Alfred McAlpine has acquired Eastern Contracting Limited (ECL) for £13.3 million.
The major infrastructure services group has bought the entire share capital of ECL, including £3.1 million of debts, of which £2 million is deferred.

ECL has an estimated secured order book of £46 million and a client base that includes East Midlands Electricity, BT, Nokia and Suffolk County Council. However, in the year ending 31 March 2002 the company posted an operating loss of £5 million as a result of costs incurred due to discontinued business.

ECL will become part of McAlpine's Utility Services. The company is the third to be purchased by McAlpine. Kennedy Utility Management was acquired for £52 million in March 2001, followed by Ryan Utility Services for £5.6 million in November. Oliver Whitehead, chief executive of Alfred McAlpine, said: "This is an excellent acquisition for McAlpine. The company fits well within the group, complementing our existing total service capabilities due to the synergies already existing between ECL and our services division."