Willbros buying BR’s Wink

• By TED GRIGGS
• Advocate business writer
• Published: Jun 19, 2009 - Page: 6B

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Willbros Group Inc.’s acquisition of Baton Rouge engineering firm Wink Companies LLC  won’t affect the local company’s 485 employees, but the move should make the Texas-based pipeline construction giant more efficient, officials said Thursday.

Terms of the cash deal were not disclosed.

Peter Brink, Willbros vice president of corporate development and strategy, said Wink’s engineering expertise means Willbros can offer customers firmer pricing and scheduling.

That’s particularly important in a volatile marketplace, Brink said.

Peter Ricchiuti, assistant dean at Tulane University’s A.B. School of Business, said the move toward a one-stop shop makes sense for the publicly traded Willbros.

“That’s where people are going. They want a more bundled package,” Ricchiuti said. “They don’t want to deal with a lot of subcontractors and all, and I think that’s going to allow Willbros to get in on some more deals.”

Ricchiuti oversees Burkenroad Reports, stock analysis performed by Tulane students. Willbros is one of the companies the analysts follow.

Wink will become a subsidiary of Willbros, and Wink’s management team will remain the same, said President Andy Farris.

Farris said the two companies began talking about a deal more than a year ago as a result of their work on construction projects.

Brink said the firms quickly discovered they shared similar values.

The deal will help Wink increase its business and let the company compete for projects in new markets, Farris said.

Wink was founded in 1970 by Joseph C. Wink Jr. In addition to its Baton Rouge headquarters, Wink has architecture offices in New Orleans; and regional offices in Lafayette, St. Rose, Covington and Biloxi, Miss.

The company’s clients include Tulane University Hospital & Clinic; LSU Health Sciences Center; the Royal Sonesta Hotel; Paragon Casino and Resort; and Beau Rivage Casino for architecture; and engineering for dozens of chemical plants and refineries, including Albemarle Corp., ExxonMobil Corp., ChevronTexaco Products Co., ConocoPhillips, Motiva Enterprises and Valero Energy Corp.