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Western Marketing Inc. Acquired by Two Investment Groups

Western Marketing Inc., a leading lubricant distributor in the South Central U.S., has been acquired by a combination of Western Marketing management, and two investment groups. The investment groups include Wingate Partners and CrimStone Partners.

According to Rich Hasten, President of Western Marketing, "It's all positive news and we believe this change will significantly strengthen our position in the market." In addition to both Wingate and CrimStone bringing capital to the table, both private equity firms have substantial operating and strategic experience. At the same time, Hasten adds, "Western Marketing's management structure will remain the same as will our company's continuing commitment to provide excellent product and services to our customers."

Western Marketing has locations in Abilene, TX, Amarillo, TX, Lubbock, TX, Longview, TX, and Stroud, OK. The company markets Chevron, Shell, Conoco, Citgo, Mystik, Kendall, Phillips 66, ServicePro lubricants.

About Wingate Partners: Wingate Partners is a Dallas based private equity firm founded in 1987 to purchase controlling equity investments in manufacturing, distribution and service businesses, typically with revenues between $50 million and $250 million. Wingate has acquired platform companies in 22 industries and completed a total of 72 acquisitions. Two areas of where Wingate has particular expertise include wholesale distribution and industrial services. Wingate has built two of the country's leading wholesale distributors, both with revenues of over $1 billion.

About CrimStone Partners: CrimStone Partners is a Dallas based private equity partnership designed to find, acquire and build companies. CrimStone's investors consist of more than 35 business leaders, senior investment bankers and private equity professionals.

PQIA Finds Two Brands of Engine Oil with Questions about API Licenses

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) recently sampled two engine oils. Although it will be a few days before PQIA makes the test results available, PQIA says the labels on samples did not appear to display the American Petroleum Institute (API) logo correctly. As a result, they contact API with some questions.

According to the API, in both cases, they consider the products as unlicensed.

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Smitty's Builds New Quality Assurance Lab

Smitty's Supply, an independent lubricant blender, just completed building a new quality assurance laboratory. According to Smitty's, the laboratory is now fully operational with a full-time staff and equipped with the latest instrumentation.

Smitty's Marketing Director says. "We've invested in top grade equipment. The range of testing, the quality of the tests, accuracy of the results and standards we've established are all in place to insure we continue to provide our customers with the best quality and performance, and the highest level of protection for the particular oil, fluid or lubricant we are manufacturing." Further, they say, "Be assured that when we claim a spec, it is not a theoretical or generally accepted value, it is a real test result taken from each and every batch of finished lubricant in our state-of-the-art laboratory."

Click here for pictures of Smitty's new laboratory and equipment.

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Written and published by experts, Jobbers World is brought to you by Petroleum Trends International, Inc.