Management of Aegean Marine Petroleum defended the company’s agreed acquisition of HEC Europe in response to a query from TradeWinds this week.

“Given the fact that our core bunkering business has been, and is expected to continue to be, under significant pressure, the timing of the HEC acquisition enables us to benefit from diversifying into a complementary high-margin business with sustainable and global growth opportunities,” Aegean president Jonathan Mcilroy said in a prepared statement.