Leach Wallace is a leading provider of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering design services focused on the healthcare sector. Leach Wallace has accumulated an impressive list of major hospitals and healthcare systems such as Johns Hopkins, Duke University Medical Center, Lifebridge Health, UPMC Pinnacle, Penn Medicine Lancaster General, University of Maryland Medical System, Medstar, Carolinas Medical Center, Christiana Hospital, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System and INOVA.
The Leach Wallace shareholders were interested in exploring a potential acquisition/partnership with a larger strategic firm for a number of reasons. The shareholders saw consolidation in hospitals and healthcare systems as an opportunity to expand its reach to new clients and deepen its relationships with current clients. The shareholders decided that partnering with a larger strategic acquirer would help Leach Wallace maintain their dominance in this healthcare MEP engineering by adding depth of capabilities and resources. However, of utmost importance to the Leach Wallace shareholders was a buyer with a complementary culture and an engineering-first approach to healthcare MEP.
SC&H Capital helped the shareholders define their transaction goals and identified a number of qualified buyers, both domestically and internationally, who fit their description of a potential good partner/buyer. SC&H designed and executed a robust process that balanced a focus culture, quality and customer service with an attractive valuation and deal structure. Ultimately, SC&H narrowed down a competitive field of suitors to WSP, a buyer proposing the most compelling economic offer and the best cultural fit for Leach Wallace.
