Canadian engineering firm Stantec continues UK purchases, acquires Peter Brett Associates to increase international presence

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Alberta-based engineering group Stantec is continuing its streak of U.K based acquisitions with a recently signed letter of intent to purchase  the 17 offices and 700 employees of engineering firm Peter Brett Associates (PBA).

The latest acquisition comes at the tail end of a busy two years for Stantec who in 2016, acquired environmental engineering company MHW, followed-up by the purchase of another environmental advisory specialist ESI consulting.

As a global design firm, Stantec’s latest move isn’t surprising given the variety of projects and sectors PBA is involved with, including energy, public sector, waste, and water sectors. Notably, PBA is involved with a 17 acre urban planning project outside of Birmingham, where analysis teams are finding optimal ways to connect existing infrastructure to what will eventually be civic, retail, leisure and hotel facilities, public transport and public realm space.

“Joining forces with Stantec will enable us to provide our clients with greater insights and expertise from the wider Stantec team and allow PBA to capitalize on the opportunities it is creating in the development and infrastructure markets,” said Keith Mitchell, PBA chairman. “We are excited about the opportunities that can flow from joining a team which shares our values and approach to client relationships, and that has demonstrated its track record as a great place to work.”

The PBA acquisition is the latest in a line of aggressive moves by Canadian firms expanding into a UK market; WSP Global based out of Montreal picked up  Mouchel Consulting in in 2016 for £75 million (roughly $125 million Canadian) while in 2017 SNC Lavalin bought UK based engineering and design firm Atkins for a reported £2.1 billion ($3.5 billion Canadian).

www.stantec.com