By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 1 -- Royal Dutch/Shell Group, ExxonMobil Corp., and the Netherlands government reached an agreement increasing the government's control of Dutch natural gas company Gasunie.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs said the government plans to acquire 100% interest in Gasunie's transport division by paying Shell and ExxonMobil $3.56 billion. That transaction is expected to be completed and implemented by mid-2005.
Gasunie is to be divided into a transport business and a merchant business. The merchant business will remain a joint venture between the Netherlands government, Shell, and ExxonMobil.
