Northwest Hydraulic joins with LaSalle of Quebec

Two Canadian hydraulic modelling firms have joined forces. Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd (NHC), based in Edmonton has acquired LaSalle Consulting Group based in Montreal.

NHC and LaSalle are among the few private companies in North America that have hydraulic laboratory operations. The combined revenue of the two companies will make them the largest on the continent.

NHC has 170 employees and is based in Edmonton. It has laboratories in Vancouver, Edmonton and Seattle, and consulting offices in California and Brazil.

LaSalle Consulting Group has been operating for more than 50 years and has approximately 20 employees. It has an international reputation for optimizing large hydro projects and has been a key player in the design of most of the large hydraulic infrastructure built in Quebec since the mid-1950s.

The merger will result in a new company, Lasalle|NHC, based in Montreal and operating as a subsidiary of NHC. Marc Villeneuve, former president of LaSalle is appointed president of Lasalle|NHC.

Both companies are wholly owned by senior employees, which “made the negotiation pretty easy to conduct,” said NHC’s president Herb Wiebe. “Our corporate cultures and vision were a perfect fit.”

Brian Hughes, NHC’s director of physical modeling operations, agrees: “It’s a fit that makes sense. Both firms are highly regarded in the industry, but operate mostly in different geographic markets. The merger will allow us to share work and specialized expertise to provide more comprehensive services to existing and new clients.”

Villeneuve said: “As a larger operation, NHC offered more diversified services than did LaSalle. The merger allows us to offer expert services in some new areas within our geographic market and expand beyond our current market, while continuing to honour our existing teaming relationships.”

Brian Hughes of Northwest Hydraulics.

Marc Villeneuve of Lasalle|NHC.