Certa and FloGas owner DCC Energy agrees deal to buy Shell's forecourt business in France

Deal completion is expected in the second quarter of 2027

Shell has agreed a deal with Irish energy sales and distribution firm DCC Energy for the proposed sale of its network of fuel retail stations and related transport-fuels services in France, according to a person familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

Shell has agreed a deal with Irish energy sales and distribution firm DCC Energy for the proposed sale of its network of fuel retail stations and related transport-fuels services in France, according to a person familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

The agreement comes as Shell aims to focus its fuel retail and charging operations on key markets where it generates the majority of its cash flow, including the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

The parties have yet to finalise the deal, although completion is expected in the second quarter of 2027, subject to consultation with employee representatives, the document showed. The transaction would include around 70 sites, eight LNG installations and the transfer of 35 employees, the document showed.

"Shell is considering a sale of its retail forecourts business in France," Shell told Reuters, adding that it would not comment further at this stage.

DCC Energy declined to comment.

DCC Energy brands in Ireland include Certa fuel stations which employs around 400 people across the country and FloGas, which severs over 250,000 customers nationwide. Globally, DCC Energy serves millions of customers across the industrial and public sectors and delivers off-grid energy solutions, led by liquid ga. It also operates service stations and fleet services.

DCC Energy would operate the stations under a long-term Shell brand licence, the document showed. However, Shell's core fuel supply operations are excluded, meaning the buyer would source its fuel independently.

The monetary value of the deal could not immediately be determined.

Shell's marketing unit, which includes its fuel and charging retail stations, reported $1.3bn in adjusted earnings in the second quarter this year, compared with $1.2bn during the same time last year.

Reuters