PORTLAND (AP) – The state’s largest heating fuel company has bought one of its smaller competitors.

Dead River Co. of Bangor announced Monday that it has bought Union Oil Co., based in South Portland. The companies are family owned, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Union Oil’s 65 employees have been retained by Dead River, and the Union Oil name will be used through this heating season, officials said. Dead River will honor Union Oil’s price protection and service agreements with customers.

Dead River has more than 1,100 employees, and calls itself the largest distributor of home heating fuels in northern New England.

Union Oil was founded in 1921, and Dead River has been around since 1909.

AP-ES-10-08-07 1717EDT