Aggreko Explained

Aggreko
Type:Private
Foundation:1962
Key People:Mike Smith Chairman
Blair Illingworth CEO
Industry:Generator hire
Revenue: £1,365 million (2020)[1]
Operating Income: £136 million (2020)
Net Income: £(111) million (2020)
Num Employees:6,000 (2022)[2]

Aggreko is a global supplier of mobile and modular power, temperature control equipment and energy services, headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland.[3] [4] The business was founded in 1962 and previously listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1997 to 2021.[5] [6] Aggreko was acquired by TDR Capital and I Squared Capital in August 2021.[7]

History

Aggreko was founded in The Netherlands by Luc Koopmans in 1962. It moved to Scotland in 1973. In 1984, it was acquired by Christian Salvesen plc in 1984, a Scottish transport and logistics company.[8]

In 1997, the business demerged from Christian Salvesen and then listed on the London Stock Exchange.[9]

In December 2001, its chief executive Chris Masters departed the business.[10] [11] He was succeeded by Phil Harrower who had worked his way up in the company from a junior salesman. Harrower was killed in a train collision in the USA where he was based in December 2022.[12]

In 2003, it appointed Rupert Soames as its new chief executive who served for 11 years until 2014.[13] [14]

Aggreko acquired all the activities, other than those relating to large gas turbines, of General Electric Energy Rentals for around $212m in December 2006.[15] [16]

In March 2012, Aggreko acquired 100% of the operations of Poit Energia, a supplier of power generation equipment in Latin America.[17]

In 2014, the company announced the departure of its chief executive Rupert Soames. He was replaced by Chris Weston, who took up the position in early 2015.[18]

In July 2017, Aggreko announced the £40 million acquisition of battery storage company, Younicos.[19] The acquisition was part of the company's plans to provide greener sources of electricity, transitioning away from diesel only generators.

In 2018, it announced a £33 million innovation programme to develop its next generation of power products.[20]

In April 2021, the company agreed to be acquired by Albion Acquisitions Limited, owned by TDR Capital and I Squared Capital, in a transaction valued at £2.3 billion.[21] This marked the business's delisting on the London Stock Exchange.

In November 2021, the company appointed Blair Illingworth as its chief executive.[22] [23]

In September 2022, Aggreko launched a new business unit in North America called Aggreko Energy Transition Solutions, which will develop, own and operate clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.[24]

Operations

Aggreko is the world's largest temporary power company.[25] It has more than 10 gigawatts of power across its fleet globally.[26] The company employs over 6,000 people and operates across the world in more than 200 locations in 80 countries and has offices in every continent.[27] [28]  

The business supplies short-term temporary power to a range of customers predominately across developed countries and longer-term power projects predominantly in emerging markets.

Aggreko supplies to businesses, large events, music festivals, sporting events, industrial sites, and mines. The items hired out include gas and diesel generators, load banks, heaters, air conditioners and chillers. Aggreko offers several greener and cleaner HVO and solar powered generators and hybrid batteries that emit less emissions.[29]

Aggreko has supplied power to sporting events including the Ryder Cup, the FIFA World Cup, Formula E motor racing and SailGP.[6] In 2008, it became the sole supplier of temporary power and temperature controls for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China.[30] In 2010, the firm provided the power for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[31] In August 2012, it was the sole supplier for temporary power for the London 2012 Olympic Games.[32] It was also the provider of temporary power for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.[33] It supplied air conditioning and power for the 2017 WNBA Finals.[34]

In 2021, the company supplied temporary power to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, providing power to over 40 competition venues, the international broadcast centre and the athletes’ village in a contract worth £230 million.[35]

In 2022, the company supplied temporary power to the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.[36] [37] The company also signed up to the Commonwealth Games Social Charter and appointed a social value head to organise their community outreach programme in the Birmingham area.[38]

As well as sporting events, Aggreko supplies power to support the National Grid in Burkina Faso, 26 villages in the Amazon and 20,000 solar panels at the Granny Smith Goldmine in the Australian outback.[39] [40] [41]

