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LONDON, July 27(Reuters Breakingviews) - The world is getting hotter, but when it comes to achieving net zero investors are cooling. Glencore (GLEN.L), the $75 billion Swiss group that is one of the world’s biggest coal miners, makes an interesting case study for what’s changed. Either way, the plan raises the prospect of Glencore bulking up in coal before offloading some or all of the enlarged business. True, a listing of Glencore’s enlarged coal business might not happen for a few years. While prices have now more than halved, Glencore‘s coal business would still make $9 billion in EBITDA in 2023 if they averaged $200 a tonne.

Persons: what’s, Glencore, Gary Nagle, Nagle, Teck, wouldn’t, There’s, Wael Sawan, Larry Fink, underwhelmed, ” Nagle, Glencore’s, George Hay, Karen Kwok, Peter Thal Larsen, Aditya Munjuluru Organizations: Reuters, Resources, Teck Resources, Bluebell Capital Partners, Investment, International Energy Agency, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Rio Tinto, BHP, GQG Partners, Capital Research Group, BlackRock, Vanguard, Services, Saudi, Aramco, United Nations, of, Pensions, Shell, Financial Times, “, Melbourne Mining, Capital Partners, Thomson Locations: Glasgow, Ukraine, EBITDA, American, U.S, Glencore, London, New York, Europe, Melbourne

☆ British asset manager St James's Place attracts $4.4 billion in first-half net inflows
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - British asset manager St James's Place (SJP.L) reported a fall in half-yearly profit after tax on Thursday but attracted 3.4 billion pounds ($4.40 billion) of net inflows in what the company called a "challenging period" for UK investors. Funds under management hit a record 157.5 billion pounds, up from 148.4 billion in December 2022. Profit after tax fell to 161.7 million, down from 208.2 million in the same period last year, and the interim dividend was 15.83 pence per share, representing 30% of the previous full-year dividend, the company said. "As we look ahead, there continue to be challenges for UK consumers," he said. ($1 = 0.7722 pounds)($1 = 0.7719 pounds)Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft, editing by Sinead CruiseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: St James's, Andrew Croft, Croft, Elizabeth Howcroft, Sinead Cruise Organizations: St, Funds, UK savers, Thomson Locations: British, U.S

☆ Sorrell's ad group S4 lowers outlook over wary tech clients
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummaryCompanies Co slashes FY revenue growth outlook to 2%-4%Says content business has been difficultShares down 20%July 24 (Reuters) - Martin Sorrell's S4 Capital (SFOR.L) cut its forecasts for annual revenue growth and core profit margin on Monday as tech clients dialled back marketing spend, sending the advertising group's shares down 20%. Last week, U.S.-based peers Interpublic (IPG.N) and Omnicom (OMC.N) also announced weak results that underscored the growing pressures on ad agencies. S4, founded by Sorrell after he left WPP (WPP.L), the world's largest ad group, said it now expects full-year like-for-like net revenue growth of between 2% and 4%, compared with an earlier forecast of 6%-10%. It expects an operational core profit margin of between 14.5% and 15.5%, down from 15%-16% forecast previously. In the first-half trading update, the company said revenue growth is expected to be about 5%, adding that performance in its content business has been more difficult.

Persons: Martin, Interpublic, Sorrell, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Eva Mathews, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, David Holmes Organizations: WPP, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Global retailers cash in on Barbie movie craze
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Helen Reid | Thomson Reuters | London-Based Reporter Covering The European Retail Sector Through A Global Lens. Focusing On Companies Including Adidas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Arriana McLymoreJuly 21 (Reuters) - Shoppers are snapping up Barbie hoop earrings, perfume, jumpsuits, and dresses as retailers seek to cash in on Friday's Barbie film release, reigniting the craze for the plastic doll and her hot pink, sequin-adorned universe. Mattel says the Barbie movie is expected to boost global sales of Barbie dolls, which declined last year from record growth during the pandemic. A Gap Barbie hoodie for women was available only in size XXS online, while a pair of Barbie Crocs, priced at $59.99 - $10 more than normal Crocs - was sold out on the Crocs website. Luggage brand Beis had a waiting list for all three sizes of suitcases in a Barbie pink, priced at a premium to its usual colour range. Walmart pitched Barbie dolls in varying skin tones and hairstyles at $45 to collectors.

