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Environmental consultancy RSK Group has pushed forward with its plan to become a major support services player with the acquisition of STATS, an adviser to the building materials sector.

This deal is part of RSK’s strategic expansion programme that saw it buy six companies last year. This is its second deal of 2008, following its takeover of building envelope consultancy and testing company Building Sciences in January.

STATS introduces expertise in new areas to RSK’s business, such as structural investigation, testing and consultancy services for civil structures, and building acoustics. The deal also enhances the group’s existing services, such as ground engineering and remediation, environmental impact assessment and laboratory analysis.

Furthermore, the addition of 30 asbestos experts will turn RSK into one of the largest and most experienced asbestos risk management providers in the UK.

RSK chairman Dr Alan Ryder said this is the second largest acquisition in the group’s history and is a major statement of intent going forward. “We’ve strengthened our capabilities across the board and brought in services that we have never had before. STATS will be instrumental to our continued growth and success.”

STATS managing director Fergus Collie added that this deal will develop both businesses. “Companies are changing the way they procure services and we needed to adapt to that. We are an open-minded, innovative company, but our size was restricting our opportunities further up the food chain.”

RSK was advised by law firm Stronachs, which was led by Neil Forbes and Malcolm Donald.

The majority of the selling shareholders were advised by law firm Sherrards, with associate Leigh Head leading a team of employment, commercial property and banking specialists.

“Sherrards has acted for STATS for several years, and we are pleased to have seen it through this acquisition by a group that will help build on everything it has achieved so far,” Head said.

The financial due diligence study was conducted by Tenon Corporate Finance from its Southampton office and led by associate director Jez Quigg.

“We have provided financial due diligence services on several of RSK’s acquisitions in the past year,” Quigg said. “STATS will add even further depth and breadth to RSK’s impressive array of environmental consultancy services.”

RSK has increased its staff and turnover by more than 50 per cent in the past 12 months. It currently has 880 employees across 39 locations in the UK, Europe, the Gulf and Caspian regions.

Formed in 1974, STATS has worked on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the Carlisle-to-Glasgow stretch of the M74 motorway and Europe’s largest retail development, Bluewater Retail Park.

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