RSK, set up by Alan Ryder in 1989, has now acquired 50 business in the past five years.
The latest to join the RSK Group are RSK Orbital, SkyVision International, The Scan Station and Smith & Kennedy Architects. These are the first acquisitions for RSK in the new financial year that started 5th April.
RSK has also filed its accounts for the year to 5th April 2020, showing turnover up 34% to 拢280m and a pre-tax loss of 拢15.7m (2019: 拢9.6m). RSK has not made a pre-tax profit since 2016/17 when it started out on this acquisition trail with venture capital backing.
RSK Orbital is an aerial surveillance and photography business based in Cheshire in which RSK already had a stake since 2017. SkyVision International and The Scan Station are subsidiaries of RSK Orbital also in the aerial survey business. SkyVision specialises in monitoring pipelines from the air and was established 25 years ago in conjunction with Barr Air Patrol from Texas. Now fully integrated into the group, the three businesses will retain their existing leadership, workforce and brands, as they join RSK鈥檚 geosciences and engineering division under the direction of George Tuckwell.
RSK Orbital managing director Adam Gallacher said: 鈥淲e already have an excellent relationship with RSK and are excited to build on our success, now that we are part of the group.鈥�
Smith & Kennedy Architects is a 20-strong Dublin architectural practice, set up in the early 1960s. Managing director Joe Kennedy will continue to lead the business as it joins RSK鈥檚 European division under the direction of Nigel Board. Smith & Kennedy Architects will work closely with RSK Ireland, RSK鈥檚 existing Irish business, led by managing director David O鈥橦agan.
Alan Ryder, RSK founder and chief executive, said: 鈥淭he four new businesses, though very different, each fit perfectly into our growing group, widening our offering so we can deliver the greatest value to our clients. With innovation at their core, RSK Orbital, SkyVision International and The Scan Station will be fantastic assets for RSK. Ireland is an important growth area for RSK, so I am also very pleased to welcome Smith & Kennedy Architects into the group.鈥�
Based on its current trajectory and strategy, RSK reckons that by 2025 it will be delivering an annual turnover of 拢1bn and will employ 10,000 people around the world. 聽It is backed by 拢350m of debt finance from venture capital firm Ares Capital Europe.
Latest accounts show an operating profit of 拢2.9m (down from 拢5.8m the previous year) but interest repayments of 拢18.8m more than wiped that out. RSK ended the year with 拢240.8m of debt, up from 拢162.6m at the start of the year.
In mitigation, Alan Ryder said: 鈥淩SK has invested heavily in the business to create a solid platform for continued growth, incurring significant costs linked to establishing strong financial foundations. This is in line with our planned ongoing expansion by acquisition (through debt financing) together with organic growth.
鈥淥ur EBITDA grew by 32% to 拢26.6m from 拢20.1m in the previous year. We have a strong balance sheet with a robust cash and borrowing position. Cash generation was good and we closed the year with more cash in the bank than we have ever had before, 拢33.5m.
鈥淚 believe we have never been better placed and I am looking forward to taking the business forward in FY22 and completing further acquisitions as well as seeing significant organic growth in the business.鈥�
RSK acquisitions since April 2016
- ADAS
- Dynamic Sampling
- JB鈥疭ite Investigations鈥�
- 听础肠颈别蝉
- KMGP
- Ian Farmer Associates
- Cole Jarman
- Up & Under Group
- CJ Associates
- RSKW
- Central Alliance
- Non Destructive Testing Services
- Copeland Wedge Associates
- Twig
- CAN
- PB Drilling
- BTS Group
- the TBF Contracting businesses
- Pellings
- Dr鈥疶illmanns & Partner
- Headland Archaeology
- Drilling Supplies & Hire Services
- Consents Solutions
- Biocensus
- Adverbo
- RAW Technology
- Geocore Site Investigations
- Ecologia Environmental Solutions
- ATP
- Silcock Leedham Group
- Salix, Morrison鈥疐alklands
- Nicholas O鈥橠wyer
- Ground Heat
- PA Group
- RoC Consulting
- WRc
- Cognica
- Boden & Wasser
- 础尘辫丑辞蝉鈥�21
- Pharos Generator Services
- Pharos Field Engineering Services
- Binnies (including Black & Veatch Limited, Black & Veatch Hong Kong Limited and Black & Veatch (SEA) Pte Limited in Singapore)
- CAS
- EDP
- CR Civil Engineering
- Enviresearch
- RSK Orbital
- SkyVision International
- The Scan Station
- Smith & Kennedy
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