Babcock : rebrands Australian Helicopter operations

Babcock International Group today announced it will transition its Australian Helicopters and Bond Helicopters Australia businesses under the Babcock banner as part of a rebrand of the company's global helicopter operations serving both mission critical services and offshore services.

Under the change, Australian Helicopters becomes Babcock Mission Critical Services Australia and Bond Helicopters Australia becomes Babcock Offshore Services Australia.

Babcock Mission Critical Services Australia (BMCSA) delivers mission-critical helicopter support for a range of services across both public and private sectors including Emergency Medical (EMS), Search and Rescue (SAR), surveillance operations, law enforcement, aerial work and Marine Pilot Transfer (MPT).

Babcock Offshore Services Australia (BOSA) provides world-class offshore energy transportation helicopter services for blue-chip oil and gas companies to support their production, drilling and exploration campaigns within the Australasian region.

Babcock Australasia Chief Executive Officer Craig Lockhart said both subsidiaries had a powerful market presence in Australia and this footprint would only grow under the Babcock brand.

'Becoming Babcock means a lot more than bringing both subsidiaries under the one logo,' Mr Lockhart said.

'It enables all the benefits that come with a local alignment with a global brand; it encourages better internal co-operation, higher levels of employee engagement and greater cohesion around our culture and values.'

Babcock MCSA Managing Director John Boag said the transition to the Babcock would make the company's offer more attractive in both market segments, enabled economies of scale and provided a platform for future organic growth.

'The Babcock brand makes our offer more attractive to our customers and will assist both arms of the business to secure new and existing contracts,' Mr Boag said.

'We will retain our absolute focus on safety and continue to deliver the operational excellence and outstanding customer service that has served us so well in the past.'

'Becoming Babcock enables us to build on our heritage, reputation and pride in our work so that we can go from strength to strength.'

Babcock MCSA has a fleet of 20 multi-engine and single-engine turbine helicopters operating from purpose built facilities in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria servicing long term contracts with government and corporate clients.

Babcock OSCA services major clients in the offshore oil and gas industry including the PTTEP Australasia group of companies, part of Thailand's national petroleum exploration and production company, Woodside, ConocoPhillips, Eni, INPEX and CGG from bases in Darwin and regional Western Australia.

Mr Boag said Babcock MCSA also had a functional reporting line to Babcock's Mission Critical Services division which is headquartered in London and has a global footprint which includes the UK, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Ireland, Norway, Chile and Peru. The business operates around 350 rotary and 50 fixed-wing aircraft, and employs almost 3,000 people worldwide.

'Babcock always invests in innovation to maintain its market-leading position,' he said.

'This means we can call on the wider Babcock group to support and enhance our operational and service capabilities in the region.'

For further information, contact:

Craig Lockhart - Chief Executive Officer, Babcock Australasia

Tel: +61884401488

John Boag - Managing Director, Babcock MCSA

Tel: +61418898618

Media:

Richard Sproull

+61418585517