By Shell is preparing to sell all or some of its New Zealand operations, which carry an estimated value of more than $1 billion.break
Following inquiries by the ODT, Shell New Zealand country chairman Rob Jager confirmed speculation this week that investment bank giant JPMorgan had been appointed to support any sales process.
“Shell continues to explore a range of options for some or all of Shell’s assets in New Zealand. JP Morgan has been appointed to support this process,” Mr Jager said in a brief note, being unavailable for an interview.
Shell is the cornerstone of oil and gas exploration in New Zealand and the industry anchors the Government’s economic development programme.
A Shell exit would be seen as a major scalp for environmentalists.
Shell’s operations around the South Island have essentially ground to a halt, since it announced the shock review of its New Zealand assets last December.
Mr Jager said yesterday “it’s ‘business-as-usual’ and there is nothing material to report. We remain focused on producing 70% of New Zealand’s natural gas”.
Shell and partner OMV were to have test drilled in the Great South basin last summer, in an estimated $91million one-hole programme, but then postponed that plan.
Shell had in the meantime completed shipborne seismic testing in the basin.
The JPMorgan confirmation comes as part of a global selldown by Shell, which signalled a retreat from various markets, amid a $US30 billion ($NZ41.3 billion) global asset sale plan following its $US50 billion takeover of BG Group.
Globally, Shell is said to be shedding more than 10,000 jobs.
Some question whether the $A1 billion ($NZ1.05 billion) Beach Energy could be a potential buyer of some assets, although others say it may be a stretch to assume it was on the radar of the local oil and gas explorer, The Australian newspaper reported.
Shell has an 83.75% stake in offshore Maui in Taranaki, 48% stake in offshore Pohokura, 50% in onshore Kapuni, New Zealand’s oldest gas field, 60% in Great South Basin (GSB) exploration and 30% in the Caledonia basin exploration, the latter two deepwater prospects.
It also owns 50% of Shell Todd Oil Services.
The Pohokura field began production in 2006 and now meets about 40% of the country’s natural gas requirements.
Some analysts question whether Australian players will express interest in the offering, while others say it may be too large for any New Zealand parties to own entirely, and would probably be subject to a break-up, The Australian reported.
The Todd family was last month valued at $3.3billion in the NBR rich list. The Todd Corporation is a partner on some assets, and could be a buyer.
The latest move follows JPMorgan having sold Shell’s Maui gas pipeline last year to First State Investments, for $NZ335 million.
Shell is also expected to sell down its remaining 13.3% stake in Australia’s $A24 billion Woodside Petroleum. It sold its New Zealand petrol stations to Z Energy for $891 million in 2010.
— Additional reporting The Australian
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Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
