The Commerce Commission has cleared Shell NZ to acquire 48 unattended aviation fuel stops at 34 local and regional airfields from Mobil Oil NZ.
Commerce Commission chairwoman Paula Rebstock said the commission wassatisfied the proposed acquisition would not have, or was likely to have, the effect of substantiallylessening competition in any of the relevant markets.
The supply of aviation fuel to domestic and international scheduled passengerairlines is excluded from the acquisition, as is supply to the military and to other aircraft that use manned refuelling services.
Shell's network comprises 32 facilities at 23 locations. There was only limited overlap at seven locations as a result of the acquisition.
The Aerostop assets being acquired supply aviation fuel to light aircraft and helicopters which service agriculture, flying schools, tourism and recreational flying.
Customers are supplied through unattended pumps activated with swipe or fuel cards.
Shell did not consider there was an alternative purchaser for the business.
Shell and Mobil entered into a sale and purchase agreement, conditional on thecommission's approval.
