Two of the largest transportation consultants have come together in a deal worth around £3.5Bn. American giant AECOM has acquired URS to create a combined company with more than 95,000 employees in 150 countries.

Mouchel, which went into administration two years ago and was rescued by three banks, could also be changing ownership according to weekend press reports, with either a stock market flotation next year or possibly a trade sale on the cards. Mouchel declined to comment on the reports.

The consultancy world was taken by surprise by the AECOM-URS news. One senior URS figure told TP Weekly News: "I was very surprised at the news which I heard on Sunday evening via email. I had thought URS was of a sufficient size that they might be acquired one day, but not by another consultant or a company which is smaller."

Many staff from URS will already have been through a takeover after the American company bought Scott Wilson in 2010.

In a statement released on behalf of both companies involved in the deal AECOM president Michael Burke said: "Clients, employees and stockholders of both companies will benefit from the opportunities created by these expanded capabilities."

URS chairman Martin Koffel added: "Our two businesses are complementary and we anticipate that employees from the combined company will benefit."

The Transportation Consultants Directory published last month had URS as the number one consultant ranked by turnover (£6.5Bn) and the number one transportation consultant (£1Bn). AECOM was seventh in both lists: (£430M and £105M).

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