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Amec Foster Wheeler plc was a British multinational consultancy, engineering and project management company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. In October 2017, it was acquired by Wood Group.[1][2]

Key Information

It was focused on the Oil, Gas & Chemicals, Mining, Power & Process and Environment & Infrastructure markets, with offices in over 55 countries worldwide. Roughly a third of its turnover came from Europe, half from North America and 12% from the rest of the world.

Amec Foster Wheeler shares were publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and its American Depositary Shares were traded on the New York Stock Exchange.[3]

History

[edit]

Amalgamated Mechanical Engineering and Construction (AMEC) was formed from the 1982 amalgamation of Leonard Fairclough & Son (founded 1883) and the William Press Group (founded 1913). During 1988, AMEC went on to acquire Matthew Hall Group.[4][5]

During the mid 1990s, the Norwegian engineering company Kvaerner negotiated with AMEC's board towards a potential acquisition of the latter; after talks broke down, the firm resorted to a hostile takeover bid.[6][7] Kvaerner quickly purchased a 26% stake in the firm and presented AMEC's other shareholders with a single offer of £361 million for the outstanding shares.[8][9] Around the same timeframe, AMEC made its own bid to merge with rival British construction firm Alfred McAlpine; however, the latter's board voted against the move.[10][11]

In 1996, AMEC took a 40% stake in Spie Batignolles from Schneider in association with a management buyout.[12] Amec launched the AMEC SPIE brand for engineering services in Europe,[13] a rail construction business AMEC Spie Rail was created, and the remaining construction business was retained as Spie Batignolles.[14] The company announced that it would seek to sell the construction arm of the business Spie Batignolles, and entered negotiations to secure a management buyout of that division;[14][15] the management buyout of the construction arm of Spie was completed in September 2003 with the aid of Barclays Private Equity Finance,[16] and later that year Amec took full control of the remaining parts of Spie.[17]

The company continued making numerous acquisitions during the new millennium. These included Ogden Environmental & Energy Services[18] and AGRA Monenco Inc., a North American engineering and services company, both in 2000[19] as well as the US operations and equipment of Lauren Kamtech in 2003.[20] Then, in 2004, AMEC, as part of a joint venture with Fluor Corporation, was awarded a multi-year contract to assist in the reconstruction of Iraqi infrastructure following the 2003 invasion of Iraq;[21][22] while lucrative in the long run, the arrangement initially yielded little profit as well as being a slow revenue stream.[23][24] AMEC continued to be involved in Iraq into the late 2010s.[25][26]

In 2005 AMEC acquired Houston-based oil and gas engineering services company Paragon Engineering Services, Inc., and formed AMEC Paragon, Inc., to operate as part of AMEC's global oil and gas business.[27] Also during 2005, AMEC acquired UK-based NNC, a large nuclear consulting company and its subsidiaries, including Ontario-based Nuclear Safety Solutions ('NSS'), the nuclear safety division of OPG, which was spun off when OPG was privatised.[28] The European engineering business, AMEC SPIE, was sold to PAI Partners for €1,040 million in 2006[29][30][31] and the European rail business joint venture Amec Spie Rail systems was sold for an estimated £200million in 2007, to Colas Group.[32][33][34]

In 2007, AMEC purchased UK environmental consultancy Applied Environmental Research Centre (AERC),[35] providers of environmental science, planning engineering and monitoring services, and sold its UK construction arm to Morgan Sindall.[36][37] During 2008, it sold its internal plant hire division to Speedy Hire[38] before buying project services company Rider Hunt International,[39] North American environmental consulting firm Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., and Slovakian nuclear services company AllDeco.[40] In 2009, AMEC acquired Performance Improvement Group, Journeaux, Bedard & Associates and GRD Limited[41] and in 2010, it continued to expand with the £61.2 m purchase of Entec UK, one of the UK's largest Environmental Consultancies.[42] GRD Ltd. was a Perth-based company incorporating three companies Global Renewables, GRD Minproc, and Kirfield.[43]

During 2011, the company acquired US-based BCI Engineers & Scientists, Inc.,[44] MACTEC, a US-based engineering consultancy company,[45] and Zektin Group, an Australian-based specialist engineering consultancy for the oil and gas and resources industries.[46] AMEC also purchased Australian-based businesses Currie and Brown (Australia)[47] and BurmanGriffiths; furthermore, it acquired a majority stake in S2V Consulting.[48]

In January 2014, AMEC provisionally agreed a £1.9bn takeover of its Swiss-based rival Foster Wheeler.[49][50] AMEC completed its purchase of Foster Wheeler on 13 November 2014, marking the move by changed its name to AMEC Foster Wheeler.[51][52]

