Shell's Buyback Desk Stays Busy While a $8 Billion Chemicals Question Hangs Over Infineum
Published on 10/27/2026 at 06:20 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Shell kept its share repurchase machine running through the back half of the week, disclosing fresh buybacks on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam even as speculation swirls around the future of its chemicals joint venture.
The company bought 1,027,233 shares on the LSE and 515,198 on XAMS on Friday, all earmarked for cancellation under its existing programme. Those figures follow Thursday's purchases of 1,075,000 shares in London and 535,000 in Amsterdam. A day earlier, on 21 October, Shell had picked up 1,025,000 shares on the LSE and 525,000 on XAMS, with the mandatory disclosure again tying the transactions to the same programme and the same cancellation purpose.
Bank of America Tapped for Infineum Review
Away from the buyback window, attention is fixed on Infineum, the British chemicals venture Shell owns 50/50 with ExxonMobil. Reuters reported Thursday, citing the Financial Times, that the two owners are weighing a sale that could value the business at roughly $8 billion. Bank of America has been mandated as adviser, according to the report, which stressed that no deal is certain and that the review concerns a possible transaction rather than an agreed disposal.
Because the stake is split evenly between the two energy majors, any sale would involve a shared asset rather than a Shell-only holding.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Shell?
Jackdaw Clears Its Regulatory Hurdle
On the upstream side, the UK government gave the green light to gas production at the Jackdaw field in the North Sea on 21 October. Adura, the joint venture between Shell and Equinor, operates the field. According to the government, supply from Jackdaw could begin before the end of October — a possibility rather than a confirmed start-up.
Shell welcomed the decision, calling the approval an important step for Britain's energy security and for investment.
Nigeria Exit Agreed, With a Long Runway
Shell also struck a deal on 13 October to sell its entire interest in Shell Nigeria Gas Group to Vaaris Energy. Completion is expected in the first half of 2027 and remains subject to regulatory approvals. No financial terms were disclosed.
Shell at a turning point? This analysis reveals what investors need to know now.
Investors will get their next hard look at the company on 29 October 2026, when Shell is scheduled to publish third-quarter results. The stock slipped 0.9% in the previous session.
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