major global oil company 1900s 1980s eighth largest american manufacturing company ninth largest called seven sisters oil companies prior merger chief instruments family fortune gulf headquarters pittsburgh gulf headquarters originally referred office art skyscraper tallest building pittsburgh eclipsed capped step pyramid structure stories high late 1970s entire illuminated changing color changes barometric pressure provide weather indicator seen miles ceased exist independent company merged branding united_states gulf main canadian subsidiary sold year retail outlets gulf brand number constituent business divisions survived gulf experienced significant revival emerging flexible network allied business interests based partnerships franchises agencies gulf present incarnation new economy business employs people directly assets mainly form intellectual property brands product specifications scientific expertise rights brand united_states owned operates service stations petroleum headquartered massachusetts corporate vehicle center gulf network outside united_states spain portugal company owned company focus primarily provision downstream products services mass market joint ventures strategic alliances licensing agreements distribution arrangements head office london history business started discovery oil near texas group investors came promote development modern nearby port arthur process oil largest investor banking family investors included pennsylvania clients texas remained closely associated formed amalgamation number oil businesses principally gulf companies texas company refers gulf_of_mexico lies output peaked barrels day discovered started decline later discoveries peak year production early decline forced gulf seek alternative sources supply sustain substantial investment capacity achieved constructing mile pipeline connecting oklahoma gulf port arthur pipeline opened september gulf later built network eastern southern united_states requiring heavy capital investment provided secure vehicle investing oil sector gulf promoted concept branded product sales selling gasoline containers pumps marked distinctive orange disc logo customer buying gulf branded gasoline assured quality consistent standard early 20th century non branded gasoline united_states contaminated unreliable quality grew steadily inter war years activities mainly confined united_states company characterized vertically integrated business activities active spectrum oil industry exploration production transport marketing involved associated industries automobile component manufacturing introduced significant commercial technical innovations including drive service station complimentary road maps drilling water ferry lake cracking process gulf installed world commercial cracking unit port arthur texas complex gulf established model integrated international oil major refers group large companies assumed influential sensitive positions countries operated colombia gulf purchased oil concession government colombia revoked concession year negotiation gulf won period capacity gulf interested holding reserve developing gulf sold gulf extensive exploration production operations gulf_of_mexico canada kuwait company played major role early development oil production kuwait 1950s 60s apparently enjoyed special relationship government special relationship attracted unfavourable attention associated political contributions support anti democratic politics evidenced papers taken body gulf executive killed crash aircraft cairo formed joint venture gulf british petroleum gulf held equal shares venture pioneered exploration oil kuwait late 1930s oil discovered crude oil shipped oil production started started gas production cheap oil gas shipped kuwait formed economic basis gulf diverse petroleum sector operations europe mediterranean africa indian operations coordinated eastern hemisphere ltd offices street london gulf expanded worldwide basis end second world war company international drilling experience areas world established presence oil fields venezuela oil company company retail sales expansion acquisition privately owned chains filling stations countries allowing gulf outlets sell product matching arrangements oil lifting canada gulf_of_mexico kuwait venezuela acquisitions prove face economic political developments 1970s gulf invested heavily product technology developed products particularly application maritime aviation engineering sectors particularly noted range reached peak development year company processed million barrels crude daily held assets worth billion billion today employed employees worldwide owned shareholders addition petroleum marketing interests gulf major producer agricultural chemicals subsidiary active nuclear energy sector gulf abandoned involvement nuclear sector failed deal build atomic power plants romania mid-1970s took percent stake equity remaining percent divided equally gulf took rest equity giving ownership meant gulf start supplying downstream operations europe crude bought world market commercial prices highly marginal economic sense marketing companies gulf established europe truly viable stand basis gulf forefront projects late 1960s intended adjust world oil industry developments time including closure suez_canal war particular gulf undertook construction deep water bay ireland okinawa japan capable handling vessels serving european asian markets respectively added gulf tanker fleet long tons largest vessel world incapable normal ports gulf participated partnership majors including build associated fuel distribution network eventual reopening canal upgrading older european oil meant financial return projects hoped terminal devastated explosion total tanker january island disaster fully reopened irish government took ownership terminal held strategic oil reserve 1970s gulf participated development new north_sea high cost operations compensated loss gulf interest kuwait mercenary army raised protect oil installations civil war connection special relationship attracted comment late 1970s gulf effectively funding soviet regime africa government attempting overthrow regime supporting rebels led senior gulf executives including chairman implicated making illegal political contributions forced step positions loss senior personnel critical time gulf fortunes bearing events followed gulf operations