live WUF13 opening ceremony held in Baku as global forum advances sustainable urban development
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the of...
The founding family of Italiana Petroli is close to finalising the sale of the oil refiner to the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), in a deal that would give the Azerbaijani group control of one of Italy’s largest petrol station networks, three sources have said.
According to two of them, the agreement with SOCAR could be signed as early as Monday, unless there is a last-minute delay. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Sources previously told Reuters that the Brachetti-Peretti family, which owns Italiana Petroli, was seeking an enterprise value of around €2.5 billion ($2.9 billion), with the company holding roughly €500 million in cash.
Neither SOCAR nor Italiana Petroli responded to requests for comment. SOCAR is being advised by Intesa Sanpaolo IMI CIB, while UniCredit is advising the Italian owners.
Italiana Petroli has a refining capacity of around 200,000 barrels per day and runs more than 4,500 fuel stations across Italy. It also owns significant storage and transport infrastructure, including facilities for jet fuel. Last year, it reported an adjusted core profit of nearly €500 million.
The expected sale follows Italy’s Moratti family divesting its controlling stake in Saras to commodity trader Vitol last year. Such moves highlight a wider trend of private investors withdrawing from Europe’s increasingly volatile refining industry.
For SOCAR, the acquisition would strengthen its foothold in the Mediterranean fuel market, adding to its 200,000 bpd STAR refinery in Türkiye. Italiana Petroli currently owns a refinery in Ancona, a stake in the SARPOM refinery in Trecate, and a tolling contract at the Alma refinery in Ravenna.
In 2023, the company expanded its refining and storage capacity further by completing the purchase of ExxonMobil’s Italian assets.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
At least eight people were injured after a driver rammed a car into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, authorities said on Saturday. Four of the victims were reported to be in serious condition.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, an economist, public policy analyst, Columbia University professor, and UN advisor, said Azerbaijan and the wider South Caucasus could become one of the world’s key strategic connectors in an emerging multipolar order.
U.S. President Donald Trump says China's Xi Jinping agreed Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran prepares a new shipping mechanism. Tensions over the U.S. blockade and stalled nuclear talks continue to disrupt global oil supplies.
Government bond markets from Tokyo to New York extended losses on Monday (18 May) as rising energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict heightened inflation concerns and reinforced expectations that major central banks could keep interest rates higher for longer.
Negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its workforce on Wednesday have broken down, officials said, raising fresh concerns over potential disruption to South Korea’s export-heavy economy.
By the time American shoppers began noticing higher prices on everything from trainers to televisions, the world's two largest economies were already deep in a trade war that left the world wondering how it would end.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital maritime chokepoint and serves as the primary artery linking the Persian Gulf to international energy markets. With approximately 20% of global oil and gas shipments transiting this waterway, it is the backbone of energy security for Asia, Europe, and beyond.
China’s exports grew faster than expected in April, as overseas buyers moved quickly to secure supplies amid fears that the conflict involving Iran could drive up global energy and transport costs.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment