A £2.1 billion deal will see Canadian engineering group SNC-Lavalin acquire British design consultancy WS Atkins.

According to SNC-Lavalin, the acquisition will create a “fully integrated professional services and project management company, with scale and capabilities across its core markets.”

Atkins currently has 18,000 employees, including more than 100 architects. Combined, SNC-Lavalin and Atkins will have more than 50,000 employees and a revenue of £7 billion.

The takeover will see Atkin’s chief executive Uwe Krueger depart, with group finance director Heath Drewett to fill the same role within the enlarged group.

This is the not the first acquisition for SNC-Lavalin, who bought oil and gas services company Kentz Corporation for £1.16 billion in 2014.