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Yara’s participation in Yara Cameroon acquired by NJS Group, the minority shareholder

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3 years ago

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Yara

Once this transaction is completed, NJS Group will become the sole shareholder of the company with a clear objective of optimizing its offerings for the agricultural sector

DOUALA, Cameroon, July 12, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Yara International ASA (www.Yara.com), a global leader in plant nutrition headquartered in Oslo, Norway, announces that it has finalized an agreement to sell its majority stake in Yara Cameroon to NJS Group, which has been the minority shareholder since the company’s inception in 1995.

Once this transaction is completed, NJS Group will become the sole shareholder of the company with a clear objective of optimizing its offerings for the agricultural sector, currently focused on controlled livestock development. To achieve this ambition, NJS Group has acquired the 65% stake held by Yara International France in the company.

Yara International ASA and the Noutchogouin family have been partners for over 25 years. Over the years, the two entities have worked closely together, leveraging their expertise and resources to drive innovation and foster positive changes within the industry. During this long period, their joint venture has undergone various name changes. In particular, the company Hydrochem became Yara Cameroon in 2004. The acquisition of the company’s entire capital by NJS Group represents a strategic and natural evolution. This complete takeover of the company by its local historical minority shareholder paves the way for ambitious expansion projects.

Yara Cameroon makes a significant contribution to the country’s agricultural productivity by importing and distributing its own NPK compounds and calcium nitrate fertilizers, ensuring high yields and high quality for food and export crops.

Yara has always placed its employees at the heart of its decision-making process

With a strong focus on agriculture, NJS Group has been renowned for over forty years for its implementation of sustainable agricultural practices supported by significant investments and efficient operations management. With its extensive presence covering not only Cameroon but also neighbouring countries in the CEMAC zone, NJS Group is well positioned to support food security, growth, and innovation in this key sector.

To strengthen their collaboration, Yara International ASA and NJS Group have concluded an exclusive distribution agreement for premium NPK fertilizers, YaraMila, and YaraLiva Nitrabor Calcium Nitrate. As a result, Cameroonian farmers and agricultural retailers are assured of future supply of these key products, guaranteeing their presence in the market and promoting sustainable agricultural production. As an essential part of this agreement, Yara International ASA will provide technical and operational support to NJS Group, ensuring a solid platform for future growth.

Yara International and NJS Group have always shared a common goal: to promote best agricultural practices and optimal fertilizer use to enhance crop productivity in Cameroon. By combining their expertise, resources, and networks, the two groups aim to strengthen fertilizer distribution, digital agricultural solutions, and future innovations to promote sustainable agricultural practices in Central and West Africa.

Here is an excerpt from a message by Luis Alfredo Pérez, Senior Vice President, Yara Africa, to the employees of Yara Cameroon:

“We warmly thank our colleagues at Yara for their tremendous contribution and significant efforts over the many years since the establishment of our company in Cameroon. We have always believed that NJS Group was the right partner, and we are delighted that they will now take the lead, with the support and guidance of Yara International ASA. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to our distribution partners and stakeholders, whom we have had the honour of serving for the past 25 years, for their hard work and resilience in a complex and ever-changing environment. Thank you for reflecting our mission so well and providing Cameroonian farmers with the high-quality products and services they expect and deserve.”

“Yara has always placed its employees at the heart of its decision-making process. With this in mind, we have ensured the future security of your jobs through the signing of a long-term exclusivity agreement that guarantees the sustainability of the company. In the coming months, we will support the employees through this transition,” concluded Taz Hassim, HR Director, Yara Africa.

NJS Group commented, “We are delighted with this significant operation, solidifying a long-term partnership, and would like to extend our thanks to the employees of Yara Cameroon as well as the customers who have accompanied Yara Cameroon for many years. In line with our policy of excellence, NJS Group will continue Yara’s strategy of supporting and advising farmers to continuously improve agronomic outcomes and promote new techniques, based on the significant agreement concluded today with YARA ASA. Similar to what the group has achieved in its historical activities in recent years, an investment program will be implemented in fertilizer distribution to fully benefit from the market’s growth potential.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Yara International ASA.

