The competition authority approved the full takeover of the Gazprom gas station network in Romania by the Romanian entrepreneurs Iulian Stanciu, the former head of eMAG, and Adrian Crețoiu, the owner of the business and management consulting company First All Energy Europe (FAEE) by decision number 211/2026, on the grounds that the notified economic concentration operation, although falling under the jurisdiction of the Competition Law, does not present serious doubts regarding its compatibility with a normal competitive environment.
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 47 paragraph (2) letter a) of the Competition Law No. 21/1996, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, the present non-objection decision is issued regarding the economic concentration operation to be carried out through the acquisition of joint, indirect control by Messrs. Iulian Stanciu and Adrian Crețoiu, over NIS Petrol SRL (the company that manages the gas station network – n.r.). It is noted that, although the notified operation falls under the competition law no. 21/1996, republished, with subsequent amendments and additions, there are no serious doubts regarding its compatibility with a normal competitive environment”, the document states.
On 04.05.2026, the simplified notification form was submitted to the Competition Council, registered with no. RS-46/04.05.2026 (Unique file number 2601149), regarding the economic concentration operation to be carried out through the acquisition of joint, indirect control by Iulian Stanciu and Adrian Crețoiu over NIS Petrol SRL. The notification became effective on 12.08.2026, the date on which the Competition Council received all accurate and complete information.
The notified economic concentration operation is based on the sale-purchase agreement concluded between NIS a.d. Novi Sad (Serbia), as the seller, and Argenta, as the buyer, for the sale and transfer of 100% of the voting rights and share capital of NIS Petrol.
Argenta carries out activities related to the manufacture of metal constructions and component parts of metal structures, construction works of utility projects for fluids and construction works of other engineering projects. The company is jointly controlled by the two entrepreneurs (Iulian Stanciu – 40% of the shares and Adrian Crețoiu – 60%).
“”As a result of these transactions, Messrs. Iulian Stanciu and Adrian Crețoiu are to acquire joint, indirect control over NIS Petrol”, according to the decision.
The Competition Council found that, from the perspective of the relations between the activities of the parties involved, there are no horizontal overlaps, but the transaction can be considered to have the character of vertical integration, since the acquiring parties operate upstream as a service provider, while the target company operates in a downstream market, namely the market for the development, production and marketing of crude oil.
“According to the information provided by the notifying parties, the market shares held by the parties involved in each of the markets in which they operate are below the 30% threshold provided for by the Regulation on economic concentrations. Thus, it follows that the transaction does not generate affected markets. Therefore, the proposed operation does not raise significant obstacles to effective competition on the Romanian market or on a substantial part of it, in particular by creating or consolidating a dominant position on the territory of Romania, in the sense of Article 11 of the Competition Law. In these conditions, although the notified economic concentration operation falls under the jurisdiction of the Competition Law, there are no serious doubts regarding its compatibility with a normal competitive environment”, the plenary sent.
The two entrepreneurs are to pay within 30 days the merger authorization fee, which is calculated according to the turnover communicated by the notifying parties.
NIS Petrol’s main activity is the retail trade of fuels for motor vehicles. It is fully owned (100% of the capital) by NIS a.d. Novi Sad, a company listed on the Belgrade Stock Exchange, Serbia. According to public information, the structure of the share capital of NIS a.d. Novi Sad, as of December 31, 2025, was as follows: PJSC Gazprom Neft – 44.85%; Republika Srpska – 29.87%, and the rest JSC Intelligence.