M&A

Andre Redinger has a lot to say. Via a video call, he speaks to Construction News from his South African homeland less than 24 hours after ISG, the company he spent six months trying to buy, announced it was filing for administration. The previous evening, ISG chief executive Zoe Price…

Rising turnover and slumping profit characterise the CN100 2024 index of top UK contractors, but the outlook remains broadly positive There is a saying among economists that “if you torture the data long enough, it will confess”. At Construction News we like to think that our interrogation techniques reveal the…

Nicola Hodkinson is the owner and director of Seddon  The Bank of England’s recent base rate cut to 5 per cent is being hailed as positive for the industry, particularly for simulating the mortgage market and the construction of new housing. The move also has the potential to attract pension…

Regional focus brings benefits for Durham firm A strong regional focus has paid off for Esh Group, according to its chief executive Andy Radcliffe. Speaking exclusively to Construction News, he said that targeting jobs in the North East has delivered strong financial results and secured future business. Radcliffe spoke after…

Whisper it quietly, but the industry might soon be able to heave a sigh of relief after all the gloom. Over the past two years, hikes in inflation and interest rates have left the sector battered by administrations, financial write-offs and belt-tightening. “New business is now expanding at its strongest…

Nick Gray​​ is UK and Europe chief operating officer at consultancy Currie & Brown Between 1997 and 2010, more than 700 new public sector construction projects were successfully delivered, improving the fabric of many key sectors of the economy, such as education and healthcare. Arguably, the delivery of many of…

Is a looming legal time limit behind a rise in defect claims relating to long-completed schemes built under private finance intiatives?  In autumn 2021, North Kent Police Station’s geothermal heating system broke down. Almost three years later, the administrators of the company holding the station’s private finance initiative (PFI) brought…

The head of Lendlease Europe’s construction operations says he wants to find a buyer for the business “at pace” Simon Gorski is a man in a hurry. As the boss of Lendlease Europe’s construction operations, he is looking to line up a buyer for the UK business by the end…

John Wallace is managing director and head of real estate at solicitors Ridgemont The UK may still be hurting from Brexit, but the Pacific trade deal is a step in the right direction. Member states benefit from free trade, consistent trade rules and the recognition of each other’s local qualifications.…

Contractor United Living is expanding further into the infrastructure market As construction firms face significant financial pressure, diversification is an attractive option to spread business risk. This is easier said than done, of course, and is arguably more achievable by large firms with a strong capital base. A case in…