On July 24, 2025, the Competition Council (CC) adopted a decision to allow SIA “Circle K Latvia” (Circle K) to acquire sole decisive influence over 26 fuel stations (FS) owned by SIA “ASTARTE-NAFTA” (ASTARTE-NAFTA) (the Merger). At the same time, to prevent risks of restricting competition, the CC set binding conditions for the transaction – the FS in Dobele taken over from ASTARTE-NAFTA must be maintained as a self-service station as long as a Circle K franchise FS operates there. Both Circle K and ASTARTE-NAFTA operate in the retail and wholesale of fuel and petroleum products, as well as offer additional goods and services – autogas, fast food, hot drinks, and essential goods. Circle K is one of the leading fuel traders in Latvia,…