Sphera's ESG software portfolio centers around SpheraCloud, a SaaS-based platform that integrates Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S), Operational Risk Management (ORM), and Product Stewardship functions into a unified system12. This comprehensive platform helps organizations operationalize ESG by connecting disparate data from systems, sensors, and human activities to provide real-time visibility into ESG performance and risk34.

The portfolio includes specialized solutions such as Corporate Sustainability software for greenhouse gas emissions tracking and carbon footprint calculations56, Environmental Accounting for regulatory compliance1, Supply Chain Transparency for risk management7, and Product Compliance software for ensuring sustainable and compliant products8. Recognized as a market leader in multiple Verdantix Green Quadrant reports, Sphera's solutions serve over 3,000 customers globally with more than 60 ESG experts supporting their implementation29. The company's integrated approach has earned it top scores for voluntary reporting frameworks, regulated disclosures, and vision and strategy in sustainability software benchmarks9.

In 2021, Blackstone acquired Sphera from Genstar Capital for $1.4 billion, marking a significant investment in the ESG software sector12. The transaction was funded through Blackstone Capital Partners VIII LP, which closed in 2019 with $26 billion of capital3. This acquisition aligned with Blackstone's thematic investment focus on the ESG sector, providing Sphera with capital to accelerate growth and expand product offerings2. At the time of acquisition, Sphera served more than 3,000 customers across 80+ countries, combining SaaS solutions with consulting services to help businesses manage and mitigate ESG risk2.

Blackstone has a robust history of billion-dollar acquisitions across various sectors. In 2024, the firm agreed to acquire healthcare consulting group Chartis in a deal valued at approximately $1.4 billion including debt4. Other notable transactions include the $1 billion acquisition of a 48-property Southern California industrial portfolio sold to Rexford Industrial Realty in 202456, the $4.7 billion purchase of Ancestry in 20207, and the $10 billion acquisition of data center company QTS in 20218. Most recently, Blackstone entered into an agreement to acquire AirTrunk, a leading data center platform in the Asia-Pacific region, for over A$24 billion9, demonstrating the firm's continued strategic growth across diverse industries.

Sphera's Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) platform leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to provide comprehensive risk monitoring across global supply networks. The cloud-based solution delivers real-time risk intelligence by scanning over 15 billion news articles, commercial and government data sources, and a million customer and supplier sites worldwide12. This AI-powered system enables early risk detection and proactive mitigation strategies through a modular approach that includes Risk Radar, Sub-tier Visibility, Risk Assessment, Impact Analyzer, and Action Planner components3.

The platform's capabilities were recently enhanced through the integration of Supply Chain Sustainability (formerly SupplyShift) and Supply Chain Risk Management (formerly riskmethods) into a unified Supply Chain Transparency solution45. This integration addresses increasing regulatory pressures such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act by providing end-to-end visibility across multiple supply chain tiers4. The solution enables organizations to collect direct supplier data through over 20 expert-built assessments covering ESG metrics, greenhouse gas emissions, and human rights practices, while simultaneously monitoring for financial risks, natural hazards, and other potential disruptions62.