Canadian engineering giant WSP Global has abandoned its attempt to acquire Arcadis (a Dutch infrastructure and environmental consultancy with over 34,000 employees worldwide), after failing to open negotiations with the Amsterdam-based firm. WSP approached Arcadis twice this summer, but the company's leadership — backed by an employee foundation holding 19% of shares — opted to remain independent, with CEO Heather Polinsky calling that the most effective path to shareholder value. WSP had set a deadline of 15 October to submit a formal bid to Dutch financial regulators, a step it has now confirmed it will not take.