JEDDAH, 6 July 2004 — Saudi Aramco signed an agreement yesterday to acquire a strategic stake in Japanese leading oil refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu, the Saudi company said in a joint statement with Royal Dutch Shell Group. The deal, signed by Aramco Overseas Company BV, a subsidiary of the Saudi national oil company, forms a partnership between Saudi Aramco and the largest shareholder in the Japanese firm, Royal Dutch Shell Group, the statement said in Riyadh. Royal Dutch Shell, a 50 percent shareholder of Showa Shell, agreed to transfer 37,540,000 shares, or 9.96 percent of total shares, to Saudi Aramco.