Gloucester business bought by German management software company

Published by

Nicky Godding

Gloucester-based Cemar which sells market-leading contract management software has been acquired by German construction and engineering management software company, think project.

This is the first UK acquisition for thinkproject.

Cemar offers a leading cloud-based solution for managing new engineering contracts and FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) contracts. And it has an impressive roster of customers, including Highways England, Nuclear New Build, ITER, BAE Systems, Heathrow Airport, Network Rail and Sellafield.

The UK business, which was founded in 2005 by a civil engineer, has achieved exceptional profitable growth in recent years. The Cemar brand will be retained and the German company plans to achieve synergies in software technology, as well as in international business.

“Entering the UK market with CEMAR is a major cornerstone in our international growth strategy,” said Thomas Bachmaier, CEO of think project. “This acquisition provides think project! with the opportunity to acquire major UK and international customers, while adding a leading contract management solution to our product portfolio.”

Ben Walker, CEO of Cemar, added: “Cemar will benefit from the experience and structures of think project’s international project business, as well as from synergies in our complementary technologies. Our joining forces has created a strong partnership for digital transformation that will further support our customers in the UK and internationally.”

Earlier this month, Cemar announed that ITER, which is building a massive 23,000 tonne machine in Southern France to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a large-scale, carbon-free energy source, had selected Cemar to help administer its FIDIC contracts in the construction of the world’s largest Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor.

The 15-year construction involves collaboration from 35 nations, including the consortium Momentum, comprised of Wood PLC, Assytem and KEPCO E&C, and the ITER Domestic Agencies: China, Europe, Japan, Korea, Russia and the USA.

Cemar’s FIDIC contract was first created in conjunction with Hinkley Point C in 2014 and has since been adopted by other clients.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.