Kenan Advantage Group Expands Energy Market Services

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kenan Advantage Group ("KAG") announced the expansion of its comprehensive services to the energy market through the acquisition of Highland Environmental, LLC ("Highland").   The transaction closed on May 21, 2012.

Highland, headquartered in Somerset, PA, is a leading service provider to oil and gas exploration and production companies operating primarily in the Utica and Marcellus Shale plays.  Highland specializes in the transportation of fresh, reused and produced water along with drilling mud and other fluids utilized in the industry.    

According to Dennis Nash, Chief Executive Officer of KAG, "The acquisition of Highland Environmental strengthens our transportation services to the energy sector, which is a natural fit to the overall supply chain KAG and its subsidiaries have been servicing for over 70 years.  As the leading transporter of fuels, chemicals and industrial gases, our evolution into the oil and gas industry has been a natural progression over the last several years."

Craig Stutzman, founder of Highland said, "Our decision to join KAG was based on our shared vision of providing safe, reliable and exceptional services to our customers today and into the future.  KAG has the financial resources, scale and expertise to invest in new technology and equipment.  They also have the operational infrastructure to enhance services to our customers and expand our platform."

KAG's headquarters and approximately 80 of its 340 nationwide terminals/satellites are located within the heart of the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays.  With a workforce of over 5,000 drivers, plus a fleet of over 5,100 tractors and 6,000 specialized trailers, KAG is well poised to continue to service this growing sector.  The company's various platforms transport materials either produced or utilized in the energy industry such as water, crude, condensate, chemicals, CNG and LNG.  Many of KAG's current customers are heavily involved in this marketplace. 

"We continue to partner with industry leading companies who share our commitment to customers, employees, technology and a culture of safety," continued Mr. Nash. "Consistent with this commitment, the acquisition of Highland enhances our fleet of company-owned trucks and company-trained drivers – which we feel is important.  We are pleased to have their exceptional team join us as we pursue additional opportunities in this growing marketplace."

KAG (www.thekag.com) is North America's largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider to the petroleum, specialty products and merchant gas industries.  It operates nationwide through its four groups consisting of the Fuels Delivery Group, Specialty Products Group (chemicals and liquid foods), Merchant Gas Group (to include LNG, CNG) and the Logistics Group.  Its subsidiaries across the country include: Advantage Tank Lines, BXI, Cryogenic Transportation, DistTech, Highland Environmental, Jack B. Kelley, KAG West, Kenan Transport, Klemm Tank Lines, North Canton Transfer, Petro-Chemical Transport and Transport Service.    KAG also provides specialized supply chain logistics services through KAG Logistics and KAG Ethanol Logistics (www.kaglogistics.com). 

SOURCE Kenan Advantage Group