South Africa SMEC formally announced its merger with Vela VKE on 13 June 2012 in Johannesburg.
“SMEC is honoured to be partnering with such an award-winning company that has a great industry profile, a strong base of valued clients and a high calibre of 1,000 committed employees working throughout South Africa and in other SADC countries,” commented SMEC CEO Ross Hitt. “The addition of Vela VKE represents another significant milestone in the achievement of SMEC’s growth strategy. Vela VKE will greatly assist SMEC’s African Division to further develop the depth and breadth of its services, and is expected to increase revenue significantly in the 2012-13 financial year and beyond. We have had a presence in East and Southern Africa for over 30 years we will now be one of the major consulting firms operating throughout most of the African continent.”
Dr Thomas Marshall, Vela VKE CEO and recently-appointed Chief Operating Officer for SMEC's Africa Division comments that SMEC’s substantial investment in Vela VKE demonstrates confidence in the future growth of infrastructure initiatives in South Africa and Africa generally. “As a SMEC Group company, Vela VKE will be serving the interests of existing and new South African clients, through the provision of high-end engineering consultancy services, ranging from mining and transport, to urban and social development.”
Marshall adds that high-profile merger talks between the companies began in 2009.
Post the merger, Vela VKE (as part of the SMEC Group) will offer a range of professional consulting engineering services, including; conceptualisation, planning, design, management, construction supervision, operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure. These comprehensive services will be available to a broad range of sectors, including; hydropower, transport, water, natural resources and environment, geotechnical, mining, tunnelling, urban development, power, renewable energy, government and advisory services and social infrastructure development.
