Ultramar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Type | subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Canada |
| Key people | Jean Bernier, President |
| Industry | Oil refining and marketing |
| Employees | 3,600 |
| Parent | Valero Energy Corporation |
| Website | www.ultramar.ca |
For Ultramar, the Home world of the Ultramarines in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, see Ultramarines
Ultramar is a Canadian oil refining and marketing company formerly known as Golden Eagle or Aigle d'or. Its head office is in Montreal. It is a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation, which acquired Ultramar's former parent company, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock.
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[edit] History
The Company was formed by Ultramar plc, a British Group, who established operations in Canada in 1961.[1] Its refinery in Lévis, Quebec was built ten years later.[1]
From 1979 to 1996, Ultramar grew by acquiring stations from several other companies, including Canadian Fuel Marketers, Texaco Canada, Gulf Oil, Sergaz, Sunoco and Spur.[1]
In 1990 it acquired the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia refinery with the purchase of other assets of Texaco Canada.[1]
In 1991 LASMO, a British oil company, bought Ultramar plc and in 1992 LASMO spun off the North American refining and marketing operations which became known as Ultramar Corporation.[2]
In 1994, Ultramar acquired Sergaz and Sunoco's Quebec gas stations. Some gas stations still operate under Sergaz.
in 1996 Ultramar Corporation merged with Diamond Shamrock to form Ultramar Diamond Shamrock.[2]
In 1997, The Sunoco name was withdrawn from Quebec, and all stations converted to Ultramar.
The refinery in Lévis was renamed in honour of retired Ultramar Diamond Shamrock CEO Jean Gaulin in 2001.[1]
On 31 December 2001 Valero Energy Corporation completed its acquisition of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock.[3]
[edit] Operations
The company has recently initiated a progressive "price matching" policy, wherein each participating station has its own competition area. Within these competition areas, each Ultramar gas station closely monitors its competitors' prices and matches them; Ultramar has been known to undercut their competition by as much as 3 tenths of a cent per litre on occasion.
Ultramar is also active in industrial sales and wholesale supply.
[edit] Statistics
Ultramar has 983 service stations, 87 truck stop facilities and 169,000 home heating oil customers.
It directly employs 3,600 people and indirectly employs 10,000. The refinery in Lévis produces 265,000 barrels (or 41.5 million litres) per day.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Ultramar: History
- ^ a b Scripophily
- ^ Valero plans to buy Ultramar Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2001
