Sidara to acquire Wood

Creating a global, world-class, privately held engineering and design group.

Rule 2.7 announcement

Man in a hard hat next to a car
Clouds and outdoor space

The vision

Sidara’s vision is for Wood to become its Energy and Materials division. Sidara values the talent in the Wood organisation and intends to retain the Wood brand. In the longer term, Sidara believes that Wood would provide an attractive platform to drive growth across its enlarged business.

Overview

Vision infographic

The offer

Summary terms

30

p

In cash for each Wood Share

£

216

m

The approximate acquisition value attributable to the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Wood

$

450

m

Sidara will provide a $450 million capital injection to Wood

Summary

Sidara's priorities for Wood under its ownership

1

Provide stability for Wood.

2

Support Wood's employees and brand.

3

Benefit from a differentiated business model that maintains leading specialist brands in each area.

4

Over time, create an engineering and design firm of exceptional capability and diversification with the ability to capitalise on growth opportunities.

5

Establish an energy leader that leverages the expertise and knowledge of both firms.

6

Leverage the benefits of being a private group that will ensure sustainable growth in the long-term.

Learn more about the deal

The companies

Committed to playing a key role in the energy transition

Sidara office

Sidara

One of the leading privately-held planning, design, engineering and project management groups in the world. Since its inception in 1956, Sidara has grown organically and through strategic acquisitions. Sidara is a global partnership, registered in the Dubai International Financial Centre, with a significant operational presence in London.

Learn about Sidara

Wood office building

Wood

A large and leading global consulting and engineering company operating across Energy and Materials sectors. Wood provides highly technical, advanced consulting, engineering and operations solutions to complex industry challenges in sectors including but not limited to oil & gas, carbon capture, hydrogen, power, renewables, chemicals, life sciences and mineral & metals, serving some of the world’s leading blue-chip clients across these end markets.

Learn about Wood

Leadership Vision

This is a transformational moment for our company. Through this move, Wood becomes part of Sidara, creating a global, world-class, privately held engineering and design group. In the short term, our additional financial support will bring greater stability, but our vision is for Wood to take the lead in energy and materials.

Talal Shair CEO

Talal Shair, Chair and Chief Executive Officer

Talal Shair CEO

Today is an important milestone in providing a stable foundation for Wood to deliver on its significant potential. The Board's recommendation of Sidara’s offer follows an extensive review of the viability of all available options and it is the unanimous view of the Wood Board that this is the best option for all stakeholders, whilst delivering some value for our shareholders after what has been a very difficult few years for the company.

Roy Franklin

Roy Franklin, Chair

Roy Franklin

Key Documents

August 29, 2025
M&A documents
M&A documents
M&A documents
M&A documents
M&A documents

2.7 Announcement

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pdf
August 29, 2025
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets

Transaction Infographic

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pdf
August 29, 2025
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets
Infographics & factsheets

Sidara factsheet

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pdf

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sidara’s vision for Wood?

  • Sidara is an innovative business platform in engineering and design, whose strategic aim is to deliver world-class outcomes for its clients.
  • By combining specialist capabilities in the built environment and the energy and materials sectors, with highly attractive and complementary end markets and geographic reach, Sidara believes that Wood can help it to achieve that aim.
  • Sidara’s vision is for Wood to become its Energy and Materials division. Sidara values the talent in the Wood organisation and intends to retain the Wood brand.
  • In the near term, Sidara’s clear priority is to provide greater stability to Wood, bring financial strength to the business and to invest in Wood’s client relationships.
  • In the longer term, Sidara believes that Wood would provide an attractive platform to drive growth across its enlarged business.

What is the expected timeline for completion?

  • The acquisition is expected to complete in the first half of 2026 subject to the satisfaction (or, where applicable, waiver) of the Conditions set out in the firm offer announcement.

Do you plan to merge Wood into one of your existing brands or keep it a standalone business in Sidara?

