The acquisition of a petrol station located in Pazardzhik municipality by fuel retailer Shell Bulgaria previously owned by local company ET Universalstroy was approved by Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC).
The statement from the regulator said that a market analysis of the transaction was not required as the turnover of the filling station did not exceed 1.5 million euros in 2019, adding that this acquisition aims to improve the quality of fuel and services provided by Shell Bulgaria to end customers as well as to generate sufficient returns to keep investment levels high.
Last year, Shell Bulgaria obtained CPC’s approval for the acquisition of four petrol station which operated under its brand, but were owned by local company Litex Commerce. The statement from the regulator said that the said acquisition will not result in the establishment or strengthening of a dominant position on the local market. It also does not lead to a change of the entity which currently controls the filling stations, since Shell Bulgaria will continue to operate them already as an owner. Shell entered the Bulgarian market in 1991. The company currently has a network of around 100 petrol stations, of which it directly owns 80, while the rest are subject to franchise agreements.
