AUS:Australia Lubricants Joint Venture

No Opposition to BP Amoco/Caltex Australia Lubricants Joint Venture

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not oppose a lubricants joint venture between BP Amoco and Caltex, ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.

"BP Amoco and Caltex Australia announced earlier this month that they had signed a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture for the blending, packaging and warehousing of lubricants in Australia.

"The ACCC has considered the competition implications of the proposal. Based on information supplied by the parties and available to it, the ACCC concluded the joint venture was unlikely to lead to any substantial lessening of competition.

"There are a significant number of lubricant product suppliers in Australia. Aside from the major oil companies, there are a number of other lubricant manufacturers that have achieved strong brand recognition amongst consumers and captured a substantial market share.

"The ACCC also took into account that BP Amoco and Caltex Australia will continue to separately market lubricant products under their own brand names".

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