BDP merger makes us an "international powerhouse," says Nippon Koei boss

Natasha Levanti
13 September 2016

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In 2016, one of the UK's leading consultancy firms, BDP, was acquired by Nippon Koei, Japan’s largest international engineering consultancy firm. Nippon Koei's managing executive director spoke to Infrastructure Intelligence about the acquisition.

Since 2008 the engineering consultancy sector has seen an increasing number of mergers and acquisitions. More and more, that collaboration between companies is across borders. The 2016 acquisition of BDP by the Japanese engineering consultancy giant Nippon Koei, came as a surprise to many within the industry. Yoshhikimi Inoue, managing executive director of Nippon Koei, spoke to Infrastructure Intelligence to shed some light on why this strategic decision was taken.

“Nippon Koei (NK) is Japan’s largest international engineering consulting firm providing project engineering solutions, designs and project management services to every kind of urban infrastructure development (hydroelectric and renewable power generation, water supply, sewerage, railways, airports, seaports, and roads) as well as urban socio-economic development. Since it was founded in 1946, NK has successfully completed over 5,000 multidisciplinary projects in 145 countries.  

"In the course of implementing NKs’ core engineering businesses, NK has become acutely aware of global need for optimisation of urban space utilisation including regeneration works in and around railway stations and spatial development along expressways. In fact, international sales for the largest 140 design firms in the world show that no less than 25% of the sales is for architectural design. We feel the rational expansion of major cities is a pressing need of the 21st century and that addressing it will be led by the architectural sector. 

"To deliver the best engineering and technology in these areas, in 2016, NK strategically acquired BDP, which is the largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers, engineers and urbanists in Europe and is recognised as a leader and early adopter of new technologies. BDP is a recognised specialist of Building Information Modelling (BIM) which produces major cost savings for building projects.

"The merger makes NK an international powerhouse for delivering urban engineering and architectural solutions. NK Group is already bringing this new strength to business, especially for Asian markets."

Yoshikimi Inoue will be speaking at ACE’s European CEO Conference which takes place on 9-10 November 2016. Click here to reserve a place or find out more.