WSP Group, a management and consultancy provider to the built and natural environment, has acquired process-engineering firm CEL International for up to £22 million.

WSP Group, a management and consultancy provider to the built and natural environment, has acquired process-engineering firm CEL International for up to £22 million.

The purchase, the seventh for WSP since January, comprised an initial £18 million with a deferred consideration of £4 million in two equal tranches on the first and second anniversaries of completion.

WSP’s CEO, Chris Cole, said: “We are very pleased to have completed this transaction which brings to the group a new and important capability in the field of industrial process engineering and design.”

The pre-audited financial results of CEL for the nine months ended October 2007 show net revenue of some £21.2 million with an adjusted profit before tax of £2.4 million. The gross assets at that date amounted to some £18.0 million, including £5.4 million cash.

CEL provides management, engineering and environmental services to a blue chip client base in technology-orientated process and manufacturing industries. With headquarters in Coventry, CEL directly employs approximately 170 staff supplemented by agency support and operates from five offices in the UK, as well as offices in Ireland and China. Key markets include the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, healthcare, chemical and food processing industries.