustainability standards, helping them to de-risk investments and unlock value, by strengthening the ESG Performance and Development Impact of their portfolios.

They provide the full spectrum of ESG and Impact advisory services to their clients spanning the investment lifecycle, from deal origination to exit, and have one of the largest transaction advisory teams in Africa and Asia working on ESDD and post-transaction support across a range of sectors. They also bring deep technical specialist capabilities in ESG and Impact management systems for FIs, Sustainable Finance advisory (green / climate bond structuring and verification), climate strategy and TCFD, decarbonisation and adaptation, and social safeguarding including decent work, human rights and gender lens investing. IBIS also supports clients to navigate listing requirements and is Africa's largest provider of independent sustainability data and report assurance services.

The acquisition of IBIS adds a specialist Sustainable Finance lens to SLR’s growing corporate ESG advisory capability which sets us apart from our peers and firmly places SLR in a market-leading position having assembled one of the largest teams of senior ESG and Impact experts globally.

Neil Penhall, SLR’s CEO said “I am very excited to have the IBIS team join SLR. IBIS is one of the global leaders in supporting the financial sector to drive value through ESG and achieve positive impacts for their investments across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. IBIS complements and builds upon SLR’s existing capabilities which have grown significantly through organic and acquisitive growth and will result in one of the largest global ESG Advisory teams. Together we can help our clients make sustainability happen.”

IBIS’s CEO, Jeremy Soboil commented “We are delighted about becoming part of SLR. SLR’s people-focused culture and trusted reputation with their clients strongly resonates with our vision and values. We also recognise that SLR’s technical rigour and depth of expertise, coupled with their global reach, can complement and enhance our offerings to the financial sector. We have looked hard for the right partner and believe it is now the time to take the next step in our evolution as a business.”