Oslo-listed drilling contractors combine in all-share deal
Oslo-listed SED Energy Holdings and Ventura Offshore signed a letter of intent on 11 September 2026 for an all-share combination that would create a larger offshore drilling and energy services group.
Energy Holdings would acquire 100% of Ventura Offshore’s outstanding shares and remain the listed parent, with Ventura Offshore continuing as a dedicated deepwater drilling vertical alongside Energy Drilling and SeaBird Exploration, forming a group with about $1.3 billion in contracted revenue backlog. Kurt Waldeland would continue as CEO of Energy Holdings and Guilherme Coelho as CEO of Ventura Offshore following completion.
Ventura Offshore, incorporated in Bermuda, owns and operates the drillship DS Carolina and the semisubmersible rigs SSV Victoria and SSV Catarina and manages the drillships Atlantic Zonda and Deep Value Driller, with rigs currently working offshore Brazil and Indonesia.