During the summer of 2015, the company announced that it was responding to a decline in oil prices by reorientation towards brownfield sites and activities outside of the US.[53] In November of that year, it announced the raising of its cost cutting target to $180m by 2017 along with the reduction of its final dividend by a half compared to the previous year.[54] The large debts that had been incurred during Amec's acquisition of Foster Wheeler could not reasonably be serviced when the oil and gas sectors, key clients of Amec Foster Wheeler, reduced their spending as a reaction to a global downturn in revenues.[55] The resultant financial difficulties led to the company's chief executive Samir Brikho stepping down in January 2016.[56][57]

In March 2017, Wood Group announced it would acquire the company for £2.2 billion.[58][59] On 9 October 2017, following approval from the Competition and Markets Authority,[60] the transaction was completed.[1][61] In the months following the transaction, John Wood Group opted to sell off some of the recently acquired portions of Amec Foster Wheeler, including its North Sea oil & gas interests and its North American nuclear operation.[62][63] Other moves included a rebranding exercise and several office closures.[64]

Operations

[edit]
Head office of Amec Foster Wheeler in London (on the right)

Amec Foster Wheeler employed over 40,000 people in more than 55 countries. The company had three geographic business units covering engineering and project delivery operations—Americas; Northern Europe & Commonwealth of Independent States; Asia, Middle East, Africa & Southern Europe—and one power equipment business unit operating worldwide - The Global Power Group.[65]

AMEC's operations were structured until October 2012 into Natural Resources, Power & Process and Environment & Infrastructure.[66]

AMEC's UK construction business was sold in 2007.[67][68] Amongst its notable projects were: the Kielder Dam completed in 1982,[69] the Cumberland Infirmary completed in 2001,[70] the M6 Toll completed in 2003,[71] new offices for HM Revenue and Customs at Longbenton completed in 2005,[72] the Docklands Light Railway City Airport extension completed in 2005,[73] the University College London Hospital completed in 2005[74] and the New York Times Building completed in 2007.[75]

Charity

[edit]

Amec Foster Wheeler supported children's charity SOS Children's Villages from 2007, funding educational projects in Asia. Amec Foster Wheeler also funded a green project in the Children's Village in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, enabling houses to become self-sufficient following the installation of solar power and water infrastructure.[76]

Corruption

[edit]

On 1 July 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) entered into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) with Amec Foster Wheeler Limited (AFWEL) relating to the use of corrupt agents in the oil and gas sector. The DPA, was approved by Lord Justice Edis, sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice. Under the terms of the DPA, AFWEL paid a financial penalty and costs amounting to £103m in the UK, which formed part of the US$177 million global settlement with UK, US and Brazilian authorities. The amounts paid by AFWEL in the UK include payment of the SFO’s costs of £3.4 million and payment of compensation to the people of Nigeria of £210,610.[77][78]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Amec Foster Wheeler

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Amec Foster Wheeler plc was a British multinational , , , and company headquartered in , specializing in services for the , chemicals, resources, and sectors. Formed in November 2014 through the £2.2 billion merger of Amec plc and AG, the company aimed to create a global leader in delivering complex projects across oil and gas, , energy, and environmental markets, employing approximately 40,000 people in over 50 countries. It provided consultancy, , project delivery, and specialized equipment, with a focus on upstream, downstream, and clean energy solutions. Amec Foster Wheeler faced significant controversies, including U.S. Department of charges for a scheme in involving over $1 million in corrupt payments to secure a $190 million contract, resulting in penalties exceeding $18 million in 2021. The company was acquired by Wood Group plc in October 2017 for £2.2 billion, after which its operations were integrated into the larger entity.

History

Origins of AMEC

AMEC Plc, deriving its name from the acronym Amalgamated Mechanical Engineering and , was formed on November 30, 1982, through the merger of Leonard Fairclough Group Plc and the William Press Group Plc, creating a that integrated their , , and mechanical services operations. The merger combined Fairclough's expertise, which had grown from a small stone firm established in 1883 by Leonard Fairclough in Standish, Lancashire, into a major contractor handling infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and dams across the and internationally. The William Press Group, founded in 1913 in as a mechanical and firm by William Press, contributed specialized capabilities in process plant , pipeline laying, and industrial services, with early contracts including wartime for the British government. By the time of the merger, Press had expanded into oil and gas sectors, operating fabrication yards and employing thousands in heavy . This amalgamation positioned the new entity as a FTSE 100-listed multinational with revenues exceeding £1 billion by the mid-1980s, focusing initially on UK-based while laying groundwork for global diversification. Pre-merger roots of AMEC's lineage extended further back through acquisitions, such as the eventual incorporation of the Matthew Hall Group—originating from a 1848 lead-works business in founded by Matthew Hall—which added and offshore capabilities, though these postdated the core formation. The 1982 merger itself was driven by industry consolidation amid economic pressures in the UK sector, enabling synergies in bidding for large-scale projects like power stations and refineries, without evidence of undue regulatory favoritism in contemporaneous records.

