Acquisition of Jennings O’Donovan strengthens RSK’s operations in renewables, environmental and water sectors.
Irish multidisciplinary consulting engineering firm Jennings O’Donovan has been acquired by the Cheshire-based RSK Group for an undisclosed sum.
RSK Group, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions, comprises over 200 companies, which employ over 12,000 people. Its annual turnover in 2022 was £796m.
“Jennings O’Donovan has enviable skills and experience in crucial sectors that are so important to RSK across the world and are key to our commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals”
Jennings O’Donovan specialises in renewable energy, water supply, wastewater treatment and the provision of planning and environmental services. It was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Sligo with a workforce of 100, bringing RSK Group’s team in Ireland to over 600.
All Jennings O’Donovan staff and management will remain in place following the acquisition. RSK’s acquisition adviser was Cortus Advisory Group.
Designing the renewable future
“We are delighted to be joining the RSK Group and becoming part of the wider RSK family,” said Jennings O’Donovan Director David Kiely, who will continue to lead the business.
“This acquisition will see our staff and business continuing as normal while moving to new ownership within a larger organisation that will support our continued growth and development in line with our commitment to the principles of climate action and the low carbon economy.”
Jennings O’Donovan’s clients include local authorities, water and power utilities, private developers and industries in Ireland and overseas. The primary markets it currently operates in include Ireland, the UK and Eastern Europe.
Projects by Jennings O’Donovan have included the award-winning Meenadreen Wind Farm; Nysäter Wind Farm, Sweden; Lumcloon Battery Energy Storage Facility, Co Offaly; Lough Rynn International Rowing Course, Co Leitrim; the Carrick-on-Shannon to Battlebridge Blueway, Co Leitrim and Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence at Scarden.
Jennings O’Donovan’s workforce includes design engineers, planners, project managers, environmental scientists and resident engineers. With an annual turnover of €8.2m, the consulting services provided by the company cover a broad range of sectors, including civil, structural and environmental engineering, health and safety, building and infrastructure, tourism and leisure amenity, water, wastewater, planning and the renewable energy sector.
“Jennings O’Donovan has enviable skills and experience in crucial sectors that are so important to RSK across the world and are key to our commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said RSK Group CEO Alan Ryder.
“These include renewables, water and wastewater, planning and environment and building and infrastructure, to name just a few. In renewables alone, the business has a project portfolio extending to more than 2500MW of power and it is a recognised market leader in wind energy development. When this portfolio is completed, total investment will extend to €3bn in the wind energy sector.
“This acquisition is one that will play an important role in further strengthening our operations in the renewables, environmental and water sectors in particular but equally, Jennings O’Donovan’s experience and track record for delivery and service excellence in other sectors adds to our diversity and growth.”
Main image at top: Pictured: Conor McCarthy, outgoing director, Jennings O’Donovan; David Kiely, Managing Director, Jennings O’Donovan; Rose Davis, Chief Financial Officer and Seamus Lee, Senior Associate
