The invention relates to a shaped catalyst or catalyst precursor
containing a catalytically active component or a precursor therefore, the
component selected from elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of
the Elements, supported on a carrier, which catalyst or catalyst
precursor is an elongated shaped particle having three protrusions each
extending from and attached to a central position, wherein the central
position is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the particle, the
cross-section of the particle occupying the space encompassed by the
outer edges of six circles around a central circle, each of the six
circles touching two neighboring circles while three alternating circles
are equidistant to the central circle and may be attached to the central
circle, minus the space occupied by the three remaining outer circles and
including the six interstitial regions.The invention further relates to a
process to prepare the catalyst or catalyst precursor from a shapeable
dough, to the die-plate used for the preparation of an extruded catalyst
or catalyst precursor, to the use of the catalysts, as well as to
hydrocarbons prepared by using the catalyst.The invention further relates
to a process to obtain fuels and optionally base oils, by hydrogenation,
hydroisomerisation and/or hydrocracking of the hydrocarbons prepared by
using the catalyst.