NIRAS acquires Swedish Ramboll Natura
The Danish engineering concern NIRAS has acquired the Swedish company Ramboll Natura with offices in Sweden, Africa and Asia.
The acquisition is a natural next step after NIRAS’ purchase of Ramboll Finland Oy earlier this year. (See DT 9-10/11) According to a press release, the buy-up of Natura fits into NIRAS’ vision of becoming a leading global provider of consultancy services in the fields of food supply, environment, natural resources, climate challenges and energy.
NIRAS views the two acquisitions as strengthening the company’s position in the aid markets of Sweden, Finland and the EU. NIRAS is already a leading consultant for Danida in Denmark.
With Natura and Ramboll Finland in the portfolio, access to procurement of technical assistance services by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is also consolidated.
“Through this takeover Ramboll’s Swedish and Finnish activities in the development sector strengthen NIRAS’ position in the market considerably. The combination of these two companies’ experts and projects improves and expands NIRAS’ global placement,” says Markus Davelid, International Director at NIRAS.
Natura has a staff of 19 and an expected turnover in 2012 of SEK 65 million. The company, founded in 1973, was at the time called Swedforest, and specialised in forestry consultancy.
Stina Mossberg, Managing Director of Natura and veteran of the Swedish aid consultancy scene, says she sees many possibilities in becoming part of NIRAS’ business. “We can strengthen NIRAS’ activities in Sweden in environment and training programmes. At the same time, the merge with NIRAS offers many possibilities for clients and cooperation partners,” she says.
NIRAS hopes that the acquisitions brings to the company two new business areas: technology and innovation, which can provide a basis for business development in developing countries; and international training programmes, especially in the fields of agricultural business, forestry, water and environment. Both are potential growth areas that strengthen NIRAS’ position as a leading European consulting firm.
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