Matrix Capital Markets Group, Inc. is an independent, advisory focused, privately-held investment bank. Since 1988, Matrix has provided merger & acquisition and financial advisory services to privately-held, private-equity owned and publicly traded companies.
Situation
G.G. Schmitt & Sons, Inc., headquartered in Lancaster, PA, is a manufacturer of component products serving the marine and various other industrial markets
Since its founding in 1951, the Company has operated as a family-oriented enterprise and has grown into one of the industry’s most reputable providers of fabricated and superior metal products
Objective
Matrix was retained by G.G. Schmitt & Sons, Inc. and the Schmitt family to pursue a 100% sale of the business with the goal of maximizing proceeds and positioning the Company and its management team for future growth
Solution
Highlighted the Company’s exceptional performance in its core market to a selected universe of buyers that valued marine industry fundamentals
Identified numerous synergistic opportunities for prospective acquirers that enhanced the Company’s earnings base
Closed the transaction within two months of launching to a select buyers universe, at a value that exceeded client expectations
Situation
Schmuckal Oil Company (“Schmuckal” or the “Company”) was formed 1955 when Art Schmuckal and George Slane developed a partnership to supply fuel to service stations in and around Traverse City, MI. In the 1980s, Art’s son, Paul Schmuckal, took control of the Company and transitioned it from a wholesale supplier to a leading convenience retailer in northern Michigan.
Schmuckal Oil became a multi-branded fuels company through the acquisition of several Marathon stores in 2000 and had been consistently recognized as one of the best Shell operators in the country.
The Company owned and operated 25 convenience stores, a Pac-Pride cardlock, a small transportation fleet, and supplied fuel to two independent dealers.
Matrix was engaged to perform a valuation of the Company and advise on a possible sale process. After undertaking various gift and estate tax planning measures, the shareholders decided it was time to exit the industry to focus on other businesses and diversify family wealth.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of Schmuckal.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Schmuckal, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and True North Energy, LLC was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with True North Energy, LLC closed in August 2019.
Situation
Richmond Electric Supply Co., LLC (“RESCO”) is a full-line, stocking electrical wholesale distributor that serves commercial contractors, government and military agencies, residential contractors, and industrial and OEM markets on a regional and national scale.
Objective
The ownership group, including a family office and management, engaged Matrix to serve as its exclusive financial advisor to market the business to a select number of prospective buyers and run an expedited sale process.
Solution
Matrix tailored a process to meet the requirements outlined by the client, including approaching dozens of mid-sized, regional players in the electrical products distribution market.
Following the receipt of several bids and in-person diligence meetings, Matrix was able to negotiate with multiple parties to yield the most optimal outcome.
Closed the transaction with a party that achieved the goals of all constituents: an above-market price for the exiting shareholders and a supportive parent company that shared management’s vision for growth.
Situation
Fastrac Markets, L.L.C. (“Fastrac” or the “Company”) was formed in October 1998, when three veterans, Lauren (Larry) Bull, Gerard (Gary) Shanley, and Richard (Rick) Clark, from the convenience store industry merged their respective companies with the goal of becoming the premier convenience retailer in Upstate New York, and at that time hired Tom Waddle to lead the Company to that goal. Upon completion of the merger, the newly formed Fastrac chain comprised 40 locations, many of which have since been razed & rebuilt or remodeled.
Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, Fastrac is the premier convenience retailer and petroleum marketer across its operating footprint in the Rochester-Syracuse-Albany region. Since founding the Company in 1998, management has focused on growing the Fastrac brand by building attractive fueling sites on expansive lots with large convenience stores which offer high-quality, made-to-order (MTO) foodservice and a full-line of competitively-priced traditional convenience merchandise. In addition to the remodeling of many legacy sites, in the two decades since the Company’s founding, management has added 14 new-to-industry stores (NTIs).
The shareholders decided it was time to exit the industry to focus on other businesses and diversify family wealth.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of Fastrac, as well as the fuel transportation assets held in its subsidiary, Fastrac Transportation of New York, LLC.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Fastrac, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and EG America LLC, a subsidiary of Blackburn, U.K.-based EG Group Limited, was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with EG America closed in July 2019.
