The construction firm Lagan Group has been sold to one of the biggest construction firms in the UK for £455m – Breedon Group said the acquisition would allow it to enter the Irish construction market
Breedon will fund the purchase by a combination of a new £150m term loan, a new £350m revolving credit facility replacing an existing £300m revolving facility and a £170m equity placing.
The addition of Lagan Group, Breedon’s largest acquisition to date, will spread its reach across Ireland and significantly increase the scale of Breedon’s existing contract surfacing operations.
Confirmation of the deal comes two months after Breedon disclosed that it was in takeover talks with Lagan. Lagan Group includes the Whitemountain contracting and materials group, but not Lagan Construction Group, which branched off in 2010 under the ownership of a different branch of the Lagan family, under Michael Lagan. The Lagan Group being courted by Breedon is headed by his older brother Kevin Lagan.
Breedon executive chairman Peter Tom said: “Over the last eight years we have pursued a successful buy-and-build strategy which has established Breedon as the largest independent construction materials business in the UK and the acquisition of Lagan is another strategic step for us. We believe it has the potential to add significantly to the group’s performance and prospects and we are looking forward to working with our new colleagues to deliver further value for our investors.”
Breedon group chief executive Pat Ward added: “Lagan represents a unique opportunity to enter a growing market with immediate scale and excellent opportunities for expansion. It significantly strengthens our cement offer, adds to our mineral and downstream resources, brings us a bitumen import/export business and adds real weight to our contract surfacing operations.
“Lagan is well-run, well-invested, with an experienced management team and a strong track record. Its culture is complementary to our own, with a sharp focus on customer service, a first-class workforce and a commitment to safety, which is a key priority for us. From a strategic perspective, it provides us with a stronger platform from which to pursue further organic growth and bolt-on acquisitions.”
Lagan Group chairman Kevin Lagan concluded: “I’d like to thank our committed and passionate staff for the role they have played in the growth of Lagan Group and I wish them every success as they enter an exciting new chapter with Breedon, who I am confident will build on that success, supporting the development of the business in the years ahead.”