Origins of Foster Wheeler

Foster Wheeler originated from the merger of two pioneering American engineering firms specializing in boiler and heat transfer technologies. The Wheeler Condenser and Engineering Company was established in 1891 in , with its manufacturing plant located in . This firm focused on producing steam condensers, pumps, and heat exchangers primarily for the power generation and marine sectors, including supplying equipment to the U.S. Navy during the Spanish-American War. Complementing this was the Power Specialty Company, founded in 1900, also in , with production facilities in Dansville, New York. Initially involved in marketing waterworks equipment, it shifted toward designing and manufacturing components, such as superheaters, for the electrical power industry. By , Power Specialty had advanced to developing marine boilers for the U.S. Merchant Marine, and in the , it expanded into equipment for refineries. In 1927, these two entities merged to create Foster Wheeler Corporation, headquartered in , combining their expertise in and technology to serve growing industrial demands in power, marine, and emerging sectors. The merger established a foundation for international expansion, including the incorporation of a London subsidiary in 1927 and Foster Wheeler Limited in in 1928, with manufacturing in .

Merger and Formation (2014)

On January 13, 2014, AMEC plc, a UK-based firm focused on and gas services, announced a provisional agreement to acquire AG, a Swiss-domiciled and company specializing in projects. The transaction was structured as a cash-and-stock deal valued at approximately £1.9 billion (equivalent to $3.13 billion at prevailing exchange rates), with shareholders receiving $16 in cash and 0.9 newly issued AMEC shares per share, implying a total value of about $32 per share. This offer represented a premium over 's recent trading prices and was intended to integrate AMEC's upstream capabilities with 's downstream refining, chemicals, and power generation expertise, forming a more balanced global player in natural resources . The deal required regulatory approvals and shareholder consents, with AMEC securing a definitive agreement shortly after the announcement. AMEC had previously acquired a significant stake in , holding 95,395,711 shares as part of the prelude to the full . Anticipated to close in the second half of 2014, the acquisition faced standard antitrust reviews but proceeded without major reported impediments, reflecting the complementary rather than overlapping nature of the firms' operations. The acquisition culminated on , 2014, when AMEC completed an exchange offer for all issued and to-be-issued shares of , achieving full ownership through a subsequent merger under Swiss law. Following integration, the combined entity rebranded as Amec Foster Wheeler plc, headquartered in , with enhanced scale in services across sectors. This formation marked a strategic consolidation amid rising global demand for complex project delivery in , gas, and power infrastructure.

Post-Merger Developments and Acquisition (2015–2017)

Following the 2014 merger, Amec Foster Wheeler navigated a challenging environment marked by declining prices, which impacted the sector broadly. In , the company reported revenue of £5.455 billion, a trading profit of £374 million, and a trading margin of 6.9%, reflecting resilience amid market pressures through cost management and focus on core and project services in , gas, and chemicals. Trading improved to £388 million, supporting operational stability despite reduced from clients. In 2016, Amec Foster Wheeler closed its defined benefit pension schemes and transferred 1,850 active members into a new effective July 1, aiming to mitigate long-term liabilities amid ongoing sector volatility. The company delivered resilient trading results for the year, benefiting from diversified operations across the oil and gas value chain, though weakened markets in upstream segments constrained growth. On March 13, 2017, John Wood Group announced an all-share acquisition of Amec Foster Wheeler valued at approximately £2.225 billion, with Amec Foster Wheeler shareholders receiving 0.75 Wood Group shares per share and retaining about 44% ownership in the combined entity. The deal, approved by regulators including undertakings in lieu from the UK Competition and Markets Authority, created a firm with around 64,000 employees and positioned it as Europe's largest oil services provider. Completion occurred on October 9, 2017, integrating Amec Foster Wheeler's engineering capabilities into Wood Group's portfolio for enhanced project delivery in energy and industrial markets.

