Patron buys 90 petrol filling stations from Shell

Patron Capital Partners announced on Tuesday that its UK forecourt business, Motor Fuel Group (MFG), is acquiring 90 petrol filling stations from Shell for an undisclosed amount.

MFG is owned in partnership with Alasdair Locke, the former chairman of the Scottish oil services company Abbot Group.

Around 53% of the acquired sites are located in the southeast of England, including 21 sites in London.

MFG has rapidly grown its forecourt network since it was acquired by Patron and a new management team backed by Locke in December 2011.

The acquisition brings the total number of petrol filling stations that will be owned by MFG to 373, making it one of the largest independent fuel station operators in the UK, the company said in a statement.

Commenting on the transaction, Stephen Green, senior partner at Patron Capital, said: 'We are delighted that our forecourt business MFG has been selected by Shell to acquire the largest parcel of assets as part of its ongoing process of rationalising its UK forecourt portfolio.'

Jeremy Clarke, MFG’s managing director, added: 'This acquisition is in line with our strategic commitment to become one of the most dynamic and profitable independent forecourt operators in the UK.'