Pike buys Redimix

Pike Industries, Inc. recently acquired the Redimix Companies, a stable of concrete suppliers — including Persons Concrete, LLC of Laconia — owned by David E. Bissonnette of Manchester.

"This is our first foray into concrete," said Christian Zimmerman, president of Pike Industries. "We're very excited." Zimmerman declined to disclose the terms of the acquisition, but said "it was a very fair price and a good deal for both sides." As a wholly owned subsidiary of Pike Industries, the Redimix Companies will form its concrete division. "Dave Bissonnette will manage the concrete division and the companies will operate our their existing trade names," Zimmerman said.

The Redimix Companies consist of Manchester Redimix, Nashua Redimix, with operations in Amherst, Seacoast Redimix, with operations in Dover and South Berwick, Maine, and Persons Concrete, with operations in Campton, Littleton, Columbia and Bow. Zimmerman described Pike Industries as a "construction material supplier," adding that the Redimix Companies were its largest customer for aggregates. "We expect to achieve some significant synergies by combining the companies," he said.

Pike Industries is part of Oldcastle Materials, Inc., the largest supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready mix concrete and paving services in the United States with 650 locations nationwide, which itself is one of four divisions of CRH of Dublin, Ireland., the firm that acquired Pike Industries in 1988. Pike Industries produces more than 5 million tons of asphalt and processes more than 8 million tons of aggregate in five states — New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Asked if there were plans to develop concrete operations in other states, Zimmerman replied "do you know any companies for sale? Our parent company is in a growth mode," he continued, "and we're always looking for good companies to acquire."