County Durham-based roofing, building fabric and civils specialist Hodgson Sayers has been acquired by United Infrastructure in a deal that will support the next phase of growth for the long-established business.
Headquartered in Stanley, with a further base in Nottingham, Hodgson Sayers was founded in 1979 and has grown into a specialist contractor providing roofing, building fabric, construction and civil engineering services to clients across the UK.
The business operates across a range of sectors, including power, social housing and education, and has established a long-standing relationship with Northern Powergrid and recently secured contracts with National Grid.
Led by Chairman and Founder Billy Hodgson and Managing Director John Sayers, the business has experienced sustained growth in recent years, supported by increasing demand across its roofing and civils divisions.
Through the acquisition, United Infrastructure will strengthen its offering across the power and social infrastructure sectors by bringing Hodgson Sayers’ specialist roofing and building-envelope capabilities into the group, while also creating opportunities to work with new customers and partners.
Billy Hodgson, Chairman and Founder of Hodgson Sayers, said: “Hodgson Sayers has come a long way since I established the business more than 45 years ago. We’ve built a strong reputation, developed long-standing relationships with our customers and, importantly, invested in the people who have helped make the business what it is today.
“Joining United Infrastructure represents an exciting opportunity to build on those foundations. There is a strong fit between our businesses, both in terms of the sectors we operate in and the expertise we bring, and being part of a larger group gives us the opportunity to continue developing our capabilities and pursuing new opportunities.
“The sale was an important decision and having the right advisers alongside us throughout the process made a real difference. Nick Broadhead and the team at UNW took the time to understand the business and what we wanted to achieve. Their advice was practical and straightforward, and they worked closely with us throughout to help secure the right outcome.”
Neil Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of United Infrastructure, said: “This acquisition is a strong strategic fit for United Infrastructure, adding valuable roofing and building-fabric expertise to our growing power and social infrastructure capability. I’d like to thank Billy Hodgson and John Sayers for the leadership they’ve shown in building Hodgson Sayers into the respected business it is today, and their continued support and expertise will be invaluable as we work together to take the business to the next level and help it reach its full potential.”
Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW provided corporate finance and tax advice to the shareholders of Hodgson Sayers, with legal advice provided by Sintons.
Nick Broadhead, Corporate Finance Partner in UNW’s Deal Advisory team, said: “Hodgson Sayers is a fantastic example of a North East business that has built its success on strong customer relationships, technical expertise and a commitment to developing its people.
“Billy, John and the wider team have established an impressive business over more than four decades, with a strong reputation in its markets and significant opportunities for further growth.
“United Infrastructure is a natural fit, with the acquisition bringing complementary capabilities together and creating opportunities for both businesses. It has been a pleasure working with the shareholders on the transaction, and we look forward to seeing Hodgson Sayers continue to develop as part of the wider group.”
Adrian Dye, Corporate Partner at Sintons, said: “As a firm, we have worked alongside Hodgson Sayers for more than 30 years, it has been a privilege to advise the shareholders on this significant milestone in the company’s long history and support the business as it enters an exciting new chapter. We congratulate Billy, John and the wider team on all they have achieved and wish Hodgson Sayers every success as part of United Infrastructure.”
United Infrastructure was advised by Cavu Corporate Finance (Corporate Finance), Addleshaw Goddard (Legal), PwC LLP (Financial Due Diligence), Deloitte LLP (Tax Due Diligence & Structuring) and Marsh (Insurance).
About United Infrastructure
United Infrastructure, headquartered in the North West of England, is a dynamic, rapidly expanding business, delivering critical infrastructure to communities across the UK. It delivers innovative solutions across five key sectors: water, energy, power, telecoms, and property services, under two main business areas, Utility Infrastructure and Social Infrastructure. It employs over 2,700 people. Formerly known as United Living, its new name demonstrates its continuous evolution as a leader in the infrastructure landscape.