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The European Commission said on Friday that it had granted permission to German marine fuel supplier Bominflot Bunkergesellschaft mbH & Co. KG to acquire control of rival bunker firm SBI Holding BV.

After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.

Both SBI and Bominflot are active in the physical supply of bunker fuels to seagoing ships, the supply of lubricating oils and marine gasoil as well as the trading of bunker fuel and lubricating oils. Bominflot is additionally active in the operation of tank farms and barges. SBI's operations are limited to Dutch ports and are provided through its subsidiary Oliehandel Klaas de Boer B.V. Bominflot's operations in the EEA are located in ports in Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain and Gibraltar.

The Commission examined the competitive effects of the proposed merger, notably the horizontal overlaps between the activities of SBI and Bominflot in the supply of bunker fuels, marine lubricants and marine gasoil, as well as the vertical link between the cargo trading market for bunker fuel and the retail supply of bunker fuel.

The Commission's investigation found that the proposed merger would not materially alter the competitive conditions in the relevant markets. A sufficient number of competitors would remain able to provide bunker fuel to end users. Therefore the Commission found that the transaction would not give rise to any competition concerns.