Operations

Business Segments and Services

Amec Foster Wheeler structured its operations into four primary business units following the 2014 merger: three geographically focused units—Americas, Northern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent States (NECIS), and Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Southern Europe (AMEASE)—alongside the Global Power Group (GPG). The Americas unit, encompassing North, Central, and South America, generated 48% of the company's revenue in 2015, with emphasis on oil and gas, clean energy, environment and infrastructure, and mining activities. NECIS, covering Northern and Central Europe, Ireland, Switzerland, and CIS countries, contributed 19% of revenue, primarily from North Sea oil and gas projects and transmission and distribution services. AMEASE, spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Southern Europe, accounted for 27% of revenue, focusing on oil and gas, mining, and environment and infrastructure in emerging markets. The GPG operated globally, specializing in power generation solutions and representing 6% of revenue. The company served four key market sectors: , gas and chemicals; ; power and ; and environment and . and gas, the largest segment at 54% of 2015 revenue, involved upstream facilities, midstream , and downstream and , excluding and . services, contributing 27% of revenue, included consultancy, , , , construction management (EPCM), and for projects in , , and extraction. Power and encompassed renewables such as solar and , conventional power plants, and , with clean at 7% of revenue. Environment and , at 12% of revenue, provided consulting, , and program management for , , and government contracts, particularly in the and . Services spanned the project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, front-end and detailed design, , , commissioning, and asset support. In oil and gas, full (EPC) solutions were offered for onshore and offshore projects across upstream, , and downstream phases. Mining and power sectors emphasized EPCM contracts, while environment and infrastructure focused on specialized consulting and decommissioning. Additional capabilities included in and , radiochemical through UK-based laboratories, and long-term operations and maintenance under fixed-price or cost-reimbursable contracts. By , operations aligned into four market-facing lines to enhance focus on these sectors amid industry challenges.

Key Projects and Engineering Achievements

Amec Foster Wheeler secured a design (FEED) from SPA in 2015 for three new refineries in , each with capacities of approximately 120,000 to 200,000 barrels per day, focusing on enhancing domestic refining capabilities. In 2017, the company was awarded a by for management services at the Marjan oilfield, involving offshore platform upgrades and onshore facilities to boost production by over 300,000 barrels per day. The firm's Cars North America Headquarters project in , Georgia, completed in 2015, earned the Grand Prize in the Consulting-Specifying Engineer Project of the Year Awards for its resilient design features, including Gold certification and advanced stormwater management systems. Amec Foster Wheeler also won a £60 million contract extension in 2017 from for engineering support on the gas fields, encompassing onshore compression upgrades and offshore platform maintenance to extend asset life. In refining modernization efforts, Amec Foster Wheeler received a FEED in 2016 for the Oil Refinery in , aiming to increase capacity to 120,000 barrels per day with improved deep conversion and hydrotreating units. The company provided engineering services for the LNG terminal expansion in under a 2015 with Felguera , enhancing capacity by 5 billion cubic meters annually. Additionally, in 2017, it secured work on Kuwait's Al-Zour complex integration project, linking olefins III, aromatics II, and ZORL utilities for a major expansion. Engineering achievements include recognition for innovations in delayed coking processes, with retired executive John Elliott receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 from the Forum for contributions spanning over four decades. Employees were honored in 2016 for the Efficient and Safe Energy Production Contract, highlighting advancements in modular construction and safety protocols for power and energy projects. Amec Foster Wheeler also executed contracts with for radiochemical engineering services, supporting maintenance and decontamination efforts.

Global Presence and Workforce

Amec Foster Wheeler maintained a multinational footprint following its 2014 formation, with operations spanning more than 50 countries and a combined workforce exceeding 40,000 highly skilled professionals. The company's global reach supported its focus on engineering, procurement, construction, and project management services across sectors including oil and gas, mining, power, and infrastructure. Headquarters were based in London, United Kingdom, with principal executive functions also in Reading, UK, reflecting its British roots and Swiss-influenced operations from the Foster Wheeler legacy. Key regional hubs included multiple sites in the UK, such as and , where significant engineering and project support activities were concentrated. In , the company operated facilities like its office in , contributing to regional energy and infrastructure projects. North American presence extended to support oil, gas, and chemicals markets, leveraging local expertise for client deliveries. Internationally, Amec Foster Wheeler expanded its operations, notably in the , through new contract awards and facility enhancements announced in October 2015 to capitalize on regional opportunities in oil and gas. The workforce composition emphasized technical specialists, including engineers, project managers, and consultants, drawn from diverse geographies to execute complex, location-specific assignments. This distributed model enabled agile responses to global client demands, though it also required coordinated governance to manage cross-border compliance and talent retention amid fluctuating energy markets from to 2017. Prior to its 2017 acquisition by , the employee base had stabilized around these levels, supporting an valued at £6.3 billion as of the merger period.

