OMV Continues to Optimise its Filling Station Network in Austria
- Approximately 60 filling stations sold since the beginning of the year 2008 - locations guaranteed by new operators
- Additional 70 OMV and Avanti filling stations up for sale now
- Clear focus on OMV strategy: expansion of premium station locations and quality leadership with the VIVA brand
In 2008, OMV announced the optimisation of its current operating network of 559 filling stations in Austria through sale. To date, approximately 60 locations under the Avanti and OMV brands have been sold to new operators. In a next step, an additional 70 OMV and Avanti filling stations will be placed on the market nationwide. Against the backdrop of intensive competition on the filling station market, the OMV strategy is to continue to consistently focus on quality and convenience and to strengthen and further expand premium station locations as well as the VIVA brand. This requires locations with high customer frequency. The disposal of the current filling station network within the framework of a customary industry network evaluation will lead to enhanced efficiency and cost optimisation.
28 of the OMV and Avanti filling stations sold in Styria and Carinthia were taken over by Annawitt, a company based in Graz, and will be further operated under the A1 brand. Eleven of the OMV and Avanti filling stations in Burgenland were acquired by the Vienna-based petroleum company AWI Mineralölgroßhandel and will be rebranded with the AWI brand. Eleven stations in Tirol and two stations in Vorarlberg will become part of the filling station network of the Gutmann company. The firm Leikermoser acquired two OMV filling stations in Salzburg. Moreover, single stations were sold to private individuals.
The sale of an additional 70 filling stations – approximately 30 OMV and 40 Avanti stations – is planned to be finalised by year-end 2009. The OMV filling station strategy is focused on growth in the premium segment: it is aimed at the consistent strengthening and further expansion of premium station locations with high customer frequency as well as the VIVA brand. OMV is committed to continuing to meet customer needs in the future. With a high-value offering, a pleasant ambiance and a first-class service portfolio, the company is clearly positioning itself as quality leader. OMV is currently operating 170 filling stations with VIVA throughout Austria. A further roll-out up to 200 VIVA shops is planned.
Background information
OMV Aktiengesellschaft:
With Group sales of EUR 20.04 bn and a workforce of 33,665 employees in 2007, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. As the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe, OMV is active in Refining and Marketing (R&M) in 13 countries. In Exploration and Production (E&P) OMV is active in 20 countries on five continents. OMV Gas & Power (G&P) sells more than 13 bcm gas a year. Via Baumgarten, one of the most important gas turntables in Europe, approximately 64 bcm gas is transported annually. OMV’s Central European Gas Hub is amongst the three largest trading platforms in continental Europe.
OMV is the largest oil and gas group in Central Europe, with oil and gas reserves of approx. 1.22 bn boe, daily production of around 316,000 boe and an annual refining capacity of 26 mn t. OMV has 2,524 filling stations in 13 countries. The market share of the group in the R&M business segment in the Danube Region is now 20%.
OMV further strengthened its leading position in the European growth belt through the acquisition of 41.58% of Petrol Ofisi, Turkey’s leading company in the retail and commercial business.
In June 2006, OMV has established the OMV Future Energy Fund, a wholly owned subsidiary, to support projects in renewable energy with more than EUR 100 mn. In this way OMV aims at initiating the switch from a pure oil and gas group to an energy group with renewable energy in its portfolio.
OMV: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
OMV is a member of the U.N. Global Compact and actively committed to the values enshrined in its Code of Conduct. These include a strong sense of responsibility towards the social and natural environment in economically weak regions. OMV works hard to address economic, environmental and social issues related to its operations. Its CSR activities are fully documented in biannual performance reports compiled according to Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. The "Global 100 Ranking" presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2008 ranks OMV as one of the six most sustainable energy companies worldwide.