Consulting M&A Weekly Round-up (26th to 2nd December, 2023)

In the dynamic landscape of consulting, each week unveils a tapestry of strategic moves, acquisitions, and collaborations that redefine the industry's contours. This week's narrative is woven with three distinctive deals, and none looms larger than the transformative acquisition orchestrated by Accenture.

In the ever-evolving chessboard of corporate strategy, these M&A transactions are the pivotal moves that determine the future of the consulting domain. Join us as we unravel the layers of these deals, delving deep into the intricacies and implications that promise to shape the consulting landscape in the weeks and months to come.

#1. Accenture purchases Salesforce consultancy Incapsulate

Accenture has completed the acquisition of Incapsulate, an IT consultancy based in Washington, DC, specializing in Salesforce solutions.

Established in 2008, Incapsulate focuses on designing and implementing Salesforce customer relationship management (CRM) solutions for organizations in the public sector and financial services sectors. As a Salesforce platinum partner, Incapsulate has a track record of collaborating with municipalities, state and federal government agencies throughout North America, as well as Fortune 500 companies.

Emma McGuigan, Senior Managing Director and Enterprise & Industries Technology Lead at Accenture, remarked, "With the addition of Incapsulate to our team, we have bolstered our Salesforce services, particularly in the insurance and public sector domains. This enhances our capacity to expedite digital transformation initiatives and unlock significant business value for our clients."

#2. Barge Design Solutions acquires Florida-based Environmental Consulting & Design

Nashville-based engineering and architecture consultancy, Barge Design Solutions, has successfully acquired Environmental Consulting & Design (EC&D), a firm headquartered in Gainesville, FL.

Established in 1994, EC&D specializes in environmental permitting, land planning, mitigation banking, land management, and geospatial services, with a project portfolio extending across 25,000 acres throughout Florida.

This acquisition marks a significant expansion of Barge's environmental capabilities and strengthens its presence in northern Florida. According to Bob Higgins, President and CEO of Barge, this strategic move aligns with the company's broader vision, recognizing the increasing importance of ecology services across their operations.

Higgins also highlighted Florida's national leadership in preserving and enhancing natural resources and commended EC&D as a highly esteemed firm within the state for providing such crucial services.

#3. Trinity Consultants snaps up Longman Lindsey

Trinity Consultants, an environmental consulting firm headquartered in Dallas, has successfully acquired Longman Lindsey, an acoustical consulting firm based in New York.

Established in 2013, Longman Lindsey specializes in providing advice to design firms regarding the acoustical aspects of buildings. The company offers a comprehensive range of consulting services encompassing architectural acoustics, room acoustics, modeling, sound masking, environmental noise control, product verification, and troubleshooting.

Jim Perry, managing director of Cerami, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, highlighting Longman Lindsey's esteemed reputation, experienced team, dedication to project excellence, and synergistic organizational structure.

Perry anticipates that these qualities will contribute to a competitive advantage for Trinity's Built Environment division. He stated, "We're excited to collaborate with John and his team to generate enduring value for our clients and partners worldwide."

Closing Thoughts

As the curtains draw on this week's Consulting M&A saga, the echoes of transformative acquisitions linger in the air, leaving an indelible mark on the industry's trajectory.

Accenture's bold maneuver takes center stage, steering conversations towards new possibilities and potential paradigm shifts. Yet, the narrative doesn't end here; it's a dynamic continuum of strategic plays that shape the future of consulting.

In the spirit of comprehensive coverage, we acknowledge that the consulting landscape is vast and ever-evolving. If there are noteworthy deals that eluded our scrutiny, we invite our readers to write to us and make it known.

It’s a wrap for now, but we will be back again next week for another consulting M&A round-up, so stay tuned!