The French group Artelia, which employs more than 11,000 people and had revenues of 1.35 billion euros in 2025, acquired 100% of Portuguese civil engineering company Sopsec, based in Vila Nova de Gaia. The deal, whose value was not disclosed and was advised by Clearwater International, aims to consolidate Artelia's presence in the Iberian Peninsula, where it has operated since 1999, and reinforce its market position in Europe. Leadership will be shared with the co-founders during the transition phase.
Sopsec was founded on March 25, 1988 by three civil engineers and professors from FEUP — José Amorim Faria, Hipólito de Sousa and Rui Calejo. The company generated 8.1 million euros in revenue last year, with a profit of approximately 848 thousand euros, and currently has 150 employees. The sale process took two years, as the founders were looking for a suitable partner to overcome challenges such as internationalization and investment in artificial intelligence.
With this acquisition, synergies will be created between Sopsec and Artelia's European subsidiaries in France, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. The Portuguese company will also gain access to an expanded portfolio of projects, especially in the areas of infrastructure, industry and real estate. According to Sopsec's CEO, José Amorim Faria, there is a sharing of solid values and a common vision of engineering with the new owners.
Artelia has been pursuing an inorganic growth strategy in Europe, having completed several acquisitions in recent years, including the British Pick Everard, the French Cabinet MTC, the Icelandic HNIT Consulting Engineers and the Italian Erregi. Artelia's Chief Executive Officer, Benoît Clocheret, considered that the deal marks a new stage in the development strategy in Europe, positioning the company in a market driven by significant investments in construction and infrastructure.
