Dallas' Jacobs Engineering Looks to Buy Colorado Firm in Reported $1.5 Billion Deal

Dallas-based Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is reported to be in talks with one of Colorado's largest companies about an acquisition valued at $1.5 billion, according to the London-based Telegraph.The deal would combine Jacobs and CH2M, two global giants in engineering and construction. As of last year, Jacobs employed 64,000 people at 230 offices worldwide.Colorado-based engineering firm CH2M, formerly known as CH2M Hill, was involved in the recent Panama Canal expansion. It has also been involved in some of the United Kingdom’s largest infrastructure projects, including a refurbishment of Parliament. It employs 2,500 people in the UK, according to London’s The Times.The Times described the firms' discussions as "advanced talks."“As a matter of policy, Jacobs does not comment on market rumors or speculation,” said Salim Rahimi, Jacobs Engineering’s director of global communications.Jacobs moved its headquarters from Pasadena, Calif., to Dallas’ Harwood Center on Bryan Street in October. It was this month awarded the best international health project under 40,000 square meters for its architectural work on the Blacktown Hospital in Sydney, Australia.CH2M reported $5.236 billion in revenue last year, down from $5.362 billion in 2015 and $5.41 billion in 2014, according to its annual report. It faces liabilities on major contracts, including the MoPac toll road project in Texas, the Telegraph reported.Twitter: @tmcook23  Continue reading...