ATC Associates Inc. Merges with Cardno to Expand Global Reach

LAFAYETTE, La., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATC Associates Inc. and international firm Cardno have announced their intent to merge by 1st March 2012.

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The merger with Cardno, a professional services firm founded in 1945 with headquarters in Brisbane, Australia, means that ATC, a 1,600-person environmental services firm, becomes a key part of an international industry leader with a combined resource base of more than 6,200 staff working on projects in 85 countries.

Bobby Toups, President of ATC, said the merger marks an important step in the next chapter of growth for ATC.

"Our motivation to seek a partnership with an international firm like Cardno was three-fold. First to provide our clients with a wider range of services and locations; second to provide our talented staff with additional opportunities for career development; and third to accelerate the growth of ATC across the US and overseas."

"ATC is a growth-oriented, profitable business and by combining with Cardno we will be able to expand organically and look to complement our existing discipline offering with targeted acquisitions," said Mr. Toups.

ATC brings to Cardno specialized expertise in environmental consulting, building sciences, geotechnical and construction materials testing services. Headquartered in Lafayette, LA, ATC has 71 offices located across 39 US states.

Selected key clients of ATC include Speedway, ConocoPhillips, Bechtel, Walmart, Port of New Jersey/New York, NYC Housing Authority and the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

"The potential synergistic benefits from our combined firms are enormous for our staff, our clients and our financial performance," commented Toups.

Managing Director and CEO of Cardno, Mr. Andrew Buckley, said that the Cardno and ATC union follows the successful business model Cardno has implemented in the US and other countries.

"ATC complements our existing environmental consulting and environmental services operations and together we become a platform for the expansion of our combined operations across the Americas," said Mr. Buckley.

With the addition of ATC, Cardno's American operations now comprise more than 4,000 staff across 186 locations with additional branch offices in Canada, Ecuador, Peru, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium.

President of Cardno USA, Michael Renshaw, said the merger with ATC will significantly expand Cardno's environmental capabilities to support the oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure and real estate markets, an expanded geographic footprint across the US and Europe and mutual opportunities to enhance service delivery to our clients.

"ATC's business culture and growth potential make it an ideal platform for further expansion of our combined businesses across North and South America in providing a wide range of environmental consulting services. With the addition of ATC, around 65 percent of Cardno's 6,200 staff are currently deployed or reside outside Australia," Mr. Renshaw said.

Following Cardno's normal strategy, ATC's key management will become Cardno shareholders and remain active in the company.

For further information:

About ATC: ATC was established in 1982 and has offices strategically located throughout the U.S. The firm provides expertise in environmental consulting, building sciences, geotechnical and construction materials testing.  The core markets served by ATC include private and public clients in oil and gas, utilities, infrastructure, manufacturing and real estate. More information about ATC is available at www.atcassociates.com.

About Cardno: Founded in 1945, Cardno partners with public and private clients to solve engineering, environmental and social challenges in nine key markets. With the addition of ATC, Cardno has 186 offices in the Americas and 250 worldwide. Cardno provides clients with access to over 6,200 professionals focused on delivering customized consulting solutions to plan, design and construct social and physical infrastructure. Cardno's US operations were ranked the #1 fastest growing firm in the US in 2011.  Cardno is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange [ASX: CDD]. www.cardno.com.

SOURCE Cardno USA