Here’s a recap of some of the latest A/E/C mergers and acquisitions making headlines…
January 1, 2017 – McGill Associates (Asheville, NC) announced that civil and environmental engineering firm Compass Pointe Engineering (Shallotte, NC) joined the McGill Associates team. “To have the technical resources to conveniently serve clients on the coast of North Carolina is a huge advantage to our company,” said Joel Storrow, P.E., the president of McGill Associates. McGill Associates specializes in civil, environmental, and electrical engineering, landscape architectural, and surveying services. PSMJ provided financial advisory services for McGill Associates on this transaction.
January 9, 2017 – Engineering firm OBG (Syracuse, NY) acquired environmental engineering and consulting firm Natural Resource Technology (Milwaukee, WI). “This is the third strategic acquisition we have completed over the past two years, which combined, have brought more than 160 new employees to our company,” said Jim Fox, OBG CEO. “These acquisitions represent our strong commitment to strengthening our brand, expanding our client relationships and market presence, and accelerating our growth.”
January 6, 2017 – CHA Consulting (Albany, NY), a full-service engineering and construction management firm, acquired an interest in American Fire Protection (Birmingham, AL), a specialist in custom design, engineering, installation, and maintenance of fire protection systems. CHA’s CEO & President Mike Carroll states, “The expected growth in the fire protection systems market provides exciting opportunities for the CHA and AFP teams.”
December 30, 2016 – Engineering, consulting and construction firm KCI Technologies (Sparks, MD) acquired RPM Transportation Consultants (Nashville, TN), a firm specializing in traffic engineering, transportation planning, roundabout and bikeway design, and traffic data collection.
December 21, 2016 – Full-service civil engineering and surveying firm Hurt & Proffitt (Lynchburg, VA) and civil engineering, surveying, and GIS firm Anderson & Associates (Blacksburg, VA) announced that they are combining the two companies. On January 1, 2017, Anderson & Associates will join Hurt & Proffitt’s operation, and do business as H&P. “We are excited about the opportunities that the combined forces of our two firms will hold for the future,” says H&P President Bif Johnson. “Our industry is rapidly changing and growing. This acquisition will allow us to meet those changes head on and allow us to expand our services.”
December 19, 2016 – Engineering, architecture, sustainability firm Thornton Tomasetti (New York, NY) entered into an agreement to acquire Swallow Acoustic Consultants Limited (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), a specialist in acoustics, noise and vibration control engineering. Thomas Z. Scarangello, Chairman & CEO, Thornton Tomasetti stated “This combination of our complementary services will help us build upon our leadership position and provide better value to our clients.”
December 8, 2016 – Building design, research, and consulting services firm EYP (Albany, NY) announced its intent to acquire Stanley Beaman & Sears (Atlanta, GA), an architecture and interior design firm specializing in the design of children’s hospitals. According to Tom Birdsey, AIA, President and CEO of EYP “Together with Stanley Beaman & Sears, we will continue to advance new methods of delivery that respond to the ever-changing needs of pediatric facilities nationwide.
Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activity in the architecture and engineering space is certainly on the upswing and well on its way to reaching pre-recession levels. But, how ready are you for taking on the task of buying or selling an A/E firm? If you are looking for tips to help your firm navigate through the M&A process, check out PSMJ complimentary ebook M&A Survival Tips for A/E Firm Leaders. 
Other M&A Related Posts:
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Growing Revenue = Growing Valuation? Be Careful What You Wish For!
Expert Interview: Assessing Current M&A Market Conditons and Trends
How prepared are A/E firm leaders to undertake M&A?