Japanese major construction consulting firms are looking for more global opportunities by mergers and acquisition of international and domestic firms. Nippon Koei announced March 3 that it will obtain the entire shares of UK-based design firm BDP Holdings. CTI Engineering acquired Tokyo-based architectural firm Nissoken last November. The firms are aiming to become multi-infrastructure company expanding their foothold in multiple sectors in construction.

President of Nippon Koei Ryuichi Arimoto expressed his intention to accelerate M&A in architecture/planning sector at the press conference on February 26. Earlier, the company acquired Japanese renowned architect Kisyo Kurokawa’s practice in 2014. The acquirement of BDP can be an opportunity to penetrate European market.

As it acquired January 2015 overseas railway division of Tokyo-based railway construction consulting firm Japan Transportation Consultants, Chodai will likely to expand its railway businesses in Asia. Japanese construction consultants are considering diversification of businesses to tackle the shrinking domestic market. (2016/03/07)