<p><strong>--350 service stations and 100 c-stores acquired from Shell and Statoil to be re-branded to Topaz banner over next 12 to 18 months</strong>
DUBLIN, Ireland (May 28, 2008)--Topaz Energy Group Limited recently took the wraps off its first group of Topaz fuel center/convenience store sites here, representing the culmination of a comprehensive strategic brand positioning, corporate identity program, and retail and environmental design prototype directed by the retail division of New York-based CBX.

These initial locations will set the stage for the re-branding over the next 12 to 18 months of 350 service stations and 100 convenience stores that Dublin-based Topaz had acquired from Shell Ireland and Statoil Ireland thus, ending a 106-year Shell presence in Ireland. Topaz Energy Group previously announced that it would invest 50 million Euros to support the launch of its new brand.

The first two units are located at Dublin Port and at Citywest in Dublin. The Dublin Port unit is the country's largest fueling site, encompassing 4.5 acres at the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel.

CBX's assignment began with market research and analytics in order to generate the new Topaz name and corporate identity for the stores. With Topaz competing against multi-nationals such as Texaco and Esso, along with smaller locally owned entities, the firm looked for a way in which the company's new fuel centers and convenience stores could uniquely serve the needs of Irish customers. "We believed there was a unique opportunity to position Topaz as Ireland's major homegrown, nationwide fuel and energy company," explained Joseph Bona, president of CBX’s retail division.

"Motorists driving past the new stations will come across a much warmer and friendlier brand identity intended to represent earth, sun and environment in a uniquely fresh approach for an energy company," Bona said. "The brand mark is also intended to portray Topaz as a progressive company, operated by progressive Irish locals." Motorists will also see the new brand on the company's many livery vehicles traveling around the countryside.

Once on the site, customers will come across the new Topaz 'Restore' convenience store concept, framed by a bright green and deep blue fasade. Inside Restore, guests will encounter a sleek, spacious contemporary design featuring an abundance of light, warm red tones on walls and upholstery, as well as rich woods on fixtures, flooring and furniture. They'll also find a generous amount of seating around Restore's extensive prepared and made-to-order food and beverage offer that includes coffee, smoothies, wraps and more than a dozen hot foods all on view behind contemporary styled cases. The store's merchandise offering is rounded out by a fully stocked dairy, frozen and staple foods area.

"This particular project," Bona noted, "offered CBX the opportunity to tap all of our disciplines, from our experts in consumer research and brand strategy, to our corporate identity, graphic and environmental design groups."

Topaz Chief Executive Danny Murray, comments T/K

Topaz purchased the retail, commercial fuels and lubricants business of Shell in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2005. This was followed in 2006 by its acquisition of Statoil Ireland. The convenience stores acquired from the two chains in Ireland range from 150 to 200 square meters.

With 35 billion euro in annual revenue, Topaz Energy Group Limited ranks as one Ireland’s largest private businesses. "Topaz is a true Irish company and with Ireland's booming economy, there was an opportunity to build a brand that clearly communicates its heritage and the spirit of a new dynamic, progressive Ireland," said Bona. "We look forward to working with Topaz on rolling out the new look to the balance of the chain."

<strong>About Topaz Energy Group Limited</strong>

Topaz Energy, a 100%-owned consortium led by Irish private equity firm Ion Equity, was created in 2005 to complete the acquisition of Shell Ireland, including its 55-unit retail operation. In 2006, Topaz acquired all 236 convenience and fuel stores owned and operated by Statoil Ireland. (NOTE: THESE DON'T FOOT WITH THE 350 FUEL CENTERS/100 C-STORES CITED ABOVE. LET'S CLARIFY. PERHAPS WE WOULD SAY: 350 FUEL CENTERS, 100 OF WHICH INCLUDE C-STORES) The Dublin-based company is now the largest fuels business in Ireland, with annual revenues of 3.5 billion euros. Its retail operations generate more than 1.5 million customer transactions each week – including the sale of four million cups of coffee and three million sandwiches a year. In addition to retail service stations, Topaz owns oil importation facilities in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Derry and Greenore, as well as local distribution depots geographically spread across Ireland. Topaz also supplies independently owned service stations. It sells gasoline, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil and lubricants into all market sectors, both directly and through a countrywide network of authorized distributors.</p>
