Penningtons Manches Cooper advises SOCOTEC UK Limited on the acquisition of Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Limited

Posted: 26/11/2024

The corporate team at Penningtons Manches Cooper has advised SOCOTEC UK, the UK’s leading provider, and a leading European player, in testing, inspection and certification services in the construction and environment sectors, on the acquisition of Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys Limited.

Aspect Land & Hydrographic Surveys, based in Irvine, Scotland, is an independent coastal surveying specialist that undertakes hydrographic surveys, oceanographic services, geophysical surveys, environmental surveys, ROV inspection surveys, LiDAR mapping, and utility and land surveying. Aspect provides high-resolution data and integrated turn-key solutions to clients across various sectors, including utilities, ports and harbours, defence, renewables, environment, construction, buildings, mines, and quarries.

The acquisition further enhances SOCOTEC UK’s existing land-based surveying capabilities, enabling access to a growing and specialist surveying market with strong opportunities for local expansion. This is also the fifth acquisition since 2023, following recent acquisitions of building pathology specialists Hutton + Rostron (H+R), Impulse Geophysics, specialists in impulse radar surveys, and remote monitoring and advanced geospatial solutions experts IETG and 40SEVEN, demonstrating SOCOTEC UK’s significant investment as the UK’s leading provider of testing, inspection and certification services in the construction and environment sectors.

The Penningtons Manches Cooper team advising SOCOTEC UK was led by corporate partner Richard Wrigley, with support from associate Hayfa Hazem. The wider team included support from corporate tax partner Oliver Gutman, pensions partner Alison Hills, commercial managing associate Edmund Forey and senior associate Nora Pook. 

Jason Goodwin, chief financial officer of SOCOTEC UK, added: “This acquisition will provide Socotec with access to new market sectors and alternate surveying practices, such as subsea capabilities, as well as expanding our geographical footprint in Scotland, creating wider opportunities for SOCOTEC UK. I’d like to thank Richard and the team at Penningtons Manches Cooper for their support, expertise and advice.”

Richard Wrigley, corporate partner at Penningtons Manches Cooper, said: “We are delighted to have advised SOCOTEC UK on this important acquisition, which complements their previous acquisitions and enhances their specialist survey services. This is the fifth acquisition we have supported SOCOTEC UK on in the last two years and we look forward to continuing to support them in the future.”

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