黑洞社区

French consultant Artelia is searching for a second UK acquisition, a year after taking over UK consultant Appleyards.

Phil Brumby, Artelia鈥檚 UK managing director, told 黑洞社区 the firm 鈥� which has a turnover of 拢300m in 40 countries 鈥� aims to choose an acquisition target by the end of this year and to complete a deal next year.

Artelia UK is aiming to acquire a firm with a turnover of around 拢6m, to help it reach its target of becoming a 拢20m turnover business in the UK by 2016.

Brumby said the firm was considering acquisitions in several sectors where its French parent company already has a 鈥渄epth of expertise鈥�, including infrastructure, health, sustainability, banking and towers, as well as in the higher education sector, but wouldn鈥檛 rule out any area at this stage.

Colin Morrell, Artelia UK director with responsibility for Appleyards, said: 鈥淲e鈥檒l take a look at any [acquisition] opportunity. We want to get cracking.鈥�

We鈥檒l take a look at any acquisition opportunity. We want to get cracking

Colin Morrell, Appleyards

The UK is one of 10 countries Artelia is targeting. Brumby said the French senior management believed growing in Anglo Saxon countries would help it access other international markets and grow more quickly. Elsewhere, Artelia is in talks with acquisition targets in Brazil, China, Italy and Vietnam. Any further UK acquisition is likely to be funded from the Artelia group鈥檚 cash reserves.

Artelia鈥檚 拢6m-turnover UK division bought 拢8m-turnover Appleyards in March 2012, in a deal that was also funded by the Artelia group.

The Appleyards takeover led Artelia UK to its most profitable year, for the financial year ending 31 December 2012, with pre-tax profit up 10% to 拢1.1m from 拢95,00 the previous year, while revenue grew 15% to 拢15m from 拢13m.

Brumby and Morrell have restructured Artelia UK to focus on market sectors.

The firm is targeting growth in multi-site work - where their biggest client is Shell, for whom they manage their development programme in Western Europe - commercial fit-out, education and hospitality.

Brumby said the UK division is also aiming to leverage expertise from its parent company, particularly in project management and high-rise buildings. Artelia UK鈥檚 most high-profile project in the hospitality sector is the refurbishment of central London鈥檚 five-star Sanderson Hotel (pictured).

The firm will drop its Appleyards brand and trade solely as Artelia UK from 1 July.