MHA Henderson Loggie assists Aberdeen-based Alba Gaskets on management buy-out

Accountants and business advisory firm MHA Henderson Loggie has assisted Aberdeen-headquartered oil and gas integrity specialist Alba Gaskets on its successful management buy-out (MBO).

MHA Henderson Loggie assists Aberdeen-based Alba Gaskets on management buy-out

(L-R): Sigrid Ruz, Ian McDonald and Gavin Sim

MHA Henderson Loggie has been working closely with Alba Gaskets over the past 18 months in preparation for the deal, providing strategic advice as well as raising the funding required to deliver the transaction.

Funding to assist the deal was structured by MHA Henderson Loggie and provided by Barclays Bank, while Scottish Enterprise provided Alba Gaskets with ongoing strategic support and Ledingham Chalmers provided legal advice.



Alba Gaskets, which manufactures gaskets for the oil and gas industry, announced the management buy-out during a visit to its Altens premises by Scottish Government trade, investment and innovation minister Ivan McKee.

Managing director Gavin Sim and director Sigfrid Ruz will head up the new management structure.

Mr Sim is one of the business’ founders and has therefore been with the business since its inception 12 years ago. He has more than 21 years’ technical and management experience in the gasket sector.

Mr Ruz has 25 years’ experience working in technology-related roles, with a particular specialist knowledge of the gasket industry. He joined Alba Gaskets earlier this year as its operations and technical director, having moved to Aberdeen from Denver, Colorado.

Commenting on the MBO, Mr Sim said: “The support and advice Sigfrid and I received from MHA Henderson Loggie was integral to getting the deal over the line. We are tremendously confident in the opportunity we have in front of us at Alba Gaskets and the relationship we have developed with MHA Henderson Loggie I have no doubt, will aid in the delivery of this. Thanks to both Ian McDonald and Rod Mathers we felt we were as prepared as we could be for the deal closing and look forward to working with them in the coming years.

“With the new structure in place, we look forward to building upon the excellent relationships we have with our existing client base, developing products to meet their specific challenges, while also bringing new products to the market through our in-house manufacturing capability.

“The oil and gas industry has obviously faced some challenges over recent years, but we really feel like the business is in an exciting place and are already seeing increased opportunities both in the North Sea and internationally. We have a highly skilled team with a wealth of industry experience and look forward to building upon those capabilities going forward.”

Mr McKee said: “It’s great to see businesses like Alba Gaskets demonstrating such innovation and ambition in the offshore sector.

“Scotland has such a fantastic track record when it comes to trading, both in the UK and overseas.

“The oil and gas sector is a key component of our economy and remains integral to a sustainable, secure and inclusive energy transition.

“I wish Gavin, Sigfrid and the team all the very best as they look ahead to this next chapter for the company.”

Ian McDonald, senior manager in corporate finance at MHA Henderson Loggie, said: “Alba Gaskets has done exceptionally well to protect and indeed grow its position during the recent downturn and it is because of the clear opportunity that Gavin and Sigfrid now feel exists within the business to take it forward, that we were able to raise the funding required.

“I have no doubt that Alba Gaskets will push on from here and continue to be an integral part of the supply chain both in the UK and abroad. I very much look forward to working with the team going forward and wish them all the very best.”

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