Engineering survey group swoops for Birkenhead’s JWG in ‘win-win’ acquisition

Birkenhead-based JWG Survey & Engineering has been acquired, for an undisclosed sum, in a transaction described by its managing director as a “win-win for everyone”.

The firm, which was founded by Jake Gaskell in 2015, has been acquired by Ipswich-based Survey Solutions, one of the UK’s largest engineering surveyors.

The deal is its first acquisition since undergoing a management buyout at the end of last year, which was backed by private equity firm WestBridge.

JWG specialises in supporting the safety, efficiency and reliability of the railway infrastructure by providing automated and manual monitoring, topographic and control surveys, clearance surveys, track alignment and design verification.

Following the sale, Jake will remain with the business as managing director – Rail Service Line.

He said: “Although JWG is still a relatively young company, we have already established an excellent reputation.

“The opportunity to join forces with Survey Solutions was just too good to miss and provides a win-win for everyone.”

He added: “We will benefit from the resources of being part of a larger group, Survey Solutions will benefit from our expertise in the rail market, and our respective clients will benefit from an even wider range of first class services delivered by engineers at the top of their game.”

David Lowe, CEO of Survey Solutions, said: “Jake and the JWG team are a great fit for our core Survey Solutions business.

“We are very much looking forward to working with the team and continuing to grow the combined businesses in the coming months.”

Rebecca Sinclair, investment director at WestBridge, said: “We are pleased that JWG represents the first acquisition in our partnership with Survey Solutions. This has followed a period of significant investment in the Survey Solutions platform and growth of the acquisitions pipeline, such that the acquisition plan can now accelerate.”

Survey Solutions now has 14 regional offices and 200 full time employees, most of whom are specialist surveyors.  Its clients include AECOM, WSP, Balfour Beatty, Amey, Mace and Kier.

David Lowe, CEO of Survey Solutions, who led the original MBO, has stated his intention to grow Survey Solutions by pursuing both an organic growth and a buy and build strategy, and establish it as the UK’s most trusted provider of engineering surveys and monitoring solutions. The acquisition of JWG is expected to be the first of several in the coming months. The acquisition strategy is focused on surveying and monitoring businesses across transportation, utilities, government and energy infrastructure end-sectors.

Survey Solutions was advised by Dow Schofield Watts Corporate Finance as retained M&A adviser. The business was also supported on this transaction by Pinsent Masons (legal adviser), Cortus Advisory (financial and tax), PMSI (commercial) and Gallaghers (insurance).

Daniel DiMarco, Corporate Deal Executive with Bolton-based KBS Corporate, advised on the sale.

He said: “I believe there are very good synergies between the two businesses and I am certain the enlarged company will continue to go from strength to strength.”