Asheboro, NC & Winchester, KY – March 13th, 2017 – Two longtime leaders in lubricant distribution, Apollo Oil and Pugh Lubricants have announced a merger creating an organization uniquely positioned to serve the growing automotive, trucking and industrial lubrication markets with an unparalleled ability to support clients on a broad regional basis with a local touch.
The companies have very little overlap in geography, enabling Apollo and Pugh to continue operating as separate divisions while maintaining their historic company names in the near term, an affirmation of the commitment to customer relationships cultivated over more than one hundred years. The combination joins Pugh’s service regions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee with Apollo’s service regions in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia under one company.
Pugh President Mike Pugh said, “Apollo has long been recognized for their commitment to excellent service which is the foundation of our industry. We share the same philosophy and the combination of our two companies reflects a proud history of nearly 140 years in business. We look forward to building upon that heritage together.”
“The Pugh brand has long been admired and shares Apollo’s values of service, quality, and integrity,” said Ed Dotson the CFO and GM of Apollo. “This combination is a fitting legacy to the original founders of both companies, and we are very excited to join these two companies and deliver increased value to our customers by leveraging the experience, products and services of both organizations.”
Key strategic benefits of the combination include:
— Augmented product offerings and deeper market footprint. The larger distribution reach offers suppliers to the combined company unmatched access to customers in the combined operating region.
— Enhanced service for our customers. The combination of the companies’ resources allows for accelerated investment in technology and personnel, reinforcing the combined company’s leading position in service to its most valued constituents – the customers who have supported Pugh and Apollo over many decades of operation.
— Investment in our employees. This larger organization allows us to provide enhanced training, technology and career advancement opportunities to our employees, especially as we continue to grow our product offering and footprint, making our firm a preferred employer in the markets we serve.
— Plans to pursue further expansion.The combination allows the combined company to pursue organic and inorganic growth opportunities while continually investing in its value proposition to its customers and suppliers.
Mike Pugh and Ed Dotson will continue in their current leadership roles.
About Pugh Lubricants
Pugh Lubricants is a distributor of nationally branded and private label finished lubricants, antifreeze, and other ancillary product lines throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, and portions of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. For additional information, please visit www.PughLubricants.com.
About Apollo Oil
Apollo Oil is a distributor of nationally branded and private label finished lubricants, antifreeze, and other ancillary product lines throughout Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and portions of Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee. For additional information, please visit www.ApolloOil.com.