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Wharton-based Carbon Express Inc. has a new owner. The transportation company announced Oct. 7 that it was sold to The Kenan Advantage Group Inc. (KAG). Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Founded in 1983, Carbon Express transports liquid bulk products throughout North America, including chemicals, transformer oil, motor oil, lubricants and water treatment chemicals.

As part of the deal, the Carbon Express team – including about 65 professional drivers and independent contractors – will join KAG’s specialty products division. 

Carbon Express Executive Chairman and founder Steve Rush will remain with the company throughout the transition and President Sean McAllister will continue to manage the daily operations. 

“We believe in serving our customers first and foremost,” Rush said in a statement. “We’ve been committed to building a strong and positive reputation with our customers and our employees for many years. By joining KAG, we believe we are remaining true to this commitment and are excited about the future potential going forward.” 

Ohio-based KAG is North America’s largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider. Its six operating groups are KAG Energy, KAG Specialty Products, KAG Food Products, KAG Merchant Gas, KAG Canada and KAG Logistics. 

Karen Rizzuto, KAG’s senior vice president of operations, specialty products, said the acquisition fits into the company’s strategy to expand not only in the specialty products market but also in the northeastern U.S. 

Bengur Bryan & Co. Inc. was the exclusive financial advisor to Carbon Express. Greenberg Dauber Epstein & Tucker PC acted as legal counsel to Carbon Express, and Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs LLC acted as legal counsel to KAG.