The company paid £12m for what it claims to be the largest independent Chilean engineering services company.
 
CADE-IDEPE employs 540 people and is based in Santiago, Chile. The company provides engineering services for Natural Resources and Power and Process clients in Chile and throughout South America. In the year ended 31 December 2006, CADE-IDEPE revenue was £18 million.
 
Amec chief executive Samir Brikho said: "This strategic and exciting acquisition will provide Amec with both a high quality engineering base in the fast growing South American market and a high value engineering centre to support our rapidly growing Natural Resources and Power and Process businesses in North America. This is consistent with our strategy of seeking capacity and geographical expansion within our core energy, power and process markets."