June 22, 2016

Subsea engineering, construction and services company Subsea 7 has informed that the second phase of global resizing and cost reduction measures will begin in 2016.

The group said on Wednesday that these measures are being done in view of continued difficult business and economic conditions in the oil and gas market. The company plans to resize its global workforce to approximately 8,000 by early 2017, down from the current level of 9,200.

According to the company, consultation with employees and employee representatives will take place on a local basis and consultation processes have begun in Norway and the UK. Subsea 7’s fleet of active vessels will be managed commensurate with the projected workload, while retaining capability and maintaining a global presence.

Up to five vessels are scheduled to leave the current active fleet by early 2017, based on stacking owned vessels and returning chartered vessels when existing contracts expire.

These cost reduction and resizing measures, together with those already initiated since the start of the year, are expected to deliver approximately $350 million in annualized cost savings. The charge related to the resizing will be recognized in 2016 and is expected to be less than $100 million.

With effect from July 1, 2016, the Group will change the structure of its organization. The new organizational and reporting segments will comprise: – SURF and Conventional, – i-Tech Services and – Corporate (including Renewables and Heavy-lift). This will replace the ‘Southern Hemisphere and Global Projects’ and ‘Northern Hemisphere and Life of Field’ Business Units and Corporate segment previously reported.

Under the new organisational structure John Evans, Chief Operating Officer, and Øyvind Mikaelsen, appointed Executive Vice President – Commercial, will report to Jean Cahuzac, Chief Executive Officer. Steve Wisely will be appointed Senior Vice President i-Tech Services, reporting to John Evans.

Jean Cahuzac, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our new organizational structure reflects our focus on commercial and long-term strategic priorities as we adapt to the present low levels of activity and drive more efficient ways of working with our clients. The reduction in the size of our workforce is a necessary step to maintain our competitiveness and protect our core offering through the oil price cycle.

“We remain confident in the long-term future for deepwater oil and gas production. We are committed to retaining our core capabilities and developing our leading market position through a strategy focused on differentiation delivered by our people, assets and technology.”