Palatine’s EPI acquires PDF

Palatine Private Equity backed EPI Group has acquired PDF Limited, a leading Oil and Gas geoscience consultancy, allowing the business to broaden its scope for supporting clients’ exploration and development programmes.

Established in 1987, Surrey-based EPI is a global leader in exploration services to the oil and gas industry, with offices in the US, Australia, Russia, France, Ghana and South America. Its services include land and marine seismic surveys, data processing, environment projects and wellsite operations.

Oxfordshire-based PDF provides exploration and production advisory services, as well as acting as the Outsourced Exploration Department for a wide range of international clients. The acquisition will bring a new level of geoscience capability to the EPI Group, enabling the firm to introduce a new advisory arm and a full suite of geoscience services.

EPI Group was backed by Palatine in a management buyout in June 2014 with a plan to expand its client base in the energy sector and implement a buy and build strategy to strengthen its portfolio of clients and services.

Tony Dickin, Partner at Palatine Private Equity, said: “The acquisition of PDF is a clear strategic move for EPI Group and will help the business move maintain its position as a leader within its field. EPI has seen strong international expansion over the last couple of years and this latest move will enable the group to capitalise on more opportunities globally.”