The Daily Dig
ACCIONA has agreed to acquire 80% of Vertical Earth, a Georgia based infrastructure contractor founded in 1997. The deal consolidates Atlanta as the strategic hub for ACCIONA's Infrastructure division in the U.S., building on a role the city already held. Closing is expected before the end of the year, pending customary regulatory approvals.
Founder and CEO Brett Johnson will keep a 20% stake once the deal closes and will continue running the company. Vertical Earth brings more than 600 professionals across Georgia and Florida, with experience in transportation, civil construction, and structures. The firm posted $217 million in revenue in 2025.
For ACCIONA, the acquisition strengthens self performing execution capabilities along with local supplier relationships and workforce access. Over the past two years, ACCIONA has grown its aggregate U.S. project portfolio roughly tenfold, to around €70 billion. Major projects within that portfolio include the SR-400 highway in Georgia, where ACCIONA is leading design, construction, financing, and a 55-year operation, and the Calcasieu River Bridge replacement in Louisiana, where ACCIONA is part of the consortium carrying out the work.
The company points to the Southeast specifically as a region with strong pipeline potential, tied to state DOT investment plans. Beyond transportation, ACCIONA's U.S. presence spans water infrastructure, energy, and cultural work. That includes the Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion project in North Dakota, the completed Tampa Bay desalination plant renovation, and three water treatment projects in Puerto Rico expected to benefit 325,000 people once complete.
ACCIONA Energía operates 3GW of installed capacity in the U.S., and ACCIONA Cultura has been selected for projects at Ellis Island and the Hip Hop Museum in New York.
Snapshot:
Acquirer: ACCIONA
Target: Vertical Earth
Stake Acquired: 80%
Remaining Owner: Brett Johnson (20%), founder and CEO, continuing as CEO
Target Founded: 1997
Target Market: Georgia based, also operating in Florida
Target Workforce: 600+ professionals
Target 2025 Revenue: $217 million (€191 million)
Target Focus Areas: Transportation, civil construction, structures
Strategic Hub: Atlanta, consolidated as ACCIONA Infrastructure division's U.S. hub
Expected Close: Before end of year, subject to regulatory approval
ACCIONA U.S. Aggregate Project Portfolio: Approximately €70 billion, roughly tenfold growth over two years
ACCIONA Energía U.S. Capacity: 3GW total, including 1.4GW wind, 1.3GW solar, 64MW concentrated solar, and battery storage in Texas
U.S. Infrastructure Market Context: 20% of global infrastructure industry, $303 billion contracting potential this year (2026)
TheJobWalk Thoughts
This looks like an execution play more than a market entry move. ACCIONA already had a Southeast presence before this deal. Adding a 600 person self performing contractor strengthens ACCIONA's in-house delivery capability, which tends to help on price certainty and schedule control, though procurement structure, technical scoring, and financing still shape who wins DOT work.
Watch how Vertical Earth's existing subcontractor relationships evolve over the next year. Johnson staying on as CEO points to continuity in the near term. Self perform growth does not automatically mean less sub scope. If ACCIONA uses Vertical Earth to chase more or larger Southeast bids, total subcontracting opportunity could grow even as the self-performed share of each job increases.
