New buyer cuts a deal with Sabre Safety

Following the appointment of the joint administrators on January 31, KPMG received strong interest in the opportunity to acquire the oil and gas safety services operations of Sabre.

An early closing date was set for offers, which resulted last Friday in preferred bidder status being afforded to Starn Energy Services Group. All 15 employees retained by the administrator (14 in Cupar and one in Aberdeen) have been transferred as part of the transaction.

Starn Energy Services Group is a private equity-backed oilfield services business with a UK base and international presence. Its aim is to build a group of businesses focused on safety and delivering economic benefit to its customers. Blair Nimmo, joint administrator and head of restructuring for KPMG in the UK, said: “We are pleased to announce completion on Wednesday of the sale to Starn Energy Services Group, which will preserve employment, allow continuity of customer service and provide an excellent opportunity for the purchaser to develop the UK and international services offered by Sabre.

“Notwithstanding difficult times for the oil and gas sector, the outcome achieved here demonstrates that appetite for investment in businesses in this sector continues to exist, under the right circumstances.We wish the purchaser every success in taking the business forward.”