Engineering Services Acquisitions in 2019

Woolpert, a U.S.-based architecture, engineering and geospatial firm, has acquired Southern Mapping, a Johannesburg-based aerial survey and geospatial solutions provider specializing in high-accuracy LiDAR, hyperspectral imagery and remote sensing. The acquisition expands Woolpert’s geospatial footprint into Africa and strengthens its airborne surveying and mapping capabilities for engineering, infrastructure, mining, agriculture and environmental clients.

NewHold Enterprises, a long-term investment holding company, announced an investment in PRIME AE Group, a U.S.-based architecture and engineering firm. Financial terms were not disclosed; PRIME AE will continue to be led by President and CEO Kumar Buvanendaran (who remains the largest individual shareholder) while NewHold supports the firm's organic and acquisitive growth and national expansion.

SOCOTEC Group has acquired David Pattillo & Associates (DPA), an Atlanta-based dispute resolution and project risk management firm serving the U.S. construction market. Separately, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) will invest in SOCOTEC (Cobepa remains majority owner) to support the group's U.S. expansion.

Jensen Hughes, a global safety, security and risk-based engineering and consulting firm (and a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors), acquired UK- and Ireland-based IFIC Forensics, a specialist fire, explosion and related forensic investigation firm. The acquisition strengthens Jensen Hughes' fire forensics capabilities and provides immediate investigative response capability across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

The Kleinfelder Group, a Wind Point Partners–backed engineering and environmental services firm, acquired the geotechnical, environmental and construction materials testing (CoMET) division of Advantage Engineers, LLC. The asset purchase expands Kleinfelder's capabilities (notably materials testing) and adds office locations across the Mid‑Atlantic (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland).

Atlas Intermediate Holdings LLC (operating as Atlas Technical Consultants) has signed an agreement to acquire Long Engineering, Inc., a civil and transportation engineering and surveying firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The add-on deal expands Atlas' service capabilities (including subsurface utility engineering and construction engineering/inspection) and strengthens its footprint and client relationships across the Southeast; Atlas expects to close the transaction prior to year-end as it pursues a planned business combination with Boxwood Merger Corp.

Cumming, a project and cost management firm and portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, acquired Stoke-on-Trent-based Prosurv Consult, Ltd. as an add-on. The deal expands Cumming’s U.K. presence and brings additional global resources and construction advisory capabilities to Prosurv’s project management and cost consultancy services.

The Pritzker Organization (advising Tom Pritzker Family Business Interests) will recapitalize STV Group by purchasing ESOP-held shares and partnering with management to support future growth. The transaction, approved by STV's board and ESOP trustee Greatbanc Trust Company with Houlihan Lokey advising STV, is expected to close in December 2019.

Computer Aided Technology (CATI), a portfolio company of CIVC Partners, acquired Fisher Unitech from The Riverside Company. Fisher Unitech is a provider of 3D design software, additive manufacturing hardware and related training, maintenance and consulting services; the deal expands CATI's scale and geographic footprint across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and New England.

Blue Wolf Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, acquired Kirlin Design Build (KDB), a Rockville, Maryland-based engineering-led construction firm focused on large, complex federal and private sector projects. Management partnered with Blue Wolf for the investment; Mike Miller will become CEO, Doug Makosy remains President, and John Boncher will serve as Executive Chairman to support KDB's next phase of growth with a stronger balance sheet and operating resources.

Victor Capital Partners made a minority growth investment in Rizzo Group to support the company's innovation, technology-enabled solutions, geographic expansion, and add-on acquisition strategy. Management (including CEO Stephen Rizzo and founder Charles Rizzo) will remain in place and retain significant ownership while Victor Capital will provide board representation and resources to accelerate growth.

Saw Mill Capital Partners II, LP and affiliated funds managed by Saw Mill Capital LLC acquired DPIS Engineering, LLC, dba DPIS Builder Services, a Houston-based provider of outsourced engineering, inspection, energy efficiency, and quality assurance services for single-family homebuilders. Terms were not disclosed; CIBC Cleary Gull acted as exclusive financial advisor to DPIS and this marks the sixth investment from Saw Mill's most recent fund.

SOCOTEC Group has acquired ArchEng Holding Company d/b/a Vidaris from Cortec Group Fund V, L.P.; terms were not disclosed. Vidaris, a New York–headquartered multidisciplinary specialty consultancy with ~300 professionals, was owned by Cortec since 2015 and expanded significantly under its ownership. SOCOTEC, controlled by affiliates of Cobepa, will integrate Vidaris to broaden its technical inspection, assurance and advisory capabilities and U.S. footprint.

Trivest Partners, a Miami-based private investment firm, made a platform investment in BCC Engineering from its Fund VI to support the firm's growth. BCC Engineering, a Miami-headquartered provider of transportation, civil, and structural engineering design and construction management services, will partner with Trivest to execute strategic expansion while retaining its management team.

