Washington State commercial fuels marketer PetroCard Systems announced last month that it has acquired Thunderbird Lubrications, one of the nations largest distributors of Pennzoil and Quaker State lubricants. Based in Spokane, Wash., Thunderbird was a division of Gull Industries.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. PetroCard, which is headquartered in Kent, Wash., south of Seattle, said it was attracted by the opportunity to get into the lubes business while enlarging its fuels operation.
There is tremendous synergy between our businesses, said Tom Farr, PetroCard Systems president and chief executive officer. The combination will allow us to increase operational efficiencies, benefitour customers and improve our fuel margins.
Thunderbird supplies bulk motor oil to the installer market and packaged consumer motor oils and other automotive chemicals to retailers. In addition to its position as a Pennzoil and Quaker State distributor, it is the largest U.S. distributor of Gumout cleaners and one of the largest distributors of RainX windshield treatment, which are also owned by Shell Lubricants. It also sells fuels to independent gasoline stations, commercial customers and other distributors.
One of Thunderbirds largest customers, PetroCard sells fuel to commercial fleets through two methods: unattended, self-serve cardlock stations; and mobile depots that fuel vehicles overnight.