Corporate Practices

Sustainability Initiatives and CSR

Amec Foster Wheeler introduced its "Resilient World" sustainability strategy in 2015, marking the 15th anniversary of its initial sustainability program and integrating corporate, social, and environmental responsibilities. The strategy rested on three pillars: fostering a diverse workforce under "People," advancing sustainable technologies via "Innovation," and ensuring consistent sustainability standards in project delivery under "Delivery." It emphasized delivering cleaner, more efficient engineering solutions while collaborating to enhance global resilience against environmental and social challenges. The company supported this with an interactive online platform for real-time sustainability reporting, aiming to improve transparency and stakeholder engagement. Notable achievements included a 4% reduction in carbon emissions from business travel in 2014 compared to 2013, alongside 93% of surveyed employees viewing as essential for long-term growth. and performance exceeded benchmarks, with a lost time incident rate 88% below the professional and services average and 95% below the all-industry average per OSHA 2013 data. Commitments encompassed increasing adoption of sustainable solutions, seeking re-qualification for the Sustainability Index, and adherence to UN Global Compact principles. Since 2007, the firm donated over £500,000 to , supporting community development initiatives. Key projects under the strategy demonstrated practical applications, such as utilizing 3DS Max software for safe, efficient designs in the Clair Ridge and Cygnus developments in 2015. efforts included the Environmental Remediation Programme (KERP), addressing contaminated soil sites. In , Amec Foster Wheeler delivered the 250 MW Copper Mountain Solar Project ahead of schedule and under budget, prioritizing safety and efficiency. In , the company partnered with 100 Resilient Cities in 2015, providing meteorological data for forecasting, designs, environmental impact assessments, and grant application support to bolster against disasters like storms and floods. Locally, Amec Foster Wheeler donated supplies to Teshie Orphanage in March 2015, underscoring CSR's role in operational . These efforts aligned with core values of promise delivery and potential development, aiming for a model amid sector transitions.

Governance and Compliance Efforts

Amec Foster Wheeler plc maintained a unitary responsible for the overall governance structure, including strategic oversight, risk management, and ensuring adherence to legal and ethical standards. The board, chaired by figures such as Peter Meskas during the post-merger period, delegated specific functions to standing committees: the reviewed financial reporting, internal controls, and compliance with laws like the UK Bribery Act; the remuneration committee addressed executive pay aligned with performance; and the nomination committee handled board composition and to promote diversity of skills and independence. This framework complied with the , emphasizing board effectiveness and accountability to shareholders. The company implemented compliance programs centered on an Ethics Code applicable to employees, directors, and third-party intermediaries, which prohibited , conflicts of interest, and required reporting of violations through established channels. These policies drew from predecessor entities' frameworks—Amec's emphasis on and Foster Wheeler's guidelines—and were reinforced post-2014 merger to address global operations in high-risk sectors like and . Internal controls included on agents, training on laws such as the FCPA, and monitoring mechanisms, though regulatory assessments later identified inconsistencies in application, particularly for legacy contracts. Under CEO Jon Lewis from 2015, Amec Foster Wheeler launched a strategic transformation initiative that incorporated governance enhancements, such as improved risk oversight and functions to mitigate compliance vulnerabilities exposed by integration challenges. Efforts extended to whistleblower protections and periodic , aimed at fostering a culture of amid the company's exposure to international projects. Following the 2017 acquisition by plc, legacy compliance obligations were addressed through full cooperation with authorities, including self-reporting and remediation, culminating in agreements that required ongoing monitoring and policy alignment.

