Vitol, Trafigura among bidders for Turkey's biggest fuel retailer

OMV AG has received initial bids from Vitol SA and Trafigura Group for the acquisition of its Turkish fuel retailing unit OMV Petrol Ofisi AS, reports Bloomberg.

After OMV announced last February its intentions to sell OMV Petrol Ofisi, a number of companies have made initial bids or showed interest in acquiring Turkey´s leading fuel retailer.

With 1,785 fuel stations, the company operates the largest retail station network in Turkey and it is a leading fuels supplier to commercial and industrial customers.

The State Oil Co. of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is another firm in the race to acquire the fuel business, as confirmed by Zaur Gakhramanov, head of SOCAR Turkey Enerji, last June. Sources cited by Bloomberg indicate that Opet Petrolculuk AS, BP Plc, and Aramco are also weighing in bids.

OMV bought Petrol Ofisi for more than $2.5 billion from Dogan Sirketler Grubu Holding AS between 2006 and 2010.