Remp parts company with firm he founded

By Perry Gourley
Published on 27/01/2012 00:00

STEVE Remp, one of the best known figures in Scotland’s energy industry, yesterday parted company with the business he founded more than 34 years ago. Remp is leaving his post as executive chairman at Aberdeen-based SeaEnergy – formerly known as Ramco – with a £500,000 compensation payment.

A statement from the Aim-quoted company said that Remp was stepping down to focus on “personal investment activities”. He is also acquiring some of the group’s oil and gas exploration interests in Montenegro which the company said were now non-core as it streamlines its business to focus on services to the offshore renewables sector.

Although Remp has not paid anything for the interests, SeaEnergy is entitled to receive a share of any upside of up to $20 million (£12.7m) if he successfully pursues opportunities there.

Remp has been replaced as chairman by senior non-executive director David Sigsworth, a former main board director of SSE and current chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Investment banker John Aldersey-Williams, who has been a non-executive director on SeaEnergy’s board since 2008, becomes acting chief executive while it looks for a permanent replacement.

Sigsworth paid tribute to Remp’s “unwavering commitment” to the development of the company and his continued support as a significant shareholder. Remp, who is thought to own around 7 per cent of the £17m company, wished the new team every success.

Separately, the company announced that Paul Curtis – thought to be the same private investor who has built a sizeable stake in Aberdeen-based Deo Petroleum – now has a disclosable stake of just under 3.3 per cent in the company. Shares closed up 0.63p at 25.38p.