Competition watchdog clears way for sale of Offaly sandpit
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says purchase of Kilmurray by Kilsaran will not 'substantially' lessen competition
THE State competition watchdog has cleared the way for the sale of Kilmurray Precast Concrete's sand and gravel pit at Derryarkin, Rhode.
The proposed purchase by Kilsaran Concrete Unlimited Company was notified to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in November last year and the commission decided a full investigation was required to establish whether the proposed purchase would lead to a substantial lessening of competition in the State.
Kilsaran manufactures and supplies ready-mix concrete, concrete blocks, aggregates and other building materials and also undertakes surfacing contracts for road construction, building and civil engineering works.
Kilmurray owns and operates a sand and gravel pit and processing plant in Derryarkin. Kilsaran proposed to purchase what the CCPC said were “certain assets” from Kilmurray, including the sand and gravel pit, processing plant and related assets.
The CCPC said it undertook a detailed examination of how the proposed purchase would impact competition, including in the supply of sand and gravel.
Following this examination, the CCPC determined that the proposed deal will not substantially lessen competition and cleared the proposed purchase, which can now be put into effect.
Earlier this year the CCPC said that Kilmurray owns and operates a single sand and gravel pit at Derryarkin, Rhode, from which it extracts and processes sand and gravel aggregates.
It said the assets to be acquired by Kilsaran included the sand and gravel pit at Derryarkin, fixed assets, a chip processing plant, stock, vehicles, plant, supply and sale contracts, interest in leased assets, goodwill, and two small freehold properties.
Kilmurray mainly supplies aggregates to construction contractors and retail customers. Kilmurray is part of the Kilmurray group of companies (Kilmurray Group) which also includes a hardware store (Kilmurray’s Homevalue) and an imprint concrete supply business (Allcrete). These businesses do not form part of the sale to Kilsaran.
Kilmurray Precast was set up in 1995 and its current directors are Conor Kilmurray and Gemma Kilmurray. Its founder was Dermot Kilmurray.
According to accounts filed with the Companies Office, Kilmurray Precast made a profit of €2.568m in 2022, bringing its retained earnings to €15.436m.
Its average number of employees, including directors, during 2022 was 21.
The CCPC said Kilsaran is a private unlimited company incorporated in the State and is part of the Kilsaran group of companies, Kilsaran Group.
Kilsaran operates 15 sites (comprising both crushed rock quarries and sand and gravel pits) in the State, from which it extracts aggregates.
The CCPC said Kilsaran Group supplies its products in the State and runs a small export business to the UK. It also undertakes surfacing contracts for road construction, building and civil engineering works.
The CCPC will publish a full determination of its decision on its website, ccpc.ie, within 60 working days, allowing Kilsaran and Kilmurray the opportunity to request that confidential information be removed.
The CCPC is the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with competition, consumer protection and product safety law, with new and expanding roles in digital and data regulation.