Persons: browses, Arriana, Friday's, Barbie, Jo Ashdown, Ryan Gosling, Ken, Zara Barbie, hoodie, Barbie Crocs, Barbie toothbrushes, James Zahn, that's, Helen Reid, Savyata Mishra, Siddharth Cavale, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Mattel, WPP, Walmart, Hyatt Hotels, Hilton, Thomson Locations: Zara's Soho, New York City, U.S, Bogota, Colombia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

BASRA, Iraq, July 19 (Reuters) - Iraq secured its $27 billion oil deal with France's TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) last week by offering quicker, less risky payback through greater revenue-sharing, a model it could replicate in the future to lure investors. The new deal is designed to allow Total to take a portion of revenues from the Ratawi oil field in Iraq's oil-rich Basra region and use them to help finance three other projects, two senior Iraqi oil officials said. In the end, Total took a 45% share while the state-owned Basra Oil Company took 30% and QatarEnergy 25%. Revenues will be split according to those stakes, one of Iraq's senior oil officials said. Iraq's oil officials said the model could be replicated in the future but that would be considered on a project-by-project basis.

Persons: France's, Aref Mohammed, Silvia Aloisi, Timour Azhari, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, Total, Reuters, Basra Oil Company, Thomson Locations: BASRA, Iraq, U.S, Basra, Ratawi, Saudi, Iraqi, Timour Azhari, Baghdad, Paris

☆ Chevron opted to buy vs build US LNG processing - gas executive
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Curtis Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 14 (Reuters) - Chevron Corp (CVX.N) is comfortable with buying U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) on long-term contracts rather than constructing its own U.S. domestic export facility, said Freeman Shaheen, the company's head of global gas. The second largest U.S. oil and gas producer in June 2022 signed agreements with LNG developers Cheniere Energy (LNG.A) and Venture Global LNG for a combined 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of the super-chilled natural gases. The Cheniere and Venture Global LNG deals will provide an outlet for natural gas flowing from its Permian Basin shale holdings in West Texas and New Mexico. It opted not to build an export terminal in the U.S., where several major plants are already under construction. Top LNG traders Shell (SHEL.L) and BP (BP.L) separately filed for arbitration against Venture Global LNG for failing to supply contracted cargoes, even as it sold to non-contract customers as prices soared last year.

Persons: Freeman Shaheen, Shaheen, Curtis Williams, Josie Kao Organizations: Chevron Corp, Cheniere Energy, Venture Global LNG, Chevron, Venture Global, Reuters, Top, Shell, BP, Thomson Locations: U.S, Angola, Australia, Israel, West Texas, New Mexico, Argentina, West Africa, Calcasieu, Houston

☆ StanChart to sell sub-Saharan Africa business to Access Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, July 14 (Reuters) - Standard Chartered (STAN.L) said on Friday it has reached an agreement to sell its subsidiaries in sub-Saharan Africa to Nigeria's Access Bank, putting into motion a plan announced last year to divest those businesses. Standard Chartered will sell its shareholding in its subsidiaries in Angola, Cameroon, Gambia and Sierra Leone to Access. It will also sell its consumer, private & business banking business in Tanzania to Access Bank, a subsidiary of Access Holdings (ACCESSCORP.LG). "Access Bank will provide a full range of banking services and continuity for key stakeholders including employees and clients of Standard Chartered's businesses across the five aforementioned countries," Standard Chartered said in a statement. The agreement is in line with Standard Chartered's global strategy "aimed at achieving operational efficiencies, reducing complexity, and driving scale," it said.

Persons: Sunil Kaushal, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Yousef Saba, Jason Neely Organizations: Nigeria's Access Bank, Chartered, Access Bank, Access Holdings, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saharan Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Africa, Nigeria

FRANKFURT/LONDON July 13 (Reuters) - Energy majors BP (BP.L) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) have won a 7 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind site auction in Germany worth a record 12.6 billion euros ($14.1 billion), allowing them entry to the central European market without a partnership. The awards for capacity due to come online in 2030 also excluded leading offshore wind developers, such as RWE (RWEG.DE) and Orsted (ORSTED.CO). AUCTION DESIGNThe 7 GW electronic auction officially opened in January and bidders had until June 1 to submit offers. In previous German lease auctions, companies have made low or negative bids with the expectation of subsidies from the state. Industry groups have said the high costs of the leases could drive up the cost of offshore wind projects.

