Murphy has taken a 40 per cent stake in Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure as part of a strategic partnership with the Sydney-headquartered contractor.
The deal marks Murphy’s first investment in the Australasian market and continues its international expansion following moves into Canada and the United States over the past decade.
Completion is expected in May.
Abergeldie was founded in 1994 by Mick Boyle and Robin Craig. It now employs more than 800 staff across Australia and New Zealand and reported record results in 2024.
The company delivers infrastructure across the utilities, road, rail and energy sectors.
The partnership aims to support Abergeldie’s growth into larger infrastructure projects. Both firms share a heritage as family-owned businesses and cite common values around respect, integrity, trust and accountability.
Murphy was founded in 1951 and focused initially on the UK and Ireland.
It entered Canada in 2014 through a joint venture with Surerus Pipeline Inc and expanded into the US in 2023 by acquiring WHC Energy Services.
Murphy group chief executive John Murphy said: “We are very positive on the outlook for the Australian market and I am looking forward to working with the Abergeldie team to help them deliver on the next exciting stage of their growth plans.”
The value of the investment was not disclosed.
The rebranding reflects a strategic shift by the institution to broaden its course portfolio across the built environment sector, going beyond its traditional estate management roots.
Chair of the board Peter McCrea said the new name better reflected the scope and scale of the institution’s provision and acknowledged “many years of planning and deliberation”.
UCEM said the transition will be managed in phases, with a focus on clear communication to stakeholders throughout the rebranding process.
Source: Murphy press release