Noble and HES Buy Maas Silo

NEW YORK - Jul 9/08 - SNS -- Noble Netherlands B.V. and H.E.S. Beheer N.V. have agreed with Fluvia Holding B.V. and De Jong Holding Group B.V. to acquire the shares they each hold in Maas Silo B.V.

Noble and HES will each hold 50% of shall also enter into a 50/50 joint-venture arrangement with regard to the operation of Maas Silo and have agreed the terms of a joint venture to operate Mass Silo going forwards. Noble’s investment in Maas Silo is for a consideration of €8 million euros. HES, who is already a 40% shareholder in Maas Silo, will pay €1.6 million.

Maas Silo was formed in 1999 by four Rotterdam companies, including HES and is now a fully-certified storage and transshipment company for grains and derivatives in the Rotterdam Botlek area, with facilities to process these raw materials. In addition to agribulk products, Maas Silo can store and transship edible and industrial oils.

Plans are being developed for an expansion of existing activities in tank storage together with entry into the market for stevedoring of mineral oils and chemicals. The location in the Botlek area, with a 420 metre deep water unloading pier (13.6 metres draft) is ideally suited for handling liquid bulk products by ship, inland shipping tankers, tank trucks or tank containers.