Global HR and investment company Mercer has acquired Perth-based resources sector-focused remuneration consultancy Ausrem for an undisclosed amount.
Global HR and investment company Mercer has acquired Perth-based resources sector-focused remuneration consultancy Ausrem for an undisclosed amount.
Privately owned Ausrem will be merged into Mercer’s existing talent business, which is led by partner and head of talent in the pacific market, Garry Adams, who is based in Sydney.
Ausrem managing director Allan Feinberg told Business News the company had been in talks with Mercer during the past few months to reach the final outcome.
“What we were looking to do with the Ausrem business and what they were looking to do with the energy and resources sector were very much aligned,” Mr Feinberg said.
“That actually sped things along together with the fact that as people, we all got along really well.”
Mr Feinberg will join Mercer’s talent leadership team and will take on the role as sector leader, building the newly formed pacific resources and energy sector business.
“The newly formed pacific resources and energy sector team will include the consolidation of Mercer's and Ausrem's mining and metals, oil and gas, engineering and construction and utility organisations,” he said.
"All of this information will eventually be housed in Ausrem's REMPortal, which will make it the largest and most sophisticated web based survey database in Australia."
Mr Feinberg said he would also bring in additional consultants with expertise in the oil and gas and resources sector.
Mercer said Ausrem’s seven staff will be incorporated into its talent business at its Perth office in the CBD.
Ausrem provides HR and remuneration consulting to some of the large mining companies including BHP Billiton, Fortescue Metals Group and Rio Tinto, as well as smaller companies such as Silver Lake Resources, Mount Gibson Iron and Karara Mining.
Mercer said in a statement that globally there was a talent shortage in the oil and gas industry, according to its own research.
It said the responsibility to address strategies to attract and retain talent not only fell with individual companies, but also the industry in general.
“Workforce analysis and planning is critical in managing industry growth opportunities,” Mr Adams said.
“Our acquisition of Ausrem puts us on a fast track to lead the market in helping utilities, mining and energy companies meet these challenges.”
The logistics of the merger will commence immediately and Mercer said is expected to be completed in early 2015.
