London — 7 October 2020 — Global professional services organisation, LRQA Group (LRQA), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Energy business unit to Inspirit Capital, a London-based investment firm focused on building long-term value. The agreement follows a comprehensive review of LRQA's business portfolio and strategic direction.
The deal will create a new engineering and technical consultancy offering specialist asset performance, risk management and project management expertise across complex industrial assets, the energy transition and rail infrastructure.
Commenting on the announcement, LRQA's Chief Executive Officer, Alastair Marsh said: “As part of an ongoing strategic review of our business, we reached the decision that this transaction is the best option to realise the long-term growth potential of our Energy business. LRQA Energy offers world-class engineering solutions across the sector, and the partnership with Inspirit provides them with further support and investment to underpin their growth objectives. The LRQA Group remains committed to the energy sector, continuing to support our clients through our offshore compliance, digital products and inspection services businesses, in collaboration with our former LRQA Energy colleagues where appropriate.”
David Clark, LRQA's Energy Director, who will lead the new company, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for us, which supports our mission to help clients tackle complexity head-on. This announcement provides us with a partner to build on our existing track record and unlock our growth potential as a standalone business, offering our full suite of technical, regulatory and operational expertise. Our purpose is to help clients manage risk and maximise performance, blending deep technical knowledge, data-driven insights with hands-on expertise. The increasing complexity we are seeing, with the transition and restructuring of the energy markets and the impact of digital transformation across our global energy, complex industrial and transport customers, means our solutions are more relevant than ever. We look forward to working with the Inspirit team to deliver on our ambitions.”
Will Stamp, founding partner at Inspirit Capital said: “LRQA's Energy division has an excellent reputation internationally and we are proud to be supporting the next phase in the development of the business. We are backing a world-class team and look forward to building a valuable standalone organisation in a market undergoing dramatic change.”
The transaction is expected to complete on or before the 31st October 2020 and is not subject to any formal regulatory or other approvals.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About LRQA
LRQA is a global professional services organisation specialising in engineering and technology solutions. Our experts advise and support clients to improve the safety and performance of complex projects, supply chains and critical infrastructure. We help to keep the world moving safely, efficiently and sustainably.
LRQA is the world’s first marine classification society, created more than 260 years ago to improve the safety of ships. Now our technical expertise is offered in more than 70 countries, by more than 6,000 employees. The profits we generate fund our shareholder, LRQA Foundation, a global charity whose mission is to enhance the safety of life and property. Our independence means we provide reliable, impartial and informed advice.
All of this helps us stand by the purpose that drives us every single day; working together for a safer world.
About LRQA Energy
LRQA's Energy business was founded in the 1930s following LRQA's diversification from marine assets into the oil and gas industry. LRQA Energy has subsequently supported the transformation of global energy infrastructure, working on complex and large-scale energy projects around the world, becoming one of the leading engineering consultancy partners of choice. Since 2005, numerous strategic acquisitions including Capstone, ODS, Human Engineering, Celerity3, ModuSpec, Scandpower and WEST Engineering propelled the business. The acquisition of Senergy in 2013 expanded LRQA Energy’s portfolio, covering the full energy value chain and life cycle, from reservoir to refinery and beyond.
About Inspirit Capital (www.inspiritcap.com)
Inspirit is an investment firm that provides capital and expertise to drive transformation and growth in UK-headquartered businesses. With committed capital from a consortium of institutional investors, Inspirit typically invests in businesses that are no longer core to a parent company’s strategic objectives or require a different ownership structure and skillset to achieve their full potential.
For media enquiries contact:
Katie Begg
VP Marketing & Communications, Energy
T +44 1224 398115
M +44 7967 430079
E: katie.begg@lr.org
Kate Delahunty
Group Corporate Affairs Director
M: +44 7966 745071
E: kate.delahunty@lr.org
Nicola Good
Marine & Offshore
Global Head of Brand & External Relations
M: +44 7855 113 273
E: nicola.good@lr.org