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Engineering & Technical Services

Overview

Engineering and technical services firms occupy a unique position in the M&A landscape. Value is driven not only by financial performance, but by intellectual capital, client trust, and the ability to retain licensed professionals post-transaction.


As private equity interest in professional services continues to expand, engineering firms are increasingly viewed as attractive long-term investments—provided key-person risk, licensure dependencies, and talent retention are thoughtfully addressed.


Calibore advises founders and principals through transactions that balance liquidity with continuity. We translate people-driven value into buyer-understandable economics, structure incentives to retain talent, and manage buyer expectations with precision—particularly in sub-scale firms where generic advisors often fall short.

a man wearing a hat and holding a green object
a man wearing a hat and holding a green object
pink metal equipment
pink metal equipment
Sectors We Serve
  • MEP engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing)

  • Civil & structural engineering

  • Environmental & sustainability engineering

  • Energy efficiency & commissioning

  • Architecture & design-build firms

  • Infrastructure and public sector engineering

  • Specialty consulting & technical advisory firms

Advisory Services
  • Sell-side M&A and strategic exits

  • Partner buy-ins and internal successions

  • Minority growth capital raises

  • Backlog, utilization, and margin normalization

  • Buyer positioning around defensibility and expertise

  • Transaction structuring to retain key professionals

Value Drivers Buyers Focus On
  • Depth of credentialed technical staff

  • Backlog visibility and revenue predictability

  • Client stickiness and repeat engagements

  • Exposure to infrastructure, healthcare, and public spending

  • Low customer concentration

  • Strong project management and risk controls

  • Succession planning beyond founding partners


2026 EBITDA Multiple Range: 6.0× – 10.0x


Upper end driven by:

  • MEP and infrastructure exposure

  • Strong backlog visibility

  • Credentialed teams

  • Public sector or regulated end markets


Lower end driven by:

  • Project concentration

  • Key-person risk

  • Weak succession planning


2026 outlook:

Sustained buyer interest from PE, strategics, and infrastructure funds as spending on energy, healthcare, and public works continues.

Sectors We Serve
  • MEP engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing)

  • Civil & structural engineering

  • Environmental & sustainability engineering

  • Energy efficiency & commissioning

  • Architecture & design-build firms

  • Infrastructure and public sector engineering

  • Specialty consulting & technical advisory firms

Advisory Services
  • Sell-side M&A and strategic exits

  • Partner buy-ins and internal successions

  • Minority growth capital raises

  • Backlog, utilization, and margin normalization

  • Buyer positioning around defensibility and expertise

  • Transaction structuring to retain key professionals

Value Drivers Buyers Focus On
  • Depth of credentialed technical staff

  • Backlog visibility and revenue predictability

  • Client stickiness and repeat engagements

  • Exposure to infrastructure, healthcare, and public spending

  • Low customer concentration

  • Strong project management and risk controls

  • Succession planning beyond founding partners


2026 EBITDA Multiple Range: 6.0× – 10.0x


Upper end driven by:

  • MEP and infrastructure exposure

  • Strong backlog visibility

  • Credentialed teams

  • Public sector or regulated end markets


Lower end driven by:

  • Project concentration

  • Key-person risk

  • Weak succession planning


2026 outlook:

Sustained buyer interest from PE, strategics, and infrastructure funds as spending on energy, healthcare, and public works continues.

Why founders engage Calibore:

We help translate technical excellence into institutional-grade investment narratives that buyers understand and pay for.


Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers

How are engineering firms valued in an M&A transaction?

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How are engineering firms valued in an M&A transaction?

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How are engineering firms valued in an M&A transaction?

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Do buyers require founders to stay post-transaction?

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Do buyers require founders to stay post-transaction?

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Do buyers require founders to stay post-transaction?

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Are minority investments common in engineering firms?

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Are minority investments common in engineering firms?

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Are minority investments common in engineering firms?

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