M&A

Morson acquires 3B Training to expand construction skills delivery

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Morson Group has expanded its footprint in the construction training market with the acquisition of 3B Training. Wigan-based 3B Training, which provides a range of Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) courses, was founded in 2011 as Bromak Trading Ltd. It is “one of the UK’s largest construction training providers”, Morson…

United Living strengthens water business with civils acquisition

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United Living has acquired family-run civils firm Peter Duffy Ltd as it seeks to consolidate its position as a major player in water infrastructure. The Wakefield-based water specialist will become part of United Living’s infrastructure services division. Peter Duffy generated a pre-tax profit of £755,200 from turnover of £22.4m in…

Gilbert-Ash agrees sale to employee trust

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Contractor Gilbert-Ash will be sold to an employee-ownership trust (EOT), the Belfast-headquartered contractor and fit-out specialist has announced. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The firm had a book value (net assets) of £26m as of 31 December 2023, the date covered in its latest published accounts.…

Regulators to look into M Group-Telent deal

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The planned acquisition of digital infrastructure firm Telent by M Group requires approval on competition and national security grounds, it has emerged. Both firms have shared clients – including Transport for London, National Highways and Network Rail – which means the acquisition is expected to need Competition and Markets Authority…

Welsh contractor snaps up roofing arm of collapsed firm

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Building maintenance and retrofit firm Cardo Group has continued on the acquisition trail after buying the roofing business of Breyer Group. Cardo completed a deal on Friday (11 April) to acquire the entire roofing division of the Essex-based contractor, which fell into administration earlier this month. The financial details of…

Why Construction News is using AI to assist with our writing

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Technology is changing. And so is Construction News. Our editorial team has been using artificial intelligence (AI) behind the scenes for some time now to summarise long reports and data as part of our research process, as well as produce some illustrations. But we have not used it to produce…

United Living acquires street lighting specialist

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United Living has acquired power distribution and street lighting specialist Jones Lighting Ltd. Family-owned Jones is headquartered in Leyland, Lancashire. It provides services including installation and consultancy for local authorities and distribution network operators. United Living said this morning (20 March) that the acquisition will strengthen its power market activities.…

Concrete firm expands with local acquisition

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Concrete contractor LGW Group has acquired supplier Multi-Crete Concrete & Concrete Pumping. The deal, announced last week, sees the Bristol company take control of the Gloucestershire firm from former owners Simon Robinson and Jason Bowen. LGW works across the south of England and Wales. Its brands include Wright Minimix, Bristol…

Balfour Beatty agrees sale of rail data business

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Balfour Beatty has agreed to sell rail-infrastructure data-analysis business Omnicom to Hitachi Rail. The value of the sale, which will see more than 100 staff switch employers, is not being disclosed. A Balfour Beatty statement on Friday (17 January) said the acquisition would help the business expand beyond the UK…

M&E sector consolidates with two deals

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Two acquisitions were announced yesterday (6 January) in the UK mechanical and electrical (M&E) sector. Irish firm Suir Engineering, which has offices in London and Western Europe, announced it had bought Scottish counterpart Taylor and Fraser. Meanwhile, building consultancy Contollo Group acquired engineering services company Engineering Services Partnership (ESP). Waterford-headquartered…