Ashtead Technology and Forum Energy Technologies have agreed to form a joint venture, creating a new provider of subsea survey and ROV equipment rental and associated services. Forum will contribute its subsea rentals business, currently trading as Forum Subsea Rentals.
The combined group, with a rental fleet of 19,000 assets valued in excess of US$139 million will service all major subsea hubs from its bases in Aberdeen, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, London and Houston.
The business, which will trade as Ashtead Technology, will provide an independent one-stop shop for customers’ equipment requirements. In addition to offering the largest equipment rental capability in the sector supported by a team of 120 skilled personnel, Ashtead Technology will provide advanced engineered measurement solutions and asset management services.
The joint venture is anticipated to complete during the Q1 2018. Houston based Forum Energy Technologies, owner of Forum Subsea Rentals, will retain a significant stake in the combined business.
Allan Pirie, CEO of Ashtead Technology, who will lead the combined business, said: “By combining our strengths, Ashtead and Forum will be better able to offer a complete equipment and support package to our customers as they respond to the demands of today’s energy sector, where greater capital efficiency, depth of capability and domain expertise is essential to the delivery of successful projects.
“We will help our customers address their challenges head on, taking complex problems and matching them with equipment, technology solutions and industry expertise. This is not just about more of the same; it is about doing things differently in response to customer needs.”
Jim Harris, Forum’s Chief Financial Officer and SVP - Drilling and Subsea, commented: “In addition to strengthening our position in the rental marketplace, the joint venture will allow Forum to focus on our Subsea franchise’s core ROV related and other fabricated products.”