News Stories

Cross-Pennine deal creates 'major northern force' in engineering design
30/07/2009

GHA Livigunn, the leading North West engineering design consultancy, has acquired the established Yorkshire based practice Birkett Stevens Colman Partnership (BSCP) for an undisclosed sum.
The deal, partly funded by Natwest, creates one of the largest multi-disciplinary engineering design practices in the North of England with a combined turnover in excess £7 million, with clients including Kier, Murphy, Interserve, William Morrison Supermarkets, Costain, Volker Stevin, British Energy and United Utilities.
GHA Livigunn was formed in 2006 by the merger of Cheadle based George Hutchison Associates (GHA) and Frodsham based Livingston Gunn Projects. The firm specialises in providing design consultancy in civil, structural, process mechanical and electrical engineering.
Founded in 1960, Leeds based BSCP specialises predominantly in civil and structural engineering, handling major projects for central and local government bodies as well as private sector organisations involved in retail, residential, commercial and industrial development.
Mark Ingram, Managing Director of GHA Livigunn, said the two companies were an excellent strategic fit, enabling the enlarged group to cross-sell a broader range of services across more vertical markets and a wider geography.
Mr Ingram said: "This is a very exciting time for both companies, our employees and our clients. Joining forces enables us to strengthen our position in all of the sectors we currently serve, particularly in water, education and food retail.
"This creates one of the UK`s largest independent multi-disciplinary design consultancies and a major Northern force. We look forward to continuing to offer the high level of service for which both companies have become well known to all our current and future clients."
He added: "We`ve had excellent advice from a very senior team at Brabners Chaffe Street throughout the process, which has helped to keep what was a complex deal on track."
BSCP`s two shareholders, Directors Frank Parkinson and Glyn Jones, will be retained as consultants following the deal. The firm`s two other Directors, Baxter Ireland and Julian Testo, remain in post, with Mr Ireland becoming Divisional Director for the Leeds Office.
Oliver Burton and Mark Johnson from NatWest provided funding for the acquisition. Oliver Burton, Director at NatWest, said: "Both GHA Livigunn and BSCP are well run businesses that benefit from a skilled workforce and diverse client base. Bringing the two businesses together will create synergies that will benefit the enlarged organisation."
GHA Livigunn was advised by Mark Brandwood, Managing Partner of Brabners Chaffe Street, and Associate Claire Swarbrick.
Mr Brandwood said: "This is an excellent example of two closely aligned businesses uniting their skills to achieve greater scale in their marketplace. Their combined expertise places them in an ideal position to continue expanding their presence in their chosen markets."
He added: "The funding package for the deal - consisting of a mixture of retained profits, bank funding and deferred consideration - also highlights how firms are taking a more imaginative approach when executing their expansion plans."
NatWest was advised by Hill Dickinson.


For further information contact Rachel Wingfield at Brabners Chaffe Street on 0151 600 3031

Back to the news headlines