Kent acquires Sudlows Consulting to boost global presence

Kent has officially acquired Sudlows Consulting, a company prominent in data centre design and engineering.

The acquisition marks a significant step for Sudlows Consulting, which was founded in 2014 and has since completed over 100 projects across 20 countries. The company is headquartered in Dubai and has established a strong presence in India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. The acquisition by Kent is expected to position Sudlows Consulting to capitalise on the growth in the international data centre market.

Sudlows Consulting has built its reputation on delivering data centre solutions, becoming a trusted entity in the field. The acquisition by Kent, a global engineering services company, provides Sudlows Consulting with access to a broader network, financial resources, and Kent's global platform. This is anticipated to enhance its abilities in delivering sustainable solutions and expand its business operations internationally.

CEO of Sudlows Consulting, John Rippingale, said: "This is a defining moment for Sudlows Consulting. Over the past decade, we've built a reputation as leaders in data centre engineering, and joining Kent provides us with the platform we need to reach our full potential. This partnership validates the work we've done and amplifies what we can achieve together. We're excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional value to our clients."

John Gilley, CEO of Kent, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition: "We are delighted to welcome Sudlows Consulting into the Kent family. Their expertise in the data centre sector is second to none, and their entrepreneurial spirit aligns perfectly with our culture and vision. This acquisition is a significant step in our strategy to diversify into adjacent markets while maintaining our focus on excellence and innovation. Together, we can deliver game-changing solutions for clients around the world and unlock the full potential of this rapidly growing sector."

The exiting shareholders, led by John Collins, praised the strategic alignment between the two companies: "The strategic fit between Kent and Sudlows Consulting will bring new waves of sustainable engineering excellence for many years to come. Sudlows Consulting's strong and extremely talented team of professional data centre engineers have the experience and expertise it takes to operate at the highest levels within the industry. This acquisition will allow Sudlows Group to continue to focus on its global design and build activities as a specialist MEP contractor for hyperscale customers."

The data centre market is projected to grow at an 11% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2024 and 2028. With an increasing demand for localised data storage, cloud infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, both Sudlows Consulting and Kent are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.