WSP Global Inc. has announced that it is pursuing its expansion in Latin America through the acquisition of Poch, a 730-employee professional services firm based in Chile. The firm has additional offices in Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

The acquisition of this firm will provide a leadership position in engineering, environmental services, project/construction management as well as supervision/control services for industrial, buildings, environment and energy clients in the Chilean market. It will also strengthen WSP's presence in Colombia, Peru and Mexico.

Alexandre L'Heureux, President and Chief Executive Officer of WSP, said:

"The acquisition of Poch, which was financed using our available cash and credit facilities, is aligned with our 2015-2018 Strategic Plan and represents a significant milestone in our ambition to become a top-tier pure player in Latin America. With 540 employees, the Chilean office is strategically located for our operations and positions us for continued growth in Chile. In addition, Poch's recognized expertise in other countries complements and enhances our range of services in the region. We look forward to welcoming all our new employees in Latin America to WSP."

Mr. Miguel Sanchez Carril, Chief Executive Officer of Poch, commented:

"We believe that as a global player with a strong reputation, WSP is the perfect partner for us and that uniting our teams will create tremendous opportunities for both clients and employees. WSP has been actively involved in various iconic projects around the world. Such scale and experience should enhance our capacity to bid on larger projects, enabling us to compete with international firms and broadening the scope of our business in Latin America and internationally".

Founded in 1989, Poch is a leading regional engineering and environmental consulting services company headquartered in Chile, with operations in Peru, Colombia and Mexico. The company is an integrated provider of engineering, environmental services, project/construction management as well as supervision/control services for industrial, buildings, environment and energy clients. With a track record of more than 25 years of excellence, the firm has strong recognition for its business, safety and execution standards.