Merging and restructuring in Norwegian Offshore Service Vessel (OSV) - Companies

Abstract

The Norwegian offshore industry has struggled with low rates, imbalance between supply and demand, low oil prices and shipowners struggling to pay their loans and debt. It has been shown that offshore service vessel (OSV) - companies has been through some harsh years. This thesis aims towards if mergers and restructuring are the right solution that helps OSV-companies to continue operating moving forward. The thesis highlights topics regarding why mergers and restructurings have occurred, how it affects companies internally and externally, and how the future of the industry would emerge ahead. The aim is to see how mergers and restructuring will affect Norwegian OSV-companies both today and moving forward. The method is done by use of relevant literature concerning topics of merging, restructuring and ownership. As well as interviews with relevant informants working within the industry and with knowledge concerning it. The findings in this thesis imply that the companies have become more cost-efficient, watchful and made them more suitable to meet the cost-obligation that appears moving forward. The findings also imply that merging helps the companies to achieve economies of scale, as well as more knowledge and expertise within the company.