Situation
Apache Oil Company, Inc. (“Apache” or the “Company”), founded in 1992 and headquartered in New London, Connecticut, operated a petroleum marketing and retail fuels distribution business in the northeast, primarily concentrated around New York City, New York and Boston, Massachusetts. The Company’s asset base consisted of 27 commission marketers, 12 lessee dealers, and 56 wholesale supply accounts, marketing under a variety of fuel brands, including Shell, Sunoco, ExxonMobil, Citgo, and Gulf.
The Company’s shareholders contacted Matrix in 2015 to consider strategic alternatives. Matrix provided the shareholders with a market valuation and discussed with them the primary value drivers for the business. The shareholders decided not to consider a sale, but instead to focus on continuing to grow and improve the business to optimize value at a later date. In 2018, the shareholders reached back out to Matrix and asked Matrix to update the valuation based on the Company’s improved performance and the M&A market at the time. Based on the updated valuation, they made the strategic decision to divest their petroleum marketing and fuels distribution business in order to focus on Willy’s Fuels, LLC, a related entity supplying commercial fuels to customers in the heavy construction, pipeline logistics, and oil field services industries.
Additionally, the shareholders desired to retain the real estate control at a significant number of Apache sites and subsequently lease these highly desirable real estate assets to the buyer post-closing.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the fuels distribution business, while also generating a considerable rental income stream through the retention of real estate at 22 strategically located properties.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Apache, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and the real estate lease agreements for assets where Apache would retain real estate control post-closing, and also coordinated the due diligence and closing processes for both transactions. The transaction closed in June 2019.
Situation
Southern Maryland Oil, Inc. (“SMO Energy”), a subsidiary of The Wills Group Inc. (“TWGI”), is a premier diversified energy solutions and services provider based in Southern Maryland with a history of more than 90 years of premium service.
In 1926, Jim Wills and Harold Swann acquired La Plata Oil Company and Mechanicsville Oil Company, and then merged the two to form Southern Maryland Oil, Inc. In its early years, the newly formed company distributed only three Texaco products: kerosene, gasoline, and motor oil. In 1936, the invention of the gun type burner for fuel oil created a new market in residential heating. Southern Maryland Oil, Inc. was quick to adapt to include this innovation and began offering weekly and bi-weekly fuel oil deliveries on an automatic basis – the first such service available to residents in Southern Maryland.
SMO Energy distributes heating oil, propane, and other refined fuels, as well as provides the sale, installation and service of water heaters, generators, oil burners, heat pumps and other HVAC needs to both residential and commercial customers.
The executive management team and shareholders of TWGI decided to monetize SMO Energy to focus on its other motor fuel distribution (SMO Motor Fuels), convenience retailing (Dash In Food Stores), and car wash businesses (Splash In).
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the TWGI to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of SMO Energy.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to TWGI, which included valuation advisory, marketing of SMO Energy through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and Star Group, L.P. (NYSE: SGU) was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with SGU closed in May 2019.
Situation
West Oil, Inc. (“West” or the “Company”) is a third-generation, privately held company headquartered in Hartsville, South Carolina. The Company operated 26 convenience stores in the northeastern portion of South Carolina primarily under their Markette brand, and the stores sold motor fuels under either the Shell flag or the Company’s proprietary West Oil brand.
West also owns a propane distribution business, multiple wine & spirits shops, a mini storage business, and owns and develops other real estate projects.
After over 50 years in operations, the Company’s shareholders asked Matrix to value their petroleum marketing and convenience store business as part of their consideration of strategic alternatives. After considering the likely valuation range that could be achieved, the shareholders made the decision to divest the convenience store business in order to diversify their wealth and focus on other businesses.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of its convenience store business.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to West, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Nearly a dozen competitive offers were received, and FR Refuel LLC (“FR Refuel”), a partnership between a South Carolina convenience store operator and global private equity firm First Reserve, was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with FR Refuel closed in May 2019.
