Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has been identified as key areas of interest for merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, according to analysis of GlobalData’s Job Analytics Database.
The leading data and analytics company revealed that there were over 60,000 job postings in the first quarter of 2022 that had ‘deal making’ keywords (including M&A) as a theme. Based on the job analytics database, over 15,000 jobs were related to ESG.
Sherla Sriprada, Business Fundamentals Analyst at GlobalData, said:
“ESG is appearing as a theme around Deal Making (M&A) jobs for multiple sectors. Firms are looking at deals that have a sustainability angle to contribute to their net-zero roadmap. TotalEnergies posted a ‘Business Development and M&A’ indicating that the company is growing its Indian business through organic investments, partnerships and M&As in the open access solar and rooftop solar markets.”
Sherla Sriprada
While M&A activities are increasing in some sectors, it is not the same for carbon-intensive sectors, as M&A activities in such sectors are declining, especially in the oil and gas industry. This is despite the rise in oil prices of more than $100 per barrel.
Additionally, power company ERM Group was hiring a ‘Principal Consultant– Infrastructure M&A and Sustainable Finance’ role to lead due diligence assignments around ESG and regulatory drivers for deals. The role looks at green energy transitions for construction and power.
Meanwhile, tech company Diligent Corp posted a ‘General Manager of ESG, Data Services & Due Diligence’ role, which focuses on ESG-related analytics. In the job description, the post noted that it was looking how to expand its offerings through M&A opportunities.
Number of Deal-Making Jobs Rise
GlobalData’s report also noted that the number of dealmaking-related (M&A) jobs were particularly high within the financial services, technology and communications, power, oil & gas, and aerospace, defense & security (ADS) sectors.
“GlobalData’s Job Analytics database reveals that ADS firms were hiring for roles around big data and space systems. For example, Blue Origin was seeking a ‘Director of New Shepard Business and Program Operations’ to help create and implement expansion strategies for its New Shepard (reusable suborbital rocket) business while anchoring client contracts, strategic collaborations, and M&As.”
Sherla Sriprada
Financial services companies have continued to focus on hiring staff for non-fungible token (NFT) creation, payment solutions, crypto custody, and crypto wallets in the first quarter of 2022.
“Crypto company Coinbase is looking to expand globally. The company appears to be considering M&A opportunities, based on its postings such as its ‘Director of Equity Administration’ role, which notes that the company is looking at deals with complex M&A equity. CoinSwitch Kuber and CoinDCX in India, Bitso in Latin America, and Rain in the Middle East are some examples of its international ventures.”
Sherla Sriprada
The Job Analytics Database forms part of research for the report on ‘Global Hiring Activity Signals & Trends Q1 2022’. Thus, on the whole, active jobs increased by 9 per cent over the first quarter as compared to the previous quarter, while improving 52 per cent Year-on-Year.
