SOCOTEC acquires NINYO & MOORE in the USA,
doubling its size in this country.
The Group now weighs over €1.6 bn worldwide.
Leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) for the building and infrastructure markets, the SOCOTEC Group strengthens its position in the USA with the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, a 120M USD company, established in San Diego, California.
- Already well established in the eastern U.S., SOCOTEC USA now also covers the western part of the country, strengthening its presence in the major American states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and Utah, adding 16 offices and 700 employees with Ninyo’s acquisition, growing the U.S. workforce to over 1,300 professionals.
- SOCOTEC USA is expanding into Geotechnical and Environmental services, leveraging mutual expertise for growth, with existing activities.
- SOCOTEC’s strategy is to become the leading independent third-party expert ensuring asset integrity and people safety on a global basis and USA is a strategic market.
SOCOTEC, a global leader in risk management and technical consultancy in construction, real estate and infrastructure, is committed to working alongside companies to support their projects throughout the life cycle of their built assets.
By announcing the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, a testing and inspection firm established in San Diego in 1986, SOCOTEC significantly expands its footprint in the USA, doubling its size in the country and reaching a total workforce of 1300 professionals. Ninyo & Moore specializes in geotechnical engineering, environmental services, materials testing, inspection services, industrial hygiene and occupational safety. The company operates exclusively in the U.S., with 16 offices across California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah. The company employs approximately 700 professionals in the fields of geotechnical and environmental activities. Ninyo & Moore's diverse client base spans the public and private sectors, including schools, hospitals, high-rises, utilities, contractors, developers, and architects.
In geotechnical engineering, Ninyo & Moore focuses on analyzing soil and rock mechanics to assess ground stability for construction projects, including foundation design, slope stability, and earthquake response. Their services include construction materials testing, site investigations, foundation recommendations, and seismic analysis. In environmental engineering, they evaluate and manage environmental impacts, addressing soil and groundwater contamination, hazardous materials, and environmental compliance.
Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group, stated: “The acceleration of our growth and the deployment of our full range of services in the US is one of our major strategic priorities in our 2028 Business Plan. Ninyo & Moore is a perfect fit for SOCOTEC USA that ticks all the boxes. With this acquisition, SOCOTEC aims to complements its existing service offering by expanding its capabilities into geotechnics, geophysics, material testing, and environmental services, thereby strengthening our overall value proposition for customers throughout the United States.”
Nicolas Detchepare, CEO of SOCOTEC USA, added: "We are excited about the acquisition of Ninyo & Moore, which aligns perfectly with our strategy to grow our core construction and infrastructure services in North America. This partnership will allow us to leverage our mutual expertise, service offerings, and client base to foster additional revenues and cross-selling opportunities. From our first discussions, we were convinced about the great fit between our companies. Ninyo & Moore’s impressive track record and expertise perfectly align with SOCOTEC’s ambitions and vision for innovation and growth – we are proud to have doubled our team’s size. Jeffrey Somerlot currently heading the firm’s ATIC (Architectural Testing, Inspection and Certification) consulting division, and who has been part of SOCOTEC USA’s leadership team for 20 years, will take on the leadership role for the Infrastructure and Environment activities within SOCOTEC USA and will steer this acquisition integration.”
Avram Ninyo, founder of Ninyo & Moore, who joins SOCOTEC as Senior Principal, commented: “Joining forces with SOCOTEC marks an exciting new chapter, and we are thrilled to be bringing our proven technical expertise to a larger platform. With SOCOTEC's foothold across the country, we can continue expanding our offerings into new geographies. Additionally, being a part of the greater SOCOTEC network allows additional career opportunities and resources for all our employees. Our trajectory is poised for remarkable achievements."
