RSK Group, a global company in the delivery of sustainable solutions, entered into an agreement to receive a £500 ($633.3) million preferred equity investment from a consortium led by Searchlight Capital Partners and Ares Management funds. In addition, Ares has committed an incremental £300 ($380) million debt facility to further support RSK’s growth plans, bringing total available debt facilities provided by Ares to £1.4 billion.
The additional capital is expected to support the ambitions articulated in RSK’s 2030 global strategy, including organic growth initiatives and the continued execution of the company’s acquisition strategy.
“RSK is very pleased to welcome a new group of investors and further strengthen our relationship with Ares. This strategic partnership marks a pivotal moment for RSK as we take another step towards our long-term vision of becoming the world’s largest and most trusted provider of sustainable solutions,” Dr. Alan Ryder, founder and CEO of RSK, said. “Searchlight and Ares’ expertise in our industry, combined with their track record of supporting growth initiatives, will be instrumental as we execute on our M&A strategy and expand our service offerings. After three decades, RSK remains committed to delivering environmental and engineering services to help government and business clients around the world achieve a more sustainable future. The opportunities for RSK increase at pace.”
“We are delighted to be partnering with Alan and the RSK management team as they embark on the next phase of their journey to becoming the leading global provider of sustainability solutions for their customers,” James Redmayne, partner at Searchlight, said. “The unique employee-ownership culture of the business provides the perfect platform for RSK to continue its stated mission of striving to address the current and future impacts of climate change.”
“The evolving regulatory landscape, accelerating global energy transition and goal of providing clean water and sanitation for all, present increasing challenges and opportunities for RSK’s customers, which the business is uniquely positioned to execute on,” Giles Marshall, partner at Searchlight, said. “We look forward to partnering with the management team to support their continued growth and industry-leading service.”
“Since our initial investment in 2018, we have seen firsthand RSK’s commitment to helping advance the energy transition through differentiated client solutions,” Michael Dennis, co-head of European credit at Ares, said. “We are excited to increase our financial commitment alongside Searchlight and further support the company’s focus on identifying new investment opportunities and developing innovative capabilities that can drive more sustainable business outcomes and long-term growth for RSK.”