The multidisciplinary consultancy, engineering and project management firm ARCADIS Belgium today announced the acquisition of Aeolus bvba, located in Diest. With almost 30 employees Aeolus realizes a yearly revenue of approximately € 2.6 million. Since its foundation in 1998 the company grew into a niche player in impact assessments for infrastructural projects and spatial planning and management studies. As an environmental coordinator and soil remediation expert, Aeolus is a fixed asset in the field of strategic environmental advice to companies, among which companies with a market share of over 50% in the mining industry. No other financial details were disclosed.
With this acquisition a team of 60 specialists in spatial planning and traffic expertise is formed. The group of experts, which will be the largest in Belgium, will offer integrated solutions in spatial planning and traffic. ARCADIS Belgium is herewith well equipped for large public development and investment projects and PPP projects (public-private partnership), to be approached simultaneously from the angles of spatial planning, mobility, well-being and prosperity.
"In the near future a lot of investment projects are to be launched," said Ludo Smans, CEO of ARCADIS Belgium. "Think about the missing links, the R0 (ring road Brussels) and the Diabolo project. Large-scale infrastructure projects have an impact on the scarce space, mobility, social welfare and prosperity. By combining our forces with Aeolus we develop integrated solutions that keep all those parameters in balance. Our unit spatial planning & traffic closely cooperates with our environmental unit. That way we develop a "3P approach" (people-planet-profit) in which we study the aspects quality of life, well-being, ecology, sustainability but also prosperity and efficiency simultaneously and integrally."
Within the area of spatial planning & traffic ARCADIS Belgium has strong expertise in the fields of the built environment, spatial economy, mobility & traffic; Aeolus is specialized in open space (rural areas) and environmental impact assessments (infrastructural EIA, plan EIA, nature and water assessments). In the past, this strong complementarity lead to cooperation in projects for a large industrial area in Lommel, the fast tramline Spartacus (Hasselt-Maastricht) and the adaptation of the R0 around Brussels. "During these projects we came to the conclusion that Aeolus would be a good addition to our own know-how," said Ludo Smans.
"With this acquisition ARCADIS Belgium is doing pioneering work," Ludo Smans concludes. "Integral planning solutions should lift spatial design in Belgium to a higher level and thus increase the speed and efficiency of the investment process. With our combined expertise and our own approach we want take on a key role in the field of special planning and traffic in the years to come."
ARCADIS is an international company providing consultancy, engineering and management services in infrastructure, environment and facilities, to enhance mobility, sustainability and quality of life. ARCADIS develops, designs, implements, maintains and operates projects for companies and governments. With more than 11,000 employees and over €1.2 billion in gross revenue, the company has an extensive international network that is supported by strong local market positions.
