UK-headquartered engineering design consultancy Black & White Engineering has announced the acquisition of Homan O'Brien, the Dublin-based mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering firm.

The company said the deal would be critical to its strategy to expand its global presence, particularly in the data centre and infrastructure sectors.

Established in 1990 through the merger of Robert Jacob and Partners and Seamus Homan Associates, Homan O’Brien specialises in mechanical and electrical engineering design services.

Its expertise spans data centres, healthcare, education, laboratories, commercial, residential, and industrial facilities, among other sectors.

The two businesses will begin working together immediately, with future plans to scale and expand the team in Ireland to deliver a growing pipeline of regional and international projects.

Homan O'Brien had equity of more than €1.1m at the end of May 2024 after making a €252,700 profit over the previous 12 months, a nearly 10-fold increase from 2023. The company employs some 28 people.

“This is an exciting next step for our business," said Simon O'Brien, managing director of Homan O'Brien.

"We remain committed to our clients and the team we have built, while gaining the scale and support of being part of Black & White to accelerate our growth and deliver more for our staff and clients.”

Brian Homan, joint managing director of Homan O'Brien, has decided to step down with the acquisition.

Black & White Engineering operates across 18 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, and has over 700 employees.

The company has grown 500% since 2020, and is highly regarded across industry for its technical excellence, data centre sector expertise and sustainable delivery across complex infrastructure projects.

Its latest accounts show turnover of £30m and profit of £2.8m for 2023, up from £18.8m and £1.8m the previous year.

“We’re incredibly proud to welcome Homan O’Brien to Black & White Engineering, a business that shares our values and drive for excellence," said Mick Cairns, founder and CEO of Black & White Engineering.

"Dublin’s strategic role in the global data centre market makes it the ideal location for strengthening ties with our clients, and establishing a regional headquarters in Ireland is a significant step in our growth journey.

"Homan O’Brien’s strong local presence and specialist expertise align perfectly with our ambitions, and I’m thrilled to bring such talented people into our global team. It’s a great fit that unlocks new momentum as we continue to expand internationally.”

Steven Horn, managing director for Europe at Black & White Engineering, commented: “Homan O’Brien is well-established in Ireland and its trusted team of experts will further enhance our expanding capabilities in region and support our European data centre projects, enabling us to deliver even greater value to both our existing and new clients.”

The acquisition is backed by investment group Waterland, which partnered with Black & White Engineering last year to enable to expand geographically and pursue its first strategic acquisition.

"We are delighted to support Black & White Engineering as it continues to grow, expanding its capabilities and international footprint," said Wendy McMillan, partner at Waterland (UK).

"The partnership with Homan O’Brien is a strong strategic fit bringing together complementary expertise, regional strength and a shared focus on technical excellence.”

Photo: (l-r) Steven Horn and Simon O'Brien. (Pic: Supplied)