ATR founder buys back Aberdeen rental firm after 2017 Centurion merger
What's the deal? ATRDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an Aberdeen-based equipment rental and inspection firm, has returned to independent ownership after managing director Keith Moorhouse bought the business back. Moorhouse first acquired ATR in 2007, then oversaw its 2017 merger with Centurion GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The backstory: Moorhouse took over ATR in May 2007 through a management buy-in backed by Aberdeen's Maven Capital PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Under his lead, turnover rose from £12 million to over £18 million within 18 months, with staff numbers up nearly 50%.
The 2017 merger with Centurion Group created a global entity with combined turnover exceeding £100 million, and private equity firm SCF PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → became majority shareholder. Moorhouse stayed on as regional president for the UK and Europe until he departed last year.
Why now? Moorhouse said the timing came down to a change of heart. "ATR has been a part of my life for a long time," he said. "I still have more I want to achieve, so when the opportunity arose to buy the business back, I didn't hesitate."
By the numbers: ATR now employs 66 people across sites in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, and Great Yarmouth, managing a fleet of 40,000 hire assets. Seller Centurion Group, which has completed 23 acquisitions since 2017, reported revenues of $540.5 million in 2025.
What's the endgame? Moorhouse plans a three-year expansion strategy targeting both traditional energy markets and emerging sectors. "ATR has decades of expertise and an established reputation, backed by a highly skilled and dedicated team," he said.
What could go wrong? The deal lands at a pivotal moment for the North Sea. The UK government banned new oil and gas exploration licences in May 2026, while the Energy Profits Levy imposes a 78% tax rate on profits until 2030 — policies that have hit investment and cost jobs across Aberdeen.
The signal: Aberdeen is repositioning from the "oil capital" of Europe toward an energy capital built on wind, hydrogen, carbon capture, and decommissioning. ATR's return to independent hands is a bet that a nimble, locally owned firm can navigate that transition better than a global platform.
Read more: aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk
Image credit: atr
