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Fletcher Building chief executive Jonathan Ling said he is on the lookout for another big acquisition within the next year.
Mr Ling told The Dominion Post today the building products firm was looking for something around the size of its $750 million purchase of Laminex in Australia five years ago.
"Something will come out in the next 12 months or so," said Mr Ling, who took over from Ralph Waters in September.
Mr Ling said Fletcher Building was facing competition from private equity firms but he did not rule out buying from such firms, which is how the company acquired Tasman Building Products and Amatek.
There were plenty of businesses bought by private equity funds in the late 1990s and early 2000s and the owners were now looking to sell.
Mr Ling said Fletcher could easily raise a billion in debt and the market was "screaming out to (us to) issue more equity"
Glass, bricks, fibre cement, paint and plastic pipes are areas analysts believe may be of interest to Fletcher.
Mr Ling said the company had not received any approaches from private equity firms.
Hugh Giddy, portfolio manager and senior analyst at 7.9 per cent Fletcher owner Perennial Value Management, said any offer would have to be close to $15 to tempt him.
Fletcher shares fell 15 cents to $11.24 yesterday.
- NZPA
