The Iowa State Fire Marshals office said that investigators are treating the Oct. 26 fire at a Stern Oil Co. facility in Council Bluffs as an intentionally set fire until determined otherwise. Investigators concluded the cause of the fire was not related to a Ford pickup truck parked in front of the business. The State Fire Marshals Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are waiting for final laboratory results before concluding the exact cause for the fire. They continue to conduct ...

Valvoline Instant Oil Change, the nations second largest oil change chain, yesterday announced that franchisee Great Lakes Quick Lube LP has acquired 17 existing quick lubes in Iowa and Illinois. Great Lakes Quick Lube has developed the Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky markets since 2004 and now has a total of 77 Valvoline Instant Oil Change service centers in five states. The addition of the 17 service centers brings the total number of company-owned and franchise stores to 78...

Marine fuel and lubricant supplier Aegean Marine Petroleum Network this month filed for its initial public stock offering. The privately-held Greek company describes itself as a marine fuel logistics company that physically supplies and markets refined marine fuel and lubricants to ships in port and at sea. The Athens-based company Nov. 24 amended its offering document with the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission, increasing the number of shares for its planned initial public offering to 12....

MOSCOW – An audience of more than 300 heard here last week that Russia is promising ground for lubricant marketers – a big market with growth opportunity and potential for improved margins. But attendees at the second annual Lubricants Russia conference were also told that it promises challenging times for domestic sellers. Speakers at the event, which was held last Wednesday and Thursday, said that Russias burgeoning economy appears poised to drive growth in lubricant demand that on...