Situation
Tri-State Utilities Company (“Tri-State”) is a leading, award-winning, regional provider of trenchless repair, rehabilitation, inspection, and other maintenance services to the municipal utility market. Tri-State maintains long-term sewer and stormwater contracts with an enviable list of blue-chip customers making it a market leader in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
Objective
Matrix was retained by Tri-State to pursue a sale of the business with the goal of achieving a liquidity event and to provide wealth diversification for the Company’s shareholders.
Solution
Matrix articulated Tri-State’s investment thesis to a broad universe of strategic and financial buyers that possessed an understanding of the industry and the growth opportunities that exist within the Company’s geography.
Received significant initial interest and numerous final bids for the Company from a broad suite of financial and private equity supported strategic buyers.
Matrix negotiated with Hoffman Southwest/ORIX Capital Partners and closed a transaction that achieved terms, conditions and valuation that aligned with the seller’s objectives.
Situation
Schmitt Sales, Inc. (“Schmitt” or the “Company”), headquartered in Buffalo, New York, was a leading petroleum distributor and convenience retailer located throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. The Company distributed Sunoco, ExxonMobil, Valero, Marathon, Keystone, and Shell branded fuel.
Schmitt was founded in 1964 and shortly thereafter began partnering with independent grocery stores and convenience retailers to provide fuel offerings as a complement to traditional grocery and convenience items. Using this strategy, the Company was able to grow rapidly through the development of new partnerships with single-site retailers and the expansion of existing operations with multi-site operators. At the time of the transaction, the Company consisted of three operated convenience stores, 109 commission marketer sites, 91 supply contracts, and approximately 65 non-contract dealers.
The Company’s CEO, Maureen Schmitt, and her family sought to exit the petroleum marketing and fuel distribution business to diversify their wealth and focus on other business ventures.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company’s retail and wholesale assets.
Solution
Matrix provided Schmitt with merger and acquisition advisory services, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through a confidential, structured sale processes, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and Sunoco, LP (“Sunoco”) was ultimately selected as the acquirer of the Company’s retail and wholesale assets.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence process and transaction closing.
The transaction with Sunoco closed in December of 2018.
Situation
Revere Gas, Inc (“Revere” or the “Company”) was a third-generation propane gas distributor headquartered in Hartfield, Virginia. Under the leadership of the late Charles Revere and his sons, Carlton Revere, President and CEO; and Craig Revere, Executive Vice President; the Company significantly expanded its marketing presence across eastern and central Virginia, operating eight branch offices and a propane rail terminal (operating as First Virginia Propane, Inc.).
Between Revere Gas and First Virginia Propane, the companies sold approximately 16 million gallons of propane fuel and served over 26,000 residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and governmental customers in 32 counties.
Matrix was retained to perform a valuation of the companies and to advise on a possible sale process. Ultimately, the Reveres decided to sell both businesses to diversify the family’s wealth.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process in a way that would allow the Revere family to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the propane and rail terminal assets.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Revere, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction. The sale process included a buyer pool of privately owned, regional and national propane marketers; large, public companies including MLPs; private equity funds looking to develop a platform in the propane industry; and buyers only looking to acquire the First Virginia Propane rail terminal.
Multiple offers were received, and ultimately Quarles Petroleum, Inc. (“Quarles”) was selected as the buyer for both Revere Gas and First Virginia Propane.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement, coordinated the due diligence processes, and assisted with a Quality of Earnings analysis performed by an outside accounting firm.
The transaction with Quarles closed in December 2018.
Situation
Giant Eagle, Inc. (“Giant Eagle” or the “Company”), one of the nation’s largest multi-format food, fuel, and pharmacy retailers with $8.9 billion in annual sales and ranked among the top 40 largest private companies according to Forbes magazine, operated 200 GetGo Cafe + Market convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana prior to its acquisition of Ricker Oil Company, Inc. (“Ricker Oil”).
After meeting with Matrix in November 2017 to discuss the Company’s growth objectives, Giant Eagle approached Matrix during the second quarter of 2018 regarding the potential acquisition of Ricker Oil.
