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Shell faces hold-up in German refinery stake sale, sources say

Shell's. prepared sale of a stake in the Schwedt refinery in. Germany is being postponed by pending claims by third parties,. two individuals familiar with the matter stated, stalling a divestment. the business has waited years for.

The offer has been made complex by Berlin's stripping. Schwedt's majority owner Rosneft of its control, but. not its shares, following the severing of energy ties in between. Germany and Moscow in 2022.

Shell's organized sale of its 37.5% stake to Britain's Prax. Group, was expected to close in the very first half of 2024 subject. to partner rights and regulative approvals, however conclusion is. still pending.

The sources said the arrangement has a provision stating that if. the deal isn't nearby mid-September the celebrations require to concur. an extension or renegotiate.

The delay stems in part from pending claims, including an. attempt by Rosneft to avoid the sale to Prax, among the. sources stated, efforts that a German court today said had. little chance of success.

While the stake's value was put at around 155 million to 190. million euros ($ 173-212 million) it was associated an unfavorable. equity worth of around 14 million euros, according to sources. and deal files examined .

Shell stated it is continuing to work with Prax on settling. the sale. Prax Group said it would not make any further remark. until the deal was completed.

Rosneft did not reply to a request for remark.

Worried about possible political effects, Berlin. has so far shied away from expropriating Rosneft in Germany,. something it can theoretically do under tightened energy. security regulation.

Shell has actually been wishing to eliminate its stake in the. refinery, which provides around 90% of Berlin's fuel, for years. and at first hoped to sell it to Vienna-based group Alcmene in. 2021, a deal that was preempted by Rosneft.

A November ruling by the Berlin administration court that. has actually provided Alcmene, in theory, the green light to obtain Shell's. stake in Schwedt has further made complex the process, the source. said.

(source: Reuters)