O2 Investment Partners, through its vehicle EMEX Holdings, LLC, made a strategic investment in and partnered with BLUEFIN, LLC to add BLUEFIN's software-enabled facility asset management capabilities to the EMEX platform. The transaction brings BLUEFIN's roofing, building envelope, pavement and energy consulting services into EMEX's service offering to expand capabilities and drive cross-selling across commercial, government and institutional facility customers.

Trinity Hunt Partners has announced a growth investment in WEXCO International, a Marina del Rey, California-based provider of litigation-focused forensic engineering services. WEXCO's owner and president Brad Avrit will remain a significant shareholder as Trinity Hunt partners with the company to accelerate organic growth and pursue strategic add-on acquisitions to build a national market leader.

Cumming, a portfolio company of Tailwind Capital, has acquired Nashville-based CAPEX Project Management LLC. The add-on expands Cumming’s project management and building consultancy resources across the Southeast and Central U.S., bolstering its ability to serve developers, REITs, private equity investors and government clients.

Anser Advisory, a portfolio company of RTC Partners, has acquired DHS Consulting, a Southern California–based program, project and construction management firm with more than 140 employees. Southfield Mezzanine Capital provided a unitranche debt and equity financing package to support the acquisition; senior leadership from DHS will join Anser in key executive roles.

RJD Partners has invested in a management buyout and equity release of Land Survey Solutions (Holdings) Limited (trading as Survey Solutions), taking a significant stake and partnering with founder James Cooper and the management team. The investment positions Survey Solutions — a UK land, measured building and underground surveying business headquartered in Ipswich — as a platform for continued organic growth and acquisitive expansion across housing, commercial and infrastructure markets.

Woolpert has acquired Geomatics Data Solutions (GDS), a marine and terrestrial survey data firm, to add bathymetric lidar and hydrographic surveying expertise to its geospatial services. The acquisition establishes a Maritime Solutions market within Woolpert's Geospatial sector and expands the firm's ability to deliver integrated land-to-nearshore elevation data for government and commercial clients.

Keystone Capital portfolio company CONSOR Engineers has acquired Structural Grace, an Arizona-based structural engineering firm specializing in bridge and transit projects. The acquisition expands CONSOR's presence in the Western United States (including Phoenix and Tucson) and adds structural design, construction management, inspection, and staking capabilities to support transportation projects. Terms were not disclosed.

GFA International, Inc. received a growth equity investment from Palm Beach Capital and industry executive Gary Elzweig. The founders remain as CEO and President and will continue as the largest individual investors, while Elzweig will serve as Chairman; the capital will be used to strengthen services, expand geographically and pursue strategic acquisitions.

Exacta Land Surveyors, a Summit Park-backed platform, has acquired Windrose Surveying & Land Services, the largest dedicated land survey company in the greater Houston and Dallas markets. The acquisition is an add-on to Exacta’s platform and expands its residential and commercial surveying footprint in Texas under both the Windrose and Arthur trade names.

Century Engineering, Inc. has acquired Baltimore-based civil engineering and surveying firm Little & Associates, Inc. The deal — for which Chesapeake Corporate Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Little & Associates — adds land development and surveying capabilities to Century's diversified engineering services.

E-Technologies Group, a portfolio company of Falfurrias Capital Partners, has acquired Superior Controls Inc., a Seabrook, New Hampshire-based systems integrator serving the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. The add-on expands ETech's national automation and engineering capabilities and geographic reach, adding Superior's ~135 engineers and life-sciences regulatory expertise to ETech's platform.

CIVC Partners has made an investment in Computer Aided Technology (CATI), a Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based provider of 3D design and engineering solutions, partnering with the company's existing management team which will retain a meaningful ownership stake. The capital will support CATI's organic growth and enable the company to pursue strategic acquisitions and expand its service offerings across CAD/PLM, 3D printing, and related engineering services.

Ardurra Group, a portfolio company of RTC Partners, has acquired Design South Professionals (DSPI), an Anderson, South Carolina-based engineering consulting firm focused on water, wastewater, stormwater and architectural services. DSPI will continue to operate from its Anderson office and the acquisition expands Ardurra's water/wastewater capabilities and geographic footprint in the Southeast.

Atlas Technical Consultants and ATC Group Services, both backed by Bernhard Capital Partners, announced a merger that will retain the Atlas name and combine their complementary engineering, testing, inspection and environmental consulting capabilities. The combined company will operate across more than 40 states with a network of offices and employees, positioning the business for expanded service offerings and national scale.

Dayton-based architecture, engineering and geospatial firm Woolpert has acquired Waller, Todd & Sadler Architects, an architecture firm based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The deal adds design and planning capabilities to Woolpert and expands its military and public-sector architecture portfolio; Waller, Todd & Sadler employs roughly 34 people.