Taylor Young sold to IBI Group

Canadian architecture and engineering firm IBI Group has acquired Taylor Young, the Cheshire-based architectural and masterplanning practice, for an undisclosed sum. BCMS advised the shareholders of Taylor Young during the transaction, which completed in 2012.

“The strategic fit between the companies is perfect for us both” – Steve Gough, IGL

First incorporated as a company in 1989, Taylor Young operated offices in Wilmslow, Liverpool and London and has a strong public sector client base in healthcare, education, housing, as well as urban planning and landscape design. At the time of the deal, the firm employed 100 staff.

The new trading name for the business was confirmed as IBI Taylor Young, and the acquisition saw the business become part of a much larger, international organisation. Listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, IBI Group had 3,500 staff and announced turnover of $86.9m at the time of the transaction.

Deal commentary

Commenting on the deal, Philip Beinhaker, chairman director and chief executive of IBI Group, said: “Taylor Young has a very broad range of clients in the public sector with over 70% of the business gained on a repeat basis with long established client relationships.”

Taylor Young MD Stephen Gleave added: “This is a strategic move for Taylor Young, including its owners, lead managers and professional staff in becoming a member firm within the IBI group of firms. It increases our capacity in professional resources to serve our many clients with the largest of projects and with broader skills that complement our existing breadth. It opens opportunities for our talented staff to participate in projects around the globe through IBI’s established global strategy of work sharing and deployment through the intelligent systems of the firm.

“In short, it opens strategic opportunities at multiple levels for the future of the Taylor Young Family.”