Allen & Overy (A&O) and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom have won the lead mandates on Shell’s $1bn (£617m) sale of parts of its African business.

The deal, which comes as Shell moves to sell off non-core operations, will see oil trader Vitol and private equity firm Helios Investment Partners acquire the majority of Shell’s shareholdings in its downstream businesses in Africa.