Sweco completes the acquisition of VK architects+engineers

© piXeleni photography

Engineering and architecture firm Sweco acquires sector peer VK architects+engineers through a Share Purchase Agreement. It has just been formally approved by the Belgian Competition Authority. This transaction will allow both companies to combine their strengths and expertise in all the fields involved: from engineering, through infrastructure design to architecture.

Erwin Malcorps, Managing Director of Sweco Belgium, comments this merge: “The world is in transition. Megatrends such as the energy transition, urbanisation and digitalisation can no longer be ignored in our society. As a consequence, we experience a growing need for an integrated approach when designing future proof buildings and structures. This requires specialised knowledge of different disciplines, the agility to keep up with the latest developments and smooth cooperation”. “Together with Sweco we will remain frontrunners in the domain of sustainable projects. We have the best talents with in-depth expertise on board to realise this. Our ambition to be a full lifecycle partner is in line with Sweco’s guiding principle ‘Sustainability by design’. Moreover, the European dimension of the entire group, the cross-border opportunities and the decentralized way of working really appeal to us.” concludes Paul Corbeel, CEO of VK architects+engineers.

For the past 70 years, VK architects+engineers multidisciplinary design agency has been offering architectural, and engineering design solutions on an international scale, with offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, UK and Vietnam. The group has a consolidated turnover of approximately 70 million euro (2021) and employs approximately 600 architects and engineers.

Sweco will also take over all shares of the VK subsidiaries. These include design firm Infranea (3D design, BIM services and VR simulations), architecture and engineering firm DENC (logistics, industrial and commercial real estate) and engineering firm One Simulations (CFD simulations) from the Netherlands, as well as the Belgian firms Van Looy Group (logistics projects) and Exilab (laboratories and cleanrooms). Betic Ingénieurs-Conseils and EKOplan (technical engineering and water management engineering) from Luxembourg and UK-based AD Architects are also part of the transaction.

Foto: From left to right > From VK architects+engineers: Dirk Slabbinck (CTO), Paul Corbeel (CEO), Karel Verhaeghe (CFO), Alain Bossaer (COO); Erwin Malcorps (Business Area President, Sweco Belgium), Alain Keppens and Ivo Marechal (Founding Partners D2E Capital); from Sweco Belgium Vicky De Bollen (Director Finance, Facility & Legal,), Peter Vanhoegaerden (Division Director Buildings);Marc Van Put (M&A Integration Manager); Regis De Preter (Investment Associate D2E Capital).