ChevronTexaco has regained sole rights to market Havoline brand lubricants in the United States, it announced Aug. 14, following the expiration of sharing rights that Shell Oil Co. gained in the wake of the Chevron-Texaco merger two years ago. Officials at ChevronTexaco said it will now be better able to execute its strategy for a brand that ranks among the five top-selling motor oils in the United States. The company also regained sole rights to Express Lube, its chain ofoil-change centers. Tod...

Fuchs Petrolub AG reported last week that its profit for the first half of 2003 was 10 percent higher than for the same period of 2002, thanks primarily to lower financing and tax costs. The Mannheim, Germany, company – the worlds largest independent lubricant supplier – had net income of Euro 13.2 million (U.S. $14.35 million) for the six months ended June 30, up from Euro 12 million for the year-ago period. The company did not break out results for the second quarter. However, assu...

DuPont announced recently that it is in exclusive negotiations with subsidiaries of Koch Industries, attempting to sell its DuPont Textiles and Interiors subsidiary, which includes the Corfree line of corrosion inhibitors. DuPont, of Wilmington, Del., disclosed the talks with Koch Aug. 11. Three months earlier it had announced preliminary discussions but not named the potential buyer. In the most recent announcement, DuPont emphasized that it may not reach an agreement with Koch and said it woul...

Alliance Petroleum Inc. has agreed to be acquired by a Canadian oil and gas industry service provider that sees significant growth opportunity in the Chicago-area lubricant blender. Alliance, of Bedford Park, Ill., has signed a letter of intent to have all of its common stock bought by Prelude Ventures Inc., of Calgary, Alberta. Prelude, through its Pascal division, is principally engaged in providing infrastructure services such as seismic testing and well tie-ins to the oil and natural gas ind...