Aker Solutions has taken majority control of Wirth GmbH with an increase in its stake to a qualified majority holding of 75.1%, and the remaining stock is to be obtained in stages over the next few years.
The ownership is held by Norwegian group Aker’s subsidiary Aker MH, which took a 50% stake in Wirth in August 2007 with an option to buy the remaining half of the Germany-based business which manufactures TBMs as well as drilling equipment for the oil and gas sector. The companies have had a business relationship for nearly two decades, they said.
In late January, the company said it made an agreement to buy the remaining 50% and last month it received regulatory approval for the takeover move. Wirth is now part of Aker Solutions.
A year ago, Aker Solutions became the rebranded name for the Aker Kvaerner business.