Jan 7, 2016
CEMENTATION Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murray & Roberts, has bought Merit Consultants International, a provider of project and construction management services to clients in the mining industry worldwide. The acquisition establishes a presence for Cementation on the Canadian west coast, giving it further access to the mining industry in the region. It provides Merit with additional engineering and technical support, as well as additional services. No deal value was disclosed.
Henry Laas, group CE of Murray & Roberts, said on Wednesday it was a "small acquisition" for the JSE-listed construction and engineering company. "It supports the strategy to grow our engineering capability in ... the natural resources market sectors. Merit will broaden and enhance our existing service offering to our clients in the global underground mining market."
Merit, located in Vancouver, British Columbia, has participated in projects in the US, Canada, Australia, China, Turkey, Chile, Peru and Portugal, among other countries. Its president Jay Collins will remain in the role.
"We have known Jay and his team for many years and recognise Merit has a great reputation and solid performance record in the industry," Cementation president Roy Slack said on Wednesday. "As project management is a core competency in our business, we look forward to further advancing this area with access to Merit's specialised project management skills."
Mr Collins said he was "extremely pleased" that Cementation had bought Merit. "This ... will allow Merit to continue to operate as a project and construction management group based in Vancouver, and we will now have the strength of a very successful global organisation to allow us to expand our services into almost all facets of engineering, procurement and construction," he said.
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On specific projects one point accountability can improve project schedule and capital costs. On these projects Merit, with the Cementation Group, offers a turn-key Best for Project service for above and below ground mining projects.