The Victorian arm of national tier one firm Roberts Co, which has a sister company in a joint venture to build Perth's Women and Babies Hospital, is reportedly on the verge of administration.
The Victorian arm of national tier one firm Roberts Co, which has a sister company in a joint venture to build Perth's Women and Babies Hospital, is reportedly on the verge of administration.
Owned by Andrew Roberts, a son of Multiplex founder John Roberts, it is understood work was halted on the company’s Craigieburn site in Melbourne where the biggest warehouse in Australia was being built for Amazon.
Roberts Co representatives have not been able to clarify the situation, but industry sources said rumours had been circulating for more than a week.
A joint venture between Webuild and Roberts Co was locked in as the preferred proponent for the $1.8 billion Women and Babies’ Hospital before the state election, beating out Multiplex in a race of two.
There is no suggestion at this stage that the WA project is affected by what has occurred in Victoria,
Roberts Co, which is ultimately controlled by a company domiciled in the dual-island Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis, made a $9.3 million loss for the year ending June 30 2023 and the company has reportedly been in merger talks this year.
Roberts Co entered the Perth market in 2023 following months of speculation, with luxury apartment developer Edge Visionary Living’s Scarbrough project The Dunes.
The national tier one builder was also lined up to build Blackburne’s West Village in Karrinyup and Edge’s Ocean Beach Hotel apartment projects.
Roberts Co secured the design and construct contract for Amazon's record-breaking four level automated robotic distribution centre in Melbourne in 2023.
The business had a significant leadership change in January when Matt Bourne stepped down from the role of CEO after two years.
The company said that, as CEO, Mr Bourne played an important role integrating the Victorian business post its acquisition of ProBuild Victoria and navigating Roberts Co through the challenges of the post-COVID landscape.
It announced George Kostas as executive chairman and Emma Shipley as managing director.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Roberts Co sought to revoke its Deed of Cross Guarantee with various subsidiaries, including Roberts Co (Vic) and Roberts Co (WA), last month.
