O’Hara Truck & Excavating has been acquired by Alfred Beam Excavating

About the client

Located in St. Catharines, Ontario, O’Hara Trucking & Excavating (O’Hara) is a respected civil contracting business that has proudly served the Niagara Region since 1977. Specializing in excavation, trucking, sewer, water main, and sanitary construction, O’Hara has been a trusted partner to local municipalities and contractors for decades.

The company’s roots trace back to when 16-year-old Dan O’Hara began delivering water and hauling loads of stone and topsoil with a single truck—all while juggling two part-time jobs and high school. By 1979, Dan left school and his jobs behind to focus on growing his business full-time. In 1982, Dan met his wife Sharon, and together, they built O’Hara Trucking & Excavating into a leading construction firm in the region. With a team of over 40 employees and an extensive fleet of equipment, the company became known for its honest, hardworking, and fair approach to business.

After completing hundreds of heavy construction projects and establishing a strong legacy, Dan and Sharon began to consider retirement. But they knew they couldn’t sell to just anyone—they were looking for a buyer who shared their values and vision. To help navigate this important transition, they turned to Doane Grant Thornton, seeking guidance on how to sell their business and find the right successor. Over time, what started as initial conversations evolved into a collaboration involving tax planning, strategic discussions, and ultimately a formal sale process. Our M&A advisors worked closely with our wider Advisory and Tax teams to craft O’Hara’s story and identify the right strategic buyer. We supported the O’Hara team throughout negotiations and helped structure a transaction designed to align with their long-standing values—contributing to a smooth and well managed transition for the parties involved. 

That ideal buyer was found in Alfred Beam Excavating (Beam)—a well-known peer in the local industry, and a company that Dan and Sharon held in high regard. With an established relationship already in place and shared principles at the core, Dan and Sharon felt confident that Beam could be the right steward to carry the O’Hara legacy into the future.

This transaction marks a significant milestone for the O’Hara family and an exciting new chapter for both companies, built on mutual respect and a continued commitment to excellence.