Media Release
3 September 2007
OPUS STRENGTHENS AUSTRALIAN PRESENCE
Opus International Consultants (Opus), the New Zealand based global consultancy announced that it had acquired the large Australian based infrastructure consultancy Qantec McWilliam Consulting Engineers. This merger will bring the total number of employees in Australia working for Opus to around 300.
In announcing the acquisition from Wellington today, Opus Chief Executive, Dr Kevin Thompson said that the merging of the two companies will significantly increase Opus’ presence in the Australian market and provide us with added strength and capability to manage growth particularly in Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and New South Wales.
In Australia, Opus presently provide services in transportation, building design, water and other major infrastructure and have offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Perth, Albany and Bunbury. With the addition of Qantec McWilliam, the number of offices will increase to 19.
Qantec McWilliam has provided engineering services on a number of high profile projects including Brisbane Square and the redevelopment of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Qantec McWilliam Managing Director, Dennis Sheehan, who will remain with the company as Regional Manager Queensland and the Northern Territory, said the merger with Opus will provide the company with a greater pool of resources for clients.
“Together this will provide a team of close to 2200 skilled people across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK,” said Mr Sheehan. “This will allow us to undertake projects of significant scale and give us a greater pool of expertise and knowledge as we go forward.”
“It is an important and significant development for our business and will give us a share in leading international developments. We have already identified a number of business opportunities that our combined capability will offer. It will also bring added value for the benefit of our clients.”
The company will initially trade as Opus Qantec McWilliam and will work alongside the other established Opus offices in Australia.
Opus also recently acquired Queensland based engineering and architectural consultancy Group 42. Other recent acquisitions by Opus have included consultancies in Canada and the UK, bringing the total number of offices outside of Australia to 37 in New Zealand, eight in the UK and seven in Canada.
For further information and comment contact:
Dr Kevin Thompson
Chief Executive
Opus International Consultants
Tel: +64 04 4717022
Mob: +64 021 669254
Dennis Sheehan
Regional Manager
Opus Qantec McWilliam
Tel: 07 3007 8181
Mob: 0418 874 813