<\/p>\n
\nThe 240 Gull and NPD sites throughout the country would maintain their original distinctive brand if the merger goes ahead.
\nPhoto: Supplied\/ NPD\n<\/p>\n
Fuel companies NPD and Gull have announced plans to merge national operations.<\/p>\n
While still subject to Commerce Commission approval, the move would combine NPD and Gull sites, teams and supply chains to form the largest independent, majority Kiwi-owned fuel company.<\/p>\n
Each of their combined 240 sites would maintain it’s distinctive brand – Gull sites are most common in the North Island, and NPD in the South, the companies said in a statement released on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n
The South Island-based Sheridan family would own fifty percent, with Barry Sheridan, the current NPD owner and chief executive, to become the head of the new company.<\/p>\n
Australasian private equity firm Allegro Funds, which owns Gull, would hold the other half.<\/p>\n
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\nThe Gull station in New Lynn, West Auckland
\nPhoto: Google Maps\n<\/p>\n
The companies said the move should drive down pump prices, with Sheridan saying both companies were focused on making it easy for customers to pay less.<\/p>\n
“NPD started doing so more than 55 years ago and Gull started shaking up the market 25 years ago,” he said. “Together, we’ll do even more, so motorists pay less.”<\/p>\n
The companies had a combined staff of 130, and a combined buying power of one billion litres of fuel a year.<\/p>\n
Gull chief executive Dan Gilbert said: “Joining forces means we’ll be everywhere, accelerating what we can do for more customers in more places.”<\/p>\n
Duplicating systems and sharing services would help the new company continue to deliver market leading competitive pricing to motorists, the statement said.<\/p>\n
The parties said they had already engaged with the Commerce Commission, and an application for clearance would be registered in January.<\/p>\n