View of the Bio Lofoten Center in Lekne, on the Lofoten Islands, Norway, where the Northern Aquaculture Academy is located.
Photo: Northern Aquaculture Academy (Havbruksakademiet Nord).
Torghatten Aqua announced that Campus BLÅ, its subsidiary dedicated to training in the blue sector and until now owner of 46% of the shares in Aquaculture Academy North (Havbruksakademiet Nord), has sold its stake in the school to the other major owner, Nordly Holding.
Following the transaction, Nordly Holding, a Norwegian investment company focused on development within the aquaculture and pharmaceutical industries, has become the majority shareholder, while the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Søren Fredrik Voie, retains his minority stake.
According to the statement issued by Torghatten Aqua, the decision to sell was made following a process carried out this fall, after Nordly Holding expressed interest in acquiring the shareholding.
Located in Leknes -the administrative center of Vestvågøy municipality, in the Lofoten Islands, in Nordland County, Norway- the school was largely built based on similar programs developed by Campus BLÅ in Helgeland.
Since its inception in the fall of 2022, Aquaculture Academy North has grown to become a highly sought-after option in upper secondary education related to aquaculture, with full classes and a low dropout rate.
"We've invested a lot of time and energy in helping to establish the Aquaculture Academy North, together with the other owners. We're proud to have achieved so much in such a short time! Last year, the school also obtained a teaching licence for salmon farming, which was a milestone. Now it's time for us to pass on the baton - and concentrate fully on Campus BLÅ," said CFO of Torghatten Aqua, Knut Idar Torgnes, who has also served as a Board member of Aquaculture Academy North.
"We are grateful for the solid foundation Campus BLÅ has laid as an owner," stated, for his part, Paal Christian Krüger, CEO of Nordly Holding. "They have been pioneers in establishing private aquaculture education and have shown themselves to be dedicated and constructive partners through significant contributions of time and energy. This acquisition gives us the opportunity to continue and strengthen the school's position as a leading player in competence development for the aquaculture industry in Northern Norway."
In its statement, Torghatten Aqua pointed out that the change of ownership will not affect the extensive collaboration between schools and skills environments in Toft in Brønnøy and Leknes in Lofoten. "Campus BLÅ and the Academy of Aquaculture North will continue to co-operate on an academic level. The rectors and other key personnel will remain in close contact," Knut Idar Torgnes explained.
Meanwhile, Trond Jørgensen, Principal of Aquaculture Academy North, acknowledged the contribution made so far by Torghatten Aqua's training subsidiary, but also welcomed the change.
"Campus Blå has been an invaluable supporter and contributor right from the start, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the school in Helgeland," he said. "With Nordly Holding as a continued strong owner, I am convinced that we will continue to develop a top offer that meets the industry's need for skilled and motivated employees. This ensures stability and new opportunities for our students," Jørgensen added.
Co-located with the Lofoten Bio Center in Leknes, where the companies are suppliers to the aquaculture industry, and examples of the type of broad expertise environments that the Norwegian aquaculture sector has created, the Aquaculture Academy North has 36 places for students and offers upper secondary education in, among other areas, natural resources management and aquaculture.