HOUSTON -- Motiva Enterprises LLC said that Lavigne Baker LLC will acquire 51 of its Shell-branded retail locations in the greater New Orleans area. As reported in a CSP Daily News Flash yesterday, all 51 stations will continue to operate under the Shell brand. According to a confidentiality agreement between the parties, the purchase price cannot be disclosed.
The deal follows Quik Way Retail Associates II Ltd. acquisition last week of 86 Shell-branded stations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area from Motiva.
In December, Motiva sold 34 Shell-branded retail sites in Rhode Island to Colbea [image-nocss] Enterprises LLC and 10 Houston-area stores to The Lewis Group LLP. In November, it sold 54 sites in the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey markets to Bronson Oil Holdings LLC. In January, wholesaler Sam's Real Estate Holdings of Georgia LLC picked up 47 Shell sites from Motiva in greater Atlanta and northern Georgia.
This divestment is in line with Houston-based Motiva's publicly stated intent to transition company-owned retail assets to wholesale-supplied locations, in an effort to grow the Shell brand in the United States and improve the long-term sustainability of the network.
"Today's announcement enables us to provide service to even more New Orleans-area customers, and to help revitalize the local economy," said Brian Baker, managing member of Lavigne Baker. "Like Motiva, we are committed to assisting in the New Orleans area's economic recovery following Hurricane Katrina, and we look forward to serving the community for many years to come."
Lavigne Baker is jointly owned by Slidell, La.-based Slidell Oil Co. and Hammond, La.-based Lavigne Oil Co., both of which are existing Shell wholesalers. Altogether, Slidell Oil and Lavigne Oil operate 43 Shell stations throughout Louisiana.
"Slidell Oil Co. and Lavigne Oil Co. are proven Shell operators, with a history of supporting the New Orleans area and growing the Shell brand," said Paul Stanifer, South Region general manager for Motiva. "By drawing on its owners' combined management expertise, Lavigne Baker will help to strengthen and expand the Shell brand throughout southern Louisiana."
Motiva refines and markets branded products through more than 8,000 branded stations in the eastern and southern United States. Shell Oil Co. is a 50% owner of Motiva, along with Saudi Refining Inc. There are more than 14,000 Shell branded stations in the United States.
Slidell Oil has been a Shell wholesaler for 58 years, with annual volume of about 15 million gallons. The company received Shell and Motiva's Go Further Grand Award in 2006, in recognition of consistent, exceptional customer service at its Shell-branded stations. Lavigne Oil has been a Shell wholesaler since February 2006, with annual volume of about 20 million gallons.
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