KBW Investments formalized today the completion of a 50 percent acquisition of Arcadia Engineering in a signing ceremony in Dubai, UAE. HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, founder of KBW Investments, participated in the ceremony, along with Eng. Florin Nistor, founder and partner, Arcadia Engineering. With the acquisition complete, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed will serve as the new Chairman of Arcadia Engineering.
“I envision the upsurge of a new powerhouse of engineering, architecture and project management services in the Middle East,” Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed said, referring to Arcadia’s upcoming expansion plans for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
With KBW’s investment, Arcadia Engineering is positioned for substantial growth in the Middle East and Australia in its core areas of engineering, architecture, design, consultancy, and project management services for the construction and manufacturing industries.
“Building on more than a decade of experience in the European market, and a consistent record of timely delivery of high quality architecture and customized construction solutions, I am excited about the opportunities Arcadia brings to the KBW portfolio and to the region at large,” said Prince Khaled.
Arcadia’s engineering standards have been recognized by the European market and by high-level legislative bodies. Arcadia was responsible for transferring construction know-how and expertise to the legislation development for the EU program ‘Europe 2050–A Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.’
Under Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed’s leadership, KBW Investments focuses on growth opportunities in the Middle East and Europe, with an eye toward finding synergies amongst its various investments. The company’s current portfolio includes investments in the manufacturing, construction, engineering, energy, and technology sectors. This acquisition marks KBW’s second European purchase in 2014, the first being 150-year-old Italian tower crane manufacturer Raimondi Cranes.
“I have strong confidence in the ability of the management team to maximize the opportunity before us while maintaining the company’s unique culture — especially as it relates to investing in talent in specialized areas of engineering,” he added.