On 18 January 2021, RSK purchased the UK and Asia water businesses of Black & Veatch. Consequently, 1200 employees have moved from Black & Veatch into the RSK group along with all the contracts, assets and offices of the acquired entities.

The acquired businesses include UK-based Black & Veatch Ltd, Black & Veatch Hong Kong Ltd and Black & Veatch (SEA) Pte Ltd in Singapore. These businesses will continue to provide sustainable and resilient water, wastewater and flood resilience projects with their existing management and employees, but under the returning brand Binnies.

Binnies’ services include water utility infrastructure, consulting and design services, construction management and commissioning services (with a focus on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure) and flood and coastal defence planning and design, all of which will complement and expand RSK’s existing water services offering.

Binnies is engaged in every aspect of the water industry and helping clients to efficiently and effectively collect, store, move and treat water and wastewater. The company plans and manages watersheds and harness the energy embedded in the treatment and movement of water.

Binnies create sustainable critical infrastructure across the whole asset life cycle to meet the net-zero challenge and environmental enhancement objectives. They integrate sustainability into everything they do by utilising low- and zero-carbon approaches and products, nature-based solutions and digital innovation to create more resilient and reliable solutions using data analytics to provide powerful insights. Binnies enhances the environment and mitigates the effects of climate change through collaborative engagement and holistic thinking, which builds natural capital and biodiversity in the environment for its clients and stakeholders and local communities.

Binnies will also expand the number of countries in which RSK is present from 27 to 31 and significantly add to RSK’s existing Asian footprint. Operations in Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam will be brought into the group, in addition to the Binnies’ offices throughout the UK.

RSK chief executive officer and founder Alan Ryder says, “This acquisition marks the most significant growth in our 31-year history, positions RSK as a market leader in the water sector and provides a springboard for RSK into the East Asian markets.

“As climate change and biodiversity loss accelerate worldwide, water is becoming increasingly valuable. A key part of RSK’s climate agenda is to unleash the natural capital contained in clean water to help address and mitigate the flood risks that exist in so many parts of the world. The addition of Binnies to the group will greatly enhance RSK’s ability to address climate change, green growth and water and sanitation services at a global level through applied engineering excellence.

“Binnies brings incredibly valuable specialist expertise in all areas of the water utility sector; flood and coastal defence planning and design; specialist environmental services; digital and data services; construction management and commissioning; and operations, thereby bringing a true end-to-end client service offering.

“The combination of RSK’s environmental, scientific and engineering capabilities and global presence with Binnies’ expertise in water utility, flood and coastal and environmental services will enable our group to deliver ever more sustainable water and environmental solutions.”

Divisional Director of Binnies, Gary Young, says, “I am delighted that the collective Binnies business units in Hong Kong, Singapore and United Kingdom have been acknowledged in RSK through the formation of the Binnies Division within the RSK group structure. Binnies, as a division, will deliver in excess of £170 million of sales per annum for FY22 and, by now being part of the wider RSK group, there is a significant opportunity for further growth in Europe and South East Asia, which aligns with the RSK strategy to 2025. I am extremely excited by the business synergies that can be achieved by the RSK family of businesses and the Binnies business units through active collaboration among everyone in our organisations; this will provide opportunities to both businesses and individuals to progress.

“The Binnies Division has been formed with reference to the history and heritage of Binnie and Partners within the water and environment sector and we are extremely proud to have that linkage. We now have the opportunity to build on that legacy and determine our culture and future moving forwards; we can all help to shape and determine what ‘Binnies’ will represent to others and ourselves as employees. When the opportunity allows, I look forward to engaging with as many Binnies people as I can and listening to your thoughts and ideas on how we can build on already good businesses and collectively make them better.”

Managing Director of Binnies in Europe Scott Aitken says, “Because of the environmental challenges we face, there is a need to find new and innovative ways to use fewer natural resources, produce less waste and contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy while making positive contributions to local ecosystems and surrounding communities. As climate change and biodiversity loss accelerate worldwide, water is becoming increasingly valuable. The acquisition by RSK will further strengthen our offering to clients.”

Managing Director of Binnies in Hong Kong Andy Kwok says, “Our water business has a proud history of working on celebrated projects across the territory, notably the first reverse osmosis desalination plant in Hong Kong, as well as on sewage and water treatment works and flood protection. Such projects will stand RSK in good stead in terms of providing end-to-end services to clients in the region.”

Managing Director of Binnies in Singapore William Yong says, “Black & Veatch (SEA) Pte Ltd in Singapore actually previously operated as Binnie & Partners Singapore before its purchase by Black & Veatch. The acquisition by RSK not only means a return to this respected brand but will mean continued unrivalled engineering services in the water and wastewater sector to many countries in the region.”

About Binnies

At Binnies, we create new possibilities for humanity through our innovative approach to delivery. Backed by a culture that has stayed true since the company’s founding over 100 years ago, Binnies develops intelligent water and environmental solutions using a whole-life-cycle approach to deliver functional infrastructure and lasting environmental and social legacies. We strive to elevate the quality of life for our local communities today and for generations to come.

Binnies is an RSK group company and was formerly part of Black & Veatch.

Connect with us on LinkedIn to join us on our journey to a better tomorrow.

About the RSK group (RSK)

RSK is a leading integrated environmental, engineering and technical services group made up of over 100 businesses. The group is headquartered in the United Kingdom and has an established presence in more than 40 countries around the world.

For over 30 years, RSK has been helping organisations realise their business goals efficiently, cost-effectively and with the minimum environmental and social impact. We deliver practical solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time. As a client-focused business, our services are constantly evolving to directly respond to or pre-empt global conditions and legislative drivers.

Visit www.rskgroup.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook as we continue to forge a stronger future together.

Media contacts

Binnies UK

Angela Collins Tel: +44 (0)1737 856399 | Mobile: +44 (0)7391 639733 | Email: collinsa@binnies.com

Binnies Singapore

Juliana Tan Tel: +65 6761 3511 | Mobile: +65 9113 7972 | Email: tanj@binnies.com

Binnies Hong Kong

Andrea Tang Tel: +852 2608 7647 | Mobile: +852 6193 2020 | Email: tangys@binnies.com