Summit Utilities Acquires Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation
March 31, 2017
AOG will retain its name going forward.
Summit Utilities, Inc. (SUI) today completed its acquisition of A.O.G. Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation (AOG), which serves nearly 60,000 natural gas utility customers in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
“Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation has spent more than seven decades building a strong foundation in its service territories and earning a reputation for quality customer service. We look forward to building on AOG’s tradition of providing safe, reliable and affordable natural gas for the people of Arkansas and Oklahoma,” said Kurt Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer of SUI.
Prior to the acquisition, the parties received regulatory approvals from the Arkansas Public Service Commission and the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
AOG will keep its name going forward and similar branding. In addition, most of AOG’s senior management will continue with SUI. Kim Linam, AOG’s President, will continue in a national role as Chief Administrative Officer. Bob Neissl, AOG’s Senior Vice President of Operations, will also continue in a national role as Chief Operations Officer. Fred Kirkwood, AOG’s Senior Vice President of Customer Development, Therese Reinhard, AOG’s Vice President of Engineering, and Jeremy Schreckhise, AOG’s Vice President of Information Technology, will continue with SUI in those same roles, but on a national level.
“Summit Utilities and AOG are a strong union. Combining forces brings not only added expertise to the team, but additional financial resources for ongoing growth and investments to protect the integrity and safety of our natural gas system,” said Linam. “Together, there is a tremendous opportunity for AOG and SUI to grow and strengthen as a company while continuing our proud tradition of quality customer service.”
AOG has been owned by the family of Witt Stephens, Sr. for 72 years.
“It has been an honor for our family to work with the management teams and employees of AOG for the past seven decades to serve Fort Smith and the surrounding area with safe, reliable natural gas service,” said Witt Stephens, Jr. “Our customers have been loyal, dependable and cooperative and we are grateful for this relationship. We wish Summit the best and know that AOG will continue to thrive under their ownership just as it has for us.”
Summit Utilities acquired 100 percent of the equity of A.O.G. Corporation.
Summit Utilities is a privately-held holding company that owns and operates natural gas distribution subsidiaries in Colorado, Missouri and Maine with the goal of providing natural gas service to previously underserved communities. With this acquisition, Summit Utilities doubled its customer base and expanded its footprint into Arkansas and Oklahoma.