Australia
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is advising Dutch trading company Vitol Group on a $2.6 billion acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell plc.’s refining and retail businesses in Australia. Rotterdam-based Vitol will buy Shell’s Geelong refinery and 870 service stations, along with its bulk fuels, bitumen, chemicals and part of its lubricants businesses in Australia. The deal will not include Shell’s Australian aviation fuel business and Brisbane-based lubricating oil blending plants. The deal is part of a $15 billion divestment of downstream assets Shell is shedding as part of a plan to focus on its main businesses of energy exploration, development and production. London partners Shaun Lascelles and Doug Nordlinger are leading a team at Skadden advising Vitol. Gilbert + Tobin Sydney partner David Clee is serving as Australian counsel to Vitol. Clifford Chance London partner Kathy Honeywood, Singapore partner Geraint Hughes and Perth partner Tracey Renshaw are leading a team advising Shell. Shell’s legal team is led by Malaysia-based in-house counsel Damis Shaharudin. [Read full story]
