U.S. Venture Inc. has acquired Martin Eagle Oil Co.'s municipal and commercial
fuels businesses and its transportation affiliate, Southwest Transport Co., for
undisclosed terms, according to an announcement from Matrix Capital Markets
Group Inc., which advised Martin Eagle.

Martin Eagle Oil, based in Denton, Texas, distributes fuels primarily in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area and north-central Texas. It continues to own a chain of
19 company-operated gas stations and to supply 45 additional gas stations.

U.S. Venture, based in Appleton, Wis., distributes energy, automotive and
lubricant products throughout North America.

Martin Eagle, a second-generation family business, was founded in 1963 by Cecil
"Zeke" Martin with a single Shamrock-branded store. Zeke Martin's sons,
Stephen "Steve" Martin, president of operations, and Gary Martin, president of
real estate, now run the company, according to the announcement.

"We wanted to sell the commercial, municipal and transportation portion of the
business to invest in our retail business," Steve Martin told OPIS.

Martin Eagle distributes unbranded and branded fuel, including ALON, Conoco,
Phillips 66, Gulf, Shell, Sinclair, Valero, VP Racing Fuel, and Quick Track,
according to its website.

--Reporting by Donna Harris, dharris@opisnet.com; Editing by Barbara Chuck,
bchuck@opisnet.com


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