Persons: Bundesnetzagentur, Bernstein, WindEurope, Orsted, Norway's, TotalEnergies, Vera Eckert, Susanna Twidale, Christoph Steitz, Ron Bousso, Nora Buli, Nina Chestney, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Energy, BP, Industry, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, Macquarie, England, Danish

☆ BP’s German wind option risks multiple blowbacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( George Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But Germany also aims to raise as much cash as possible from selling wind power development rights. But wind projects around the world have been hit by turbine makers like Siemens Gamesa and Vestas (VWS.CO)hiking prices in 2022 by 30%. Shaking down the private sector is fine, but not if you’re left with no wind projects. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsFollow @gfhay on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSOil majors BP and TotalEnergies have won a 7 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind site auction in Germany worth 12.6 billion euros ($13.96 billion). BP’s initial payments totaling 678 million euros, equivalent to 10% of the bid amount, will be paid by July 2024.

Persons: Bernard Looney, TotalEnergies, Looney, TotalEnergies ’, Patrick Pouyanné, Bernstein, you’re, BP, Aimee Donnellan, Pranav Kiran, Streisand Neto Organizations: Reuters, BP, Bernstein Research, Siemens, Reuters Graphics Reuters, TotalEnergies, Federal, Thomson Locations: Germany, Berlin, U.S, Heligoland, Baltic, Ruegen, Europe, TotalEnergies

Another source inside Barclays' investment bank, talking anonymously because they are not authorised to speak to the media, said lower staff attrition at its technology and back office operations had started to worry cost-conscious managers. The BCG review could lead to layoffs, the source familiar with the review said, although no decisions have been made. Some top Barclays investors, however, told Reuters they would have misgivings about a plan to prioritise investment over capital distributions. But a recent shake-up at its investment bank has raised concern about Barclays' ability to compete amid a worldwide dealmaking slump. They are not valued properly together," said Alan Beaney, chief executive at RC Brown Investment Management, which has held Barclays shares since 2012.

Persons: C.S, shivers, Richard Marwood, Venkat, Edward Bramson, Richard Buxton, Alan Beaney, Elisa Martinuzzi, Mark Potter Organizations: Barclays, Boston Consulting, Reuters, Royal London Asset Management, Lehman Brothers, Jupiter Asset, RC Brown Investment Management, BNP, HSBC, Reuters Graphics Barclays, Jefferies, Thomson Locations: U.S, Africa

Companies Bp Plc FollowTotalEnergies SE FollowFRANKFURT/LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Oil majors BP (BP.L) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) emerged as the winners in a 7 gigawatt (GW) offshore wind site auction in Germany worth 12.6 billion euros ($13.96 billion), highlighting the appeal of renewable assets across Europe. "The results confirm the attractiveness of investments in offshore wind power in Germany," said Klaus Mueller, president of Germany's energy regulator Bundesnetzagentur. Analysts at Jefferies noted the high price for the auction, adding that it implied "high interest in European offshore wind sites from energy companies/developers". BP won the rights to develop two projects, marking its entry into offshore wind in continental Europe and representing 4 GW out of the total, it said in a separate statement. "This is a significant milestone for BP, showing our commitment to transitioning into an integrated energy company," BP head of offshore wind Matthias Bausenwein said.

Persons: Klaus Mueller, Matthias Bausenwein, Patrick Pouyanne, TotalEnergies, Vera Eckert, Christoph Steitz, Ron Bousso, Friederike Heine, Sharon Singleton, Chris Reese Organizations: Bp, Oil, BP, Jefferies, Federal, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, LONDON, Germany, Europe, Heligoland, Baltic, Ruegen, TotalEnergies, Frankfurt, London

A Venture Global LNG spokesperson did not comment on the Shell and BP claims. Shell and BP missed out on billions of dollars in sales that went to Venture Global LNG because they were unable to get their contracted fuel, one of the people familiar with the arbitration filings said. Another Venture Global LNG contract customer, Spanish energy firm Repsol SA (REP.MC), has asked U.S. regulators to release confidential records that would shed light on the plant's startup. Founded by a former energy lawyer and investment banker, Venture Global LNG has emerged as a market force with its ability to obtain financing and rapidly build export plants. The contracts were tied to Calcasieu Pass LNG, the first of Venture Global LNG's three planned facilities.

