Investigation into the distribution of road fuels in parts of Scotland
Case opened: January 2013
Case References: MP-SIP/0034/
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Summary of work
In January 2013, the OFT launched a formal investigation into the distribution of road fuels in the Western Isles of Scotland by GB Oils Limited ('GB Oils'). Since then the OFT has taken the decision to continue with the investigation and also to extend it to cover certain matters in the Shetland Islands. The investigation is under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 and relates to a suspected exclusionary abuses of a dominant position in the relevant market.
The subject matter of the investigation concerns the contractual arrangements for wholesale supply of road fuels in the Western Isles offered by GB Oils (where applicable trading under the name Scottish Fuels or through one of its group companies), the rebates paid to filling station customers in the Western Isles by GB Oils and any other payments that may have been made to filling station customers in the Western Isles by GB Oils.
The current investigation does not relate to excessive pricing and has not been prompted by the OFT's previous review of pricing, Petrol and Diesel Pricing in the Scottish Islands.
This case is at an early stage and no assumption should be made that there has been an infringement of competition law.
Case timetable
First Published: 18 January 2013
| Milestone | Date |
|
Investigation opened First Stop/Go Decision |
8 January 2013 (actual) April 2013 |
| Further investigation: information gathering, including issuance of formal or informal information requests and parties' responses | May 2013 - June 2013 (estimate) |
| - OFT analysis and review of parties' responses to information requests | June 2013- July 2013 (estimate) |
| Decision on whether to proceed with investigation or close | July 2013 (estimate) |
Notes
- The OFT has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of infringement of competition law for it to issue a Statement of Objections to any of the parties under investigation. Not all cases result in the OFT issuing a Statement of Objections.
- If the OFT issues a Statement of Objections, it will provide the addressee(s) of that Statement of Objections with an opportunity to make written and oral representations. Further detail of the OFT's Procedures in Competition Act cases is available here: Procedural Guidance.
- Changes to the timing of original entries in the case timetable will be made where the estimated timing in the original timetable changes.
Team Leader
James Macbeth (020 7211 8958, james.macbeth@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Project Director
Nisha Arora (020 7211 8853, nisha.arora@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Senior Responsible Officer
Ann Pope (020 7211 8786, ann.pope@oft.gsi.gov.uk)
Media enquiries
Any media enquiries should be directed to a member of our Press Office
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