Canadian giant says the deal for Ecology & Environment Inc. would expand its environmental services niche and U.S. public sector market.

An April 3 bid by Canada-based global design giant SNC-Lavalin to buy U.K. engineer Atkins, valued at $2.6 billion, has been confirmed by both firms’ boards and further indicates a resurgence in industry sector consolidation, observers say.

Shares of Australia-based WorleyParsons rose 32% on Feb. 28, following the firm’s disclosure the day before that, last November, Dubai-based engineer conglomerate Dar Group had made an estimated $2.2- billion bid, which it rejected as undervalued.