John Sisk & Son to acquire Farrans Construction

Farrans’ parent company, CRH, a global building materials giant that also owns Birmingham-headquartered, Tarmac, announced plans to divest the infrastructure specialist in 2022 as part of a strategic review.

The acquisition, subject to regulatory approval and for an undisclosed sum, will see Farrans – employing 625 people across aviation, water, and renewable energy sectors in Ireland and the UK – continue to operate under its own brand with no disruption to ongoing projects.

Paul Brown, CEO at Sisk, said the acquisition “creates significant opportunity” to capitalise on major infrastructure markets, including those in the growing aviation, energy, water and utility sectors.

“The acquisition of Farrans represents an excellent opportunity for Sisk to broaden its sectoral reach across the UK and Ireland,” he said.

“Their strong reputation and track record in delivering complex infrastructure projects aligns well with our strategic growth ambitions.”

Farrans managing director, Dominic Lavery welcomed the move, calling its acquisition by Sisk, the “right strategic fit” for future growth.

“We’re pleased that Farrans’ people, culture, and brand will be retained, and we look forward to working together to deliver for our clients across the UK and Ireland,” he added.

Farrans Construction remains profitable, according to 2023 results for Northstone (NI) – a CRH subsidiary – which include five months of trading across all divisions and seven months reflecting Farrans alone following a restructure.

Northstone reported a £512.4 million turnover, an operating profit of £7.5 million, and an £8.1 million pre-tax profit for the year.

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