Convent Capital-backed Movares to Acquire Geonius Groep B.V. to Boost Regional Presence

Movares Group B.V., headquartered in Utrecht and backed by Dutch private equity firm Convent Capital, reveals its intention to acquire Geonius Groep B.V., a regional engineering and consultancy company with approximately 300 employees. The acquisition aims to create a nationwide network of regional offices, combining Movares’ broad expertise with Geonius’ strong local presence in southern and central Netherlands.

While financial terms remain undisclosed, the transaction includes Geonius’ Dutch operations and its subsidiary GMI Bodemmanagement. Geonius’ Belgian activities are excluded and have been separated from the deal. The acquisition is subject to positive recommendations from the works councils of both companies and approval by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). The closing is anticipated in October 2026.

Movares specializes in engineering, design, and consultancy services focused on infrastructure, mobility, energy, and urban development. Geonius complements this with expertise in engineering services and field research, including geotechnics, soil, water, ecology, geodesy, and geo-information. This combination enhances Movares’ capabilities in addressing complex spatial and societal challenges such as housing, energy transition, climate adaptation, and infrastructure renewal.

Barbara Visser, CEO of Movares, emphasizes the strategic importance of regional presence: “The spatial and societal transitions in housing, energy, infrastructure, and climate adaptation are ultimately realized locally. It is crucial to be close to our clients, understand their environment, and simultaneously offer the expertise and capacity to tackle complex issues integrally. With Geonius, we strengthen this combination: strong regional embedding, technical knowledge, and Movares’ national scale.”

Paul ten Kroode, COO of Movares, adds, “Every spatial development starts with regional, economic, and social plans. Knowing the environment and its unique characteristics is essential. By integrating Geonius’ expertise, we bring all necessary knowledge closer to the client and deliver greater value.”

Geonius’ director, Mark Rurup, highlights the cultural fit and future opportunities: “Geonius is built on craftsmanship, collaboration, and strong involvement. The complex challenges of today require more integrated services, chain cooperation, and scale. Movares shares our values and strengths, making this the right moment to take the next step together.”

The combined entity will maintain the Geonius brand and its regional offices, preserving existing client relationships and expertise. Employees from both organizations will benefit from enhanced opportunities for knowledge exchange, development, and collaboration.

This acquisition strengthens Movares’ market share in the Dutch regional infrastructure consultancy sector by expanding its geographic reach and broadening its service portfolio. The integration is expected to generate synergies through cross-selling, improved project delivery, and optimized resource allocation.

Industry observers note that this deal accelerates consolidation in the Dutch engineering consultancy market, potentially prompting competitors to pursue similar regional acquisitions or strategic partnerships to maintain competitiveness.

Movares and Geonius face integration challenges including aligning corporate cultures, integrating IT systems, retaining key talent, and managing client expectations to ensure service continuity.

Upon completion, Movares aims to leverage the combined strengths to better support clients nationwide in addressing pressing infrastructure and urban development challenges, reinforcing its position as a leading engineering consultancy in the Netherlands.