Dessau acquires Calgary engineering firm

Montreal – Quebec engineering firm Dessau is making its first foray into Western Canada with the acquisition of Calgary’s Highway Technical Engineering Services for an undisclosed price. The Alberta company and its 100 employees specialize in geotechnical, materials engineering and surveying. The acquisition follows the addition of two Ontario firms in December.

“Dessau is strengthening its presence and pursuing its growth objectives in Canada,” said president and CEO Jean-Pierre Sauriol, who added that he also expects the company to continue expanding internationally.

HTES president Jerry Baartman said joining one of Canada’s largest engineering and construction firms will expand the range of services available to its clients. The company will become part of LVM, Dessau’s largest subsidiary, which employs 1,400 people.

Highway Technical Engineering Services has worked on road and municipal infrastructure engineering projects for public and private-sector clients in Canada and the United States. It has offices in Calgary and Edmonton as well as in Kamloops and Cranbrook, B.C., Yellowknife and American Fork, Utah.

Founded in 1957, privately held Dessau is the fifth-largest engineering-construction firm in Canada and one of the top 60 in the world. It employs nearly 5,000 people and has annual revenues of $600 million.
© 2011 The Canadian Press
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