SAIC to buy engineering company

Science Applications International Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Benham Investment Holdings LLC, an engineering and life-cycle technology firm that serves federal agencies and Fortune 500 customers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Benham provides consulting, engineering, architecture and design/build services. Its expertise encompasses energy management, industrial manufacturing and facilities, software development and integration, and advanced visualization and communication systems.

SAIC said Benham and its subsidiaries, including the Benham Companies and Benham Constructors, will become subsidiaries of SAIC. Benham's headquarters will remain in Oklahoma City.

The acquisition will accelerate SAIC's growth in the energy management services market for both federal and commercial customers, said Joe Craver, president of SAIC's Infrastructure, Logistics and Product Solutions Group.

Benham has 800 employees in various locations, including Oklahoma City, Norman and Tulsa, Okla.; St. Louis; St. Paul, Minn.; and Detroit. The purchase is expected to be completed in August.

SAIC of San Diego ranks No. 5 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.