Ricker Oil, based in Anderson, Indianapolis, operated 56 Ricker’s-branded convenience stores primarily located in the Indianapolis and Fort Wayne metro areas and supplied wholesale fuels to 80 branded supply accounts located in Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.
Giant Eagle saw the Ricker Oil acquisition as providing additional scale in the Indiana market, where it previously only had seven GetGo stores, as well as providing opportunities to leverage the strength of both the GetGo and Ricker’s convenience store brands.
Objective
Matrix was engaged to advise Giant Eagle on the valuation of Ricker Oil, to assist in the development of operating and financial assumptions, and to negotiate and structure the terms of the Company’s offers and the transaction.
Solution
Matrix developed a comprehensive financial model to evaluate the acquisition and to analyze the projected post-acquisition performance of Ricker Oil. The financial model included several unique scenarios that allowed for different operating and financial assumption sets to be utilized in order for the Company to easily perform sensitivity analyses and to estimate returns on equity for Giant Eagle and its shareholders.
Matrix assisted Giant Eagle in preparing its formal offers for Ricker Oil and in preparing materials regarding the acquisition for Giant Eagle’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Matrix assisted Giant Eagle’s counsel, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP, in the negotiation of the stock purchase agreement.
Giant Eagle closed on the acquisition of Ricker Oil in December 2018.
Situation
Petr-All Petroleum Consulting Corporation d/b/a Express Mart (“Petr-All”, “Express Mart”, or the “Company”) was founded in 1975 in Dryden, NY by the late Francis (Frank) Borer. To better serve the end customer, the first Express Mart convenience store opened in 1989 to offer, in addition to gasoline, a full convenience merchandise product line-up.
Over the past three decades, under the management of Daniel Twombly (President of Finance) and Mike Askwith (President of Marketing, Planning & Store Operations), and with the support of over 900 Company employees, the Express Mart brand grew to 78 company-operated stores throughout the State of New York.
Frank’s wife, Patricia Brock Borer, and their four children remained active in the business over the years, and ultimately decided to exit the industry to focus on other businesses and diversify their family wealth.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of its convenience retailing assets.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Petr-All, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and Speedway LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:MPC), was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with Speedway closed in November 2018.
Situation
Engineered Metals and Composites, Inc. (“EM&C”) is a leading designer and manufacturer of custom marine towers, frames, and other fabricated component products for OEMs in the marine industry. EM&C is strategically positioned in a region that is home to some of the largest saltwater boat manufacturers in North America.
Objective
Matrix was retained by EM&C to pursue a 100% sale of the business with the goal of achieving a liquidity event and to provide wealth diversification for the Company’s shareholders.
Solution
Matrix worked closely with the management to team to develop a multi-step plan which included a direct approach to the major consolidator in the marine space, with all parties prepared to launch to the broader universe of targeted buyers if an acceptable bid was not presented.
Understanding the Company’s business and the seller’s objectives, Patrick Industries, Inc. elected to submit a preemptive offer that accomplished these goals and preempted a formal process.
Matrix negotiated exclusively with Patrick Industries, Inc. and closed a transaction that achieved terms, conditions, and value that exceeded the seller’s expectations.
Situation
Croix Oil Company (“Croix” or the “Company”), headquartered in Stillwater, Minnesota, was a leading Minnesota and western Wisconsin petroleum marketer with operations primarily in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The Company was a fuel distributor for BP, ExxonMobil, and Marathon and was a SuperAmerica and Circle K franchisee.
Croix grew rapidly since the early 2000s through single site acquisitions, new-to-industry builds, and the acquisition of approximately one-third of BP’s stations in the Twin Cities in 2006. At the time of the transaction, the Company consisted of 13 owned and operated convenience stores, five owned dealer sites, three owned commissioned agent sites, and approximately 70 supply contracts.
The Company’s President, Mark Ogren, and his family sought to exit the convenience store and petroleum marketing business to diversify their wealth and focus on other business and real estate ventures.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process in a way that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company’s retail and wholesale assets.
