BATON ROUGE, LA. ─ The Shaw Group Inc. has acquired Coastal Planning & Engineering Inc. (CPE), a leader in coastal engineering and restoration, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $26 million.

Based in Boca Raton, Fla., CPE’s full range of services includes coastal modeling, oceanographic measurements, marine biology, geotechnical surveys, hydrographic surveys, and marine geology. CPE’s 27-year history of coastal projects includes beach nourishment and island restoration following hurricanes and other erosion, offshore sand inventory, and ship maneuvering studies for new and existing ports.

The company has worked with Shaw on multiple coastal engineering projects, including the most recent sand berm project for the state of Louisiana. Additionally, this acquisition includes a presence in Brazil for Shaw, which can accommodate the country’s needed coastal restoration, port redevelopment and expansion, as well as oil and gas development.

Shaw’s own coastal experience includes strategic planning, design, construction, and project monitoring in various coastal terrains, including Louisiana and Florida. Currently, Shaw is leading the largest design-build civil works project ever awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier in New Orleans. The massive barrier is a key component in the Corps' Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, which is intended to provide 100-year storm-surge protection for the greater New Orleans area when completed. Shaw also provided expertise in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill with the creation of sand berms off the coast of Louisiana, the largest coastal sand barrier project in U.S. history.

The transaction, which is subject to post-closing adjustments, was completed in Shaw’s third quarter of fiscal year 2011.

For more information, visit www.shawgrp.com.