Thursday, June 11, 2009
Appco Liquidation Sale Approved
Source: Convenience Store News
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Final court approval was given to sell the assets of Appalachian Oil Co. Inc. (Appco) of Blountsville, Tenn., which is currently navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, according to a statement by NRC Realty Advisors, the agency handling the sale.
As first reported earlier this week by Convenience Store News Online in an exclusive interview with Andy Weber, chief restructuring officer of Appco and an officer of NRC leading its merger and acquisitions group, the final court approval was scheduled for June 10, and at that time a sale package was ready for distribution through NRC.
"NRC Realty Advisors has done an outstanding job adapting to the changing dynamics of the company and presenting the opportunity for our buyers," Weber told Convenience Store News Online earlier this week, adding NRC has been ready for the sale since early May, but he had to get consensus and agreement among the constituencies in Appco, including various landlords, senior lenders and the committee of unsecured creditors.
"Bankruptcy is the ultimate environment for negotiation, and we have had a lot of opportunity in that regard during this case," he said.
The most recent court action designates NRC Realty Advisors LLC, as the agent to execute the sale of 47 gasoline stations and convenience stores-all of which are leasehold properties-operated by Appco in northeastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Also approved were the sale procedures and NRC's accelerated sales schedule, the company stated.
Under the terms, Appco's stations will be offered for sale in a "buy one, some or all" format, where 26 stores were subdivided into small groups of stores operating under six regional master leases. Bids on master lease stores must include all stores within each regional master lease.
NRC, Appco, Appco's creditors and the bankruptcy court expect to move quickly in evaluating all bids and accepting bids, according to NRC's statement. All sales are expected to close within 10 days of court approval.
Weber told Convenience Store News the sale of the stores has generated "amazingly strong interest" from both large and small operators.
"I think buyers realize the store assets are of good quality and in good shape, and that Appco's challenges were driven more by capital structure and owner/lender relationships than anything else," he said, adding later: "Appco manage
To see a list of convenience stores for sale and gas stations for sale, click here.