Amec to buy Canadian consultant for £4.8m

British consultant Amec has announced plans to buy Canadian firm Philips Engineering for £4.8m.

The firm said it expected to close a deal to purchase the 70-staff company based near Toronto on 30 April. It said £3.4m would be paid at closing and the rest paid in two equal instalments over the next two years.

Philips is a civil engineering consultant with a focus on transportation, water resources and municipal infrastructure.

Amec said: “The acquisition is consistent with Amec's strategy of increasing the geographic footprint and capabilities of the earth and environmental division and it follows nine other selective acquisitions in this division since January 2007.

“Philips will provide Amec with infrastructure capabilities in eastern Canada at a time when the Canadian federal and Ontario governments have committed to substantial economic stimulus spending on infrastructure system upgrades, maintenance and asset management.”