The Carlyle Group has recently acquired a majority stake in Anthesis, a prominent sustainability advisory and solutions firm.
This acquisition is expected to bolster Carlyle’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and decarbonisation efforts.
Carlyle’s decision to acquire Anthesis is driven by the intention to strengthen its ESG strategy and advance progress across its portfolio on decarbonisation initiatives. While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the strategic intent behind this partnership is clear.
The Carlyle Group, established in 1987, is an investment firm that manages a diverse array of global alternative asset classes, including private equity, real estate, and corporate private credit. On the other hand, Anthesis, founded in 2013 and based in London, is a sustainability advisory that works with businesses, cities, and various organisations to bolster sustainability performance and create financially viable sustainability strategies.
Anthesis’ comprehensive suite of services encompasses Strategy & Governance, Supply Chain & Operations, Sustainable Products & Services, Brand & Communications, Education & Culture, Cities & Environments, and Transactions & Finance. The firm’s successful trajectory is indicated by the 18 add-on acquisitions completed since its inception and its current team of 1,250 specialists across 39 offices in 22 countries. Carlyle’s investment is anticipated to support initiatives like Anthesis’ international expansion, a more comprehensive ESG and sustainability offering, and future mergers and acquisitions.
This deal is not a solo venture. Alongside Carlyle, Anthesis’ employee shareholders and existing shareholder Palatine will reinvest for a minority stake. Palatine initially invested in Anthesis in 2021.
Carlyle Global Head of Impact, Meg Starr, remarked, “We are excited to partner with Anthesis and look forward to working closely in the coming years to develop solutions around material ESG topics both within our portfolio and on a broader, global scale. We are particularly looking forward to collaborating with Anthesis given its convening power to drive convergence on critical ESG issues in private markets, such as their market-leading work on decarbonisation and Net Zero guidance for private equity.”
Stuart McLachlan, CEO and Co-Founder of Anthesis, added, “We are excited to work closely with Carlyle to further strengthen their approach to ESG and sustainability, as they seek to lead by example in the global investment industry. We will continue to act as guides to our clients, realising the value creation opportunity of sustainability in our rapidly changing world.”
Finally, Beth Houghton, Impact Managing Partner at Palatine, expressed, “We have enjoyed a close and successful partnership with Stuart and the Anthesis team, achieving significant organic growth and five successful acquisitions, delivering strong impact and returns for Palatine. In re-investing, we will continue to deliver on our mission of generating Returns with Purpose. We’re excited to be part of the next stage of the Anthesis’ growth journey alongside Carlyle, as more organisations embrace the imperative to act with urgency to address the climate crisis.”
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