worldwide struggling financially recession early 1980s gulf management devised big strategic realignment program selective maintain viability strategy recognized day integrated multi national oil major involved concentrating parts supply chain gulf competitive advantage marketing promotions late 1930s gulf aviation manager construct modified cleaned versions navy fighter promotional use company wearing company colors registered delivered december williams flew tour europe second pump drain lines added engine installation allowed aircraft flown inverted thirty minutes aircraft preserved washington second airplane iii registered delivered impressed november use transport designated crashed southern florida early primary sponsor special events coverage 1960s notably coverage space program company connection advantage offering promotional items stations including sheets space mission paper punch lunar module model kit book titled came peace containing pictures apollo moon landing gulf major sponsor aired nbc disney magazines activity books given away gas fill gulf noted road maps particularly memorable gulf advertisement carried nbc coverage apollo missions showed aerial onboard views brothers singing home oil tribute opening gulf operations synonymous association auto racing famously sponsored team 1960s early 70s signature light blue orange color scheme associated ford famous corporate racing colors replicated racing teams sponsored gulf popularity attributed fact film character drives gulf team result increasing popularity following death increasing popularity wore film released limited edition watch gulf logo trademark color scheme era sponsored days orange color scheme gulf blue lettering formal agreement world largest lodging chain canada accept gulf credit cards food lodging return gulf placed service stations premises properties major highways provide stop availability gasoline auto service food lodging older holiday original gulf stations properties operation closed operate today gulf stations gulf gasoline promoted horse leaving imprint promotions centered bright orange plastic self car given away popular election season gold featuring democratic republican elephant demise gulf exhibited characteristics giant corporation lost way huge poorly performing asset portfolio associated depressed share price stock market value gulf started drop break value assets situation bound attract interest corporate raiders corporation fortune early 1980s thought immune takeover risk independent company began texas corporate owner offer comparatively larger considered non major oil company generally known oklahoma trading low privately offered share friendly takeover later share public offer cities ceo rejected friendly offer gulf takeover attempt offering share friendly offer cities trading accepted cities bought share gone gulf offer supposedly dispute accuracy reserves stock price cities triggering lawsuits distrust gulf management wall street financing investment banks bet big assisting gulf defeat left broke gulf backed ultimately sold retail operations operators stores gulf termination acquisition resulted years litigation gulf later declining margins industry left reserves investor partners kept hunting takeover target discover fighting gulf increasingly heavy portfolio declining reserves overall assets subtly quickly acquired percent stock early fall shy having declare intent percent sec days allowed prepare sec filing investor partners accelerated buying percent company stock larger founding family share october gulf responded interest calling shareholders meeting late november subsequently engaged war changing corporation laws minimize loud criticisms existing gulf management offered alternative business plan intended release value royalty trust management argued slim gulf market share acquired reputation corporate skill lay making profits bidding companies actually acquiring early 1980s failed bids gulf phillips petroleum process making bids promote asset debt reduction target companies standard defensive tactic calculated boost current share price possibly expense long term strategic advantage target shares rise sharply price point dispose interest substantial profit gulf management directors took view bid represented gulf business long term going concern interest gulf shareholders gulf ceo chairman claimed november shareholders meeting address ownership royalty trust idea rich quick scheme undermine corporation profit potential coming decades gulf sought resist means including delaware corporation ability shareholders vote fearing use shares gain control board listening offers oil double gulf price level general_electric years took media company nbc finally act white knight late gulf worldwide operating merged spring group investors reported profit million million today assigned gulf shares claimed realizing doubling stock appreciation gulf shareholders management fought turn shares paid forced merger gulf controversial considering legislation freeze oil industry year reagan administration known opposed government intervention matter veto bill lee gulf ceo summoned testify senate months merger matter referred approved deal subject strict conditions small operator successfully taken apart fortune corporation gulf case fortune corporation merger sent deeper shock waves long time exclusive seven sisters club major integrated oil companies defined elevated non major board member admitted mid-1980s talk board meetings anymore settle government requirements sold gulf stations eastern united_states international operations effect pittsburgh area severe close phd research jobs headquarters accounting law clerical jobs transferred california cut payroll million million today corporate charity organizations worth million year million year today losses donation suburban north pittsburgh research business million million today maintenance seed money gulf research complex consisted multi story buildings square feet acres including chemical petroleum production areas nuclear laboratory complete employed close engineers scientists operating million budget million today donation renamed opened small technology computer engineering firms graduate level research aftermath cumberland farms companies acquired gulf operations continued use gulf early 1990s caused consumer confusion retail market parent