5th Feb 2026 11:46
(Alliance News) - The UK Competition & Markets Authority on Thursday said it has begun an investigation into the proposed acquisition of Gibson Bros by CRH PLC.
The regulator is considering the deal's potential to harm competitive conditions in the UK market. It has notified both businesses of the enquiry, and has until April 7 to publish a phase-one decision, which determines whether or not to take the investigation further.
Back in December, Ireland's Competition & Consumer Protection Commission cleared the deal, which sees Dublin-based building materials company CRH buying a Northern Ireland-based quarry business, through its subsidiary CRH UK Ltd.
The proposed takeover includes full control of Gibson Bros Ltd, Gibson Quarries Banbridge Ltd, Gibson Banbridge Ltd, TH Moore Contracts Ltd, Gibson Bros Ireland Ltd and MP Coleman Ltd.
CRH joined the S&P 500 index back in December, following a confident quarterly results announcement, in which Chief Executive Jim Mintern praised his company for "27 acquisitions year-to-date," and noted "an active pipeline of value-accretive opportunities."
The company lost its spot in the FTSE100 in 2023, when it moved its primary listing to New York from London. Its shares there traded 1.1% higher at 9,040.00 pence on Thursday morning. In New York, shares were marginally lower at USD122.94 pre-market.
By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter
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