Cardno acquires Raba Kistner, Inc.

Professional infrastructure and environmental services consultancy, Cardno Limited agreed to acquire Raba Kistner Inc, a Texas based 470-person engineering services firm specializing in Construction Materials Testing, Geotechnical Engineering Consulting, Project Management, and Independent Quality Assurance and Inspection primarily for transport infrastructure projects, government and commercial clients. Raba Kistner will become a part of Cardno’s Construction Sciences division and significantly increases Construction Sciences’ geographic footprint.

The total expected purchase price for Raba Kistner is US$55.0 million, which includes an upfront purchase price of US$42.5 million with $12.5 million of additional performance linked payments due over the next three years. The acquisition is funded through a combination of Cardno’s existing debt facilities and cash resources. The acquisition was effective Nov. 30, 2018.

Raba Kistner earned a normalized US$58.5 million of net revenue and US$7.1 million of EBITDA in the 12 months to September 2018. The acquisition is expected to contribute approximately US$3.8 million in EBITDA to Cardno’s FY2019 results.

Cardno CEO and Managing Director, Ian Ball said that the acquisition of Raba Kistner is in line with Cardno’s plan for growth through conservatively funded ‘on strategy’ accretive acquisitions. Mr Ball stated:

“Construction Sciences is the leading Construction Materials Testing business in Australia, and with the acquisition of Raba Kistner, we have acquired a similar high-performing business headquartered in Texas. We look forward to working with the Raba Kistner management team to continue to grow the business in Texas and beyond in the coming years.”

With the acquisition of Raba Kistner, Cardno Director Mr Neville Buch will remain on the Cardno board and will join the board of Raba Kistner.