Africa-focused private investment firm Helios Investment Partners and Netherlands-based energy and commodities group Vitol have agreed to acquire a 20 percent stake in Africa-focused downstream petroleum company Vivo Energy from Royal Dutch Shell for US$250 million. Upon completion of the deal, Helios and Vitol will own 100 percent of Vivo Energy. The transaction, which is expected to close in the first half of 2017, includes a long-term brand license agreement that will enable Vivo to continue to operate under the Shell brand. Vivo has a retail network of more than 1,700 fuel stations across 14 African markets.