Grant Thornton boosts sustainability services with double Dutch deal

Grant Thornton has acquired two sustainability consultancies in the Netherlands: Avance Impact and Wolfs Company.

“Entrepreneurs are increasingly obliged to ensure their operations contribute to European climate goals and prevent inequality. As we prepare for more focus on sustainability and ESG, we are delighted to welcome Avance Impact and Wolfs Company,” said Marcel Welsink, Chairman of Grant Thornton’s Dutch board of directors.

The double deal, which builds on the 2019 acquisition of Sinzer, sees the firm’s sustainability and social impact practice grow to more than 40 consultants.

Founded in 2002, Avance Impact is a research, consulting and training firm that helps organisations with measuring and improving their ESG impact. Clients are impact funds, non-profits, companies with an impact mission and governmental organisations, including the likes of VluchtelingenWerk Nederland, Tony’s Chocolonely, OranjeFonds and ministries.

The firm’s key offerings centre around developing an impact strategy, measuring impact, and project delivery and change management in the field. The firm also helps government clients with developing and launching impact-related subsidy schemes, and its Academy delivers (certified) trainings to impact managers and sustainability officers.

Established in 2011, the smaller Wolfs Company develops economic research around environmental impact. Known for its extensive models and scenario’s for assessing the ‘business case for nature’, the firm specialises in the field of biodiversity and nature conservation. Wolfs Company works for both public as well as private sector clients.

Welsink: “Supporting organisations in their transition to a more sustainable and inclusive place requires both broad and deep expertise. These acquisitions help us scale our team and boost our services.”

As part of the deal, the director-owners of Avance Impact (Edith Kroese and Jacoline Plomp) and Wolfs Company (Esther Wolfs) will become partners in Grant Thornton’s Sustainability practice.

Emma Verheijke, a partner in Grant Thornton’s Sustainability practice: “By combining our experience, we can offer an end-to-end offering, from strategy and purpose, to measuring impact and reporting on environmental, social and economic aspects, to helping clients realise and embed change.”

In related consulting M&A news, Accenture this year acquired three sustainability consultancies in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany, while McKinsey last year also beefed up its sustainability offerings with a trio of deals.