WSP Global Inc. has announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire BG Bonnard & Gardel Holding SA (BG), a Switzerland-based engineering consulting firms, with a strong presence in France.
Headquartered in Lausanne, BG offers consulting, engineering, and project management services in the infrastructure, building, water, environment, and energy sectors. It has a workforce of approximately 700 professionals, including 480 in Switzerland and 210 in France. BG also has operations in Portugal and Italy.
Following the closing of the proposed transaction (currently expected in the first quarter of 2023), WSP’s Swiss workforce will more than quadruple to over 600 professionals. WSP is expected to gain a foothold in the French-speaking region of the country while also enlarging its presence in the German-speaking region. Also, as a result of the transaction, WSP is expected to almost double its workforce in France, adding offices and clients in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.
Joining forces with BG will capitalise on WSP’s strengths and further scale its capabilities in key sectors, with significant growth opportunities, in Buildings, Environment, Renewable Energy, Water and Industry sectors. It will also add BG’s renowned tunnel expertise, including ventilation, fire protection, and system design, to WSP’s European service offering. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and closing conditions.
“We are very pleased to announce the proposed acquisition of BG Consulting Engineers, a company with strong technical know-how and a solid reputation in the Swiss and French markets,” said Alexandre L’Heureux, WSP’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Integrating BG into WSP will secure our leadership position in Switzerland, strengthen our presence in France and enhance our offering to clients of both firms.”
“This acquisition fits well into WSP’s European strategy. Once completed, it will reinforce our presence in the region and bolster our expertise in our top three markets, Transportation & Infrastructure, Property & Buildings and Earth & Environment,” said Mark Naysmith, WSP’s Chief Executive Officer for the UK, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “Through this transaction, we propose to combine two firms with closely aligned values and cultures and a clear focus on clients, projects, people and technical excellence.”
“This transaction is an opportunity for both companies,” said Pierre Epars, BG’s Chief Executive Officer. “BG’s position will be strengthened in its traditional markets; our clients will benefit from an even wider range of services and our employees will benefit from the advantages inherent in being part of a global organisation. We look forward to new growth and development opportunities as we draw on WSP’s international network of experts and contribute to exceptional projects.”
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