Solution
Matrix provided Croix with merger and acquisition advisory services, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through a confidential, structured sale processes, and negotiation of the transactions.
Multiple offers were received, and ultimately a bifurcated sale of Croix’s convenience retailing assets to a subsidiary of Andeavor and its wholesale fuel assets to a subsidiary of Molo Petroleum, LLC (“Molo”) was pursued to yield maximum after-tax value to the Company’s shareholders.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the two separate asset purchase agreements and coordinated the due diligence processes and the multiple closings.
The primary transactions with Andeavor and Molo closed in September 2018 with a final real estate closing with Molo in October 2018.
Situation
Croix Oil Company (“Croix” or the “Company”), headquartered in Stillwater, Minnesota, was a leading Minnesota and western Wisconsin petroleum marketer with operations primarily in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The Company was a fuel distributor for BP, ExxonMobil, and Marathon and was a SuperAmerica and Circle K franchisee.
Croix grew rapidly since the early 2000s through single site acquisitions, new-to-industry builds, and the acquisition of approximately one-third of BP’s stations in the Twin Cities in 2006. At the time of the transaction, the Company consisted of 13 owned and operated convenience stores, five owned dealer sites, three owned commissioned agent sites, and approximately 70 supply contracts.
The Company’s President, Mark Ogren, and his family sought to exit the convenience store and petroleum marketing business to diversify their wealth and focus on other business and real estate ventures.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process in a way that would allow the Company’s shareholders to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company’s retail and wholesale assets.
Solution
Matrix provided Croix with merger and acquisition advisory services, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through a confidential, structured sale processes, and negotiation of the transactions.
Multiple offers were received, and ultimately a bifurcated sale of Croix’s convenience retailing assets to a subsidiary of Andeavor and its wholesale fuel assets to a subsidiary of Molo Petroleum, LLC (“Molo”) was pursued to yield maximum after-tax value to the Company’s shareholders.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the two separate asset purchase agreements and coordinated the due diligence processes and the multiple closings.
The primary transactions with Andeavor and Molo closed in September 2018 with a final real estate closing with Molo in October 2018.
Situation
Tevis Oil, Inc. (“Tevis” or the “Company”) was founded in 1932 by Stanley H. Tevis Sr. as a local fuels distributor in Westminster, MD. In 1981, the Company opened its first convenience store originally called Tevco, which was primarily a self-service truck stop featuring unbranded gasoline, along with hot food, drinks, and other convenience items. In 1987, the Jiffy Mart brand was born, and by 2001 all of the Company’s Tevco stores had been rebranded Jiffy Mart. The Company is currently led by Mr. Jack Tevis, who represents the 3rd generation of the Tevis family.
The Company owned and operated 5 Jiffy Mart branded convenience stores, as well as 4 locations that were leased to commission agents and a dealer. The greater Tevis enterprise also spans home comfort solutions, commercial fuels, and HVAC businesses, consisting of: Tevis Energy (heating oil, diesel, and gasoline sales to residential and commercial customers); Tevis Propane (propane sales to residential and commercial customers); and, Modern Comfort Systems (HVAC installation, repair & maintenance).
Jack Tevis decided to exit the retail convenience store and petroleum marketing business to focus on the other businesses and diversify family wealth.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Tevis to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of its convenience retailing and wholesale motor fuel assets.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Tevis, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the convenience retailing and wholesale motor fuel assets through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and SMO, Incorporated (d/b/a SMO Motor Fuels and Dash In®), a subsidiary of The Wills Group, Inc., was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with SMO closed in September 2018.
Situation
Cheshire Oil Company (“Cheshire” or the “Company”), headquartered in Keene, New Hampshire, owned and operated 10 high volume and highly profitable Citgo-branded “T-Bird Mini Mart” convenience stores in southwest New Hampshire and Vermont. The Company also operated several other businesses, including the sale of fuels to commercial customers, retail home heating oil delivery, and HVAC & burner servicing.
