Axcel-backed XPartners Acquires Danish Engineering Firm A1 Consult to Boost Marine Expertise

XPartners Group, a leading European engineering and design consulting group backed by Axcel, has acquired A1 Consult A/S, a Danish engineering consultancy headquartered in Randers. The acquisition expands XPartners’ presence in Denmark by integrating A1 Consult’s specialist expertise in port and marine engineering, coastal protection, climate adaptation, infrastructure, and utilities.

A1 Consult, founded in 2007, employs approximately 20 specialists and serves a client base that includes public authorities, municipalities, industrial ports, and contractors across Denmark. The company provides technical advisory services throughout all project phases, from feasibility studies and design to permitting, construction management, and operational follow-up.

While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the acquisition is a strategic move to strengthen XPartners’ Danish platform within marine and civil engineering. The integration of A1 Consult’s deep technical knowledge complements XPartners’ existing capabilities and broadens its service offering in infrastructure projects.

“A1 Consult has built a well-regarded position in a segment where technical depth and long experience are decisive,” says the Managing Director of XPartners Denmark. “Their expertise complements our Danish platform in a concrete way and strengthens our overall offering within infrastructure. We see good opportunities for collaboration with other companies in the group and look forward to welcoming A1 to XPartners.”

CEO of A1 Consult adds, “We have worked in ports and marine engineering since 2007 and know what it takes in that type of assignment. Becoming part of XPartners gives us access to a broader network and better conditions to take on more complex projects, without losing what makes A1 who we are: a strong culture, specialist technical expertise and a firm focus on delivery.”

XPartners Group AB (publ) comprises over 80 entrepreneur-led companies with more than 2,000 specialists advising clients across infrastructure, buildings, energy, and environmental sectors. The group generates annual pro forma revenues exceeding SEK 4.0 billion and is primarily employee-owned, supported by private equity firm Axcel.

The acquisition aligns with broader industry trends where engineering consultancies seek to consolidate specialist expertise to compete for increasingly complex infrastructure projects. By integrating A1 Consult’s niche capabilities in coastal protection and climate adaptation, XPartners enhances its ability to deliver multidisciplinary solutions tailored to evolving environmental and regulatory demands.

Financially, the deal is expected to create synergies through cross-selling technical advisory services, accessing larger-scale projects, and achieving operational efficiencies via shared administrative functions and consolidated project management. However, integration challenges include maintaining A1 Consult’s specialist culture and retaining key technical talent during the transition.

Looking ahead, XPartners plans to leverage the combined expertise to strengthen its market position in Denmark and pursue growth opportunities in marine and civil engineering sectors. The group anticipates enhanced collaboration across its companies to deliver comprehensive infrastructure solutions that address client needs from feasibility through operational follow-up.

Regulatory approvals and integration processes are underway, with no anticipated disruptions to ongoing projects. The acquisition marks a significant step in XPartners’ strategic expansion within Northern Europe’s infrastructure consulting market.