Kiloutou expands into Ireland and opens up new international opportunities

The Kiloutou Group has recently acquired KDM Hire, a leading equipment hire company in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This latest acquisition, the 10th since October 2024, enables the French group – Europe’s third-largest player in its sector – to establish itself in a new European market and open up new development opportunities within one of Europe’s most dynamic economies.

KDM Hire, a leader recognised for its customer service and wide range of equipment

Having recently established itself in Denmark and Portugal in 2022, the Kiloutou Group, which operates in seven countries, is continuing its international diversification strategy with the acquisition of a leading multi-specialist player in its region. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Cookstown, KDM Hire has established itself as the market leader in Northern Ireland and is experiencing rapid growth in the Republic of Ireland.

KDM Hire offers a diverse fleet of over 10,000 assets, with recognised expertise in modular construction (site accommodation), power generation, lifting and material handling. The company relies on a network of seven strategically located branches, including in Belfast, Dublin and Cork, to serve a diverse client base ranging from major construction contractors to the pharmaceutical industry and event organisers.

With a turnover of around £36 million (approximately €42 million) and a team of 250 experienced staff, KDM Hire has demonstrated a unique ability to offer excellent customer service and operational reliability that is recognised across the market.

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 2040’) and growing demand in the energy and data centre sectors. Kiloutou will draw on the expertise of KDM Hire’s teams to accelerate the company’s development, notably through the opening of new branches, the expansion of its product range and investments in low-carbon equipment.

The management team, currently led by Michael Donnelly, will continue to lead the company through this new phase of growth.

“I am delighted and proud to announce KDM’s integration into the Kiloutou Group. This is an exceptional opportunity for our teams and our customers. Kiloutou’s expertise and financial strength will enable us to accelerate our growth, particularly in the Republic of Ireland, where the potential is immense. We share with Kiloutou the same values of passion for the customer and operational excellence.”

Michael Donnelly, Chief Executive of the KDM Hire Group

 “Kiloutou’s 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 teams’ expertise and their service-oriented culture. I am delighted to welcome the 240 team members from KDM Hire and to embark on a new chapter alongside them.”

Olivier Colleau, Executive Chairman of the Kiloutou Group

International expansion launched in 2013

This move is part of the Kiloutou Group’s roadmap to expand its international operations, based on a dual growth model that combines organic growth with external expansion.

In addition to France, Kiloutou has been present in Poland since 2013, in Spain (2015), Germany (2016), Italy (2017), Denmark (2022) and Portugal (2022). With the acquisition of KDM Hire in 2026, the international share of the Group’s turnover now stands at 43%. The ambition is to increase this to over 50% by 2030.