The Company employed approximately 150 people, and was led by the management team of Mr. James Robertson and his daughter, Ms. JoJi Robertson. The Robertson family had operated Cheshire Oil Company since 1921 and had developed an extremely loyal base of customers across its convenience store network and HVAC & burner service businesses.
The Robertson family sought to exit the convenience store, commercial fuels, heating oil, and HVAC businesses to monetize these valuable assets for estate planning purposes.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process in a way that would allow the Robertson family to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company’s various businesses.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Cheshire, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through two confidential, structured sale processes, and negotiation of the transactions. The bifurcated sale process included a buyer pool of convenience store-centric buyers, home heating oil buyers, and several large, diversified strategic companies with an interest in expanding both their convenience store and home heating operations.
Multiple offers were received, and ultimately Global Partners, LP (NYSE: GLP) (“Global”) was selected as the buyer for the convenience store assets and Dead River Company (“Dead River”) was selected as the buyer for the other divisions.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the two separate asset purchase agreements and coordinated the due diligence processes.
The transactions with Global and Dead River both closed in July 2018, and substantially all of the Company’s employees were retained by the acquirers.
Situation
Cheshire Oil Company (“Cheshire” or the “Company”), headquartered in Keene, New Hampshire, owned and operated 10 high volume and highly profitable Citgo-branded “T-Bird Mini Mart” convenience stores in southwest New Hampshire and Vermont. The Company also operated several other businesses, including the sale of fuels to commercial customers, retail home heating oil delivery, and HVAC & burner servicing.
The Company employed approximately 150 people, and was led by the management team of Mr. James Robertson and his daughter, Ms. JoJi Robertson. The Robertson family had operated Cheshire Oil Company since 1921 and had developed an extremely loyal base of customers across its convenience store network and HVAC & burner service businesses.
The Robertson family sought to exit the convenience store, commercial fuels, heating oil, and HVAC businesses to monetize these valuable assets for estate planning purposes.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process in a way that would allow the Robertson family to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company’s various businesses.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Cheshire, which included valuation advisory, marketing the business through two confidential, structured sale processes, and negotiation of the transactions. The bifurcated sale process included a buyer pool of convenience store-centric buyers, home heating oil buyers, and several large, diversified strategic companies with an interest in expanding both their convenience store and home heating operations.
Multiple offers were received, and ultimately Global Partners, LP (NYSE: GLP) (“Global”) was selected as the buyer for the convenience store assets and Dead River Company (“Dead River”) was selected as the buyer for the other divisions.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the two separate asset purchase agreements and coordinated the due diligence processes.
The transactions with Global and Dead River both closed in July 2018, and substantially all of the Company’s employees were retained by the acquirers.
Situation
Champlain Oil Company, Inc. (“Champlain” or the “Company”) was founded in 1949 by C. Douglas Cairns in Burlington, VT. Several decades later, in 1990, the Company acquired the Jiffy Mart brand along with 13 company-operated locations from Jiffy Mart, Inc, and in the decades that followed Champlain grew into one of the largest petroleum wholesale distribution and convenience retail marketers in the northeast.
The Company owned and operated 37 Jiffy Mart branded convenience stores, owned or leased 21 dealer and commission agent locations. The Company also supplied motor fuels under contract to 65 stations throughout Vermont and New Hampshire, as well as to commercial, industrial, and municipal customers on a non-contract basis. Additionally, Champlain owned and operated three cardlock fueling facilities, offered two fleet card programs, as well as operated its own fuels transportation fleet.
The Company’s President, Tony Cairns, and his family sought to exit the convenience store and petroleum marketing business to diversify their wealth and focus on other business and real estate ventures.
Objective
To customize, execute, and complete a confidential sale process that would allow the Cairns family to realize maximum after-tax value upon the sale of the Company.
Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to Champlain, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the Company through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transaction.
Multiple competitive offers were received, and Global Partners LP (“Global”) was ultimately selected as the acquirer.
Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the asset purchase agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.
The transaction with Global closed in July 2018 with the vast majority of Champlain’s employees continuing their careers with Global.
