Investcorp's portfolio company NDT Corrosion Control Services Co (NDT CCS) today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Hi-Tech Inspection Services, Oman’s largest provider of industrial non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection services.

Hi-Tech’s founders Al Sulaimi Group Holding established the company in 1996.

Investcorp acquired a majority stake in NDT CCS in July 2015 from the Al Shuwayer Group which founded the company in 1975 and retains a minority stake alongside Investcorp. Under Investcorp’s ownership, NDT CCS has solidified its market leading position and expanded its operations both organically in its core markets and inorganically as a result of its acquisition of Hi-Tech.   

Hi-Tech offers a complete range of non-destructive testing, post-weld heat treatment and specialised inspection services to clients in Oman engaged in the oil and gas, manufacturing and construction sectors. Hi-Tech employs over 600 specialised technicians and has an estimated market share of over 35 per cent in Oman.

Mohammed Alardhi, executive chairman, commented: “The two companies are leaders in their respective markets and jointly have the largest pool of specialised NDT and inspection technicians in the GCC, so we believe we instantly benefit from synergies and greater scale. Beyond access to Oman, Hi-Tech also brings certain specialised services that NDT CCS had not been providing until now. NDT CCS and Hi-Tech share ambition and technical skill, and we at Investcorp are looking forward to working with the expanded management team to maximize the company’s potential.”

Harsh Shethia, managing director at Investcorp in Oman, said: “This is the first major investment for Investcorp’s portfolio company in Oman and we are confident that Hi-Tech will be a natural fit for NDT CCS. Investcorp will lend its operational and financial expertise with the objective of helping the combined company create new growth opportunities in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the GCC."

Haitham Al Fannah, CEO of Al Sulaimi Group Holding, said: “Over the past 20 years, we have built Hi-Tech into Oman’s leading NDT and inspection services company. It is the right time to bring on a strategic investor to provide the depth and market position to allow us to grow across the GCC. NDT CCS and its sponsor Investcorp offer regional growth opportunities that meet the ambitions and capabilities of Hi-Tech. We at Al Sulaimi Group Holding look forward to working with our new partners over the years ahead.”

Established in 1975, NDT CCS is the largest non-destructive testing service provider in Saudi Arabia employing over 925 employees across Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.

NDT is an essential service which involves the testing and evaluation of pipes, pressure vessels, oil platforms and other key industrial components to identify flaws or defects without causing damage. NDT CCS provides conventional and advanced NDT services as well as material testing laboratory services for a range of industrial sectors including oil and gas, petrochemicals, mining, nuclear and utilities.   - TradeArabia News Service