RPMGlobal grows ESG division with acquisition of Perth-based environmental consultancy

RPMGlobal (RPM) will bolster its in-house Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) capabilities after entering into an agreement to acquire Perth-headquartered environmental consultancy services firm, Blueprint Environmental Strategies (Blueprint).

The acquisition of Blueprint is in line with RPM’s strategy to grow its mining-focused ESG division to address an increasing demand from the mining industry for ESG related services and technology solutions.

Blueprint has experience across many disciplines, including environmental science and geoscience, risk management, impact assessment, due diligence, governance, social license to operate and geographic information systems.

The highly respected and established team of environmental specialists have deep domain knowledge and longstanding client relationships, particularly with metals clients in Western Australia (WA), thereby complementing RPMGlobal’s existing ESG business.

In recent months, RPM has grown significantly following the establishment of a dedicated ESG mining division, spurred on by the acquisition of ESG services company Nitro Solutions at the beginning of July 2021.

RPMGlobal Chief Executive Officer Richard Mathews said the acquisition of Blueprint provided the company with both increased capability and proven experience to deliver specialised ESG services to mining clients, particularly in the WA market.

“We are focused on driving sustainable outcomes for our customers and it’s clear that Blueprint shares the same ethos,” he said.

“It is a very exciting time for everyone at RPM and we are looking forward to welcoming Blueprint to the team as we enter the next phase of our ESG growth strategy.”

Privately owned Blueprint was founded in 2017, working closely with mining organisations to provide independent, timely and quality-focused ESG services. The breadth of Blueprints’ services offering is large, encompassing all phases of the mining lifecycle from feasibility, funding and approvals through to development and operations, all the way to asset closure and rehabilitation.

Commenting on the acquisition, Blueprint Founder Siobhan Pelliccia said she was very proud of the business her team had built over the last six years and was looking forward to the opportunities that merging with RPM would provide.

“RPM has the people and technology to take the environmental strategies that we deliver to a new level, helping our clients rise to the challenge of sustainable development, to meet the expectations of both their investors and the communities in which they operate”.

“With the speed of ESG adoption and growth in demand from our clients for quality ESG mining services, I am excited about working with the RPM team to accelerate the delivery of these critical services to companies operating in the resources sector,” she said.

In July, Mathews stated that the development of RPMGlobal’s ESG division marked the beginning of the company’s ESG journey, with the intention to grow the division with further advisory services as well as ESG specific software from the technology division.

“The existing RPMGlobal ESG team have already exceeded our expectations,” Mathews noted.

“It has been fantastic to hear the positive support from RPMGlobal’s existing clients and to expand the breadth of our ESG solution offering alongside our commitment to helping our customers establish and address their growing ESG compliance and reporting requirements,” he concluded.

The acquisition of Blueprint is expected to close on 30 September 2021, subject to satisfaction of a number of conditions precedent and customary completion events.