Kleinfelder Acquires Century Engineering

Chicago, IL, November 16, 2021 – Wind Point Partners (“Wind Point”) and portfolio company The Kleinfelder Group, Inc. (“Kleinfelder”), a leading engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm, are pleased to announce that Kleinfelder has acquired Century Engineering, Inc. and all affiliates (“Century” or the “Company”). The transaction reinforces Kleinfelder’s commitment to improving U.S. infrastructure and strengthens its existing service offerings in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Md., Century provides a full suite of engineering services including transportation structure design and planning, traffic engineering, right-of-way services, construction management and inspection, and other related services. The Company is focused on delivering technical excellence and innovative solutions to its clients which include federal, state and local governments, utility providers, universities, healthcare systems, and architecture firms, as well as commercial, retail, residential, and mixed-use developers.

“The Century acquisition fortifies Kleinfelder’s business in the Mid-Atlantic,” said Kleinfelder President and CEO Louis Armstrong. “This transaction aligns with our strategic direction and will accelerate growth across multiple market sectors and technical service lines. Century has decades of project success with portfolio clients, as well as the specialized capabilities that perfectly complement Kleinfelder’s service offerings.”

Nathan Brown, Managing Director at Wind Point Partners, commented, “The Century acquisition underscores Kleinfelder’s strategic growth plan including acquisitions of complementary businesses that expand and strengthen the Company’s service offerings, geographic reach and customer base. We are excited to partner with Century and its team of talented employees and look forward to supporting them in their next phase of growth.”

With the close of the transaction, the Century organizational structure will remain unchanged, operating under the direction of its existing operational leadership team. The Century organization, which consists of 600 professionals spread across 18 offices in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, will be incorporated into Kleinfelder’s East Division business unit reporting to Jeff Hill, Executive Vice President and East Division Director. 

“We are thrilled to solidify the partnership between Century and Kleinfelder,” noted Century President and CEO Francis Smyth. “The opportunity to partner and build these businesses is boundless as Century’s talented people will complement Kleinfelder’s culture through first class client attention, expanded service offerings and long-term client satisfaction. I look forward to an exciting future and watching our exceptional staff grow together.” 

Century represents Kleinfelder’s fifth acquisition within the last two years, following the acquisitions of Advantage Engineers, Garcia and Associates, Poggemeyer Design Group and Gas Transmission Systems. Kleinfelder’s M&A strategy will remain focused on acquiring firms with complementary employee-focused cultures and a trusted commitment to clients.

Winston & Strawn LLP served as legal counsel and KPMG provided transaction advisory and tax services to Kleinfelder. Chesapeake Corporate Advisors served as sell-side financial advisors.