Helios Investment Partners and Sojitz Corporation, one of the leading conglomerate investment and trading houses listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, have announced the completion of the sale by Helios of a 25% interest in the holding company of Axxela, the largest private sector gas distributor in Nigeria, to Sojitz.

Helios retains a 75% interest in the company.

This transaction marks Sojitz’s first significant equity investment in Africa, indicating its growth ambitions on the continent and serving as a blueprint for future collaboration in Africa between Helios and Sojitz across a range of sectors.

As like-minded shareholders, Helios and Sojitz expect to accelerate further growth of Axxela’s business by leveraging Sojitz's expertise in developing gas and power infrastructure projects and providing lower-carbon energy solutions to industrial customers globally.