Press Release

Engineering Group Joins Global Company

March 18th, 2008

Global consultancy company, Opus International Consultants Ltd (Opus) has acquired the UK based engineering consultancy group, Joynes Pike Group Ltd. This merger will bring the total number of Opus offices in the UK to 17 and increase the number of employees working for Opus in the UK to 370.

In announcing the acquisition today from Wellington, New Zealand, Opus Chief Executive and Managing Director, Dr Kevin Thompson said that the merging of the two companies will significantly increase Opus’ presence in the UK market and provide the company with added strength and capability in this country.

Opus is a leading, international multi-disciplinary consultancy providing services in transportation, building design, water and other infrastructure. It listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange last year. The company already has eight offices in the UK, 36 in New Zealand, 21 in Australia and six in Canada, employing over 2200 people. Opus currently provides services in transportation, building design, maritime engineering and other infrastructure in the UK.

The Joynes Pike Group has its head office in Nottingham, and another eight regionaloffices, including subsidiary Structural Surveys Direct, in Nottingham, Birmingham, Doncaster, Milton Keynes, Stoke, Warrington, Wetherby and Shoreham.

Well known for their geotechnical and environmental engineering, the Joynes Pike Group also provides civil, traffic and transportation, and structural engineering, along with land building and engineering surveying and structural surveys. Joynes Pike’s Managing Director, John Pike, who will continue to be actively involved in managing the company in his new role as Regional Director, Midlands, says the merger of the two companies will provide more opportunities as well as a greater pool of resources and expertise for their clients.
“It is an important and significant development for our business,” says Mr Pike. “It will strengthen our position in the UK and give us greater access to resources by way of skills and additional specialist expertise provided by Opus. I am confident this merger will also bring added value for the benefit of both our staff and our clients.”

The company will in future trade as Opus Joynes Pike Ltd and will work alongside the other established Opus offices in the UK, under the direction of Opus’ UK Director, Trevor Crawley, who is based in Bristol.
Opus was a finalist in the New Civil Engineer - Consultants of the Year for 2008 Awards This was in recognition of the commitment we have continued to show our clients over the last twelve months said Mr Crawley who represented the company at the awards ceremony held at Claridges in London last week.