MIKE Wilson, the founder of Ecosse Subsea Systems, has reaped nearly £40 million upon the sale of his business to US group Oceaneering International.

Separately, drilling and engineering contractor KCA Deutag has become the second largest international owner and operator of land rigs in the Middle East after acquiring the Omani and Saudi Arabian assets of Dalma Energy, in a deal with an enterprise value of $660m (£476m).

New York-based Oceaneering International has paid £50m for Ecosse, in which Mr Wilson had a 75 per cent stake, which appears to be valued at £37.5m.

Mr Wilson established Aberdeen-based Ecosse in 1996, growing it to a £28m business after expanding beyond Scotland into the US, Baltics and Asia in recent years.

A number of directors in the business also owned shares. At the time of its last accounts, Ecosse employed 39 staff. It is understood all staff will receive a bonus.

Speaking after the deal was concluded, Mr Wilson said: “This is a strategic opportunity for our customers and our employees. Oceaneering has outstanding people, a global presence, innovative technologies and diversified services and products.

“Together we can establish a stronger platform to take on even larger and higher-profile projects in the renewables and oil and gas industries.”

New York-listed Oceaneering International is a global provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore energy industry. The group, which has annual revenue of $1.9 billion (£1.4bn), also serves the defence, entertainment and aerospace industries.

Roderick Larson, chief executive of Oceaneering, said the deal offered Oceaneering the opportunity to expand its service line capabilities and grow market position within the offshore renewable energy market.

“The addition of Ecosse reflects our commitment to expand into the adjacent renewable energy market to more comprehensively serve the offshore energy industry.”

Oceaneering said Ecosse would contribute to its 2018 earnings, and its future results will be reported through Oceaneering’s subsea projects segment.

In the year to the end of March 2017, Ecosse more than doubled revenue to £28m as profits surged to £6.8m from £700,000 the previous year. Following this period, Mr Wilson appointed Mark Gillespie as managing director in order to focus his own attention on developing the group’s technology.

The company provides a range of engineering, technical, equipment hire, fabrication and manpower services, including vessels, ROVs (remotely operated underwater vehicle) and survey services.

Also based in Aberdeen, KCA Deutag will pay Dalma’s shareholders $100m in cash and provide an equity shareholding of approximately 22 per cent of the enlarged KCAD Group, valued at $220m, with KCA Deutag taking on $340m in debt.

Its takes the group’s land rig count to 83, with 46 in the Middle East, 28 of which are in Oman and nine in Saudi Arabia.

Norrie McKay, chief executive of KCAD, said: “The acquisition of Dalma’s operations in Saudi Arabia and Oman will significantly strengthen our foothold in the Middle East, and provide us with a stronger platform to develop and grow our business in what is an exceptionally attractive region.”

KCAD had revenue of more than $1.16bn last year. The Dalma businesses being acquired had revenue of $312m.

Another Aberdeen business, well-management specialist Exceed, has announced a record-breaking start to 2018, amassing a number of international contract wins totalling about £18m.

With several contracts already underway, 200 staff have been employed across the company so far this year.