Situation
CEFCO Convenience Stores, wholly owned by Fikes Wholesale, Inc., operated 250 stores across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

The Company sought to optimize its convenience store operations by selling smaller format stores that could not be repositioned to its preferred operating format and to utilize the funds raised from the divestment to support new store growth and remodeling existing stores. CEFCO’s strategic review identified 50 stores that did not fit its long-term strategy due to smaller store formats, geographic location and/or not meeting brand objectives.

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 50 convenience stores identified for divestment.

Solution
Matrix provided merger and acquisition advisory services to CEFCO, which included valuation advisory, marketing of the business through a confidential, structured sale process, and negotiation of the transactions.

Multiple competitive offers were received. BreakTime Corner Market L.L.C was selected to acquire 48 0f the stores and Refuel Operating Company, LLC was chosen to acquire two stores in Mississippi. Maintaining flexibility and selling the assets in two separate transactions yielded the highest value for CEFCO.

Matrix assisted CEFCO and their tax advisors to understand the tax implications of various transaction scenarios to maximize after-tax proceeds to the shareholders.

Matrix assisted in the negotiation of the purchase agreements and lease agreement and coordinated the due diligence and closing process.

The transaction with Refuel Operating Company, LLC closed in December 2021 and the transaction with BreakTime Corner Market L.L.C. closed in May 2022.