  • Sidara intends to operate Wood as a standalone client facing business, consistent with its operating model for the pillars it currently operates, retaining the Wood brand identity, driving a strategy of long-term growth and continuing to nurture Wood’s excellent client relationships. Sidara places utmost importance on culture and values, which includes its people aims, and specifically health, safety, security and promoting Sidara’s values of equal opportunities for all and contributing to the communities it works within.

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How do you plan to stabilise the business?

  • Sidara’s immediate priority is to provide greater stability to Wood, in order that Wood can continue to serve clients and other stakeholders, and preserve the strong capabilities at Wood.
  • Notwithstanding recent financial challenges, Wood believes the additional proposed $450 million capital injection, and ownership by a global group, that is privately owned with long-term investment capabilities, will create the best foundations for growth.
  • Over time, we will create an engineering and design firm of exceptional capability and diversification with the ability to capitalise on growth opportunities.
  • We will establish an energy leader that leverages the expertise and knowledge of both firms.

View all FAQs

Disclaimer

Important notice

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Announcement by Dar Al-Handasah Consultants Shair and Partners Holdings Ltd ("Sidara") of a firm intention to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of John Wood Group PLC ("Wood") (the "Offer").

ACCESS TO THIS AREA OF THE WEBSITE ("MICROSITE") MAY BE RESTRICTED UNDER SECURITIES LAWS OR REGULATIONS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS.  THIS NOTICE REQUIRES YOU TO CONFIRM CERTAIN MATTERS (INCLUDING THAT YOU ARE NOT RESIDENT IN SUCH A JURISDICTION), BEFORE YOU MAY OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION ON THIS MICROSITE.  THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT DIRECTED AT OR INTENDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY PERSONS RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION OR WOULD RESULT IN A REQUIREMENT TO COMPLY WITH ANY CONSENT OR OTHER FORMALITY WHICH SIDARA REGARDS AS UNDULY ONEROUS (A "RESTRICTED JURISDICTION").

THIS MICROSITE CONTAINS ANNOUNCEMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION (TOGETHER, THE "INFORMATION") PUBLISHED BY SIDARA AND/OR WOOD RELATING TO THE OFFER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS (THE "CODE").  THE INFORMATION IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND ITS AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT BELOW.

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Access to the Information

If you would like to view the Information contained in this Microsite, please read this notice carefully.  This notice applies to all persons who view the Information contained in this Microsite and, depending on where you are located, may affect your rights or responsibilities. Sidara reserves the right to amend or update this notice at any time and you should, therefore, read it in full each time you visit this Microsite.  In addition, the contents of this Microsite may be amended at any time, in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of Sidara.

To allow you to view information about the Offer, you must read this notice and then click "ACCEPT".  If you are unable to agree, you should click "DECLINE" and you will not be able to view information about the Offer.

The Information contained in this Microsite is not intended to, and does not constitute or form any part of an offer to sell or otherwise dispose of or an invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any securities, or the solicitation of a vote or approval pursuant to the Offer or otherwise in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.  The Offer will be made solely by means of an offer or scheme document which will contain the full terms and conditions of such Offer, including details on how it may be accepted.  Any decision made in relation to the Offer should be made solely and only on the basis of the information provided in any such document.

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Overseas jurisdictions

This Information is not directed at or intended to be accessible by persons resident in any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Viewing the Information you are seeking to access may be restricted under securities laws in certain jurisdictions.  All persons resident outside of the United Kingdom (the "UK") who wish to view the Information contained in this Microsite must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements which prohibit or restrict them from doing so and should inform themselves about, and observe, any legal or regulatory requirements applicable in their jurisdiction.

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Additional US information

The Offer will be made in the United States (the "US") and may be made pursuant to Section 14(e) and Regulation 14E under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the City Code on Mergers and Takeovers (the “Code”). Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments, which are different from those applicable under US domestic tender offer procedures.  

The Offer relates to the securities of a UK company and is subject to UK procedural and disclosure requirements that may be different from those of the US, including with respect to offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments.  Any financial statements or other financial information included in this Microsite may have been prepared in accordance with non-US accounting standards that may not be comparable to the financial statements of US companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the US.  

