For Your Information
FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Divestitures and Protecting Retail Fuel Customers following Global Partners LP’s Acquisition of Wheels
Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that Global Partners LP’s acquisition of 27 retail gasoline and diesel outlets owned or operated by Richard Wiehl violates federal antitrust laws.
Under the terms of the final settlement, Global and Wiehl must divest to Petroleum Marketing Investment Group six Global retail fuel outlets and one Wheels retail fuel outlet, among other conditions. To further protect competition in the relevant markets, the order also mandates that both Global and the divestiture buyer, Petroleum Marketing Investment Group, obtain the Commission’s prior approval for certain future deals.
First announced in December 2021, the complaint alleged that the acquisition would have significantly increased concentration in markets for the retail sale of gasoline in the Connecticut towns and cities of Fairfield, Bethel, Milford, Wilton, and Shelton. In all these local markets except Wilton, the acquisition would also have harmed competition for the retail sale of diesel fuel, according to the complaint.
The Commission vote to approve the final order was 4-0.
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