Global environmental and advisory solutions firm SLR says it has acquired RPA Inc, a 60-person, leading mining advisory business with teams in Toronto, Denver and London.

The RPA team includes geological, mining and metallurgical consultants who have provided expertise and advice on every continent to clients in the mining industry for more than 30 years.

SLR says the team will bring world-class mining advisory services to its existing mining and minerals practice, not only in North America and Europe but across the globe.

This is not the first acquisition SLR has carried out recently. Back in December, it announced it was buying Northern Resource Consultants (NRC), a 25-person team of environmental specialists based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. This also added to its mining and minerals practice. It also bought Novus Environmental and HydroSimulations.

RPA’s clients include major mining companies, exploration and development firms, banking, government, law firms, individual investors, and private equity, according to SLR. “RPA is recognised as a worldwide leader in mineral resource and mineral reserve estimation in compliance with all reporting codes; technical due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, financings and exchange listings; mineral property valuations, independent engineers for project debt financings, and expert witness in international litigation and arbitration cases.”

SLR and RPA have collaborated on client projects for several years and together will be able to offer clients in the mining sector a complete service extending from value creation and generation through resource and reserve work to environmental and social risk and liability management, according to SLR.

Neil Penhall, SLR’s Chief Executive, said: “We have always been strong on service delivery for our mining and minerals clients, but the addition of the RPA team really lifts our advisory capability to another level. Together we have a world-class environmental solutions and advisory offering for clients on every continent.

“This is our fourth acquisition in just over six months and, again, reflects the confidence both we and our new investors, Charterhouse Capital Partners, have in the market and the opportunities to provide worldclass environmental solutions and advice to our clients.”

Graham Clow, RPA’s Chairman, added: “We pride ourselves on providing the very best advice to our clients and believe that together with our new colleagues at SLR we can deliver an even better range and depth of solutions in the mining and minerals sector.”

SLR’s Global Head of Mining and Minerals, Dave Walker, said: “We’ve worked successfully on projects with the RPA team for several years. Now we can operate as one team and really provide a complete solution to our mining and minerals clients.”