Murray & Roberts (M&R), the listed construction and engineering group, said yesterday it had acquired Aquamarine Water Treatment, which designs, manufactures and installs water treatment solutions, for R28 million.
Harry Singleton, the operations executive at the water treatment and management company established by the group in 2012 that operates in the mining, industrial and municipal sectors of sub-Saharan Africa, said Aquamarine would augment M&R’s entry into the equipment and technology supply and the operations and maintenance segments of the project value chain.
“Aquamarine’s technology is ideal for much larger water treatment solutions, including containerised modular plants.”
He said M&R Water’s strategic intent was to design and build water treatment plants and operate and maintain these installations. “Our competence and capability, combined with Aquamarine’s equipment design, supply, operations and maintenance skills, will provide the opportunity to access large water treatment project opportunities across the continent.”
Aquamarine operates in a niche market for small to medium-size installations and developed a network of resellers on the African continent that serves as an extended business development network.
M&R shares rose 1.81 percent to close at R23.57 yesterday. – Roy Cokayne