The Latvian Competition Authority clears two mergers in the petrol and diesel retail market after a detailed assessment of relevant geographical market and dominance issues (Lukoil / Baltija-Grima / OS ipasumi)

On 14 September 2007 the Latvian Competition Council (“Competition Council”) adopted two decisions in cases n° 1467/07/05/19 and 1468/07/05/20 clearing the mergers between SIA Lukoil Baltija R (“Lukoil”) and SIA Grima (“Grima”), and between Lukoil and SIA OS ipasumi (“OS ipasumi”). The filings were made in connection with the intended lease by Lukoil of a fuel station owned by Grima in Riga and a fuel station owned by OS ipasumi in Aiviekstes county, Aizkraukles region. The decisions write yet another chapter to the story of consolidation of the Latvian petrol and diesel retail markets, and are, in particular, interesting from the viewpoint of the definition of the relevant geographic market. The Competition Council for the first time reviewed the geographic definition of the petrol and