The two companies exchanged contracts today on a deal in which Nippon Koei has acquired the entire shareholding of BDP for the sum of £102.2 million.

While both companies will retain their existing operations and their own brand identity, their complementary geographical footprints and technical skills mean that they will be able to work collaboratively to win and deliver integrated design solutions across international markets.

BDP is a leading UK-based international practice of architects, designers and engineers with six UK studios as well as offices in Ireland, the Netherlands, the Middle East, China and India. The firm employs 950 people and had a turnover of over £81m in 2015.

Originally established in 1946 as Japan’s first independent engineering consultancy, Nippon Koei’s primary strength is in civil engineering although it offers a range of services to both Japanese and international clients. A significant proportion of Nippon Koei’s work is associated with infrastructure development funded by the Japanese Government and the World Bank in developing economies across Asia, South America and Africa.

In coming together with BDP, the company would like to expand its current international offer in the rapidly expanding Asian commercial markets. Nippon Koei employs around 3,200 people and had a turnover of £430m in 2015. The company has been listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange since 1954.

John McManus, chief executive of BDP, said: “The alliance with Nippon Koei heralds an exciting new era in BDP’s evolution. Although separated geographically, our two firms share common values and have highly complementary strengths in terms of professional offer and sector expertise.

“By uniting the two firms, we are creating an organisation which genuinely has the potential to be greater than the sum of its parts. We believe that this strategic international alignment will deliver huge benefits to our clients and will offer exceptional prospects for our people to develop both professionally and personally.”

Ryuichi Arimoto, president of Nippon Koei, said: “As a leading architecture and design firm in the UK, BDP’s participation in the NK group will mark a great turning point in both of our histories. We will join forces on a global basis and provide solutions together to the many urban development problems from both an engineering and an architectural perspective.

“The combination of NK’s 70 years of experience in social development and infrastructure together with BDP’s 55 years of experience in the education, health and commercial sectors, will create significant opportunity to add value for our clients and, I am confident, will lead the group to become the world’s leading integrated architecture, engineering and design company for the next generation. I also believe that the synergies between us will not only advantage our projects but will be of enormous benefit to our staff from a human resources perspective.”