Pierag merges with SNB to expand India risk advisory

Pierag Consulting has merged with Sahni Natarajan and Bahl, expanding its risk advisory business in India.

The combined organisation has more than 100 risk specialists and more than 10 partners and managing directors. It will operate across Gurugram, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur and Chandigarh, with an additional presence in the US, Singapore and Australia.

SNB has worked in internal audit and risk advisory for more than 45 years and has built a client base across more than 20 industries, including automotive, information technology, consumer goods, food and beverages, power and renewable energy, retail, pharmaceuticals, media, telecom, hospitality and infrastructure.

The merger broadens Pierag's work in internal audit, business risk, technology risk, accounting advisory, assurance, ESG and sustainability, and deals advisory. The enlarged practice also covers compliance audits, business process consulting and re-engineering, governance, risk and compliance services, SOX, and cyber security.

Scale in India

The transaction gives Pierag a larger domestic footprint in a market where listed companies and large businesses are increasing spending on audit, controls and governance. The firms said the combination moves its risk advisory practice into the top 10 in India.

That claim was not independently verified. Still, the merger highlights the push among advisory firms to add sector depth and broader regional reach as clients seek larger teams that can handle both traditional audit work and technology-related assignments.

SNB is headquartered in New Delhi and also has offices in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Pierag operates from five offices in India and three overseas locations.

The merged practice brings together what the firms describe as more than 200 years of collective experience among the partner group. It also includes a technology base of more than 400 analytics scripts, 35 active AI agents and more than 10 proprietary tools used in client work.

Those systems have been used across more than 30 organisations. Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed.

Leadership comments

Abhishek Gupta, founder and managing partner of Pierag Consulting, said the transaction is intended to combine SNB's longstanding client relationships and sector knowledge with Pierag's digital methods.

"Merging in Sahni Natarajan & Bahl brings us four decades of institutional legacy, deep-rooted client relationships, and a rich repository of sectoral insights that will allow us to serve clients with even greater rigour, consistency, and perspective. By pairing SNB's trusted foundation with Pierag's technology-enabled, AI-driven capabilities, we are uniquely equipped to embed industry best practices and deliver highly informed, insight-led outcomes. We deeply respect SNB's legacy of trust and are fully committed to carrying it forward with clear strategic intent," Gupta said.

The merger ends SNB's long run as an independent firm and folds its operations into a larger advisory network with both domestic and overseas offices.

"Over the last 45 years, Sahni Natarajan & Bahl has built a legacy anchored on client trust, deep sectoral expertise, and uncompromised professional integrity. Joining forces with Pierag Consulting grants our teams access to a broader, technology-forward platform while preserving the core values that make SNB unique. I am incredibly confident that this combined entity will unlock exceptional value for our clients, accelerate opportunities for our people, and set a new benchmark for the profession at large," said Dinesh Bahl, founder and managing partner of SNB.

Broader trend

The deal reflects a wider trend in consulting and audit-related services, where firms are combining established client networks with digital tools and specialist teams. Demand has been growing in areas such as internal controls, technology assurance, sustainability reporting and transaction support, particularly among larger companies facing tighter oversight and more complex reporting expectations.

For Pierag, the attraction is likely to be SNB's sector coverage and long client history, while SNB gains access to a broader platform across India and abroad. The combined business now spans advisory work from governance and compliance reviews to cyber security and deal support, with a larger bench of senior professionals to serve national accounts.

The enlarged practice will focus on serving listed companies and large enterprises that require scale, rigour and consistency.