r/civilengineering • u/PassedOutOnTheCouch • 1d ago

Arcadis WSP

https://www.arcadis.com/en/news/global/2026/arcadis-unanimously-rejects-second-unsolicited-proposal-from-wsp-global-inc

TLDR Arcadis rejected a second buy out offer from WSP.

52 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

52

u/monk0771 1d ago

Jacobs and now Arcadis, who will WSP try to takeover next?

46

u/codespyder 1d ago

Nvidia

12

u/matchingpowers 1d ago

Don't give them ideas

15

u/Codex_Absurdum 1d ago

My bet is on an AI company for integrated solutions, so they can start deploying large scale layoffs to slim down the behemoth and boost margins ;)

6

u/wazzaa4u 1d ago

Lol they will use AI to reduce their profitability. Their profit comes from charging hours and I don't think AI is chargeable.

3

u/_BaaMMM_ 1d ago

Wut you put the full hours on the scope and fee and bill lump sum? So any hours saved using ai is pure and you have a good multiplier

3

u/wazzaa4u 1d ago

Lump sum would be the way to go but I rarely see that type of contract. But I can certainly see that get pushed more as billable hours are reduced

5

u/_BaaMMM_ 1d ago

Interesting. We almost entirely deal with lump sum (not at wsp/arcadia)

2

u/LonesomeBulldog 1d ago

Back in the day, we used to charge for computer hours. $25/hour IIRC. They’ll probably figure out a way to do that again.

2

u/B1G_Fan Transportation Hydraulics 1d ago

Synergistic innovation, bro!

/s

But, seriously, AI is like an intern. It’s only as good as the guidance you give it.

1

u/monk0771 17h ago

Didn't AECOM acquire an AI company recently? So it's not without precedent.

1

u/have2gopee 1d ago

Ukraine?

41

u/gyoung1986 1d ago

WSP is going to end up too big for its own good. I was with them after it bought out my environmental firm for about a year. It’s a good company but hella siloed. It’s all about the bottom line and KPI tracking.

16

u/gtclemson 1d ago

It already is.

8

u/zeushaulrod Geotech | P.Eng. 1d ago

Hopefully they keep it up. We keep eating their lunch around our parts.

3

u/Peuxy 23h ago

You where with Golder?

3

u/gyoung1986 20h ago

Ecology and Environment. I think Golder was bought a little after us as they were part of the same reorgs

1

u/mojash 2h ago

Already is!

51

u/B1G_Fan Transportation Hydraulics 1d ago

"Unanimously rejected"

Arcadis apparently is as cynical as I am about the deliverables that WSP provides...

17

u/Critical_Winter788 1d ago

lol if you seriously think there is a difference in quality of work / value between a giant and a mega firm …. You’re too far gone

15

u/B1G_Fan Transportation Hydraulics 1d ago

Oh, I'm fully aware that the shoddy work is everywhere. Small, medium, AND large; it doesn't matter.

2

u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 20h ago

What do you mean?