Garvis Snook expected to complete deal for South-east company next week after buying two firms last year.
Acquisitive West Country firm Rok Construction is believed to be in talks to buy privately owned contractor Llewellyn, a deal that will double the Exeter group’s size.

Building understands that the deal was expected to be completed this week but will not be finalised until next week.

The deal, which will lift Rok’s turnover to about £300m and place it in the contracting top 30, is a significant step in chief executive Garvis Snook’s plan to transform Rok from a regional contractor into a national player.

Llewellyn, which operates in the South-east, is considered to be a good fit for Rok. An industry source said: “The deal will take Rok a few rungs up the ladder and get them out of the South-west. It is achieving some critical mass. It has been looking around for a while and seems to have found a target.”

A Rok spokesperson said the group never commented on market speculation. Llewellyn joint managing directors Tim Lewellyn and Judy Llewellyn-Burke both denied their firm was in talks.

The Llewellyn deal will take Rok a few rungs up the ladder

Industry source

Rok’s turnover last year was £125m; Llewellyn’s was £160m for the year to 30 September 2001.

Llewellyn concentrates on the retail, leisure, office, PFI and housing sectors. It also has a joinery business and a concrete repair arm.

Rok has undergone rapid changes since Snook took over in 2000. His first moves were to make 120 staff redundant and change the firm’s name from EBC.