Phoenix, Arizona – September 2, 2014 – NPL Construction Co. (NPL), a wholly–owned 
subsidiary of Southwest Gas Corporation (Southwest), has entered into agreements to acquire the Link-Line Group of Companies (Link-Line) which includes Link-Line Contractors Ltd., W.S. Nicholls Construction Inc., W.S. Nicholls Industries Inc., and a fifty percent equity interest in W.S. Nicholls Western Construction Ltd., all Canadian-based construction companies. In a related transaction, affiliates of Southwest have reached an agreement to acquire certain assets and liabilities of Brigadier Pipelines Inc., a US-based affiliate of Link-Line. Link-Line’s current owners will retain a small ownership percentage in the combined businesses. The transactions are expected to close in October 2014.
The combination of NPL and Link-Line will create one of the largest natural gas distribution contractors in North America. The companies will be well-positioned to continue serving their existing customers, while establishing a sustainable path for continued growth both in the US and Canada.
Commenting on the pending transactions, NPL President and CEO Jim Kane said, “These pending acquisitions are an exciting part of our overall growth strategy, and Link-Line is a great strategic fit; culturally, the companies share NPL’s focus on safety, quality and customer satisfaction.” The acquisitions will result in no geographic or customer overlap. Emphasizing that the businesses will operate independently from NPL following the close, Mr. Kane confirmed, “We are not combining workforces; the same offices and the same people will be serving the same customers as they are today.”
Rick Delaney, President and COO of Link-Line, echoed those sentiments, saying, “NPL and the Link-Line family are aligned in both their customer relationship philosophy and unwavering dedication to safety and quality. We are excited to become part of NPL’s strategic growth and look forward to the future as part of this well-respected industry leader.”
Link-Line Contractors Ltd. is a natural gas services contractor providing construction and maintenance services for the Canadian utility industry, with operations in Ontario, Canada. The W.S. Nicholls companies, with operations in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, provide industrial construction solutions, fabrication, and civil services to the oil and gas, pulp and paper, and automotive industries, as well as government and private sector customers. Brigadier Pipelines Inc. is a specialty midstream pipeline contractor, with operations in Pennsylvania. Link-Line and Brigadier include a combined workforce of over 1,100 employees.
NPL is an industry leader in utility infrastructure construction, specializing in natural gas and electric distribution across the United States. Founded in 1967, NPL has grown to a workforce in excess of 4,000 employees in more than 20 states from coast to coast. For more information, visit www.GoNPL.com.
