Series of deals have seen consultant鈥檚 UK workforce reach five figures
WSP has continued its buying spree with the acquisition of UK rival RPS Group in a deal worth 拢591m.
Just last week the consultancy giant announced the purchase of two businesses from Capita PLC for roughly 拢60m, which itself followed a deal for earth and infrastructure group Wood Group.
The addition of 5,000 staff from Oxford headquartered RPS, along with thousands more from the other deals, will take WSP鈥檚 UK workforce to around 14,000.
RPS, which was founded in 1970, operates across a range of sectors providing specialist services to government and the private sector.
Ken Lever, chairman of RPS, said WSP鈥檚 offer represented 鈥渁 highly attractive premium to recent trading levels and provides certain value in cash today for RPS shareholders鈥�.
>>> WSP makes double acquisition from Capita worth 拢60m
鈥淭he RPS directors also believe that the acquisition will provide career opportunities for our employees within the enlarged WSP Group as well as access to a comprehensive and expanded service offering for our clients,鈥� he added.
WSP鈥檚 global president, Alexandre J. L鈥橦eureux, said the deal was 鈥渟trategically compelling鈥� and would allow the firm provide a broader range of complementary services to clients 鈥渨hile building a world-class ESG advisory business鈥�.
News of the acquisition came as the global firm posted its second quarter results, which saw revenue up 4% to $2.8bn (拢2.3bn), driven by double-digit growth in the UK.
Pre-tax profit was down marginally compared with the second quarter of 2021, from $189.2m (拢156.1m) to $170.2m (拢140.5m).
This was attributed to office consolidation resulting in charges against leased assets, as well as high integration costs due to the firm鈥檚 recent purchases.
No comments yet