Today, SMEC formally announced its merger with Vela VKE at a press briefing in Sandton – strengthening their standing in South Africa and the wider African market. SMEC is an Australian-based professional services firm with a global footprint that provides consultancy services on major infrastructure projects.

Post the merger, the SMEC Group will have over 5 000 employees and an established network of over 70 offices in 36 countries throughout Australia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific, North and South America.

Post the merger, Vela VKE (as part of the SMEC Group) will offer a range of consulting engineering services including conceptualisation, planning, design, management, construction supervision, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure.

These comprehensive services will be available to a broad range of sectors such as hydropower, transport, water, natural resources and environment, geotechnical, mining, tunnelling, urban development, power, renewable energy, government and advisory services and social infrastructure development.

“Local people, global experience – this is the essence of the merger,” said Dr Thomas Marshall, Vela VKE CEO, at the press briefing. “Our aim is to grow the local capacity whilst at the same time tapping into global expertise.”

 

BEE will also be strongly considered with all black technical directors at Vela VKE taking up shareholding in the Australian company. The merger talks between the companies dates back to 2009.

What’s your view on local and international company mergers? Is it just another way for foreign investors to cash in on SA’s infrastructure development? How reliant is our country on international engineering expertise? Join the discussion on Facebook or Twitter