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Novum Studio Secures New Funding to Launch Ahoy Project, an AI-Native Enterprise Transformation Platform, Building on Its 20-Million-User Gen Z App Frog

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July 24, 2026

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  • Novum Studio has raised a new round of funding to launch Ahoy Project, its enterprise AI solution, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.
  • Ahoy Project is positioned as the infrastructure for AI-native enterprise transformation – an AI-native communication platform serving as the underlying system, delivered as an end-to-end tailored solution.
  • The launch expands the company beyond Frog, its Gen Z consumer social app that has reached 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe.
  • Novum Studio said it is applying lessons from operating high-frequency social platforms at scale to workplace communication and knowledge systems.

NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 July 2026 – Novum Studio, the company behind Frog – a Gen Z social app often described as a “new-generation Snapchat” – said it has raised a new round of funding and will use the proceeds to launch Ahoy Project, an AI-native enterprise communication and collaboration platform, with internal testing scheduled for July 2026.

The Novum Studio team at London Tech Week 2025.

Unlike conventional workplace software, Ahoy Project will not be sold as a standalone software subscription, the company said. Novum Studio provides the infrastructure and a full tailored solution for enterprises undergoing AI-native transformation, with the communication platform serving as the underlying system on which that transformation is built.

Founded as a consumer social company, Novum Studio has reached more than 20 million users across the U.S. and Europe. Frog gained traction among younger users through spontaneous, real-time sharing designed around authenticity and low-pressure interaction. The company said its experience building large-scale social “spaces” – where millions of people communicate, form groups and coordinate in real time — directly informs its approach to enterprise collaboration.

The new funding will support the launch and international expansion of the enterprise business as artificial intelligence reshapes how organizations communicate, collaborate and operate, the company said.

Novum Studio was founded by Anna Danyi, who graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2018 and began her career in consulting and technology. Before founding Novum Studio, she built multiple consumer applications and exited through an acquisition. In 2025, Forbes China recognized her among the Top 100 most influential global Chinese figures in AI digital products area.

“We spent years understanding how millions of users communicate online,” Anna Danyi said. “In the AI era, communication itself is becoming intelligent. We believe the next generation of platforms will not only connect people — they will understand workflows, collaboration and organizational behavior.”

From Consumer Social to Enterprise AI

Modern organizations face growing challenges as critical knowledge, decisions and workflows become fragmented across chats, meetings and disconnected tools, the company said. Ahoy Project addresses this as a conversation-driven, AI-native collaboration layer: it captures context from day-to-day communication to build a searchable enterprise knowledge base and support workflow coordination.

Core capabilities include conversation-based knowledge organization, AI-assisted collaboration and workflow support integrated directly into team communication. Because the platform sits at the layer where work is discussed and decided, it can serve as the foundation for a broader AI-native operating model – with Novum Studio designing and delivering the surrounding transformation solution for each enterprise client.

Ahoy (Popeye AI) turns everyday team conversations into a searchable enterprise knowledge base.

A New Direction for Social Technology

Novum Studio said its expansion reflects a broader shift across the technology industry. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram defined how content was distributed and consumed in the mobile social era; as AI becomes embedded in digital products, the company believes the next stage will center less on feeds and more on intelligent systems that understand communication and coordination.

“We are no longer just building products where people post content,” Anna Danyi said. “We are building systems that understand how humans communicate and operate together.”
 

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Venezuela Energy Week to Host Houston Industry Showcase, Unlocking United States (U.S.) Commercial Engagement Ahead of October Summit

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July 24, 2026

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Ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2026, U.S. exploration companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers and investors are invited to explore commercial opportunities across Venezuela’s upstream sector at the Houston Industry Showcase next month

HOUSTON, United States of America, July 23, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela Energy Week will host an Industry Showcase in Houston on August 18, 2026: a targeted industry roadshow designed to engage U.S. energy stakeholders ahead of the October summit. Held at The Post Oak Hotel, the showcase will convene senior representatives from across the U.S. upstream ecosystem – including exploration and production companies, Texas-based independents, oilfield service companies, engineering and technology firms, commercial banks, private equity firms and family offices – to assess commercial pathways for participation in Venezuela’s energy sector.

