EY announces acquisition of EBS Advisory to further enhance its M&A sustainability and ESG advisory services across Africa.

Johannesburg, 18 May 2023: EY South Africa is pleased to announce the acquisition of EBS Advisory, a market leading ESG Advisory services organisation in Southern, East and West Africa; providing Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability advisory services to public and private sector clients; business, investors, and financial institutions. Since 1999, the organisation has executed over 1,000 projects in 62 countries, across four continents.

With the acquisition of EBS by EY South Africa, we have enhanced our ability to assist clients in setting strategy, integrating ESG into investment decision-making, communication, monitoring, data analytics, management, correlation of social and financial returns on investment and reporting. This is specifically aimed at enhancing shared value through improved benefit to society. We offer invaluable, end-to-end ESG advisory services to our clients, ensuring they maintain excellent ESG performance and build credible ESG credentials; practically assisting them with the deployment of capital and operational budgets for maximum benefits to all stakeholders. 

We deploy our expertise prior to a client making an investment by defining strategy and investment objectives, during the investment period by managing risks and liabilities, and at exit or closure through the articulation of shared value created which aims to maximise exit valuations. We deliver both revenue growth and cost reduction opportunities while ensuring improved company license to operate through targeted impact initiatives.

EBS Advisory’s CEO, James Brice and COO, Dr Raylene Watson will join our Strategy & Transactions Service Line as Partner and Associate Partner respectively, and all of EBS’s employees will join EY Africa.

Ajen Sita, EY Africa CEO: “It is exciting to conclude this strategic acquisition for EY as we expand our service offerings even further in the field of ESG reporting and sustainability consulting. Sustainability is everybody’s business and this acquisition supports our intention and capability to equip our clients with what they need within the regulatory ESG environment.”

EY Africa Strategy & Transactions Leader, Quintin Hobbs: “Our Strategy & Transactions business’s capability is further enhanced by the acquisition of EBS Advisory in Africa. We are excited to welcome James, Raylene and their dynamic team of ESG experts to EY, working with us to accelerate EY South Africa’s growth. Our organisations share a like-mindedness and that is that ESG will become business as usual when it is shown to positively impact the bottom-line. Long-term and ESG value for all stakeholders continues as a central theme in future-fit, transformational organisations.

EBS Advisory’s CEO, James Brice, “The potential transaction represents a significant opportunity to improve the scale of service to our and EY’s Africa-strong client base and we look forward to the opportunity.”

-ends-

For more information, please contact Samantha Rech at EY Brand, Marketing and Communications  on 082 493 6335

Notes to Editors

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, strategy and transactions and consulting services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organisation, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organisation, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd, a member of the global EY organisation that also does not provide any services to clients.