Entrepreneurs Bas Oberndorff and Jeroen Thijs have sold engineering firm Petersburg Consultants to consultancy and engineering firm Lievense. Petersburg has a distinctive expertise in the field of high voltage, the related infrastructure and the influence to the environment.
Cashing in accrued value
Petersburg Consultants was purchased by Oberndorff and Thijs in 2013 under the guidance of Hogenhouck M&A. The office combines engineering and consultancy services with in-house developed software, specifically designed for the high-voltage sector. With this focus, the company has built up a solid portfolio in 21 years – of which the last six years, under Oberndorff and Thijs – and are attractive for a strategic buyer in terms of proposition and size.
Anja Vijselaar, director of Petersburg Consultants, explains what this new step will bring: “For us, this acquisition means that we are assured of a powerful new owner, so that the growth and broadening of our portfolio can develop even more.”
Broader trend in the engineering sector
Mark van Beusekom, partner and co-founder of Hogenhouck, indicates that this fits in with a broader development in the engineering sector: “We see a strong rise in ‘smart engineering’; a combination of advice and digital solutions. This increases the added value of an engineering firm for clients. It is no longer about one-off advice, but about repeatable and scalable propositions and business models. This makes a niche player an attractive takeover party for a larger agency. “