 

As Venezuela looks to expand production, U.S. companies remain well positioned to contribute technical expertise, capital and operational capabilities across the upstream value chain. Chevron’s longstanding presence in the country highlights the continued importance of U.S. industry participation, while the scale of Venezuela’s resource base continues to attract interest from major international energy companies, including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips. Opportunities extend across exploration, field development, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and digital modernization as Venezuela seeks to strengthen its energy sector.

 

Demand is also expected to grow for oilfield service companies, engineering firms, technology providers and financial institutions that can support upstream investment and project execution. Companies including SLB, Halliburton and Baker Hughes have been identified as potential partners in advancing production optimization and infrastructure rehabilitation, while commercial banks, private equity firms and family offices will play an important role in financing future investment opportunities.

 

Against this backdrop, the Houston Industry Showcase will provide a structured engagement platform at a time when select international operators continue to operate under U.S. Treasury-authorized frameworks, and where policy considerations in the U.S. continue to shape engagement parameters in Venezuela’s energy sector.

 

The event will enable U.S. exploration companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers and investors to assess technical and commercial pathways across exploration, field services, project delivery and broader supply chain opportunities, while supporting early-stage dialogue between international investors and Venezuela-focused stakeholders in a structured commercial environment ahead of the October summit.

 

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 18, visit www.venezuelaenergyweek.com/rsvp-houston. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2026 in Caracas this October, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

 

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery

 

Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

 

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4fM0rLr).

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Business

Africa Trade Gateway Delivers US$5.3-Million Cross-Border Transaction in First Energy Sector Trade in Southern Africa

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July 24, 2026

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The transaction represents an important milestone for both the participating institu-tions and the ATG ecosystem as it marked Innbucks Microbank’s first completed transaction through the platform and the ATG’s first recorded energy-sector transac-tion in Southern Africa

HARARE, Zimbabwe, July 23, 2026/APO Group/ –A US$5.3-million cross-border fuel (gasoil) trade transaction has been successfully completed with support of the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG), African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank’s) (www.Afreximbank.com) flagship digital trade ecosystem, demonstrating the value and efficacy of the Gateway in powering African trade.

The transaction, which saw Zimbabwean fuel importer Witeva Trading source a gasoil shipment from a leading commodity trader and supplier in Switzerland, with Innbucks Microbank Ltd. participating as the local issuing financial institution and Afreximbank providing confirmation support under agreed trade finance structure, demonstrates how African businesses can leverage one connected ecosystem to identify opportunities, access finance and complete international trade more efficiently.

The ATG made it possible for the commercial opportunity to be connected to the right ecosystem participants, bringing together the buyer, supplier and participating financial institutions to support a successful execution of the transaction.

The transaction represents an important milestone for both the participating institutions and the ATG ecosystem as it marked Innbucks Microbank’s first completed transaction through the platform and the ATG’s first recorded energy-sector transaction in Southern Africa.

This transaction demonstrates the value of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through one connected trade ecosystem

It also demonstrates how African Businesses can use a single digital ecosystem to identify commercial opportunities, connect with verified counterparties, access trade-finance support and execute cross-border transactions more efficiently.

Peter Olowononi, Director, Regional Operations, Southern Africa, at Afreximbank, said:

“This transaction demonstrates the value of bringing African businesses and financial institutions together through one connected trade ecosystem. By creating a digital ecosystem to expand access to trade finance, Afreximbank is enabling more businesses to participate easily in regional and international trade.”

Emeka Onyia, Director, Digital Business, at Afreximbank, added:

“The Africa Trade Gateway is more than a mere digital platform; it is the ecosystem that helps trade happen. We help businesses discover opportunities, connect with trusted buyers, suppliers and financial institutions, and facilitate the journey from commercial opportunity to completed transactions. Every successful deal strengthens the network, attracts new participants and creates more opportunities for African trade.”

“As more businesses, banks and trade partners join the ecosystem, every successful transaction expands the marketplace, strengthens trust across the network and increases opportunities for future trade,” Mr. Onyia added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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