BMA approval for motor fuels deal
On May 13, 2024, the Belgian Competition Authority (hereinafter ‘BMA’) approved the concentration whereby Uhoda Group, through its holding company Financière Saint-Paul, acquires full control over the company Gilops Group and its subsidiaries.
The parties are mainly active in the wholesale and retail trade of motor fuels.
The concentration was notified on April 26, 2024 and the application of the simplified procedure was requested.
In Belgium, the Uhoda Group is mainly active in the service station sector (particularly fuel retailing and related stores), as well as in the events and real estate sectors. In Belgium, the Gilops Group is mainly active in the wholesale and retail trade of fuels and the storage of refined petroleum products.
The parties’ activities overlap on the market for the retail sale of motor fuels in petrol stations, the BMA writes. In addition, the merger creates potential vertical relationships between the wholesale trading of motor fuels by the Gilops Group and the retail trading of motor fuels by the parties, and between the wholesale trading of fuel oil by the Gilops Group and the retail trading of fuel oil by the Uhoda Group.
In its decision of May 13, 2024, the BMA determines that the conditions for the application of the simplified procedure are met and that the notified concentration does not give rise to any objections.
