Recent Transaction Provides One More Example of Active M&A Market

PSMJ advises on I&S Group’s merger with Kuehl & Payer

2011 ended with more than 200 mergers and acquisitions announced in the A/E space. This is back up to pre-recession levels and the experts in PSMJ’s M&A consulting team expect 2012 to be another busy year. “With the growing wave of retiring Baby Boomers and the pressure that is putting on internal succession plans, we are expecting consolidation to be a major force shaping the A/E industry in 2012 and beyond.” states PSMJ Senior M&A Consultant Brad Wilson.

One of the most important points to note on the state of M&A activity in the A/E space is that, as economic conditions gradually improve, more and more strong and growing firms are seeing opportunities to align with like-minded partners. Such was the case in the recent merger between E/A firm I&S Group (Mankato, MN) and civil engineering firm Kuehl & Payer (Storm Lake, IA). The transaction creates a full-service architectural and engineering firm that will serve southern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. PSMJ provided financial advisory services to both I&S Group and Kuehl & Payer to facilitate this transaction.

Kuehl & Payer was established in 1983, providing consulting services in civil engineering, environmental engineering and land surveying. The company employs over 40 at its Algona, Sac City and Storm Lake, IA locations.

With two offices in Mankato and Faribault, MN, and over 60 employees, I&S Group has been offering architecture, civil engineering, land surveying, environmental services, structural engineering, mechanical engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, electrical engineering and community resource planning since 1973.

"We are excited about the opportunity to merge the best qualities of both of these successful firms to both provide our existing clients with an even higher level of service and reach out to new clients with responsive, creative and cost-effective design services," said Chad Surprenant, President of I&S Group.

To keep tabs on the latest M&A news from the A/E industry and transactions like this one, subscribe to the M&A Insider — PSMJ’s free weekly e-news on the latest transactions and the tips you need for successful M&A strategy. Learn more by visiting http://www.psmj.com/.