Cheshire engineering consultancy PROjEN sold to Capita

CHESHIRE-based project management and engineering solutions business PROjEN has been snapped up by listed outsourcing services giant Capita.

Founded in 1978 PROjEN, a £13m turnover business, employs more than 100 staff at Preston Brook. It provides design, engineering and management services in the pharmaceutical, oil and gas, manufacturing and bio-energy markets.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The directors of the North West business were advised by Daresbury corporate finance advisory boutique Dow Schofield Watts.

PROjEN is joining Capita’s 4,000 strong property and infrastructure business and sit within its design and management division. The acquisition will expand Capita’s existing services into new key markets and create opportunities for cross-selling a wider range of expertise to clients of both organisations.

PROjEN’s clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and Smith & Nephew and it has established long-term relationships with BP and AkzoNobel, for which it is currently delivering a flagship paint manufacturing facility. In recent years the business has expanded into the bioenergy field to deliver biofuels, biomass, and biogas projects, particularly focussed on the development, design and build of anaerobic digestion plants in the energy from waste market.

Martin Seabrook, managing director of PROjEN said: “We are delighted and excited to be joining Capita. Working as part of a major consultancy will allow us to invest in the future growth of our business, further develop our staff, and expand our capabilities into new markets – as well as giving our clients access to the skills and transformational expertise of a market-leading business.”

Simon Birchall, executive director of design and management at Capita said: “PROjEN is an excellent cultural fit for our business and reflects our commitment to expansion through the acquisition of strong and innovative businesses that allow us to enter new markets and provide new technological solutions to our clients. PROjEN is a well established, innovative business in key target markets for us and I welcome its staff to our business.”