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JRL has confirmed that an overseas investor is close to taking a stake in the business which last month reported it had racked up losses of more than 拢80m in the past two years.

The firm, which was set up in 1996 by chairman John Reddington, said the past couple of years have been among the most challenging in its history after it was forced to restate its 2022 accounts which resulted in a 拢47m loss.

The Midgard owner had posted a pre-tax profit of 拢13m when it filed its 2022 accounts in July last year.

But in its 2023 accounts, JRL said that the cost of materials and labour on fixed-price contracts 鈥渉ave led to notable increases in the estimated total costs require to complete these projects鈥�.

Now the firm has said it is being handed a funding boost in the form of an unnamed overseas investor.

JRL said: 鈥淎n international conglomerate and property developer has agreed to invest in the business.

鈥淭he transaction, which will see the partner acquire a non-controlling equity stake in JRL, will significantly strengthen the position of the business and allow it to deliver on its strong pipeline.鈥� JRL added that its forward order book was 拢1.5bn.

The firm, whose group of 14 companies also include concrete frame business J Reddington and London Tower Crane Hire, said that pre-tax losses last year had narrowed 鈥� but were still 拢36m.

Revenue at the business, which employs 2,300 people, was up 8.5% to 拢826m. Cash at the bank and in hand fell from 拢117m to 拢82m, the accounts added.

But Reddington added the firm had turned a corner. 鈥淭he directors view the financial outcomes in 2022 and 2023 as anomalies, not reflective of the long-term trajectory of the business.

鈥淥ur pipeline is robust, with several major contracts that were previously delayed now coming to fruition. We anticipate a more stable economic environment which will alleviate some of the pressures we experienced in 2023.鈥�

The firm added that in April this year it sold an investment property for 拢12m which saw it book a net cash inflow of 拢8.5m.