Jacobs initially invested in London-headquartered PA in 2021, acquiring a majority stake of 65% in the business.

The upfront consideration for the remaining stake – primarily held by PA existing and former employees – will be approximately £1.2bn, valuing the business at around £3.05bn.

Jacobs’ board of directors and PA’s stakeholder representatives have approved the transaction.

According to a press release issued by Jacobs, the move will create a ‘global advisory powerhouse for clients’.

PA Consulting offers business consulting and services with a focus on innovation and transformation. Operating globally from offices in the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics and the Netherlands, it has a headcount of around 4,000, including strategists, designers, consultants, digital specialists, scientists and engineers. PA acquired insight and strategy consultancy Sparkler in 2018.

The deal will grow Jacobs’ presence in sectors including advanced manufacturing, life sciences and critical infrastructure, and expand participation in advisory, AI and digital projects.

The combination of PA’s strategic advisory and data analysis capabilities with Jacobs’ project management and technical engineering tool kit will support the company to better capture increasing demand from clients looking for more comprehensive and consultative approaches, according to Jacobs.

The transaction will primarily be implemented through a scheme of arrangement – a court-approved agreement between a company and its shareholders or creditors – and is subject to closing conditions, including the approval of the current shareholders of PA and the court (pursuant to the scheme). The transaction is expected to close by the end of Jacobs’ fiscal 2026 second quarter.

Bob Pragada, chair and chief executive at Jacobs, said: "Since our strategic investment in March 2021, our collaboration with PA Consulting has accelerated profitable growth and reinforced Jacobs’ leadership as we redefine the asset lifecycle – embedding us earlier in client journeys and expanding our impact across strategy, transformation and advisory."

Pragada added: "This is a key milestone for our business and underscores our disciplined approach for return-focused capital allocation and our priority to drive sustained value creation.". 

Christian Norris, chief executive, PA Consulting, said: "By fully bringing together the expertise of PA and Jacobs, we can better empower clients to overcome today’s complexities and embrace tomorrow’s opportunities with confidence.

"Together, we're making a positive difference to businesses, economies and societies. Investing and extending PA’s valuable brand and positioning in innovation and transformation consulting will enable us to tackle the broadest range of client challenges."