Founded in 1984, Buis Oil distributed Valvoline motor oils and other lubricants, antifreeze and coolant, and automotive chemicals and supplies. The business is now directly owned by Valvoline, a division of Ashland Inc., and is established as a direct-market operation.

Buis Oil has been an outstanding distributor for more than 20 years, said Valvoline President Samuel J. Mitchell. Our immediate goal is to provide a seamless transition for our customers, who include car dealers, quick lubes and other automotive businesses in Indiana.

Our long-time alliance with Valvoline has benefited us both, said John Buis, Buis Oil president. When it came time for me to consider selling, the first call I made was to Valvoline.

Valvoline, based in Lexington, Ky., has numerous distributors in the United States and globally, spokesman Jim Vitak told Lube Report, but he declined to describe the scope of that distributor network or of Buis Oils business.

Valvoline has acquired distributors in the past, said Vitak, but this is not the launch of a campaign to acquire distributors.