Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc., a leading, independent investment bank, announces the successful acquisition of Ricker Oil Company, Inc. by Giant Eagle, Inc.. Ricker Oil owns and operates 56 Ricker’s convenience stores located in the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne metro areas and throughout central Indiana. The acquisition also includes Ricker Oil’s wholesale fuels distribution business of approximately 80 branded supply accounts located in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
Ricker’s has provided high-quality fuels, clean convenience stores and wholesale fuel services to companies and consumers throughout Indiana since 1979. A strong commitment to its community, a sense of pride to its customers and a long history of corporate trust is the foundation on which the company was built.
Like Ricker’s, Giant Eagle is a proud family-owned and values-driven company. Founded by five families nearly 90 years ago, representatives of each Giant Eagle family still serve the Company today, including fourth-generation family member Laura Karet, Giant Eagle’s President and CEO. The Company is a leading multi-format food, fuel and pharmacy retailer with 400-plus stores across western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana. The Ricker’s acquisition provides Giant Eagle with additional scale in the Indiana market as well as opportunities to leverage the strength of both the GetGo and Ricker’s brands.
Polly Flinn, Giant Eagle’s Executive Vice President & General Manager of GetGo said, “We’re very grateful for the guidance and insight Matrix provided to help Giant Eagle secure this growth opportunity. At GetGo, our positioning of taking the ‘cons out of convenience’ means we offer the highest quality fresh foods, products and services to our customers. Our acquisition of the Ricker’s chain supports this strategy, and we look forward to bringing together the best of both businesses in Indiana.”
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Giant Eagle, which included valuation advisory, transaction structuring and negotiation of the transaction. The transaction was managed by John Underwood, Managing Director; Robbie Radant, Director; Stephen Lynch, Vice President; and Kyle Tipping, Analyst. Thomas Kelso, Managing Director and Head of Matrix’s Downstream Energy & Convenience Retail Group, also advised on the transaction.
“It has been exciting to help Giant Eagle accelerate its growth plans with the acquisition of Ricker Oil Company,” said Underwood. “This expansion will significantly increase GetGo’s market share in central Indiana. Laura and her team have been a pleasure to work with, and we sincerely appreciate the trust that they put in Matrix.”
Ramona Nee, Noah Beck, Vadim Brusser and Daniel Tavakoli led the Weil team which served as legal counsel for Giant Eagle.
