Ankara, July 9, 2025 — Turkey’s Competition Board has concluded its investigation into Opet Petrolcülük AŞ (OPET), finding the fuel retailer guilty of violating Article 4 of the Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition through anticompetitive vertical agreements with its dealers. The case, launched in February 2025, was finalized via settlement, with OPET receiving an administrative fine of ₺131.3 million ($3,278,800).
The investigation focused on OPET’s alleged practice of extending lease rights over dealership land, effectively prolonging exclusive supply agreements beyond five years—a move that raised concerns of illegal non-compete clauses embedded in vertical agreements.
According to the Competition Board’s decision dated June 26, 2025 (No. 25-23/549-356), OPET breached competition rules by using its lease arrangements to enforce long-term exclusivity and limit dealer autonomy, in violation of Article 4 of the Competition Act. This article prohibits agreements that prevent, distort, or restrict competition in a market.
OPET submitted a settlement application during the investigation, prompting a resolution without a full contested proceeding. The fine, totaling ₺131,308,900.95, reflects both the seriousness of the violation and the procedural benefits of settlement.
For more details, see the Turkish Competition Authority’s official announcement.