Aggreko's chief executive is Blair Illingworth. Its Board is chaired by Mike Smith.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Results 2010. Aggreko. 1 March 2021.
  2. Web site: An (even) greener music festival: We Love Green, Aggreko and ENGIE partner to deliver the cleanest sound around by using the most efficient sustainable energy mix available. 31 May 2022. Aggreko. 28 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Company History - About Us - Aggreko . 15 March 2015 . aggreko.com.
  4. Web site: Investor centre . 2022-10-28 . ir.aggreko.com . en.
  5. Web site: 2003-03-01 . Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . the Guardian . en.
  6. News: 2018-08-26 . Aggreko gives power to hopes of a turnround . Financial Times . 2022-10-28.
  7. News: 2021-03-05 . Aggreko backs $3.2 billion buyout offer from private equity firms . en . Reuters . 2022-10-28.
  8. Web site: 2021-02-05 . Olympics power giant Aggreko in £2 billion-plus takeover talks . 2022-10-28 . www.scotsman.com . en.
  9. News: 2015-12-18 . Aggreko: powering down . Financial Times . 2022-10-28.
  10. News: Aggreko announces cuts and departure. The Telegraph. 11 December 2001. 18 May 2020.
  11. Web site: Hall . Craig . June 2002 . Aggreko directors put on a brave face . 2022-10-28 . citywire.com.
  12. News: Aggreko chief dies after collision with Amtrak train at blackspot. 1 January 2003. The Independent. 9 May 2024.
  13. Web site: 2014-02-28 . Aggreko seeks new boss as Soames quits for Serco . 2022-10-28 . www.scotsman.com . en.
  14. News: 2014-02-28 . Rupert Soames quits Aggreko to become Serco chief executive . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-10-28.
  15. Web site: Aggreko buys GE rentals for £111m . 15 March 2015 . scotsman.com.
  16. Web site: 2006-09-26 . Aggreko to pay £111m in GE deal . 2022-10-28 . Business Live . en.
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-17511553 Aggreko buys Poit Energia in £140m deal
  18. Web site: British Gas boss Chris Weston quits to join Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.telegraph.co.uk.
  19. Web site: 3 July 2017 . Aggreko to buy energy storage firm Younicos for £40m . 14 March 2019 . BBC.
  20. News: Gallagher . Rosemary . Aggreko heralds £33m energy project . . en . 2022-10-28 . 0140-0460.
  21. News: 26 April 2021 . Aggreko shareholders vote through £2.3bn takeover bid . City AM . 3 August 2021.
  22. Web site: Aggreko CEO Weston to leave within months of £2.3bn takeover . 2022-10-28 . Sky News . en.
  23. Web site: Executive committee . 2022-10-28 . ir.aggreko.com . en.
  24. Web site: Aggreko Sets Up Energy Transition-Focused Unit . 2022-10-28 . www.rigzone.com . en.
  25. Web site: British power generating company Aggreko opens in Arequipa . 2022-10-28 . GOV.UK . en.
  26. Web site: Energy Storage To Go - Aggreko launches new mobile and modular battery system Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.aggreko.com . en-GB.
  27. Web site: Glover . John . 2021-08-13 . Aggreko delists from stock exchange following £2.3 billion acquisition . 2022-10-28 . businessInsider . en.
  28. Web site: When you need us, we're ready Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.aggreko.com . en-GB.
  29. Web site: Sustainable energy solutions Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.aggreko.com . en-GB.
  30. Web site: 2008-01-07 . Aggreko to power up Olympics . 2022-10-28 . the Guardian . en.
  31. News: 2010-06-08 . World Cup boost for power company Aggreko . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-10-28.
  32. Web site: Simon Neville . Power generators Aggreko profit boost thanks to £55m Olympic contract . 15 March 2015 . The Guardian.
  33. Web site: Aggreko generate power for 2014 Commonwealth Games . 15 March 2015 . aggreko.co.uk . 23 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141023231456/http://www.aggreko.co.uk/news-events/Commonwealth-Games-Power/ . dead .
  34. News: Frederick, Jace . 11 September 2017 . Now cooled, Williams Arena ready to host Lynx's playoff run . Pioneer Press . 5 October 2017.
  35. Web site: 2021-01-06 . Glasgow's Aggreko cheers £230m boost from Tokyo Olympics contract . 2022-10-28 . www.scotsman.com . en.
  36. News: 2021-11-11 . Fact Check-COP26 did not use diesel generators to power event, organizers say . en . Reuters . 2022-10-28.
  37. Web site: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.aggreko.com . en-GB.
  38. Web site: McCallister . Robson . 2022-05-22 . Pupils win tickets to Commonwealth Games thanks to eco challenge . 2022-10-28 . BirminghamLive . en.
  39. News: 2014-04-11 . Aggreko aims to double its power output in Ivory Coast . en . Reuters . 2022-10-28.
  40. Web site: Twenty six remote Amazonian communities receive power Aggreko . 2022-10-28 . www.aggreko.com . en-GB.
  41. Web site: 2020-10-07 . Aggreko completes installation of one of the world's largest renewable microgrids at Gold Fields' Granny Smith mine . 2022-10-28 . International Mining . en-GB.