The experts within our Engineering, Construction and Building Materials Group maintain ongoing contact with a wide range of knowledgeable sources to stay abreast of the issues and trends that could impact the industry’s M&A climate or otherwise influence our clients’ businesses.  Following are a few of the topics addressed in our most recent Engineering, Construction and Building Materials Review, which is published quarterly.

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ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS REVIEW (2009: Q4) (View complete report)

Finally...

Tired of hearing about the stimulus bill? Frankly, after having discussed the bill’s highlights in detail throughout our previous Quarterly Industry Reviews – and having yet to see its tangible impact on our clients’ books – we’ve grown a little tired of it ourselves. Signed in February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA or the stimulus bill) sent a much needed wave of optimism through the Engineering & Construction industry with its inclusion of $130 billion for construction spending. However, after surviving mostly on backlog for the majority of 2009, many firms have grown frustrated waiting patiently for their slice of the stimulus pie. When previously asked if they’ve had any stimulus dollars trickle their way, our Engineering & Construction industry clients have had a nearly unanimous response: “We keep hearing it’s coming, but we haven’t seen any of it yet.” Fortunately, this response has changed during the fourth quarter. One McGladrey Capital Markets client in the heavy highway construction space has begun work on California’s first ARRA funded project.  Another has been active on an increasing number of stimulus-funded environmental remediation projects throughout the southeastern U.S. And yet another is currently bidding for the mechanical and electrical contracting work on a major hospital rebuilding project, also funded by the stimulus bill. So, it appears you haven’t heard the last of the stimulus bill, as it will still loom large over the funding landscape of the Engineering & Construction industry in 2010. Now, however, many firms can lay a dismal 2009 to rest and look forward to next year with less worry and concern as stimulus dollars appear to have hit the street…finally.