Kenning USA, a major Western tire distributor...

Kenning USA, a major Western tire distributor and retailer, has been sold by its British owner--Tozer, Kemsley & Milbourn PLC--to two Kenning executives, Nissho Iwai Corp. of Japan and Nissho’s American unit. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Under the deal, the Kenning executives--President and Chief Executive Jim Gill and Vice President Harold McGowan--will become part owners of the company. But Gill would not disclose the extent of their position. Gill said he and McGowan will continue to run the company.

Kenning USA of San Jose is a holding company for three tire firms with combined annual revenues of $100 million: Kenning Tire Masters Inc., with 12 warehouses in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington, and Consumer Tire Centers and Phil Bramsen Inc., which operate retail tire outlets in Arizona and Hawaii.