Persons: Costas Baltas, Ira Joseph, Marwa Rashad, Curtis Williams, Scott DiSavino, Gary McWilliams, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Top, Shell, BP, U.S, Venture Global LNG, Venture Global, London Court, International, Edison SpA, Repsol SA, Columbia University's Center, Global Energy, Thomson Locations: Bermuda, Revithoussa, Greece, Europe, Calcasieu, London, Houston

☆ BP settles US natgas market manipulation case for $10.75 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) alleged that BP violated the Natural Gas Act by manipulating the next-day gas market at Houston Ship Channel from mid-September through Nov. 30, 2008. BP paid a civil penalty of $24,356,686 in December 2020 and disgorgement of unjust profits of $250,295 in January 2021 in the case. FERC said under the settlement BP will not seek return of the $250,295 of disgorgement it has paid. The case related to actions by BP traders to take advantage of market dislocations around the time Hurricane Ike smashed into the Houston area in September 2008. FERC's Office of Enforcement alleged BP traders made uneconomic physical gas sales to suppress the Houston Ship Channel Gas Daily index and boost the value of BP's financial position.

Persons: Ike, Scott DiSavino, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Bp, BP, U.S . Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Houston Ship Channel, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth Circuit, FERC, U.S . Court, Federal, FERC's, Enforcement, Houston Ship Channel Gas, Thomson Locations: U.S, Houston

☆ BP in talks over insurance deal for pension scheme, Financial Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Bp Plc FollowJuly 7 (Reuters) - Energy giant BP (BP.L) is in talks with insurers over a so-called buy-in deal for its 30 billion pound ($38.30 billion) pension scheme, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Such options include long-term insurance policies," BP Pension Fund Trustee said in an emailed statement. Companies have been trying to offload pension schemes from their balance sheets in recent years as they are expensive to run, while bulk annuity deals have provided a growing source of income for insurers. In February, Pension Insurance Corporation agreed to a pensions buy-in deal totalling around 6.5 billion pounds with insurer RSA Group, covering the pensions of 40,000 members, in the largest ever bulk annuity deal of the kind. That buy-in involved the insurer taking on the risk of the pension scheme's liabilities.

Persons: Yadarisa, Shinjini Organizations: Bp, Energy, BP, Financial Times, BP's, Fund, Pension Insurance Corporation, RSA Group, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, Shadia, London

☆ UK FTSE 100 at three-month low as rate hike worries grip; Currys slumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Shashwat Chauhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The blue-chip FTSE 100 (.FTSE) fell 1.2%, hitting its lowest level since March 24. Currys (CURY.L) tumbled 13.3% to its lowest level in more than 20 years after the electricals retailer reported a 38% slump in full-year profit. The commodity-heavy UK benchmark has been underperforming its peers this year amid volatility in resource prices over an uncertain global outlook. Among individual stocks, United Utilities (UU.L) climbed 1.8% after Morgan Stanley raised the water utility firm's rating to "overweight" from "equal-weight." Reporting by Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann ThoppilOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: tanked, Chris Beauchamp, Beauchamp, Morgan Stanley, Shashwat Chauhan, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: United Utilities, P, FTSE, U.S, U.S . Federal, IG Group, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Prudential, CAB, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, U.S ., Bengaluru

☆ Trans Mountain pipeline expansion likely to send more Canadian oil to US, not Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Western sanctions on Russian crude following its invasion of Ukraine have upended those plans. Canadian barrels will struggle to compete, analysts and traders said. Chinese oil refiners PetroChina (601857.SS) and Sinopec (600028.SS) have bought and processed Canadian heavy crude in the past. Russia's Urals crude produces higher volumes of fuel and is significantly cheaper than heavy Canadian barrels, said one Calgary-based crude trader. "Today every crude in Asia is having a hard time competing with Russian crude," York said.

