OREANDA-NEWS. December 02, 2008. TNK-BP will complete its transactions for buying networks of retail sites in the Russian Federation and Ukraine by the end of this year, Alexander Kaplan, Acting Executive Vice President, Downstream, TNK-BP, said to journalists, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

He noted that 154 retail sites, 81 land plots for retail sites, and 5 oil depots have been purchased. According to him, these purchases were made between December 2007 and March 2008. “These transactions are practically completed at this time. There are payments still to be made by the end of this year,” said Mr. Kaplan.

The press service of TNK-BP informed that the networks of retail sites and oil depots were purchased for US 891 million.

Mr. Kaplan noted that this year TNK-BP bought retail sites in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Krasnodar.

As reported earlier, in late February 2008 the Federal Antimonopoly Service allowed TNK-BP Ltd. to purchase 24 companied engaged in supplies of oil products and fuels. According to the information of the Petroleum Information Agency (ANI), the companies listed in the permission of the Federal Antimonopoly Service are controlling approximately 110 retail sites and several oil depots in Moscow, Moscow Region, and Saint Petersburg.

Representatives of TNK-BP said that the company was conducting negotiations for purchasing a number of independent companies owning retail sites, some of which are under the management of the company “Magistral.” Most of the retail sites operated by these companies are working under franchising contracts as TNK retail sites.

After completion of transactions for buying networks of retail sites in Moscow and the Moscow Region, TNK-BP may control more than 20% of the retail market of this region.

In the beginning of 2008, the company operated approximately 100 own retail sites working under the BP and TNK brands and 70 jobber retail sites in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Two weeks ago, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine allowed the joint venture LLC “Kersher” (Kiev) to rent 36 retail sites and 2 oil depots in Kiev and the Kiev Region from the “Gepard” group. The joint venture “Kersher” represents TNK-BP in the retail market of oil products in Ukraine. The company manages the own retail sites of the holding in Ukraine, controls the retail sales of oil products from the Lisichansk Oil Refinery, and provides associated services to end users.

Currently, the network of TNK-BP in Ukraine includes 40 retail sites, and its jobber network is at the stage of reforming and re-branding. The company announced about its intention to expand its jobber network under a renewed brand to include up to 300 retail sites.