Seeks additional acquisitions in the West.
Flyers Energy LLC has completed the acquisition of Southern California lubricants and fuel distributor SKS Oil. Beginning Nov. 1, Flyers took over bulk fuel, DEF delivery and lubricant operations at SKS bulk plants in San Diego, Escondido and Anaheim as well as all 13 commercial fueling “cardlock” sites.
“SKS is a good geographic fit, expanding our Southern California base of operations,” Walt Dwelle, Flyers energy managing partner told CSD. “Our plan for the near future is to consolidate the acquisitions we’ve made over the last two years, but we continue to look for specific opportunities in the west that build upon our existing footprint.”
Both companies are family owned. SKS Oil was founded in 1965 by Eric Kroesche. Son John Kroesche and son-in-law Andy Thweatt will join Flyers as business development manager and Southern California operations manager, respectively. The SKS sales and customer service personnel have accepted positions with Flyers.
SKS Co-President Thweatt cited an industry-wide trend of companies merging with larger jobbers in order to take advantage of bigger supply contracts and to better navigate the evolving regulatory and environmental landscape. “We believe that this is the right time for such an arrangement and that Flyers Energy is the right company to continue our 50-year tradition of excellent service and customer care.”
SKS marks the fourth acquisition in two years for Flyers. Flyers currently distributes branded lubricants from the San Francisco Bay Area up the entire North Coast, in the Inland Empire, and across northern Nevada. The SKS acquisition allows Flyers to expand its lubricants business throughout the Los Angeles and San Diego regions.
“We anticipate a seamless transition for existing SKS customers,” said Flyers CEO Rick Teske.
Flyers Energy is actively looking for additional acquisitions throughout the western states. Parties interested in a confidential conversation about selling their business should contact Curt Rocca at DCA Partners, Flyers’ outside acquisition representative, at (916) 960-5353 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Flyers Energy LLC operations include transportation, distribution of passenger car, heavy duty, and industrial lubricants, wholesale and branded retail fuel, as well as generation of renewable fuels and power in the United States. The largest member of the Commercial Fueling Network, Flyers is also the marketer for more than 100 Chevron, Shell, Valero, and 76 branded fuel stations, and offers commercial fueling at 230,000 retail gas stations nationwide with the Flyers Fleet Card.
