The acquisition is expected to close upon receipt of regulatory approvals and within approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
Capita REI is a leading provider of specialist advisory, design, engineering, environmental and project management services for land, building and infrastructure owners, while GLH provides cross-sector advice to developers, investors. Together, both businesses will add around 1,000 UK-based employees to WSP’s workforce, reinforcing its existing service offering within the country and expanding its strategic advisory offering.
“We are pleased with the opportunity to have both Capita REI and GLH join WSP. We view our market sector strengths as highly complementary and conducive to augmenting our value proposition while accelerating the growth potential of our UK business,” said Alexandre L’Heureux, WSP’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“By joining forces, we will be bringing together leading businesses with matching capabilities and cultures,” added Mark Naysmith, CEO of WSP UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “In line with our strategic ambitions, this acquisition will boost our expertise in our core markets, including transport, building, and environment. It will also help us to diversify our strategic advisory services into adjacent markets.”
Dave Spencer, Managing Director of Capita’s Property and infrastructure consultancies, offered this assessment: “Joining WSP will allow both the Capita REI and GL Hearn businesses to provide better client support whilst growing our collective market share via the tremendous expertise of our combined teams. Being part of one of the world’s leading property and infrastructure services firms will give us access to a greater range and scale of projects, as well as to new career opportunities for our people, and all those with ambitions to join us.”
ABOUT CAPITA REI AND GLH
Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure (REI) is a leading UK-based provider of specialist advisory, design, engineering, environmental and project management services for land, building and infrastructure owners.
GL Hearn (GLH) is a leading real estate consultancy with a 100-year track record in providing cross-sector advisory services to developers, investors and occupiers across business rates and valuation, planning and development, and lease advisory.
ABOUT WSP
As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, WSP exists to future-proof our cities and environment. We provide strategic advisory, engineering and design services to clients in the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, power, energy, water, mining and resources sectors. Our 55,000 trusted professionals are united by the common purpose of creating positive, long-lasting impacts on the communities we serve through a culture of innovation, integrity and inclusion. Sustainability and science permeate our work. WSP derived about half of its $10.3B (CAD) 2021 revenues from clean sources. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: WSP). To find out more, visit wsp.com.