Stantec Completes Acquisition of MWH Global

Stantec Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Broomfield, Colorado-based MWH Global Inc., a 6,800-person engineering, consulting and construction management firm focused on water and natural resources for built infrastructure and the environment. With award-winning project work and 187 offices distributed across 26 countries, the acquisition expands Stantec’s position as a global leader in water resources infrastructure while gaining presence in key geographies, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Europe and the Middle East. The acquisition closed pursuant to the agreement announced by both firms on March 29, 2016. The MWH shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favor of the acquisition.

“The closing of the acquisition marks an important step in the company’s continued journey to be a top global design firm,” said Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. “MWH brings new geographic presence, acclaimed industry reputation, and most importantly, shared values in their dedication to communities.”

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With nearly 200 years of recognized industry history, MWH has supported some of the world’s most technically significant water and natural resource infrastructure projects, including:

• Serving as the lead designer on the Panama Canal Third Set of Locks Project in Panama;
• Providing asset management, design, and construction strategies, as part of an alliance of industry-leading organizations, for the Thames Water Asset Management Programme 6 in the United Kingdom; and
• Serving as the construction manager for the Austin Water Treatment Plant No. 4 in Texas, United States which effectively treats 50 million gallons of water daily from nearby water sources.

“By combining the talents and expertise of our employees, we have forged an even stronger team to address our clients’ most challenging issues in water and infrastructure,” said Alan Krause, MWH chairman and CEO. “Inspired by our shared values and guided by our united purpose, we are now ‘Building a Better World’ and ‘Designing with Community in Mind’ for an exciting new world of opportunities. Working together in this way, we can be more and do more for all of our employees, clients and communities.”

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Along with its global network of staff, MWH brings capabilities that are new to Stantec, including its Engineering and Technical Services group, which provide water-related design services to key hydro-power, oil and gas, mining and industrial clients. MWH further contributes construction management, program management and management consulting business services related to water infrastructure.  Within the construction field, MWH has a significant range of capabilities, with the majority being construction management at-risk performed on water-related projects in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Executive leaders from Stantec and MWH are working together to develop an integration strategy that identifies and leverages the firms’ combined strengths. In combination, Stantec will have approximately 22,000 team members distributed across more than 400 offices located around the world.