BRS Completes Sale of Wilson Farms to 7-Eleven
June 1, 2011
NEW YORK, June 1, 2011 — Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. (“BRS”), a leading New York-based private equity firm, announced today that it has completed the sale of portfolio company Wilson Farms, Inc. to 7-Eleven, Inc.
BRS acquired Wilson Farms, an operator of convenience stores, in 2005 from Tops Markets, LLC, an operating division of Ahold, and, under BRS’s ownership, Wilson Farms’ net revenues and EBITDA grew significantly. The proceeds from the sale of Wilson Farms resulted in BRS achieving a gross multiple of approximately 3.2x invested capital and a gross IRR in excess of 20%.
Tom Baldwin, a Managing Director of BRS, commented, “During the last six years, BRS and the Wilson Farms management team worked together to design and implement a comprehensive upgrade and remodeling program focused on the store base. In addition, we significantly improved the company’s perishable food offering with the introduction of a new commissary program. The results of these initiatives are evident in the company’s strong financial performance and differentiated customer experience. This investment performed well and we wish the entire Wilson Farms team continued success.”
Wilson Farms and BRS were advised in the transaction by BMO Capital Markets.
About BRS
BRS is a New York based private equity firm with $1.4 billion of committed capital under management in three investment partnerships, focused on investing in middle market consumer goods and services businesses. Since 1996, BRS has purchased over 40 portfolio companies for aggregate consideration of over $6.4 billion. In addition, BRS portfolio companies have completed approximately $1.9 billion of add-on acquisitions. Prior to forming the firm, the founders of BRS were in the financial acquisition business at Citicorp Venture Capital where they closed 25 transactions with aggregate transaction values totaling $5.8 billion.
About Wilson Farms
Wilson Farms, headquartered in Buffalo, New York, operates 188 convenience stores under the Wilson Farms, Sugarcreek and Wilson Farms Xpress brands. The company’s stores are located in Central and Western New York State in established metropolitan areas and surrounding suburbs. Wilson Farms’ primary products include an extensive line of grocery, frozen and dairy products, as well as gasoline in select locations.
For additional information contact:
Kekst and Company
Ruth Pachman or Mark Semer
212-521-4800