GVA buys Dixon Webb
National surveyor GVA has acquired Liverpool-based independent Dixon Webb for an undisclosed sum.
Dixon Webb is headquartered in North John Street with branch offices in Cheshire and Cumbria. The firm specialises on the Merseyside, North West and North Wales markets.
GVA said in a statement: "This strategic purchase follows a string of impressive acquisitions from GVA in 2011 and 2012 in a bid to bolster, strengthen and expand areas of its existing business where growth is imminent."
The merged company will be based in GVA's Liverpool office at Mercury Court on Tithebarn Street. The move is likely to be viewed locally as a counter to the dominance by GVA's national rival CBRE in Liverpool. CBRE has for several years had the largest office of a national practice in the city, itself built on acquisition of local agencies Irving Rice and DGi Davis George.
Both GVA and Dixon Webb are partnerships, which should make integration and cultural fit easier than certain other forms of takeover. Dixon Webb was founded via a merger of two established commercial property practices in 1986 and now employs 25 staff in total. Areas of focus include airports, ports and harbours, nuclear and gas power generation, renewable and alternative energy sources, pipelines and telecommunication links, waterways, Government building, agricultural land and conservation projects. GVA said it is seeking to tap into a range of energy and renewables opportunities throughout the North West and UK.
David Sayer, regional director at GVA's Liverpool office, added: "This is a first-class acquisition that demonstrates our unwavering commitment to Liverpool, Merseyside and the wider North West market. We see real growth in the city and region. As such we are extremely excited by what is the latest in a line of strategic acquisitions to strengthen areas our existing business and to support our organic growth programme.
"Dixon Webb, a well known professional and agency firm also brings a highly respected specialist skills set in utilities, power generation and transport sectors. Our move to acquire this impressive business will draw upon those skills to ensure we are in the best possible position to offer clients best in class advice in a niche sector that is seeing unprecedented growth."
Eddie Coxon, managing partner of Dixon Webb, said: "GVA's market-leading multidisciplinary service will complement the needs of our existing clients. The cultural fit is good, and it provides us with the strongest possible platform from which to gain further prominence within our specialist fields. Equally our existing expertise, particularly in the renewable energy and transport sectors will add great value to GVA's national service. Other areas of strength that I believe will add further value include industrial, chemical plants, business rates, education and healthcare expertise."
