CaDCR staff writer
Bird Construction Inc. has signed a deal to buy Fraser River Pile & Dredge (FRPD), Canada’s largest marine infrastructure, land foundation and dredging company, for $82.3 million.
The Mississauga-based builder said Wednesday the acquisition will expand its presence in national infrastructure projects and add specialized self-perform capabilities. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“The acquisition by Bird is a pivotal part of FRPD’s nearly 115-year journey, as we combine our service offerings with a company that has been a driving force behind shaping the Canadian landscape for over 100 years,” said Sarah Clark, President and CEO of FRPD. “We look forward to leveraging our combined strengths to create additional opportunities across our respective client bases. FRPD’s culture of high quality delivery and self perform capabilities, augmented by Bird’s extensive resources and complementary services, is a winning combination for the future.”
Founded in 1911 and headquartered in New Westminster, B.C., FRPD employs more than 300 people and has worked on some of the largest construction projects in Western Canada. Its portfolio also includes dredging and port expansion work in Churchill and the St. Lawrence Seaway, as well as environmental remediation in Hamilton Harbour.
“FRPD is expected to be a catalyst for future growth, similar to our prior acquisitions,” said Teri McKibbon, President and CEO of Bird. “The addition of unique self-perform capabilities to Bird’s already extensive portfolio of operating locations provides Bird with a more comprehensive platform to support larger-scale projects for public and private clients across Canada.
“FRPD’s marine infrastructure, land foundation and dredging expertise complement Bird’s deep expertise in delivering complex construction projects across our three verticals of Industrial, Infrastructure and Buildings.”
The deal will be financed through a new term debt facility. Bird said it expects its debt ratios to remain low following the transaction.