Persons: crudes, TMX, John Coleman, Wood Mackenzie, Skip York, York, Nia Williams, Florence Tan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S ., Canadian, Sinclair, Puget Sound, U.S . Energy, Administration, Turner, Mason & Company, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S . West Coast, Asia, Ukraine, Canada, United States, Russia, Alberta, British, Pacific Coast, North America, China, India, Calgary, Canadian, Iraq, California, York, Moscow, Basra, British Columbia, Singapore

NEW YORK/LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - A lackluster IPO market is showing signs of life as a flurry of deals in the United States and Europe raise hopes that a recovery may be in sight. With investors now predicting an end to the Federal Reserve's rate hikes later this year, optimism has resumed. This allowed thrift shop chain Savers Value Village (SVV.N) to raise $401 million in its New York IPO this week, more than it originally set out to. Investors continued to snap up its shares, with the stock closing up 27% on its first day of trading. EUROPE IPOS ON THE WAYIn Europe, three IPOs are on track to be completed by early July, but two of them have already had to moderate their valuation expectations.

Persons: Aloke Gupte, Tom Swerling, Paul Abrahimzadeh, Hidroelectrica, Fondul, WE Soda, Ferretti, Coty, Andrew Briscoe, David DiPietro, Rowe Price, Echo Wang, Pablo Mayo, Elisa Martinuzzi, Mark Potter Organizations: Investors, JPMorgan Chase &, CAB, Kodiak Gas Services, Fidelis Insurance Holdings, Barclays, North America, Citigroup, U.S, Heineken, General, GE Healthcare Technologies, Bank of, Pablo Mayo Cerquiero, Thomson Locations: United States, Europe, Ukraine, New York, London, Africa, Asia, Kodiak, Fidelis, Cava, EUROPE, Romanian, Hong Kong, Milan, East

☆ Renewables growth did not dent fossil fuel dominance in 2022, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Energy consumption grew everywhere apart from Europe, including Eastern Europe. Renewables, excluding hydropower, accounted for 7.5% of global energy consumption, around 1% higher than the previous year. The share of fossil fuels in global energy consumption remained at 82%. Most oil demand growth came from revived appetite for jet fuel and diesel-related products. Europe accounted for much of LNG demand growth, increasing its imports by 57%, while countries in the Asia-Pacific region and South and Central America reduced purchases.

Persons: Juliet Davenport, consultancies, Shadia, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Belchatow, REUTERS, Stezycki Companies, World Energy, Energy, Energy Institute, consultancies KPMG, Kearny, BP, Renewables, OECD, Central America, Thomson Locations: Zlobnica, Poland, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, Paris, Eastern Europe, United States, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, South, Central, Japan, China, India, Indonesia

As part of those reforms, Nigeria, Africa's top oil producer, plans to scrap an old scheme by which it swaps its crude for gasoline imports. We are getting our swaps crude cargo in October at the earliest," one major player said. Nigeria's falling oil production has exacerbated the country's fiscal problems, because it reduces the revenue that could be used to repay debt. PRIVATE IMPORTERSPaying for fuel deliveries with crude cargoes means there is less crude for Nigeria and NNPC's to export, and so less revenue. International monetary experts have long suggested Nigeria remove fuel subsidies and liberalise its foreign exchange to address its fiscal crisis.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Mele Kyari, Kyari, NNPC, Tinubu, Aliko, Nigeria's, Julia Payne, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Libby George, Dzirutwe MacDonald, David Evans Organizations: Reuters, NNPC, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, LONDON, Nigeria

SummarySummary Companies Shell to hold oil output steadyCompany to grow gas and LNG businessCapital spending reduced for 2024-25LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) will ramp up its dividend and share buybacks while keeping oil output steady into 2030, it said on Wednesday, as CEO Wael Sawan moved to regain investor confidence that wavered over its energy transition plan. Shell shares were up 1.5% at 1204 GMT, against a 1% rise for an index of European oil and gas companies (.SXEP). Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan, Shell, Sawan, Biraj Borkhataria, Thilo, Bernard Looney, Ron Bousso, David Goodman, Jan Harvey Organizations: Shell, RBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Royal, REUTERS, BP, Lebanese, Thomson Locations: New York, Wesseling, Cologne, Germany, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

The plan is the linchpin of Sawan's effort to boost Shell's share performance relative to its U.S. peers, which has suffered despite a record $40 billion profit last year. Its shares closed up 0.4%, against a flat index of European oil and gas companies (.SXEP) on Wednesday. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsOIL STEADYShell scrapped its previous target to cut oil output by 20% by 2030 after largely reaching the goal. It currently has a target to cut its 2030 emissions intensity, including from the combustion of the fuels it sells, by 20%. Shell also faces a Dutch court ruling ordering the company to drastically cut emissions.

