Norway’s Bergen Group has entered into an agreement with its compatriot oil service company Endúr Fabricom for a merger between the two companies.
Bergen Group, an industrial group based in the western part of Norway, is a supplier of products and services to the areas of energy & industry, maritime, defense, access technology & services and aquaculture.
Endúr Fabricom is an oil service company headquartered in Stavanger. The company is a supplier of maintenance, modification, installation, fabrication and rebuilding of complex oil and gas installations both onshore and offshore.
400 employees and NOK 1 billion order book
Bergen Group said on Monday that the merged company will constitute an industrial group based in western Norway, with close to 400 employees and an order book exceeding NOK 1 billion.
The combined company will have presence in both the oil and gas markets, in maritime service and towards the aquaculture industry, Bergen Group added.
Hans Petter Eikeland, Chairman of the Board at Bergen Group, stated that the merger agreement has full support from the company’s main shareholders, representing more than 62% of the shares in the company, as well as the owners of Endúr Fabricom.
Eikeland, who will be nominated as the Chairman of Bergen Group, post transaction, stated that Bergen Group will still be listed on Oslo Stock Exchange.
Eikeland said: “Both Bergen Group and Endúr Fabricom have been through extensive restructuring processes to adapt to a changing market. Now we have two companies eager to grow and with a proven record carrying out demanding restructuring in parallel with strengthening of the companies’ core competencies. The merger between these two companies will be a catalyst both for the speed and profitability of a further growth process.”
In February this year, Handeland Industrier AS and Artemes Group AS, companies with industrial experience from operations in the western part of Norway and the Norwegian offshore industry, acquired Endúr Fabricom.
During the past six months, Endúr Fabricom has built an order book that includes framework agreements with Aker BP, Eni Norway and Wintershall, and signed up individual projects with all other operators on the Norwegian continental shelf.
‘Increased industrial competence’
The main shareholder in the Stavanger-based oil service company is Handeland Industrier AS, a company based in Sunnhordland between Bergen and Stavanger and with Rune Skarveland as the key owner. Skarveland has extensive experience in property development and industrial business development, and has previously held a board position and a larger shareholding in Bergen Group ASA.
Ove Røssland, Chairman of the Board at Endúr Fabricom, said: “The merger between Endúr Fabricom and Bergen Group provides the resulting company with broader ownership and increased industrial competence. At the same time, we create an industrial group with greater robustness through presence in several market segments and over a larger geographical area.”
A total order book of NOK 1.05 billion as of June 30, 2018 provides a solid basis for increased operational activity.
“We are convinced that this merger opens up exciting synergies that will increase our attractiveness and competitiveness in those markets where we already have positions. In addition, we see opportunities for synergies both within today’s operational activity and in terms of cost side, “the two chairmen stated.
The merger is planned to be completed between Endúr Holding AS (100% owner of Endúr Fabricom AS) and Bergen Group Management AS, which is 100% owned by Bergen Group ASA. In connection with the merger, a share capital increase in Bergen Group ASA will be called for in an Extraordinary General Meeting. The shareholders in Endúr Holding AS will receive shares in Bergen Group ASA as a merger consideration. After completion of the transaction, shareholders in Endúr Holding AS will own 51% of all shares in Bergen Group ASA.
The merger does not trigger any mandatory offer to existing shareholders in Bergen Group ASA. The merger is subject to relevant decisions at extraordinary general meetings of the respective companies, as well as no material findings in the ongoing due diligence. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 4Q 2018.
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