Multidisciplinary consultant White Young Green has strengthened its Irish business with the purchase of Dublin-based MCD Consult.

It is the fourth Irish firm to be bought by White Young Green in the last 18 months. The deal is for up to £1.3m – made up of about £1m cash and 236,473 White Young Green shares. The final amount paid will depend on MCD's net assets and first-year performance.

MCD is a civil and structural consulting engineer, which trades as Carew Associates. Its pre-tax profit for the year to 30 September 2000 was £225,000 on turnover of £820,000.

White Young Green said the purchase would complement its existing Irish businesses.

The Leeds-based company will post its results for the year to 30 June on Monday.