Bribery and Corruption Allegations

In 2021, Amec Foster Wheeler Energy Limited, a subsidiary of Amec Foster Wheeler, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and agreed to pay over $18 million to resolve criminal charges stemming from a conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The charges related to a scheme between 2012 and 2014 in which Foster Wheeler, prior to the 2014 merger forming Amec Foster Wheeler, paid approximately $8.6 million in bribes to officials at Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras to secure a $190 million engineering, procurement, and construction management contract for a gas-to-chemicals complex in Bahia, Brazil. Bribes were funneled through two undisclosed third-party agents, including one that failed the company's due diligence checks but was retained anyway, with payments disguised as legitimate commissions in inaccurate books and records. Concurrently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Amec Foster Wheeler Limited with FCPA violations for the same Brazilian bribery scheme, resulting in a $22.6 million , bringing the total U.S. resolution to over $41 million. The SEC found that lacked sufficient internal accounting controls and anti-corruption risk assessments, enabling executives—including senior vice presidents—to approve suspicious agent contracts despite red flags such as the agents' lack of relevant experience and inflated commission rates exceeding 12% of the contract value. These actions generated over $84 million in profits for the company from the project. Separately, in July 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) secured a £103 million DPA with Amec Energy , concluding a four-year probe into and by Foster Wheeler entities in multiple jurisdictions, including and , dating back to 1997. The SFO alleged "deplorable" conduct, such as paying secret commissions to intermediaries to influence contracts worth hundreds of millions, with inadequate on agents and deliberate concealment through off-books payments. Under the DPA terms, the company committed to enhanced compliance measures, including independent monitoring for three years, and admitted facts supporting six counts of and failure to prevent under the Bribery Act. Following Amec Foster Wheeler's 2017 acquisition by , the parent company inherited these liabilities and reached a $177 million global settlement in to resolve the parallel U.S. and probes, including of profits and compliance reforms. Investigations highlighted systemic failures in third-party oversight and a corporate culture prioritizing deal-winning over ethical controls, though no individual executives faced charges in these resolutions. The Brazilian scheme intersected with broader corruption uncovered in Operation Lava Jato, though Amec Foster Wheeler's involvement was addressed separately via U.S. authorities rather than Brazilian courts.

Asbestos Litigation and Health Claims

Foster Wheeler, whose operations were integrated into Amec Foster Wheeler following the 2014 acquisition, produced industrial equipment including boilers, pressure vessels, and piping systems that utilized asbestos-containing materials for thermal insulation, gaskets, and packing from the mid-1940s through the 1970s. Exposure occurred primarily among boilermakers, insulators, welders, and maintenance workers during fabrication, installation, and repair activities at power plants, refineries, and shipyards, where asbestos fibers were released into the air. These exposures have been causally linked to respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, with epidemiological data confirming dose-response relationships between cumulative asbestos inhalation and disease incidence. By 2006, Foster Wheeler had resolved roughly 300,000 personal injury claims related to asbestos exposure, disbursing approximately $700 million in settlements and judgments, while approximately 165,000 claims remained pending and additional filings continued. Amec Foster Wheeler inherited these legacy liabilities post-acquisition, incorporating them into its financial provisions without establishing a dedicated asbestos trust fund, as the company avoided bankruptcy unlike some peers. In its 2017 annual reporting, Amec Foster Wheeler estimated total asbestos-related obligations at £420 million, encompassing projected indemnity payments and legal defense costs for existing and future claims, offset by anticipated insurance recoveries of £110 million, yielding a net liability of £310 million. Litigation persists, with juries frequently attributing liability to for failure to warn of hazards despite internal awareness of risks by the . Notable plaintiff verdicts include a $3.8 million award in October 2024 by a to a former diagnosed with , covering compensatory damages for medical costs and ; a $5 million judgment in New York for a U.S. ; and a $5.2 million settlement in another case where bore $2.66 million responsibility, including punitive elements. The company has secured defense victories, such as a complete in a Massachusetts federal trial seeking $63 million from a widow alleging exposure via shipboard . Health claims typically seek remuneration for verifiable asbestos-attributable conditions, with courts requiring evidence of exposure specificity and medical causation, though aggregate claim volumes strain resources without altering core operations.

Other Regulatory Scrutiny

In 2017, Amec Foster Wheeler Limited encountered regulatory enforcement in Ontario, Canada, related to unauthorized tree removal for a wind turbine project near Dresden. The company, along with project partner Cedar Point II GP Inc., pleaded guilty in Sarnia provincial offences court to violations of the Forestry Act for cutting down trees without required permits from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, following an investigation prompted by public complaints. The court imposed fines of $10,000 on each entity, increased to $12,500 per company after mandatory victim fine surcharges, highlighting non-compliance with provincial environmental protection measures for forestry activities. As the successor entity to Energy Corporation, Amec Foster Wheeler assumed oversight of legacy environmental liabilities, including a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative settlement addressing contamination by at the Church Road TCE Superfund site in Morrisville, . The agreement required the company to implement remedial actions, such as enhanced extraction and treatment, under EPA to mitigate vapor intrusion and plume migration risks stemming from historical manufacturing operations; no civil penalties were specified in the settlement, but it reflected ongoing federal regulatory monitoring of site conditions. Amec Foster Wheeler Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. also faced indirect regulatory scrutiny through civil proceedings under CERCLA at the in . In a February 2020 ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of , the court denied the company's motion, affirming that contractors could incur arranger liability for response costs if their injection of chemical amendments during cleanup efforts allegedly mobilized and exacerbated polychlorinated biphenyl contamination, thereby increasing overall remediation expenses for other potentially responsible parties. This decision underscored potential accountability under federal environmental statutes for contractor actions impacting sites, though it pertained to private cost-recovery litigation rather than direct EPA enforcement.