Persons: Wael Sawan, Sawan, Biraj Borkhataria, Thilo, Shell, Bernard Looney, Ron Bousso, Jan Harvey, Alexander Smith, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Shell, British, RBC, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Royal, REUTERS, BP, Lebanese, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New York, Wesseling, Cologne, Germany, Bukom, Jurong, Singapore, Paris

☆ Australia's AGL partners with BP to offer discounted charging to NSW customers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Australia's AGL Energy (AGL.AX) said on Thursday it has partnered with energy giant BP (BP.L) for a three-year agreement to offer discounted charging to drivers of electric vehicles in New South Wales, as more companies look to pivot to green energy. Under the deal, the company and BP Pulse, the electric vehicle charging business of the London-based firm, will offer customers in New South Wales special charging rates and ultra-fast chargers when they sign up for AGL's existing Electric Vehicle (EV) at-home programme. BP said the agreement is in line with its strategy to roll out its network of 600 BP Pulse EV charging points across Australia by 2025. "As we transition to a low-carbon future, this agreement will empower our customers with innovative, sustainable and cost-effective EV charging solutions," AGL Chief Customer Officer Jo Egan said. The demand for electric vehicles has been on the rise recently, with multiple companies looking to expand their portfolios towards sustainable energy.

Persons: Jo Egan, Archishma Iyer, Pooja Desai Organizations: Energy, BP, Thomson Locations: New South Wales, London, Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Shell makes risky pitch for the middle ground
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Yawen Chen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

He has stressed that Shell, currently trading around five times expected 2024 earnings compared to twice that for its U.S. peers, merits more generosity. Shell will hike its dividend by 15% and spend $1 billion more on buybacks, starting in the second quarter. He will invest $10 billion to $15 billion in so-called low-carbon solutions like biofuels and hydrogen between 2023 and 2025. Equally, Wednesday’s plan will disappoint climate-focused shareholders, who currently form roughly 15% of Shell’s investor register based on recent votes on emission cuts. Shell shares have outperformed both U.S. and European rivals since Sawan took over in January.

Persons: Wael Sawan’s, Sawan, Jefferies, George Hay, Pranav Kiran Organizations: Reuters, Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, BP, International Energy Agency, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, divestments, Namibia, New York City

[1/2] A Shell logo is pictured during the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, May 23, 2022. His more cautious approach to the energy transition marks a change in tack from his predecessor Ben van Beurden who introduced the carbon reduction targets and the energy transition strategy. It is also exiting its European power retail businesses, which were seen only a few years ago as key to its energy transition. At the same time, Shell reported record profits of $40 billion last year on the back of strong oil and gas prices. Sawan previously flagged that the 2021 target to cut oil output by 20% the end of the decade was under review.

Persons: Denis Balibouse, Sawan, Wael Sawan's, Ben van Beurden, Shell, Bernard Looney, Lucas Herrmann, Herrmann, Ron Bousso, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: European Business Aviation Convention, REUTERS, Shell, LONDON, BP, Reuters Graphics Reuters, U.S, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Investors, Thomson Locations: Geneva, Switzerland, New York, Shell, Lebanese, Namibia, London

☆ Exclusive: LNG developer Venture Global spars with customers over cargoes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Curtis Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Italian electric utility company, Edison SpA (EDNn.MI), in May brought an arbitration proceeding against Venture Global over its failure to supply cargoes, Edison's spokeswoman said. Venture Global described the complex at the time of its first cargo shipment last year as holding "the global record for the fastest large-scale greenfield LNG facility to ever be built." Edison and Repsol signed purchase contracts with Venture Global in 2017 and 2018, respectively. That volume irked contract customers who believe Venture Global took advantage of high spot LNG prices at their expense. In its reply to DOE, Venture Global chastised Repsol as an "impatient" customer.

Persons: Shaylyn Hynes, Hynes, Repsol, Portugal's, Edison, Venture Global's Hynes, Curtis Williams, Gary McWilliams, Paul Simao Organizations: HOUSTON, Venture Global LNG, U.S, LNG, Edison SpA, Venture Global, Repsol SA, U.S . Department of Energy, DOE, Venture, Reuters, Edison, Shell, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, General Electric Co, Thomson Locations: Calcasieu, Spanish, Arlington , Virginia, Cameron Parish , Louisiana, Europe, Russia, Ukraine

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