companies accept credit cards gulf stations united_states converted names based massachusetts bought license north american rights gulf brand owned gulf brand making direct use january bought entire brand began nationwide expansion campaign operates distribution network reaching maine ohio gulf branded filling stations north_america owned owns thirds interest addition independently owned franchises operating gulf brand north_america licensed blend distribute gulf branded owns rights gulf brand outside united_states owned acquired large share family major arabian family lead governor mineral organization board member trades mainly involved gulf brand operators petroleum automotive sectors gulf branded filling stations found countries including belgium germany ireland czech netherlands jordan finland turkey direct indirect interests number businesses use gulf brand license canadian exploration production distribution arm sold continued independent oil company acquisition gulf downstream operations europe sold early associated gulf filling stations converted trade brand attempts sell great_britain failed guarantees given earlier regard bonds issued finance construction facilities taken stations continued use gulf brand insignia network sold shell stage fairly large proportion gulf stations supplied gulf completely withdrew represented end major downstream use gulf brand revival continue sell gulf branded worldwide network official licensed companies joint ventures wholly owned subsidiary companies official gulf distributors carry local marketing sponsorship help raise profile brand wholly owned raised market profile gulf brand middle_east emerged leading brands india run marketing targeted growing youth sector country licenses gulf brand logo group largest independent fuel distributors starting new gulf network independent stations slowly present stations notable offering genuine star petrol special sell time ltd set market gulf products manufactured operation return gulf year absence slogan return legend gulf presence wholly network based operation involves direct gulf investment fixed assets corporate infrastructure manufacturing capability complete contrast presence january acquired right title interest gulf brand united_states announced plans expand use gulf brand parent company base promotions included sponsorship major sporting events area advertisements gulf new_york_city boston philadelphia pittsburgh case example gulf revival merger stations pittsburgh switched gulf service greater pittsburgh area result brand disappeared area june rights agreement shell expired shell expanding area means june gave exclusive rights brand sold gas stations southeast gulf gas stations new_england stations gulf accordance consent decree allowed merger stations feature rectangular logo fit existing sign standards gulf refers look sunrise imaging gulf logo world businesses uses marketing activities focus sponsorship race teams current team team sponsorship world gulf distributors alongside local activity demonstrating company local global brand clothing store chain began selling shirts bearing old gulf logo gulf moved vertically integrated multinational corporation network allied business interests given entire gulf enterprise high degree strategic operational flexibility reflects fundamental change economics international business alliances represent shift organization economic transactions organizational networks mass flexible production large vertically integrated organizations horizontal networks economic units post companies march gulf announced mexico planned begin operations july year compete local company result recent changes local laws matter energy oil resources said ceo order improve better service gulf fidelity programs dedicated customers improving fuel payment better experience fidelity programs additional benefits benefits adding modern quality added services adding gulf offer franchises existing filling station owners convert case studies current use gulf brand independent filling stations nearly filling stations typically privately owned supplied major brand license end number filling stations dropped end recent years filling stations closing rate month smaller independent stations succumbed competition town local enterprises sheer volume sales shared gulf brand licensed group operating service stations minor trunk roads rural areas supplies gulf branded filling stations independently owned gulf filling stations provide outlets gulf branded illustration shows typical filling station associated service garage restaurant facilities isolated location miles south catering local residents passing tourist traffic vulnerable competition provides local community center decades gulf operated filling stations toll highway system alongside restaurants travel correspond european motorway service areas began opening gulf added filling stations system extended exclusive rights provide filling station services sections system opened prior principally section 1980s awarded franchise operate filling stations hill closed travel led bidding war pennsylvania recognizable gasoline brands time travel plaza franchise came renewal gulf opportunity exclusive provider filling stations travel withdrew cumberland farms owner gulf brand northeastern awarded new contract contract sold years later company bankruptcy proceedings june gulf filling stations ones converted travel continue sell fuel today gulf products filling stations europe sell types fuel diesel products lack real brand case 1970s gulf common oil companies sold distinctive brands petrol gasoline including good gulf regular gulf premium aka gulf petrol sold good gulf gasoline gulf gas gulf service stations supplied customers key rings bearing years beginning gulf stations gave away orange plastic extra kick customers filled tanks gulf premium gasoline novelty items commonly mounted produces sells wide range branded oil based products including kinds include products variety applications ranging metal working car engine include gulf max ranges heavy duty diesel engine include ranges summer licensed gulf racing return american racing scene competition season announced indianapolis indiana december racing support united_states resigned years contract january december december muhammad december present
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