Danish engineer Ramboll is to acquire US engineering and design consultancy OBG, adding 900 staff to its water, energy, environment and manufacturing division in America.
Ramboll said the acquisition would take place on 1 January 2019, giving it 2,000 employees in the US and 15,000 globally.
The company added that the deal would allow the company to "grow in the US and strengthen its portfolio within water, energy and environmental services, making Ramboll a multidisciplinary player in the US".
Jens-Peter Saul, Ramboll Group’s chief executive, said: "By combining our analytical and consulting-oriented business in the US with the strong project execution capabilities of OBG, we will be able to deliver full-scale, integrated solutions to our clients – from front-end consulting work to back-end execution."
Jim Fox, OBG’s chief executive, commented: "We see joining forces with Ramboll as a tremendous opportunity to widen our client base in the US as well as extend our client relationships globally.
"Additionally, this brings together world-class thought leadership and the capacity to solve the challenges caused by global megatrends such as urbanisation, climate change and resource scarcity.
Ninety-one per cent of OBG shares were cast in favour of the acquisition. The combined revenue of Ramboll and OBG amounts to $2bn.
Image: An OBG project at Onondaga Lake in the state of New York (Ramboll)
