The Hungarian oil and gas company MOL plans to operate 100 gas stations in Austria by the end of this year, said its leader Zsolt Hernadi. MOL aims to have a market share of five to 10 percent in the Austrian fuel retail market, Hernadi stated to the Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
The Hungarian company has informed the Austrian OMV that it wishes to purchase 100 gas stations from its ownership, but has not yet received a response, reported the Austrian news agency APA. Currently, MOL operates 34 Austrian discount gas stations under the brand name Roth. Their brand will not change, said MOL spokesperson Szabolc Ferencz, as MOL is a premium brand.
In August, OMV abandoned its attempt to acquire MOL after the European Commission rejected its proposals to prevent regional market concentration in retail and refining activities. MOL strongly resisted OMV’s acquisition offer through the buyback of its own shares and their lending to friendly banks and institutions to comply with the 10 percent voting rights limitation regulations. (H)
