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Following a national trend of mergers and acquisitions in the construction industry, a Kansas City, Missouri-based contractor is making moves to solidify its infrastructure presence in the Pacific Northwest.
Garney, a national water and wastewater contractor, recently acquired Emery & Sons Construction Groupa civil and underground heavy utilities contractor based in Salem, Ore., according to a company news release. The acquisition strengthens Garney’s ability to provide a broad range of civil and municipal infrastructure, CEO David Burkhart told Construction Dive.
The deal brings Emery & Sons’ nearly 60 years of experience to Garney’s offerings, particularly in the areas of underground services and heavy construction. Garney did not disclose financial terms of the deal.
“The Pacific Northwest is a region we’ve evaluated for years because the long-term demand for water and infrastructure investment is strong,” Burkhart said. “This acquisition strengthens our ability to deliver larger and more complex work in the region by establishing a permanent base with the right foundation.”
David Burkhart
Permission granted by Garney
Certain trends give context to the acquisition, Burkhart added.
First, Garney sees strong demand around water and waste water construction. resonant comments made by public builders On earnings calls, Burkhart said communities across the country are investing heavily to maintain aging systems and keep up with long-term demand.
Secondly, the labor shortage is a factor. Landlords need partners who have the field leadership and skilled labor to execute successfully, Burkhart said. Moves like the acquisition of Emory & Sons “help strengthen pipelines and create long-term career opportunities,” he added.
“This decision was not driven by a short-term revenue goal,” Burkhart said. “It was about establishing a lasting capability in the Pacific Northwest with a team that already has the experience, equipment and local knowledge to do this work at a high level.”
Both companies will continue to operate under their existing names and leadership teams as they integrate, according to the statement.
Ultimately, the move will support Garney’s long-term vision to become a full-service water solutions provider by expanding in-house capabilities for earthmoving, transmission and distribution pipelines, as well as water networks and other large-scale civil components that are essential for complex water projects, according to the statement.