The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer by a US holder of Wood Shares (as defined in the firm offer announcement issued by Sidara pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Code) may be a taxable transaction for US federal income tax purposes and under applicable state and local, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Wood shares is urged to consult his independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of acceptance of the Offer.

Any offer will be made in the US by Sidara and no one else. None of Greenhill & Co. International LLP and Goldman Sachs International (financial advisers to Sidara), none of Rothschild & Co., Europa Partners, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Morgan Stanley (financial advisers to Wood), nor any of their respective affiliates, will be making the Offer in the US.

It may be difficult for US holders of shares to enforce their rights and/or any claims they may have arising under the US federal securities laws in connection with the Offer, since Sidara and Wood are incorporated under the laws of a non-US jurisdiction, certain of the assets of Wood are or may be located outside the United States, and some or all of its officers and directors may be residents of countries other than the US.  US holders of shares may not be able to sue a non-US company or its respective officers or directors in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws.  Further, it may be difficult to compel a non-US company and its respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction or judgment of a US court.

The Information contained in this Microsite does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction.  No offer to acquire securities or to exchange securities for other securities has been made, or will be made, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of the mails of, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce or any facilities of a national securities exchange of any country in which such offer may not be made other than: (i) in accordance with applicable requirements under the securities laws of such country, as the case may be; or (ii) pursuant to an available exemption from such requirements.

Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved the Offer or passed comment upon the adequacy or completeness of any of the Information contained in this Microsite.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the US.

You should be aware that, in accordance with normal UK market practice and pursuant to Rule 14e-5(b) of the Exchange Act, Sidara or its nominees or brokers (acting as agents) may from time to time purchase or arrange to purchase Wood shares outside of the US otherwise than under any offer or scheme related to the Offer before or during the period in which the Offer remains open for acceptance. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in privately negotiated purchases at negotiated prices. Any information about such purchases will be disclosed as required in the UK and the US, will be reported to a Regulatory Information Service provider and will be available on the London Stock Exchange website, www.londonstockexchange.com. If such purchases or arrangements to purchase are made, they will be made outside the US and will comply with applicable law, including the Exchange Act.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This Microsite and the Information contained in it may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Sidara and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings (the "Sidara Subsidiaries") and Wood and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings (the "Wood Subsidiaries") following the implementation of the Offer.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements.  Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Sidara and the Sidara Subsidiaries (and/or, as relevant, Wood and the Wood Subsidiaries) to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions, including as to future potential cost savings, synergies, earnings, cash flow, return on capital employed, production and prospects.  These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "goals", "intend", "may", "objectives", "outlook", "plan", "probably", "project", "risks", "seek", "should", "target", "will" and similar terms and phrases.

There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Sidara and/or the Sidara Subsidiaries (and/or, as relevant, Wood and/or the Wood Subsidiaries) and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Microsite.  These factors include, but are not limited to: (a) currency fluctuations; (b) loss of market share and industry competition; (c) environmental and physical risks; (d) legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (e) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (f) political risks; (g) changes in trading conditions; and (h) changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets.

Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the specified date of the relevant document within which the statement is contained.  None of Sidara, the Sidara Subsidiaries, Wood or the Wood Subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information.  In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this Microsite.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, no statement contained or referred to in this Microsite is intended to be a profit forecast for any period and no statement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for Sidara or Wood as appropriate.

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Responsibility

In relation to any Offer-related materials accessible on this Microsite please note any statement of responsibility contained therein.

The documents included in this Microsite issued or published by Sidara speak only at the specified date of the relevant document and Sidara has, and accepts, no responsibility or duty to update or revise such documents.

In relation to any such announcements or other Offer-related materials issued or published by any third party, or which relate to any third party, that are accessible on this Microsite, the only responsibility accepted by Sidara and its directors is for the correctness and fairness of its reproduction.

Neither the directors of Sidara, nor Sidara itself, nor any of their affiliated companies, have reviewed, and no such person is or shall be responsible for or accepts any liability in respect of, any information contained on any other website which may be linked to or from this Microsite.

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Other

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This notice shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law.

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