Jacobs buys into Indian consultant

US-based Jacobs Engineering Group has acquired a majority stake in India's Consulting Engineering Services (CES). The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1969, CES is a power, infrastructure, and civil engineering consultant headquartered in Delhi. It employs more than 2000 people and its services include planning, engineering, and construction management. Outside India, CES has regional offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda and Yemen.

According to Jacobs, the addition of CES nearly doubles the company's existing footprint in India to more than 4500 employees as well as expanding its presence in other regions. Jacobs president and CEO Craig Martin said, "This combination makes us one of the largest consulting, engineering and construction forces in India. This transaction fortifies our resources to address the strong, emerging infrastructure market in India and other regions in Asia and the Middle East."

Chairman and managing director of CES, Professor S.S. Chakraborty added, "CES and Jacobs have collaborated for years. Our existing relationship, along with strong synergies in our companies, provides a solid foundation on which to build and move forward as one company."

Jacobs established a presence in India in 1993 with the purchase of Humphreys and Glasgow, which had been operating in India since 1962.