U.S. Oil Co. has bundled three recent acquisitions into U.S. AutoForce, a new organization to market automotive lubricants, tires and parts in 14 upper Midwestern and mountain states.
U.S. AutoForce, whose parts had a combined total of $300 million in sales last year, will operate as a division of privately held U.S. Oil Co., based in Combined Locks, Wis. U.S. Oil reported over $1.5 billion in revenues last year, primarily from petroleum distribution, noted Steve Friswold, vice president and general manager of the companys lubricants division.
U.S. AutoForce is a combination of Pam Oil in Sioux Falls, S. D., acquired in March 2007; Schierl Tire of Stevens Point, Wis., acquired in January 2008; T-K Distributors of Salt Lake City, Utah, acquired earlier this month; U.S. Tire and Exhaust, the existing tire and parts division of U.S. Oil; and the automotive lubricants division of U.S. Oil.
The new venture will distribute Valvoline and ConocoPhillips lubricants, as well as the companys private label, U.S. Supreme Gold. With a sales force of 60 people, plus six to eight business segment managers, U.S. AutoForce will supply auto dealers, installers and tire shops with AC Delco, Michelin, Goodyear, Motorcraft and other branded parts and tires, as well as lubricants. U.S. AutoForce has 31 warehouses servicing customers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah and Idaho.
Asked if more acquisitions are likely, Friswold said, Yes. Absolutely. We plan to grow through acquisitions.