Morgan Sindall Group, the construction and regeneration group, and affordable housing provider Lovell, have reached an agreement to acquire the majority of the ongoing contracts and their related assets of the social housing division of Connaught.

Construction firm Connaught, which entered administration last week, will transfer around 2,500 employees connected with ongoing contracts to Lovell as part of the agreement, allowing essential maintenance services to continue without interruption.

A total cash consideration of £28m has been paid for the assets, which represents a discount to their net book value.

The payment has been made from the company’s existing cash resources. At 30 June 2010, Morgan Sindall had net cash of £138m and the Group will continue to have a strong financial position following the acquisition.

The acquisition is consistent with Morgan Sindall’s long-term strategy to achieve leading positions in its chosen markets. The acquisition will significantly enhance Lovell’s market leading position in the affordable housing sector and creates a national, full-service business delivering planned and reactive maintenance as well as new-build social and open market affordable housing.

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The new contracts are expected to generate approximately £200m of additional annual revenue, split broadly between response maintenance contracts and Decent Homes, planned maintenance contracts.

In the year to 31 December 2009, Lovell reported an operating profit of £14.9 million on revenue of £374 million.

“This is a step change for Lovell. The acquisition significantly increases the scope and scale of our planned and reactive maintenance activities and further develops our market leading position,” said John Morgan, executive chairman of Morgan Sindall Group plc.

“Our focus now will be to ensure a smooth handover of the contracts and to minimise disruption to essential maintenance services. We look forward to working with our new and existing clients and to provide them with a high level of service, as well as protecting jobs on the contracts we are acquiring.

“Through the experience built up at Lovell over many years, we are happy with the terms on which we are acquiring these contracts. The Board believes that this acquisition represents excellent value for our shareholders.”

Earlier this year Lovell extended its housing maintenance capability and geographic reach following the strategic acquisition of Powerminster Gleeson Services. All Powerminster’s contracts were transferred to Lovell Respond, the company’s national housing maintenance business.

(GK)