NorSea Group has swooped to buy logistics firm Danbor from Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk in a £25.5million deal.
NorSea is based in Norway but has built a strong north-east presence since it opened its first UK office in Aberdeen less than a year ago.
It already offers services at three other Scottish ports – Scrabster, Peterhead and Montrose.
The general manager of its Aberdeen-based UK business, Kim Christensen, was previously chief executive at a Granite City subsidiary of Danbor.
NorSea, headquartered near Stavanger, said its latest acquisition was likely to be completed by April 30.
John Stangeland, the company’s chief executive, said: “International expansion is part of NorSea Group’s stated strategy.
“Danbor is an established and solid company in our core business and fits in well with the other companies that form part of the NorSea Group. We see many similarities between the companies and great opportunities to create synergies between Danbor and NorSea Group’s other companies and operations.”
NorSea turns over more than £270million a year. Its Norwegian bases provide a wide range of services from warehouse, workshops and storage facilities to engineering, construction, lifting equipment, inspections, machining and waste handling.
Danbor, established in 1974, is an international business employing around 370 people and turning over £55.5million a year. In Scotland, it has operations in Aberdeen and Montrose.
Headquartered in Esbjerg, the firm boasts of being one of the world’s largest providers of on and offshore logistics to the international oil and gas industry. It also provides logistics and component handling services to the renewable-energy industry.
A.P. Moller-Maersk director Jakob Thomasen said: “Danbor is a healthy and well-managed company, which is not part of our strategic focus and, therefore, deserves a dedicated owner who will be able to develop the business further.
“NorSea Group is a recognised player in the industry, and I am confident that they will drive the business forward.”