Geotechnical Engineering Firms Announce Merger

Two Ventura-based geological and geotechnical engineering companies, Fugro-McLelland (West) Inc. and Staal, Gardner & Dunne Inc., have merged but will continue to serve their clients separately.

The surviving company, Fugro-McLelland (West), is a subsidiary of Fugro-McLelland B.V., a privately held Dutch concern with annual revenue of $240 million.

As a result of the merger, Fugro-McLelland (West) will have a staff of 120 throughout California.

Timothy N. Dunne, who was president of Staal, Gardner & Dunne, has been named president and chief operating officer of both firms. Most other officials of both companies will remain in place, Dunne said.

Dunne said the merger was a stock transaction, but he declined to place a dollar amount on the deal. He estimated combined 1992 revenue for Fugro-McLelland (West) at about $13 million.

Staal, Gardner will continue to operate under its former name as a unit of Fugro-McLelland (West), Dunne said. Staal, Gardner provides engineering for the petroleum, water-storage and water-treatment industries. It also does environmental studies.

Fugro-McLelland (West) provides similar services and also specializes in offshore and onshore geotechnical projects.

The firms’ clients include the Port of Los Angeles, Exxon Co. USA and the Ventura County Sanitation District.