Atkins is to acquire American consultant PBSJ for 拢178m.
PBSJ is one of America's leading providers of engineering, planning, architecture, construction, environmental and programme management services. It is employee-owned and based in Florida.
At 31 March 2010, PSBJ employed approximately 3,500 people and in the year to 30 September 2009 generated earnings of 拢30m on revenue of 拢508m.
Atkins said the acquisition would 鈥渂alance its geographic presence鈥� and 鈥渄eepen the Group's technical skills in established sectors鈥�.
Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, said: "This is an important acquisition for Atkins and forms part of our plan to grow our business through a multi-skill, multi-local strategy.
鈥淧BSJ operates a business model we understand and complements our business superbly, enhancing our skills in environmental, transportation, building design and programme management disciplines.
鈥淧BSJ has an experienced management team and a strong, long-standing reputation for technical excellence and quality, which underpins its deep client relationships.
鈥淭hese are all important criteria for a successful acquisition which will provide us with a strong platform for growth and enable us to drive significant value for our shareholders."
Meanwhile, in an interim management statement for the period from 1 April 2010 to date, Atkins said it was 鈥渢rading in the first quarter in line with our expectations鈥�.
However, it added that its UK building design business 鈥渉as been impacted by the cancellation of some projects under the Building Schools for the Future programme鈥�.
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