Briggs acquires pair of Irish hire businesses

Briggs Equipment has completed the acquisition of Laois Hire Services Limited, one of the Republic of Ireland’s leading plant hire companies, and has also completed the purchase of the Dublin-based business Balloo Hire Limited, whose operation in the north of Ireland is already part of the Briggs Group.

These latest acquisitions further strengthen Briggs Equipment’s presence within the Irish market, and will help to diversify its product and service offering in the territory to now include the hire of plant, welfare units, pumps, generators, variable message signs and the provision of traffic management solutions.

From several sites across Ireland, Laois has developed a strong reputation over 20 years for delivering high quality plant hire services and establishing lasting relationships with a diverse customer group. Laois has also provided vital services to many of Ireland’s key infrastructure projects in recent years, including the development of Ireland’s motorway network and the construction of the International Terminal 2 building at Dublin Airport.

The acquisition of Balloo further advances the strategic diversification which began with the acquisition of its sister company Balloo Hire Centres Limited, based in Belfast in 2019. Since being acquired, the Northern Irish business has gone from strength to strength and by adding its sister operation, Briggs now hopes to replicate this success in Dublin.

Briggs says these acquisitions further demonstrate the Briggs Equipment Group’s long-term commitment to ongoing business development and underlines its position as the UK & Ireland’s leading asset management and engineering services specialist.

Peter Jones, Briggs Equipment’s Group Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of both Laois Hire and Balloo Hire Limited. Both businesses have a strong track record of delivering value within the Irish plant hire market and we’re confident that with the backing and support of the Briggs Equipment Group, the businesses will go from strength to strength.

“Over recent years, we have worked hard to build our presence within Ireland’s materials handling sector and we’ve had good success in this area. These acquisitions enable us to further diversify our offering and provide a comprehensive and cohesive proposition that now includes plant hire across the entire island of Ireland.

“Despite the challenges that the Coronavirus pandemic has presented over the past year, we are committed to pushing forward with our business development and acquisition strategy. This acquisition demonstrates the robustness of our business and our ongoing commitment to strengthening our market position.

“We look forward to working closely with the teams at both Laois Hire and Balloo Hire and supporting their future growth and product expansion as part of the Briggs Equipment Group.”

As a wholly-owned subsidiaries of Briggs, Laois and Balloo will continue trading under their own name and with all current operational contacts remaining in place.