SYDNEY--New York-listed Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. (JEC) is
in talks to acquire Australian engineering consulting firm Sinclair
Knight Merz in a deal worth more than 1 billion Australian dollars
(US$893 million), according to a person familiar with the
matter.
Closely held SKM was founded in 1964 and last reported revenue
of A$1.3 billion, according to S&P Capital IQ. The company has
40 offices across Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, the Middle
East and Africa.
It would be Jacobs Engineering's second acquisition this year,
following the U.S. firm's purchase of Atlanta-based wireless
telecommunications firm Compass Technology Services, Inc. in
June.
Jacobs, which last reported annual revenue of US$11.4 billion,
provides technical services to markets like defense,
infrastructure, mining, energy and pharmaceuticals.
According to its website, the company has six offices in
Australia and 900 staff. Past projects included support for the
procurement of equipment to Australia's armed forces.
-Write to Gillian Tan at gillian.tan@wsj.com
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