By Shile GIWA
Axxela Limited, sub-Saharan Africa’s preferred fast-growing gas & power portfolio company, has formally announced the acquisition of Oando’s remaining 25 percent interest in Axxela by Helios Investment Partners (“Helios”), a leading private equity firm with a focus on investments in Africa.
This follows Helios’ initial purchase of a majority stake in Axxela’s gas and power business enterprise in December 2016. Following Oando’s divestment, Helios is now the sole principal investor in Axxela with a 100 percent ownership.
Speaking on the transaction, Axxela Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Osunsanya said: “While paying homage to our storied history and legacy, our recognition as being fully owned by Helios gives us global positioning, greater financial flexibility, and access to capital going forward. As a partner of choice, we have immense pride in the growth, robustness, and stability of our existing business enterprise, enabling us spur the aggressive expansion of our footprint via our audacious growth initiatives in Nigeria and the West African region.”
Axxela recently achieved a series of “Firsts”: First private company to attain a shipper’s licence on the West African Gas Pipeline; First company in the Nigerian oil & gas space to simultaneously integrate and ISO Standards – ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Standard), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Standard) and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Standard); Achievement of its first ever Investment Grade Rating from GCR (Short- Term: A2; Long-Term: BBB+) and Agusto (Bbb).
