ERM (consultancy)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Environmental consulting, Sustainability consulting |
| Predecessor | ERL (UK, 1971), ERM (US, 1977) |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Fate | Acquired majority ownership by KKR in 2021 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Environmental, health, safety, risk management, social consulting, sustainability advisory services |
| Owner | KKR (majority), ERM partners (minority) |
ERM (Environmental Resources Management) is a global consultancy firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom, specializing in sustainability and environmental advisory services. The company provides expertise in environmental, health, safety, risk management, social consulting, and sustainability domains.
History
Formed in 1987, ERM Limited originated from the merger of two entities: the UK-based ERL, established in 1971, and the US-based ERM, founded in 1977. Since its inception, ERM has grown substantially by acquiring various companies to broaden its market reach and diversify its service portfolio.
In 2015, Canadian pension investment entities OMERS and AIMCo obtained a controlling interest from Charterhouse Capital Partners. Later, in May 2021, the American global investment firm KKR acquired the majority ownership from OMERS and AIMCo, valuing ERM at roughly $2.7 billion inclusive of debt. Minority ownership remains with ERM partners.
Projects
During the 1990s, ERM developed the environmental statement for High Speed 1, the United Kingdom’s inaugural dedicated high-speed rail line. In the following decade, a consortium led by ERM secured the environmental impact assessment contract for a segment of the High Speed 2 project, collaborating with partners Mott MacDonald and Temple Group.
ERM has also undertaken environmental evaluations for rail infrastructure internationally. In the 1990s, it conducted assessments for multiple railway proposals in Hong Kong. In the early 2010s, ERM performed an air quality evaluation related to South Africa’s manganese ore mining rail expansion on behalf of Transnet. Around the same time frame, it assessed environmental compliance for a major train station commissioned by Brisbane City Council and evaluated a new rail corridor project in Tanzania.
With significant expertise in mining and energy sectors, ERM carried out the impact assessment for the Keystone Pipeline, though it encountered criticism regarding potential conflicts of interest linked to its connections with project stakeholders. In 2021, ERM delivered an environmental impact assessment in Guyana for American oil corporation ExxonMobil, which generated controversy over alleged inaccuracies. The firm also prepared the impact assessment for the Dakota Access Pipeline, facing similar conflict of interest concerns. Furthermore, ERM certified that the Batoka Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station, situated on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, would not cause significant negative effects on adjacent communities. During the late 2010s, ERM conducted environmental and social impact assessments for exploratory drilling activities in São Tomé and Príncipe.
In 2022, Houston residents filed lawsuits against ERM among other defendants alleging misrepresentation and wrongful death claims connected to environmental contamination.
In 2019, ERM secured funding from the British government for Project Dolphyn, an initiative aimed at generating green hydrogen utilizing offshore wind energy.