International engineering consultancy Thornton Tomasetti to acquire MMI Engineering

Thornton Tomasetti, the international engineering consultancy, has agreed to acquire MMI Engineering (“MMI”), the technical consulting specialist focused on the risk management of man-made and natural hazards across the oil and gas, nuclear, utilities and infrastructure sectors. The deal is scheduled to close later this month.

MMI is a leading consulting and engineering firm delivering solutions across the full project lifecycle for clients including Shell, BP, Chevron and Sellafield Limited as well as RWM, International Nuclear Services, Westinghouse, Thames Water and Airbus.

MMI provides a key role in accident and incident investigations in the oil and gas industry. The firm’s personnel have worked with oil and gas operators on more than 30 incidents, including the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot incident and the gas release on Total’s Elgin offshore platform. 

Alongside this, MMI is also considered an expert in the field of seismic, blast and accidental loading assessments and is also skilled in nuclear asset management and integrity with key members of its team currently supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency.  

Headquartered in Warrington, United Kingdom, MMI employs 60 staff from a range of scientific and engineering backgrounds across offices in Aberdeen, York, Bristol and Ballymena in the U.K. along with its global offices in Perth, Australia and Houston, Texas.

Currently owned by Geosyntec, an international environmental consultancy business, the business will be rebranded as MMI Thornton Tomasetti in the U.K. and Australia and will operate under the Thornton Tomasetti name in the U.S. upon completion of the deal, forming a key part of Thornton Tomasetti’s European operation and its Weidlinger Applied Science practice.

MMI’s John Evans, Andy Nelson and Andrew Morrison will become part of Thornton Tomasetti’s European and Australian leadership team and will play a pivotal role in the integration process. Thornton Tomasetti’s Pawel Woelke will lead the business as Warrington office director, reporting into Phillip Thompson, Thornton Tomasetti’s European regional leader, and Najib Abboud, Weidlinger Applied Science practice leader.

Thornton Tomasetti is headquartered in New York and employs over 1,300 staff in 44 offices around the world. The firm is known for its expertise in providing safety solutions and risk analysis on everything from military platforms, critical infrastructure and tall buildings to industrial facilities, petrochemical plants plus automotive and airborne vehicles.

Thornton Tomasetti will employ nearly 160 staff in the U.K upon completion of the proposed addition of MMI.  The deal for MMI follows Thornton Tomasetti’s acquisition of security consultancy MFD, the Romsey-based specialist in the delivery of physical, operational and technical security services for the built environment, which was announced in May 2018.

Following the MFD and MMI acquisitions, Thornton Tomasetti will be able to offer clients a full suite of risk management and technical security services with an expanded European presence from which to build upon its already impressive track record of collaboration with architects, building owners, developers and public agencies.

Commenting on the transaction, Phillip Thompson, Thornton Tomasetti’s European Regional Leader, said;

“MMI is a first-class business that brings with it a reputation for scientific rigour and engineering excellence.  Their blue-chip customer base is testament to the work they undertake in helping some of the world’s leading companies and public bodies manage both man-made and natural hazards across a range of sectors.  Coming hot on the heels of last month’s investment in MFD, this transaction further underlines our commitment to growing our presence in Europe and providing our clients with a full range of risk management and technical security services.”

Commenting on the transaction, Najib Abboud, Thornton Tomasetti’s Weidlinger Applied Science Practice Leader, said;

“The addition of MMI to the Thornton Tomasetti team will propel us to a new magnitude in the U.K., Australasia and the Far East while providing MMI with a broader platform from which to grow. Together, we will continue to provide best-in-class analysis, simulation and engineering design services, as well as multidisciplinary solutions to current and future challenges presented by man-made and natural hazards.”