French international rental company Kiloutou has acquired Irish rental company KDM Hire from its owners, Keith and Julia Mcivor and members of the senior management team.
KDM was established in 1990 and now runs an extensive rental fleet of around 10,000 units, including aerial work platforms, telehandlers, lifting gear, glass handling robots and spider cranes, along with cabins and other general equipment from six locations, including two in Belfast, as well as Cookstown, Dublin and Cork, with around 240 employees. Revenues for the year to the end of 2024 were £26.33 million, with a pre-tax profit of £3.7 million, while we understand that revenues for the past 12 months reached £36 million.
Kiloutou was set up in 1980 by Franky Mulliez after a visit to the USA, today it is the third largest equipment rental company in Europe, and now operates from 655 depots across eight European countries: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Denmark and now Ireland, with around 7,250 employees and revenues in the region of €1.29 billion. It has been majority owned by private equity firms or other investors since 2005, and has been owned by HLD/ Dentressangle since 2017.
The KDM announcement made yesterday evening said: “We would like to announce the exciting news today that KDM Hire Ltd has been acquired by the Kiloutou group of France. Kiloutou have vast experience in the rental industry and will bring significant financial backing and expertise to further enhance KDM’s market position, product offering and customer service in Ireland. The acquisition marks the beginning of a positive new chapter for KDM Hire, which has been a proud family business for over 36 years.”
“The management team, currently led by Michael Donnelly, will continue to steer the company through this new phase of growth, preserving the valued relationships with both customers and suppliers alike.”
Kiloutou added: “This acquisition allows Kiloutou to establish a foothold in the Irish market, driven by massive public investment plans in infrastructure (notably the National Development Plan ‘Project Ireland 2040ʼ) and growing demand in the energy and data centre sectors. Kiloutou will draw on the expertise of KDM Hireʼs teams to accelerate the companyʼs development, notably through the opening of new branches, the expansion of its product range and investments in low-carbon equipment.”
KDM chairman Keith Mclvor said: “It is now time for KDM Hire to move to the next phase and become part of a larger group. From the beginning of our conversations with Kiloutou, we identified a similar ethos to KDM, and they have since demonstrated a natural commitment to all that is important to us, namely, customer service and respect for our loyal staff members. We may be in the machinery business, but it is the people that really matter.”
“Julie and I would like to take this opportunity to offer a sincere thanks to our many loyal customers for their support over the years, without whom, KDM would not be the business it is today. It has been an immense pleasure getting to know so many people over the years”.
Kiloutou executive chairman Olivier Colleau added: “Kiloutouʼs entry into new countries is part of our strategic roadmap to 2030, as is our aim to rank among the top three in all the countries where we operate. Our entry into the Irish market represents a key milestone in our development. The acquisition of KDM Hire offers new opportunities for the Group within a highly dynamic market. We have been impressed by the teamsʼ expertise and their service oriented culture. I am delighted to welcome the 250 team members from KDM Hire and to embark on a new chapter alongside them. ˮ
