Catom Annual Report 2023 EN

Strategy

Catom’s strategy is geared towards both autonomous growth and growth through acquisitions; the buy and build strategy. The company is anticipating substantial shifts in the Dutch oil market’s downstream segment. Major oil companies such as Shell, Exxon, Total and BP, the ‘majors’, are increasingly concentrating on upstream activities (oil exploration and production) and are seeking opportunities to dispose of downstream activities (marketing, distribution and sales). At the same time, smaller players in the market are struggling to envision the future and are increasingly opting to sell off their trading activities and petrol stations. Catom plays an active role in this consolida tion process. The company is in a position to take over these activities and to acquire customers who, as a result of the shifts, choose a new supplier. Catom is especially interested in trade, sales and distribution activities as well as petrol stations. The reorganisation of the downstream segment is expected to occur in the Nether lands over the next few years. Consequently, Catom discerns ample opportunities in the

coming years for growth and further acquisitions in the Dutch market.

For each of the four core activities, a targeted strategy is followed which fits in with a specific market conditions and opportunities within that segment.

Wholesale

Growth in wholesale activities will largely be autonomous. Catom will distinguish itself by means of more competitive pricing and a higher standard of service, enabling new customers to be attracted. Growth in recent years has resulted in the wholesale activities reaching such a scale that acquisi tions will also be able to bolster growth. A crucial aspect in acquisitions is to ensure the high and distinctive level of service and quality in order to sustainably retain the customers of the acquired company. In 2023, Catom increased its stock position and further expanded its Wholesale team as regards Supply, Trading and Bio in order to secure greater control of fuels logistics. The expectations are that this development will continue in 2024. Storage capacity and

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