Shell sale reflects market reality

End of an era: Night view of Shell Refining Company in Port Dickson. Royal Dutch Shell, through its wholly-owned unit Shell Overseas Holdings Ltd, had on Monday signed a deal to sell its entire 51 stake, or 153 million shares, in Shell Refining Company (Federation of Malaya) Bhd to Malaysia Hengyuan International Ltd at a huge discount to share price.

Is the divestment of its stake in Malaysian asset reflective of market conditions?

OIL refining is a tough business - expensive to run with a thin profit margin.