ADAS is an agricultural and environmental consultancy, providing rural development services and policy advice. Areas of expertise covered within the business include waste legislation and in particular the treatment of organic wastes as well as soil use and management.
The acquisition will see the ADAS business, including around 300 employees located at more than 15 sites across the UK, transferring to RSK where it will continue to operate under Ian Strudwick, who has been appointed managing director of the business, having previously served as commercial director of RSK.
The ADAS brand will be retained and the business will operate as a new company called RSK ADAS Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of RSK. The Business Growth Fund provided £10m in funding to RSK to support the acquisition.
This acquisition will add to RSK’s existing portfolio that includes waste management, air quality, brownfield development, carbon management and environmental impact assessment services.
RSK – which is based in Frodsham near Chester – has acquired 12 environmental and analysis firms across Europe and the Middle East in the past decade and has grown to a £100 million turnover business, the company says.
Delivering solutions
Commenting on the acquisition, Dr Alan Ryder, chief executive officer at RSK Group, said: “I am delighted to join forces with ADAS. The company has extremely experienced and skilled people who share our common values.
“RSK and ADAS see food production, energy and the environment as the most important issues facing humanity, so we will work together to deliver the best solutions for our customers.”
Andrew Walker, executive director at ADAS, added: “The announcement of RSK’s acquisition of ADAS is very positive news for our business. It brings together two organisations that will, between them, offer an unrivalled breadth of expertise in the natural and built environment and that will be capable of delivering powerful solutions to our clients’ problems across the complete spectrum, from agriculture and the food chain to sustainable development, transport, energy and civil engineering.”
Support
New RSK ADAS managing director Ian Strudwick said: “I am looking forward to working with the ADAS management team to get the best out of the opportunities that present themselves through our two businesses joining forces. ADAS has an impressive heritage and track record, and employs many talented and dedicated people.
“My focus over the next 12 months will be to ensure that ADAS staff have the support they need to continue providing an excellent service to all ADAS and RSK’s clients.”
RSK was advised by Dow Schofield Watts Transaction Services LLP (due diligence), Dow Schofield Watts Corporate Finance Ltd (corporate finance) and Memery Crystal LLP (legal) throughout the transaction.
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