Agreement with Nova Sea approved by shareholders
At the extraordinary general meeting in Torghatten Aqua today, the agreement between Helgeland fish farmers Nova Sea and Torghatten Aqua was approved by the shareholders. The agreement means that Nova Sea enters as a new major shareholder with a 33.4% stake in Torghatten Aqua. Part of the agreement is a private placement of NOK 133 million to Nova Sea.
Trøndelag Helgeland Invest AS remains the largest shareholder with 39%. Nova Sea gets two members on the board of Torghatten Aqua. The two are Aino Olaisen, Chairman of the Board of Nova Sea, and Tom Eirik Aasjord, CEO of Nova Sea. The board otherwise consists of chairman Frode Blakstad, deputy chairman Paul Birger Torgnes, and board members Arnfinn Torgnes, Nina Ellingsen Høiskar and Wenche Stuvland Knygh.
Offensive plans
Chairman of the Board of Torghatten Aqua, Frode Blakstad, is satisfied: -"We are very pleased that virtually all shareholders are in favour of the proposed investment agreement with Nova Sea AS. The Torghatten Aqua Group has aggressive plans for the future. With Nova Sea on board, the likelihood of realising these plans increases significantly," says the chairman.
Win-win
Øyvind Løvdahl, CEO of Torghatten Aqua, is pleased that all the formalities are in place and approved, and looks forward to getting started with the collaboration: - "The two companies have a lot of combined expertise and experience, in addition to skilled and dedicated employees, so this is a real win-win situation! We have the same values and share the desire to create local growth and development," he emphasises. Løvdahl also says that as soon as the capital increase is registered, Torghatten Aqua will be listed on the NOTC list of the Oslo Stock Exchange.
The fish farming operations of the Torghatten Aqua companies will eventually be operated in co-operation with Nova Sea. The boards of Torghatten Aqua and Nova Sea approved the agreement last week.
Nova Sea has invested aggressively in recent years, investing billions in a new slaughterhouse, a new hatchery and the purchase of fish farming volumes in Helgeland. The company is one of the largest producers of farmed salmon in northern Norway, with 33.33 wholly owned and 4 partly owned salmon licences. The company has 25 facilities along the entire Helgeland coast.
Torghatten Aqua is involved in aquaculture, research and development, tourism and blue education programmes. Every year, the group produces 30-40 million salmon meals for the world, has 40,000 visitors at its display facilities and in its cabins/restaurants, and around 500 pupils, students and course participants at Campus BLÅ.
Norwegian