Legacy and Impact

Contributions to Energy and Infrastructure Sectors

Amec Foster Wheeler played a key role in the sector by delivering (EPC) services for upstream, , and downstream oil and gas projects, as well as power generation facilities. The company executed front-end engineering design (FEED) and technology provision for complex processing, including LNG and upgrades, supporting global supply chains with capacities often exceeding hundreds of millions of barrels annually. In LNG development, Amec Foster Wheeler secured a $3.8 million pre-FEED contract in May 2015 for the Tasi Mane project in Timor-Leste, encompassing concept selection studies, technical design development, and preliminary for gas processing . For , it won a FEED contract from Thai Oil Public Company Limited in August 2016 to enhance clean fuel production capabilities at the refinery, integrating advanced hydrotreating and hydrocracking technologies to meet Euro V standards and reduce emissions. In gas-to-liquids conversion, the firm provided lump-sum hydrogen plant technology, design, and materials supply to Hyundai Engineering in 2017 for a facility in , enabling production from feedstocks. The company's power engineering contributions included circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler designs for sustainable fuel applications. It supplied engineering for a 105-MW CFB unit in Poland in September 2016, optimizing baseload power with auxiliary systems for biomass and coal co-firing to improve efficiency and emissions control. In alternative fuels, Amec Foster Wheeler participated in a $2.1 billion EPC project selected in 2014 for a 554-MW oil shale-fired CFB power plant in Jordan, delivering boiler technology through partnership with China's GPEC to harness local shale resources for electricity generation. For emerging clean energy, it contributed to the ITER fusion reactor program in 2017 by developing a simulator for design validation and operator training, advancing plasma physics modeling for future tokamak operations. In infrastructure, Amec Foster Wheeler focused on , site redevelopment, and utility projects, often addressing legacy industrial contamination while enabling new developments. A notable example was the remediation of sediments impacted by a former manufactured gas plant in 's Fore River, completed with innovative and capping techniques that restored usability and earned consulting honors in 2016. The firm also handled multiple n infrastructure contracts in 2015, including for the US 6 over Garrison Street bridge reconstruction in and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission upgrades to support grid reliability and renewable integration. Additionally, it provided environmental and construction services for the 130-acre site redevelopment in Georgia, USA, transforming a former Ford assembly plant into the Cars headquarters, which received the Grand Prize in consulting awards in 2017. These efforts emphasized risk mitigation and , contributing to safer, more resilient assets.

Economic and Industry Influence

Amec Foster Wheeler played a significant role in the global economy through its services, particularly in and sectors, generating that peaked at approximately $6.5 billion annually and supporting employment for around 35,000 workers worldwide before its 2017 acquisition by Wood Group. Its operations spanned and gas, , power, and environmental projects, serving major corporations and governments via over 10,000 contracts yearly, with the top ten clients accounting for 34% of . This scale contributed to economic activity in resource-dependent regions, including job creation in and roles across upstream production, , and distribution chains. In the , Amec Foster Wheeler influenced project execution and technology deployment, with about 56% of post-2014 merger revenues derived from oil and gas activities, enabling large-scale developments in extraction, , and clean transitions. The firm participated in frameworks for coal, gas, and renewables with utilities like , supporting strategic technical alliances that advanced power generation infrastructure. Notable contributions included design work for the project's integrated plant simulator in , which facilitated reactor validation and operator training, thereby aiding advancements in fusion with potential long-term industry implications. The company's expertise extended to environmental and assessments, such as socio-economic effects reports for transmission projects, which informed regulatory and decisions impacting local economies. By integrating across the oil and gas , Amec Foster Wheeler helped stabilize supply chains during market fluctuations, though its influence waned post-acquisition as operations merged into Wood PLC, redirecting focus toward broader solutions.

