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TollGroupLtdhasenteredintoan180millionagreementwithChevronAustraliatomanagelogisticalservicesontheGorgongasprojectonBarrowIslandoffWesternAustralia.WesternAustraliaslargestindependentfuelwholesalerandretailerGullPetroleumsaysitswillconsidereastcoastandpotentiallyoverseasacquisitionsunderitsgrowthplans.DepartingCaltexbossDesKingisconfidenttheAustralianCompetitionandConsumerCommissionwillapprovethecompanysbidformorethan300Mobilservicestationswhichwouldcatapultthepetrolretailerintomarketleadershipinallareasofitsoperations.TollGroupwins180mgascontractWesternAustraliancompanyGullPetroleumkeentospreaditswingsCaltexdepartingCEObelievesifCaltexgetapprovaltobuytheMobilsitesitwilltakeCaltextothetopIssuedbyQantasCorporateCommunication39201June2009CoutesyJune2009.TheAge.CourtesyAAP2709.9servicestationaustraliaspring09ssa.org.aucustomersfrom16July2009.OfferswillalsobelaunchedincomingmonthsforcustomersofBWSDickSmithandparticipatingCaltexWoolworthsco-brandedfueloutlets.Tollsaidithadenteredintoathree-yearagreementwithChevrontheleadjointventurepartnerintheGorgonprojectoffthenorth-westcoastofWA.MobilandShellbothhave25percentstakesintheproject.The35year-oldprivatefamily-ownedcompanyannounceditsacquisitionplansthisweeksayingitwascashed-upandhadalreadyidentifiedseveralacquisitionopportunities.ChiefexecutiveWayneFerrelltoldAAPthatGullwhichhasanetworkof132retailsitesacrossWAandNewZealandwouldcertainlylookatothergeographies.WerelookingatAustraliaandNewZealandandIwouldntlimitittojustthosetwolocationsMrFerrellsaid.Iftherightopportunitypresentedwewouldcertainlyhavealookatit.Wewouldbeverykeentospeakwithparties...iftheyrelookingatexitingthebusinessoropportunitiestodosomethingjointly.IndependentfuelretailersarenowfewwiththemarketdominatedbyChevronsarrangementwithWoolworthsLtdthroughitsCaltexarmandShellsdealwithColes.MrFerrellsaiditwasatoughbusinessbutGullhadtheadvantageofhavingbuiltAustraliasfirstindependentfuelterminalinAustraliain1993givingitanintegratedsupplychainallowingittopickandchoosefromavarietyofoilsuppliers.Victoria-headquarteredUnitedPetroleumhasthesameedgehavingpurchasedtheHastingsfuelterminalabout60kmsouthofMelbourneinDecember2007.ForthefewsmallservicestationoperatorsthatremainitisnowacaseofeatorbeeatenMrFerrellsaid.Thereisnodoubtthatthedaysofbeingabletoprofitablyrunonetwoorthreeservicestationsareprobablyinthepast.Itsquiteacomplexbusinesswithgovernmentregulationandlegislationandthecompetitors.Itsanaturalimperativeforcertainsizedplayerstogrowortogetout.Hesaidthecompanywasfuture-proofingitselfinachangingenergyenvironmentthroughtheproductionofbiofuelsderivedfromnon-palmoilsourcessuchastallowandwhey.InhislastinterviewasCaltexchiefexecutivebeforeheadingbacktoparentcompanyChevronintheUSMrKingtoldBusinessDaythatoneofhislegacieswouldbedevisingastrategytomakeCaltexthemarketleaderinrefiningwholesalingandretailinginAustralia.OurrefineriesarethelargestinAustraliawith32percentmarketsharehesaid.WithourwholesaledistributionwearealsoNo.1ataboutathirdofmarketshare.ButwhenitgetstofuelretailingweareonlyNo.4.ColesandWoolworthsareNo.1at22percenteach.BPisNo.3at19percentandwearefourthat16percentandthatincludesourfranchises.Takingthatoutweareat5percent.Ifthisisapprovedwewillgeta6percentincreaseinmarketsharesowewouldbeupthereequalNo.1withWooliesandColesMrKingsaid.HesaidhebelievedthecommissionunderstoodCaltexsrelationshipasthewholesalertoWoolworthsretailpetrolstationsandthatapprovalforits300millionMobilofferwouldonlyincreasecompetition.IdontthinkthepublicappreciatesthatwhenthereisaCaltexsigninlotsofplacesCaltexisnotnecessarilytheretailerandthathascausedconfusionhesaid.WeactuallycompetewithWooliesataretaillevel.TheACCCknowsthatthoughandthatgivesusconfidencethatwewillgetthisapproved.