Spanish firm acquires Stockport environmental group in £335 million deal

Spanish testing and certification group, Applus+, have agreed to acquire Stockport-headquartered environmental consultancy, APEM Group, in a c.£335 million deal.

The deal follows a string of global acquisitions by APEM in recent years following investment from WestBridge, which will exit from the business.

APEM Group provides independent environmental consultancy and expert scientific advice to a wide range of industries including water, renewables, infrastructure, power and utilities, ports and harbors, as well as to regulators and governments worldwide. The business has around 850 employees, with a turnover of £95 million in the twelve months to June 2025.

Its acquisition will expand new owners, Applus+, into the environmental consultancy space, and will see current APEM CEO, Leah McGimpsey (pictured), head up a new global Environmental Services business within the Barcelona-founded group.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close before year end.

Richard Bartlett, CEO of Applus+, said:

“I’m excited to welcome the APEM Group to the Applus+ family. This is a key step in expanding our portfolio and accelerating our sustainability strategy. APEM Group brings deep technical expertise, a strong team and a proven track record in innovation. It’s a unique opportunity to create value and deliver sustainable growth for our customers.

“I am thrilled to welcome Leah McGimpsey and her great team to Applus+. I very much look forward to working together.” 

Leah McGimpsey, CEO of APEM Group, added:

“We’re delighted to join Applus+, a partner who can nurture APEM Group and provide a home for the brightest minds in environmental science. By joining forces, we enhance our client offering and bring new solutions across the full project lifecycle.”

RBC Capital Markets acted as financial advisor to Applus+ on this transaction.