Ampol Ltd (ASX: ALD) shares are back in the green on Wednesday, with investors responding positively to its latest announcement.
The Ampol share price is up 2.28% to $34.57 at the time of writing.
It continues a strong stretch for the fuel and convenience retailer, with the stock now up around 8% in 2026 and 36% over the past year.
Today's move comes after Ampol received the approval it needed to push ahead with a major acquisition.
Let's take a closer look at the release.
Image source: Getty Images
What was announced?
In a statement to the ASX, Ampol said the ACCC has approved its $1.1 billion acquisition of EG Australia, although the deal comes with conditions.
Under the agreement, Ampol will sell 41 sites to Metro Petroleum. The ACCC has also approved Dib Group, trading as Metro Petroleum, as the buyer of those sites.
The decision follows a longer competition review after the regulator raised concerns earlier this year.
Back in January, the ACCC said the deal could reduce competition in several petrol and diesel markets. It had identified 115 EG sites where local competition concerns could arise.
Ampol had first offered to sell 19 sites, but the final package is now much larger.
The regulator has accepted the sale of 41 sites as a remedy, allowing the transaction to move ahead.
Ampol said it expects the acquisition to complete on 30 June 2026.
Why investors are buying
The buying today looks partly driven by relief, with Ampol now closer to completing a deal that has been under review for months.
EG Australia is a major fuel and convenience retailer, with around 500 sites nationwide. Ampol said the acquisition will lift its owned-sites footprint to more than 1,000 locations.
The deal also gives Ampol a bigger base in convenience retail, which has become a larger part of its growth plan.
Management has previously pointed to the rollout of Foodary, U-GO, and Everyday Rewards as part of the wider strategy.
Ampol is also targeting $65 million to $80 million in synergies from the deal.
Those savings are expected to come from overhead reductions, U-GO conversion benefits, and a larger operating network.
The company said the acquisition is expected to add to earnings per share (EPS) and free cash flow per share once fully integrated.
Foolish takeaway
The ACCC approval removes a major overhang for Ampol after months of waiting.
The deal still requires site sales and integration work, but investors now have more certainty it will proceed.
The next test is whether the larger retail network can deliver the earnings and cash flow benefits Ampol is targeting.
