PB agrees to be acquired by Balfour Beatty
The acquisition must be approved by the shareholders of both organizations.
On Thursday, Keith J. Hawksworth, CEO, Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc. (PB) announced that the company's board of directors and executive committee are recommending that shareholders approve the acquisition of PB by the London-based infrastructure firm Balfour Beatty plc (BB) for $626 million. PB's shareholders' meeting will take place on October 21st.
"We have for some time sought a strategic partner that complements the services we provide, which would assist us in our on-going global expansion," said Hawksworth. "Balfour Beatty shares our values, our culture and our commitment to professionalism, integrity and technical excellence - principles that have guided us for nearly 125 years and Balfour Beatty for the last century."
In a letter to all employees sent earlier in the day, Hawksworth explained, "The combination [of Balfour Beatty] with PB creates an organization with world-class capabilities in project development (including financing), design, management or delivery of construction services, and the operations and maintenance that can be provided through our combined local office global footprint."
James L. Lammie, PB's chairman of the board, added, "Balfour Beatty has agreed that Parsons Brinckerhoff will retain its name and organizational structure and operate as an independent but wholly-owned subsidiary. We believe this will allow us to continue to meet our clients' needs in ways they expect while expanding into new areas that will provide additional opportunities for our employees."
The two firms are highly complementary, with PB greatly assisting in expanding Balfour Beatty's vision in becoming a global integrated leader in infrastructure services through the addition of world-class professional services capabilities. Client service will be a prime focus of the combined organization with no changes in project managers, technical staff and/or executive leadership with whom PB's clients work as a result of the acquisition, according to PB.
The acquisition must be approved by the shareholders of both organizations.
In 2008, PB had revenues of $2.34 billion and approximately 13,000 employees in more than 100 offices worldwide. The publicly traded Balfour Beatty has approximately 40,000 employees and last year had revenues of approximately $15 billion.
More Bus

Frontrunner Bus Group Expands with New Massachusetts Headquarters
The significantly larger facility will provide the infrastructure needed to support the company’s growing workforce, advanced technologies, and expanding product line.
Read More →
Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
Read More →
Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI
Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.
Read More →
SamTrans Sets Priorities for Potential Connect Bay Area Revenue
The board-approved framework allocates future funding to maintaining service, rider improvements, equity initiatives, and infrastructure repairs.
Read More →
When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.
Read More →
Photo Highlights from APTA's 2026 Mobility Conference
The photo gallery captures scenes from the conference, including the International Bus Roadeo, exhibit hall activities, the Bus Showcase, and much more.
Read More →
Chicago's NITA Act Moves Into Next Phase as Service Improvements Begin
Rider-focused improvements will begin rolling out across the system immediately as CTA, Metra, and Pace increase service this summer in the six-county region.
Read More →
Philadelphia's SEPTA Approves Annual Transit Service Plan
Between 2021 and 2024, SEPTA held more than 200 public meetings — including 144 in-person sessions — throughout the SEPTA service region.
Read More →A True Low-Floor Minibus Design Delivers Better Accessibility and Efficiency for Everyone
As transit demands evolve, so should your fleet. Download the whitepaper to see how the Low-Floor Frontrunner Minibus compares to traditional options.
Read More →
WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign
The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.
Read More →