References

  1. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2014/amec-foster-wheeler-a-new-force-in-global-engineering%2C-project-delivery%2C-asset-support%2C-power-equipment-and-consultancy-is-unveiled-and-leadership-team-confirmed
  2. https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/59924-89
  3. https://www.reuters.com/article/business/amec-agrees-to-buy-foster-wheeler-for-3-billion-idUSBREA0C0BL/
  4. https://www.devex.com/organizations/amec-foster-wheeler-28631
  5. https://www.cleanenergyprojectbuilder.org/company/amec-foster-wheeler
  6. https://cisleads.com/company/details/49291
  7. https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/amec-foster-wheeler-energy-limited-agrees-pay-over-18-million-resolve-charges-related-bribery
  8. https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2021-112
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  10. https://www.reuters.com/article/world/europe/wood-group-buys-amec-foster-for-27-billion-to-target-oil-upturn-benefits-idUSKBN16K0TK/
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  14. https://news.sky.com/story/amec-bought-by-firm-it-once-looked-at-buying-10800641
  15. https://www.company-histories.com/Foster-Wheeler-Corporation-Company-History.html
  16. https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/history2/44/Foster-Wheeler-Ltd.html
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  18. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-01-13/amec-agrees-to-buy-foster-wheeler-for-3-2-bln-in-cash-stock
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  20. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1130385/000110465914085562/a14-25552_28k.htm
  21. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Amec%2C-Foster-Wheeler-look-to-merge
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  25. https://www.professionalpensions.com/news/2467553/amec-foster-wheeler-shuts-db-schemes-merges-dc
  26. http://pdf.secdatabase.com/502/0000930413-17-001797.pdf
  27. https://www.woodplc.com/?a=10138
  28. https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/john-wood-group-amec-foster-wheeler-merger-inquiry
  29. https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/wood-to-buy-amec-foster-wheeler-for-22bn/
  30. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-41551492
  31. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/a/LSE_AMEC_2015.pdf
  32. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1328798/000093041317001797/c88192_20-f.htm
  33. https://www.euro-petrole.com/amec-foster-wheeler-awarded-multiple-algerian-refinery-contracts-n-i-12768
  34. https://www.offshore-technology.com/news/newsamec-foster-wheeler-to-develop-saudi-aramcos-marjan-oilfield-5832232/
  35. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-press-releases/2017/amec-foster-wheeler-project-receives-grand-prize-engineering-consulting-award-georgia%2C-usa
  36. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-press-releases/2017/amec-foster-wheeler-wins-60million-contract-extension-for-centricas-morecambe-bay-assets
  37. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2016/amec-foster-wheeler-wins-feed-contract-to-modernise-major-azerbaijan-oil-refinery
  38. https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/14092015/Amec-Foster-Wheeler-awarded-engineering-contract-1283/
  39. https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/petrochemicals/13032017/amec-foster-wheeler-wins-al-zour-kuwait-contract/
  40. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2016/amec-foster-wheelers-john-elliott-receives-lifetime-achievement-award
  41. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2016/amec-foster-wheeler-employees-honoured-in-engineering-construction-industry-awards
  42. https://expatnetwork.com/amec-foster-wheeler-win-contracts-from-cern/
  43. https://www.linkedin.com/company/amecfw
  44. https://www.euro-petrole.com/amec-foster-wheeler-expands-presence-in-uae-n-i-12028
  45. https://www.oilsandsmagazine.com/news/2017/3/15/wood-group-takes-over-amec-foster-wheeler-as-engineering-firms-get-leaner-and-more-competitive
  46. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2015/amec-foster-wheeler-makes-sustainability-reporting-more-accessible-with-its-first-combined-strategy
  47. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2016/lets-talk-about-sustainability-the-amec-foster-wheeler-way
  48. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-news-articles/2015/amec-foster-wheeler-announces-partnership-with-100-resilient-cities-to-help-build-urban-resilience
  49. https://www.myjoyonline.com/amec-foster-wheeler-donates-to-teshie-orphanage/
  50. https://www.apm.org.uk/resources/find-a-resource/case-studies/case-study-amec-foster-wheeler/
  51. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67c05e2972e83aab48866bc0/Statement-of-Facts-AFWEL.pdf
  52. https://www.woodplc.com/news/latest-press-releases/2021/wood-reaches-resolution-on-legacy-investigations
  53. https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/legal/news/sfo-publishes-details-of-awfels-compliance-with-dpa
  54. https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2021/34-92259.pdf
  55. https://www.asbestos.com/companies/foster-wheeler/
  56. https://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/companies/foster-wheeler-corp/
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  60. https://www.asbestos.com/news/2024/10/08/3-8m-verdict-awarded-in-foster-wheeler-mesothelioma-lawsuit/
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  62. https://wtotrial.com/won-a-jury-defense-verdict-for-foster-wheeler-in-a-three-week-asbestos-trial-in-federal-court-in-massachusetts-the-plaintiffa-sympathetic-navy-widow-represented-by-a-high-profile-asbestos-plaintiff-firmasked-for-20-million-in-compensatory-damages-and-43-million-in-punitive-damages
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  66. https://www.leagle.com/decision/infdco20200219i81
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