Construction group Rok has a £50m presence in Scotland after buying the construction arm of Glasgow-based John Dickie Group for £750,000.
The cash deal, announced on Tuesday, will see John Dickie Construction integrated with ROK’s existing contracting operation in Glasgow.
The acquisition demonstrates Rok’s ambition to establish full UK regional coverage. The firm, whose turnover for the year to 31 December 2003 jumped 72% to £380m, has largely operated in south-western, southern and northern England. Garvis Snook, the chief executive, told Building in March he wanted to “open outlets all over the UK”.
Speaking this week, Snook said he was impressed with John Dickie’s reputation. He said Rok would now be targeting the social housing market in the region.
He added: “John Dickie’s combination with Rok will enable the business to fulfil its potential and create a major player in the Scottish marketplace.”
John Dickie Group was founded in 1880 as a housebuilder and in 1935 expanded into construction.
Dermott Simpson, chairman of John Dickie Group, said the group would concentrate on upmarket housebuilding. He said: “The construction industry in Scotland has been consolidating over the past 18 months and is no longer a sector in which we wish to participate in the longer term.”
- AIM-listed fit-out and contracting firm Interior Services Group has issued a profit warning after it said it was likely to enter a legal dispute for the first time in its history. The firm said it was providing for a £1.2m profit loss for the year to 30 June.
