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Stantec completes acquisition of MWH Global

Edmonton, AB; New York; and Denver — Stantec Inc. completed the acquisition of Broomfield, Colo.-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 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 — 97 percent of the issued and outstanding MWH shares were voted, and the vote was 99.7 percent in favor of approving 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.”

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 (over 189 million litres) 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.”

New opportunities

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.