The Lithuanian Competition Council has said it received on December 5 Edenred's request for clearance to indirectly purchase a 60 percent stake in EBV Finance via Areja, a Lithuanian company controlled by the group.
Edenred offers payment solutions through the group's companies worldwide. In Lithuania, it provides VAT and excise duty refund services via Denmark's Nikosax and fuel card services via Poland's UTA, according to the regulatory authority.
Nikosax operates in the same market as EBV Finance which provides VAT and excise duty refund services to transport companies in Lithuania and other European countries.
Based on data from the Center of Registers, Areja is owned by France's Edenred Fleet and Mobility, and EBV Finance is owned by EBV Group. The latter company's indirect shareholders are EBV Finance CEO Marius Svidinskas and another private individual.