UK-based independent asset leasing group Dawsongroup has entered into a binding agreement to acquire Dan Ryan Truck Rental, Ireland's longest-established commercial truck and van rental, leasing and contract hire business, marking the company's entry into the Irish market as part of a broader European expansion strategy backed by KKR.

According to HGV Ireland, Dan Ryan Truck Rental will continue to operate under its established brand as a separate business within Dawsongroup following completion of the transaction, with existing customer relationships and management teams remaining in place.

Wayne Boylan, managing director of Dan Ryan Truck Rental, said: "This is an exciting milestone for Dan Ryan Truck Rental. From our first meetings with the Dawsongroup team, it was clear that we shared the same values, culture and long-term vision. Both businesses were built on strong family foundations, with a clear focus on people and customers. That cultural alignment made this transaction feel like a natural fit from the outset."

Boylan added that the acquisition would allow Dan Ryan Truck Rental to broaden its product and service offering to Irish customers while preserving the brand identity and team that have underpinned its success. "For our customers, it is very much business as usual," he said. "Our customers will continue to deal with the same experienced team they know and trust, while benefiting from the additional resources, expertise and broader range of assets and solutions that Dawsongroup brings."

Malcolm Wilson, CEO of Dawsongroup, said: "Dan Ryan Truck Rental is a business we respect and understand. It has built an excellent reputation through the quality of its people and the strength of its customer relationships. The acquisition provides Dawsongroup with a high quality and well-established platform in Ireland and represents an important step in our growth strategy, allowing Dawsongroup to enter several new market areas."

The acquisition strengthens Dawsongroup's position as a pan-European asset leasing provider, combining its diverse range of business solutions spanning trucks and cold storage with Dan Ryan Truck Rental's deep-rooted presence across the Irish commercial vehicle market.