Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 3, 2026

Ultramar plc

Ultramar plc was a leading British oil and gas exploration and production business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Last revised
Aug 3, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
165 w
Citations
4
Source
Ultramar plc
IndustryOil and gas
Founded1935
Defunct1991
FateAcquired
SuccessorLASMO
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Key people
John Darby (Chairman)

Ultramar plc was a leading British oil and gas exploration and production business. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

History

The Company was founded by four South African goldmining concerns in 1935 to explore for oil in Venezuela and initially traded as the Ultramar Exploration Co. Ltd. It changed its name to the Ultramar Co. Ltd in 1940.1

It established an operation in Canada, now known as Ultramar Corporation, in 1961.1

In 1988, it substantially expanded its operations in California acquiring a large refinery in Los Angeles from Union Pacific Corporation for $440m.2

The Company was acquired by LASMO in 1991.1

References

References

  1. "Diamond Shamrock R & M, Inc". Scripophily. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. Acquisition Set By Ultramar New York Times, 9 September 1988
Further reading

Further reading

  • Atterbury, Paul and MacKenzie, Julia A Golden Adventure: the First 50 Years of Ultramar, London, Hurtwood Press, 1985 ISBN 0-903696-35-5