Ferrellgas Partners LP (Overland Park, Kan.) said March 1st it had acquired Reliable Propane, a third-party Blue Rhino distributor based in Sikeston, Mo. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive. Ferrellgas said the acquisition is further evidence of its longstanding commitment to growing its core propane business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ferrellgas acquires Blue Rhino distributor Empire Propane in Missouri reports BPN the propane industry's leading source for news and information since 1939.
Reliable Propane is a longtime independent distributor for Blue Rhino, Ferrellgas’s cylinder exchange subsidiary, delivering to retail partners in the Midwest and South from locations in Spring- field, Mo.; Starkville, Miss.; Olive Branch, Miss.; and Benton, Ark. The acquisition is aimed at growing the Blue Rhino segment and identifying ways to improve operational efficiencies and lower production and delivery expenses.

Ferrellgas previously acquired independent Blue Rhino distributors American Propane (Oklahoma City, Okla.) in January; Co-Op Butane (Bush, La.) in December 2018; Wylie LP Gas (Lubbock, Texas) in November 2018; and Salathe Gas (Harvey, La.) and North Star Exchange (Walton, Ind.) in October 2018.

“We’re pleased today to fold yet another longtime, third-party Blue Rhino distributor into our operations,” said James E. Ferrell, interim CEO and president of Ferrellgas. “The efficiencies we are gaining as the result of these moves will continue to benefit our industry-leading tank exchange business.”