Golar stock crashed on Friday as news of Fredriksen’s pull-back and exit as chairman came to light.

Harald Thorstein, an advisor to Fredriksen, told TradeWinds’ sister publication Dagens Naeringsliv that the tycoon was "in investment mode”.

Thorstein told the Norwegian business daily shipping, drilling, gas and salmon farming would remain core activities for the group, with the disposal of Seadrill stock specifically ruled out.