Motiva Enterprises LLC, which markets Shell-branded gasoline in the Eastern and Southern U.S., has entered into a joint venture with SMO Inc., an affiliate of The Wills Group Inc., a Maryland-based branded wholesaler with 300 dealer-operated stations throughout the mid-Atlantic region, BusinessWire reported.
The new entity will be called Potomac Energy Holdings LLC. The company has acquired 73 existing Shell-branded retail locations in Maryland, primarily in Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties. The sites will continue to operate under the Shell brand and sell Shell-branded fuels. SMO will provide management oversight of the locations as a part of its partnership with Motiva.
“This latest purchase is a new venture for us in working with Shell as our financial partner,” said Lock Wills, president and CEO of The Willis Group. “We are excited about the opportunity and looking forward to building the value of the Shell brand experience for customers.”
Potomac Energy Holdings has committed more than $3 million dollars for immediate investment in new equipment to better serve the customer transaction process.
The agreement underscores Motiva’s operational strategy to leverage strategic business arrangements with strong local wholesalers to grow the Shell brand.
