Stantec Inc. has completed its acquisition of MWH Global Inc., a 6,800-person wet-infrastructure consulting firm based in Broomfield, Colo. The acquisition expands Canada-based Stantec’s capabilities in water resources infrastructure and enhances its presence in overseas markets, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America, Europe and the Middle East. Both firms first announced the acquisition on March 29.

MWH shareholders voted in favor of the acquisition, with 97% of issued and outstanding MWH shares voting. The vote was 99.7% for approval.

“The closing of the acquisition marks an important step in the company’s continued journey to be a top global design firm,” said Bob Gomes, Stantec president and chief executive officer. “MWH brings new geographic presence, acclaimed industry reputation, and most importantly, shared values in their dedication to communities.”

Along with its global staff network, MWH brings new capabilities to Stantec, including its engineering and technical services group, which provides water-related design services to hydropower, oil and gas, mining and industrial clients.

MWH further contributes construction management, program management, and management consulting business services related to water infrastructure. Within the construction field, MWH has a significant range of capabilities, the majority of those being construction management at-risk services performed on water-related projects in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

MWH has supported some of the world’s most technically challenging water and natural resource infrastructure projects, including:

• Serving as the lead designer on the Panama Canal Third Set of Locks Project.
• Providing asset management, design and construction strategies as part of an alliance of industry-leading organizations for the Thames Water Asset Management Programme 6 in the United Kingdom.
• Serving as the construction manager for the Austin Water Treatment Plant No. 4 in Texas, which treats 50 million gallons of water daily from nearby water sources.

“By combining the talents and expertise of our employees, we have forged an even stronger team to address our clients’ most challenging issues in water and infrastructure,” said Alan Krause, MWH chairman and CEO.

Stantec and MWH execs are developing an integration strategy that identifies and leverages the firms’ combined strengths. In combination, Stantec will have approximately 22,000 team members distributed across more than 400 offices located around the world.