PP O’Connor acquires excavation specialist

Irlam-based demolition firm PP O’Connor has bought Galvac, a provider of vacuum excavation equipment, for an undisclosed sum.

Galvac, which is headquartered in Salford and operates nationally, was part of civil engineering contractor GPL Group which went into administration in August. The acquisition covers the assets and employees of Galvac and secures the immediate future of 28 employees of the company.

Charmaine O’Connor, chief executive of PP O’Connor Group, said: “We are delighted we have been able to acquire Galvac and secure the jobs of its team so quickly. We are looking forward to welcoming the members of the Galvac team into PP O’Connor.

“This acquisition complements the range of services we offer to our clients and it’s testament to the hard work of everyone at PP O’Connor that we are able to expand our business further in such a positive manner.”

Ben Woolrych, partner at FRP Advisory, said: “Galvac is a solid business with a strong reputation for providing a high quality service within a very specialist sector. By working closely with the directors to market the business and its assets for sale, we’ve been able to find a buyer that has strong synergies with the company and secure a deal that delivers the best possible result for the parties involved.”

The administrators were advised by Turner Parkinson

The acquisition provides P.P. O’Connor with a fleet of vacuum excavation trucks that can service a national footprint supporting major infrastructure contracts, utilities and the broader industry with the latest innovation in safe dig techniques.

With headquarters in Irlam and regional offices in both Leeds and Liverpool, PP O’Connor directly employs 250 people, also covering earthworks, remediation and civil engineering within its capabilities.

Current projects and clients include RHS Bridgewater, Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, the Metrolink Trafford Centre extension, Circle Square, CityLabs, United Utilities, Maggies Leeds, Strawberry Fields in Liverpool and Airbus UK.