Gammon Construction
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Gammon Construction Limited (金門建築有限公司) is a construction company in Hong Kong, actively partipating in various projects in Hong Kong, mainland China and Southeast Asia.
[edit] History
The company originated from a construction business founded in India in 1919 by John C. Gammon. Later, branches in Asia, the Middle East and Africa formed subsequently, and while these companies became largely independent, there was frequent interchange of staff, plant, finance and technology between them.
In 1955, a branch was engaged to build a new runway at Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong. In 1958, Gammon Construction Limited ("Gammon") was formed to establish a permanent presence in Hong Kong.
Once incorporated in Hong Kong, it grew rapidly, obtaining construction work of diverse in nature. By the late 1970s, it was local expertise in piling, foundations, substructures, tunnelling, bridges, building, marine works and water storage schemes and were established as the leading contractor in Hong Kong, participating in many of the major infrastructure projects last twenty years.
The company began to expand business outside Hong Kong in 1980, establishing offices in Singapore and Malaysia. This overseas business has grown significantly, particularly in China and Singapore.
[edit] Ownership
Jardine Matheson took a minority interest in Gammon in 1969 and it became a public company in 1970. Then in 1975, Jardines acquired the remaining shareholding and thus Gammon became a wholly owned subsidiary of Jardines. In late 1983 Jardine Matheson sold 50 percent of Gammon to Trafalgar House, a UK based company involved in construction, shipping and property. Gammon then became the preferred constructor throughout the Asia-Pacific region for both Jardines and Trafalgar House. In 1996, Kvaerner took over Trafalgar House thereby acquiring its 50% interest in the Gammon. Skanska acquired all of Kvaerner's construction businesses (including Gammon) in late 2000. Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group, subsequently purchased Skanska's 50% in Gammon in 2004.
