Belgian MAES acquires all OCTA+ petrol stations

MAES Energy & Mobility will double its network of petrol stations in Belgium from 125 to 280 with the acquisition of more than 156 OCTA+ stations.

The acquisition, subject to Belgian Competition Authority approval, will convert MAES as one of the most important players in the Belgian fuel distribution market after Total and Q8.

Since 2013, MAES has been acquiring gas stations as part of its expansion strategy. It acquired about 40 gas stations from ESSO in the Belgian provinces of Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, and recently took over the stations of its rival Desimpel Energy Group, which expanded the network with 19 stations in East and West Flanders.

“It is also a great opportunity for us not only to enlarge our portfolio in Flanders, but also to expand it to Brussels and Wallonia, where we do not have any stations today,” said Dirk Maes, co-CEO of MAES, on the OCTA+ acquisition.

Etienne Rigo, co-CEO of OCTA+, noted, “We are extremely pleased that the OCTA+ gas stations are taken over by a company that has many similarities with us. Like OCTA+, MAES is a Belgian, family-owned company with the flexible structure of a SME.”

Discuss