Turkey clears Saipem-Subsea7 merger as global antitrust reviews continue

Wednesday 22 July 2026 - 15:15

By: Sahili Aya

Turkey clears Saipem-Subsea7 merger as global antitrust reviews continue

Turkey's competition regulator has approved the proposed merger between Italian engineering group Saipem and Norwegian offshore energy specialist Subsea7, providing another regulatory endorsement for one of the energy industry's largest planned consolidations.

The authorization removes a key approval requirement in a market where both companies maintain significant operations, although the transaction continues to face more demanding regulatory scrutiny in several major jurisdictions.

Turkish approval marks progress

The decision, published by Turkey's competition authority, allows the merger to proceed from the perspective of Turkish competition law. Both companies have established a presence in the country through separate contracts linked to the development of the Sakarya offshore natural gas field in the Black Sea, the largest gas discovery ever made by Turkey.

The project has become a strategic component of Turkey's efforts to strengthen domestic energy production and reduce dependence on imported natural gas.

Major regulatory reviews remain

Despite the positive outcome in Turkey, the merger's most significant regulatory challenges are still ahead. Competition authorities in the European Union are expected to conduct an in-depth antitrust investigation to assess the potential impact of combining two leading providers of offshore engineering and subsea construction services.

Regulators in Australia and Brazil are also reviewing the transaction, reflecting the global footprint of both companies and the importance of maintaining competition in energy infrastructure markets.

Landmark deal for offshore energy sector

The planned merger would create one of the world's largest providers of engineering, procurement, construction and offshore services, bringing together complementary expertise in subsea infrastructure, offshore installations and energy development projects.

Industry analysts view the transaction as part of a broader trend toward consolidation as energy service companies seek greater scale, improved operational efficiency and stronger competitiveness in both conventional offshore projects and the expanding offshore renewable energy market.

Focus turns to international approvals

With Turkey's authorization now secured, attention shifts to the remaining regulatory processes that will determine whether the multi-billion-dollar merger can move forward. Decisions by European and other international competition authorities are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the future of the combined company and the competitive landscape of the global offshore energy services industry.