Competence merger in the energy sector.

Forus Beredskap AS and Penta Management AS have decided to merge with Vestdrill AS and Vestdrill Management Solutions AS in order to create a strong expertise-based company in drilling-, well- and HSEQ-related services.

After the merger, the company will have about 60 well-qualified consultants within the fields HSEQ, well construction, and completion and drilling, and is planning a considerable growth in the next few years. Through the merger, the company will be able to offer the customers a more complete expertise package plus greater flexibility and resource security in a sector dominated by scarcity of expertise.

The objective is to further reinforce the organic growth the four companies have displayed individually, and to look at further acquisitions so as to complement its expertise base in line with the customers’ needs and expectations. The company will further strengthen its core expertise in HSEQ, drilling and well, but also consider adjacent disciplines in order to create a broader expertise basis for the clients. 

The private-equity fund Progressus has earlier injected capital into the company and work actively to contribute to the growth. Per Arne Jensen from Progressus Management AS is chairman of the board of the merged company Vestdrill Holding AS.

Total turnover for 2008 is expected to end up at approx. NOK 150 million, with good profitability.