Black & Veatch has acquired Bird Electric Enterprises and Bird Electric Properties, collectively known as Bird Electric, as part of its efforts to meet the growing demand for construction solutions in response to megatrends impacting the world. The acquisition brings together the key industry engineering, construction and procurement talent and business enabling resources of both companies to accelerate their growth. Bird Electric is a US self-perform electrical construction services provider that has a national reach in emergency power restoration, which is a key area of focus for Black & Veatch. In addition to its long-established relationships with fuels producers, Bird Electric’s capabilities are also relevant to other adjacent linear and distributed construction markets and solutions that Black & Veatch serves.
Black & Veatch CEO, Mario Azar, described the acquisition as a historic event that builds upon the company’s world-class capabilities and integrated solutions offerings. The acquisition aligns with both companies’ vision to expand their solutions in the markets they serve, bring construction capabilities to a wider client base, and provide broader career and personal growth opportunities to their professionals.
Bird Electric will operate as a Black & Veatch Company with enhanced capabilities and reach in the growing Grid Solutions market, including new transmission and distribution infrastructure and restoration. It will also operate in adjacent linear and distributed infrastructure markets and solutions such as EV charging, renewables and connectivity. The investment is timely and poised to produce greater value to the company and its employee-owners, given the global push for decarbonization and sustainability.
The acquisition brings together two companies with industry-leading safety records, strong training programs, and a solid geographic footprint. Bird Electric also brings an apprenticeship program that is certified by the Department of Labor to the combined company. According to Brian Bird, founder of Bird Electric and now President of Bird Electric, a Black & Veatch Company, the acquisition creates great opportunities to expand the reach and apply the knowledge gained from working together to meet clients’ growing demands in new markets.