European Commission approves Diester’s acquisition of Belgium’s Oleon

The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Belgium’s Oleon Holding by the French biodiesel producer Diester Industrie. Both companies produce and sell biodiesel and glycerine, but “the Commission’s investigation found that the merged entity would not be in a position to close off competing refined glycerine manufacturers’ access to crude glycerine supplies,” according to a statement from the EC.

A controlling interest in Diester belongs to an oilseeds conglomerate, Sofiproteol.

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