ESSCO CALIBRATION LABORATORY acquired by TRANSCAT

SYSTRA has announced the 100% acquisition of Ardanuy Ingeniería to strengthen its technical capabilities and market presence in Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. This operation follows SYSTRA's successful 2023 integration of Subterra and marks a major step in building a comprehensive engineering hub for the Iberian and Hispanic markets. The strategic rationale for the deal is to create technical synergies in railway systems and infrastructure, while securing a workforce of 350 highly skilled professionals. The combined entity will manage a portfolio of landmark projects, including the metros of Santiago, Bogota, Panama, and Madrid, as well as high-speed rail projects in Portugal and Spain. This alliance positions SYSTRA as the go-to partner for public and private transit authorities seeking to develop high-performance, sustainable transport infrastructures.

Marking a significant milestone in its global expansion journey, AGQ Labs has entered into a definitive agreement for Fremman Capital to acquire the stake previously held by Portobello Capital. This secondary buyout facilitates the successful exit of Portobello’s Structured Partnerships Fund while ensuring a continued partnership with the company’s founders, Estanislao Martinez and Coral Zamora. The strategic shift follows a period of rapid consolidation during which the group successfully integrated eight bolt-on acquisitions and doubled its laboratory network. Joining forces with the founders, Fremman aims to leverage its pan-European network to accelerate the next phase of growth, focusing on deepening presence in core international markets and broadening the specialized service offering. The partnership is designed to capitalize on favorable market dynamics, including the increasing trend toward outsourcing technical testing and the globalization of food safety standards. By reinforcing its leadership in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) segment, the organization is positioned to deliver enhanced value across highly regulated industries, including life sciences and sustainable mining.

Acuren has finalized the acquisition of NV5 Global, creating a market leader in the engineering and technical consulting space by combining Acuren’s strength in inspection with NV5’s expertise in technical consulting. The deal was structured as a mix of cash and stock, with NV5 shareholders receiving 23 dollars per share, consisting of 10 dollars in cash and 13 dollars in Acuren common stock. Following the transaction, Acuren shareholders own approximately 60% of the combined group, while NV5 shareholders hold 40%. The acquisition was supported by an 880 million dollar debt commitment, including an 850 million dollar term loan to fund the cash portion and refinance NV5’s existing bank debt. The combination is expected to generate immediate value through estimated cost synergies of 20 million dollars in the short term, while expanding the combined entity’s global service footprint and technical capabilities.

SGS has successfully completed the acquisition of Applied Technical Services, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy within the North American market. This transaction follows the clearance of all necessary regulatory approvals and unites two leading forces in the testing and inspection sector. The integration of the target adds over two thousand specialized employees to the acquirer,s family and fulfills a major portion of the group,s growth objectives for the region. Strategically, the combination allows for the generation of sustainable growth and enhanced value for clients through a highly complementary service portfolio. The merger is expected to yield substantial operational benefits, with significant synergies anticipated within the first three years of joint operations. This move strengthens the acquirer,s footprint in critical sectors such as aerospace and defense, while creating a sophisticated platform for long,term shareholder returns through increased scale and technical synergy.

Activa Capital took a majority stake (by investing a EUR20m ticket) in Groupe Desegur in its first-ever LBO transaction. The deal aims to professionalize the group's structure and accelerate its development through an ambitious buy-and-build strategy in the fragmented French TIC market.

Mitie Group PLC has completed the acquisition of 100% of Marlowe PLC. The transaction was implemented via a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement, with Marlowe shareholders receiving 466 pence per share in a mix of cash and new Mitie shares (via a Mix and Match facility). The deal followed a significant 2024 restructuring at Marlowe, which saw the divestment of its GRC business for £430 million, allowing the group to return to profitability and eliminate nearly all net debt (£1M vs £203M) prior to the merger. The strategic rationale for Mitie is the creation of a UK powerhouse in Facilities Compliance. By integrating Marlowe’s 2,700 specialists, Mitie becomes the nation’s largest provider of fire safety, security, and water hygiene services. The combination is highly complementary: Marlowe’s maintenance-heavy delivery model (75%) balances Mitie’s project-led approach, providing a stable, recurring revenue stream. The transaction received final court sanction on July 31, 2024, and marks a major milestone in Mitie's shift toward high-performing, compliant building infrastructure.

Carlyle acquired a majority stake in Adastra Group, a canadian consulting company. The deal was structured as a recapitalization where the three founders retained a significant minority stake and remained involved in the business.Carlyle's entry provides the capital and M&A expertise to accelerate Adastra's growth in the booming AI and data services market, specifically targeting expansion in Asia and further consolidation in Europe.

Bridgepoint agreed to acquire a majority stake in NMi Group from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP). The management team is reinvesting in the transaction. NMi has grown significantly through a buy-and-build strategy (multiple acquisitions since 2020). The new partnership aims to accelerate international expansion (DACH, Nordics) and capitalize on regulatory drivers like the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the energy transition.

Kiloutou acquired Froid Loc Services to strengthen its "specialist" division. FLS was integrated into Kiloutou Energie to create a comprehensive multi-technical offer (Power & Cooling). This acquisition allowed Kiloutou to address new resilient markets such as the pharmaceutical and food industries.

The acquisition of Construction Testing Services by Phenna Group signifies a major territorial advancement for the group’s Infrastructure Division. The strategic logic of this transaction hinges on a geographic-lock maneuver, merging the target’s technical operational depth in Northern Ireland with the digital reporting and logistics framework of Simtec. This alignment equips the combined entity with the scientific talent and laboratory hardware necessary to address the increasing complexity of infrastructure validation across the UK and Ireland. This maneuver allows Phenna Group to finalize a structural bridgehead in the Northern Irish market, complementing the recent growth of its specialist businesses in London and East Anglia. By absorbing the target’s specialized technical assets, the acquirer gains an immediate foothold in high-stakes regional civil engineering projects and large-scale public works.