BrazilDuPont Sustainable Solutions buys sustainability consultancy Sofies
Within three months of the acquisition of US-based KKS Advisors, DuPont Sustainable Solutions has closed another deal in the sustainability and ESG space with the bolt-on of Sofies Group.
Switzerland-headquartered Sofies Group adds a team of around 50 consultants to its team (most of which are senior experts), lifting DuPont Sustainable Solutions’ headcount through the ‘magical’ barrier of 1,000 employees.
Founded in 2008, Sofies Group specialises in helping clients realise their sustainability objectives, by co-creating strategies, integrating sustainability into governance and operations, and delivering sustainability projects – while ensuring alignment with the UN’s sustainable development goals.
The consultancy works for both public and private sector clients. Sofies Group for example recently helped the city of Lausanne with developing a business model for horticulture, CERN with the development of its first public Environment Report, and Nespresso with complying to the GRI’s sustainability reporting guidelines.
“The acquisition of Sofies Group enables DuPont Sustainable Solutions to provide its clients with deeper insights, strategy expertise and integrated capabilities to develop and implement their sustainability plans so they can successfully protect people, improve operations and create a sustainable future,” said Davide Vassallo, the Chief Executive Officer of DuPont Sustainable Solutions.
He added that the purchase will also bolster the firm’s operational consulting backbone, while complementing both lines of services through an integrated approach – from strategy through to execution. “We believe that improving operations and managing risks are fundamentally linked to sustainability and societal impact.”
The deal comes shortly after the acquisition of KKS advisors, a specialist in ESG financing and investments, expanding on the firm’s already leading position in the sustainability consulting scene. Last month, executives named DuPont Sustainable Solutions the world’s top environment, health & safety consultancy for the fifth year in a row in an independent survey by an analyst firm.
For Vassallo, Sofies Group is the “next piece of the puzzle” in its ambition remain at the forefront of the landscape. “We continue to invest in our capabilities around ESG and sustainability so that we can support clients from investment decisions and strategy development to execution and reporting.”
The integration sees Sofies Group’s teams in Zurich, London and Bangalore join DuPont Sustainable Solutions. Commenting on the joining of forces, David Rochat, CEO of Sofies Group, said: “DuPont Sustainable Solutions is a leader in creating safer workplaces, mitigating risk and achieving operational excellence. We look forward to joining their team and deliver more value to clients and communities.”
Sofies Group is the third acquisition of DuPont Sustainable Solutions since its independence. In March 2020 the firm purchased Canada-based Lodestone Partners.
