Shell and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) announce that their respective affiliates have reached an agreement for the sale of shares in the companies containing the Retail, Supply & Distribution logistics and Aviation businesses in Italy. The sale is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to complete in 2014.
Under the agreement Shell’s Retail network will be re-branded to Q8.

Shell’s non-service station Lubricants, Marine, Gas & Power and Upstream businesses in Italy are not impacted by the sale and will continue to operate as before. Shell will continue to operate its Lubricants business through Shell Italia Oil Products and its Gas & Power business through Shell Energy Italia. Shell Italia E&P has a material Upstream presence in the country with a strategy to grow and maximise the potential where we have an existing and growing production presence.

Italy remains an important country for Shell.

The sale is consistent with Shell’s strategy to concentrate Shell’s Downstream footprint on a smaller number of assets and markets where we can be most competitive. Recent divestment examples include the sale of refineries in the UK, Germany, France, Norway and the Czech Republic and Downstream businesses in Egypt, Spain, Greece, Finland and Sweden as well as the establishment of a Downstream joint venture across Africa.

All details of the sale are subject to commercial confidentiality.

About Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague and is listed on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids; manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy projects.

About Kuwait Petroleum International

Kuwait Petroleum International, known by our trademark Q8, refines and markets fuel, lubricants and other petroleum derivatives outside Kuwait. Our main activities are focused on Europe and the Far East.

Established in 1983, Kuwait Petroleum International is the international subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, which brings together all the state owned elements of the Kuwait oil sector under one corporate umbrella and is recognised as one of the world’s top ten energy conglomerates.

Our business encompasses the marketing and sales, research and refining of petroleum products.

Q8 markets fuel via over 4,000 service stations across Europe and operates a direct sales operation, providing road fuel and heating oil. Our International Diesel Service is dedicated to the needs of international road transport companies; Q8Aviation provides jet fuel at more than 60 airports internationally and Q8 Oils manufactures and markets some of the world’s finest lubricants.