Saudi Aramco Buys 7.4% Stake in Norwegian Software Firm Cognite

The logo of Saudi Aramco is pictured outside Khurais, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. (Reuters)
The logo of Saudi Aramco is pictured outside Khurais, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. (Reuters)
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Saudi Aramco Buys 7.4% Stake in Norwegian Software Firm Cognite

The logo of Saudi Aramco is pictured outside Khurais, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. (Reuters)
The logo of Saudi Aramco is pictured outside Khurais, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. (Reuters)

Saudi Aramco has bought a 7.4% stake in Norwegian industrial software group Cognite from oil firm Aker BP, Cognite said on Wednesday.

The price for the stake was "around 1 billion Norwegian crowns," or about $113 million, an Aker BP spokesperson told Reuters, valuing Cognite at just over $1.5 billion.

Cognite and Saudi Aramco are in a partnership to provide digitization services in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region.

"Cognite has proven that their technology delivers complex real time insights seamlessly and is optimizing how energy is being supplied to the world," Saudi Aramco Senior Vice President Ahmad A. Al-Sa'adi said in a statement.

Both Cognite and Aker BP are part of Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke's group of companies, whose investment firm Aker ASA has a 50.5% stake in Cognite.

US venture capital firm Accel holds 12.4% while Cognite's Chief Executive John Markus Lervik owns 7.2%, an Aker spokesman said in May last year.



Aramco, Riyadh Air Explore Collaboration Opportunities

At the signing ceremony standing, from left, are Osamah Alnuaiser, Riyadh Air SVP of Marketing & Corporate Communication; Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO; Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO; and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President. Sitting, from left, are Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air CFO; and Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco EVP of Products & Customers. Photo: Aramco
At the signing ceremony standing, from left, are Osamah Alnuaiser, Riyadh Air SVP of Marketing & Corporate Communication; Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO; Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO; and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President. Sitting, from left, are Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air CFO; and Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco EVP of Products & Customers. Photo: Aramco
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Aramco, Riyadh Air Explore Collaboration Opportunities

At the signing ceremony standing, from left, are Osamah Alnuaiser, Riyadh Air SVP of Marketing & Corporate Communication; Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO; Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO; and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President. Sitting, from left, are Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air CFO; and Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco EVP of Products & Customers. Photo: Aramco
At the signing ceremony standing, from left, are Osamah Alnuaiser, Riyadh Air SVP of Marketing & Corporate Communication; Tony Douglas, Riyadh Air CEO; Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO; and Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani, Aramco Downstream President. Sitting, from left, are Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air CFO; and Yasser M. Mufti, Aramco EVP of Products & Customers. Photo: Aramco

Saudi Aramco and Riyadh Air, the Kingdom's new premium international airline, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the FII 8th Edition in Riyadh.

The MoU sets the stage for potential collaboration in areas such as low-carbon fuel supply and sustainability.

“We are delighted by the prospect of exploring a wide variety of opportunities for collaboration between Aramco and Riyadh Air,” said Aramco Executive Vice President of Products & Customers Yasser M. Mufti.

“Both companies have expressed a desire to adopt latest technologies, elevate experiences and contribute to sustainability objectives. Aramco’s work to develop lower-carbon fuels, its strong focus on digitalization, and its aviation experience, among other things, provide a strong platform for potential cooperation with Riyadh Air,” he added.

As for Riyadh Air Chief Financial officer Adam Boukadida, he said that the partnership “aligns perfectly with our ambition to become a leading global airline committed to sustainability and low-carbon fuels.”

“By leveraging Aramco’s expertise, we aim to improve our operational capabilities and provide outstanding experiences for our guests. Together, we can play a significant role in advancing the Kingdom’s environmental and economic objectives.”