SEALED BID SALE. Hunt & Sons, Inc. (“Seller”) is offering to sell ten (10) properties located in California and Nevada (individually, a “Property” and collectively, the “Properties”) by sealed bid sale. Seller has retained NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC (“NRC”) to coordinate the offering and sale of the Properties.
BID DEADLINE. NRC will announce a bid deadline date (the “Bid Deadline”) for the Properties in the future. All sale registrants will be notified as soon as the Bid Deadline is determined. Bidders will be given at least 30 days prior notice of the Bid Deadline.
OFFERED PROPERTIES. All of the Properties are offered for sale as convenience stores with gas and are currently operating. Eight (8) of the Properties are offered with the fee interest in the real property and two (2) of the Properties are offered with the leasehold interest in the real property. All Properties include non-proprietary furnishings and equipment owned by Seller, plus inventory (which is to be paid for separately as set forth below). Equipment leased by Seller or owned by third parties will not be sold with the Properties and will be removed prior to closing.
FUEL SUPPLY – ALL PROPERTIES. The Properties are offered with or without fuel supply and bidders may make their offers according to their preference. Although offers without fuel supply will be entertained, Seller’s preference is to sell the Properties subject to Seller’s fuel supply agreement. All Properties, including those sold without fuel supply, will be required to retain the existing fuel brand after closing. On sites which are being purchased without supply, the purchaser will be required to make arrangements acceptable to Seller to assume all existing branding obligations (including any associated damages, costs and liabilities for de-branding), and all obligations with respect to unamortized image or incentive monies as of the closing.
Properties sold with fuel supply will be sold with ten (10) year branded fuel supply agreements. Terms and conditions of fuel supply will be subject to credit approval, and the amount and type of collateral that the supplier will require to be posted by the purchasers of Properties will be dependent upon the creditworthiness of the purchasers.
Please see the Property Specific Package (“PSP”) for each Property for fuel pricing terms, other specific details and additional terms.
CIRCLE K CONVENIENCE STORE BRANDING. A successful bidder for a Property that has a convenience store that is currently branded Circle K will be required to keep the Circle K convenience store branding and to complete the Circle K requirements for transfer of the franchise.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SEALED BID SALE
TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The offering and sale of the Properties in this sealed bid sale are subject to these Terms and Conditions of Sealed Bid Sale (the “Terms and Conditions”). Prospective bidders are advised to carefully review the Terms and Conditions. Failure to comply either as a participant in the sale or in the preparation or submission of a sealed bid, may, in the sole discretion of Seller or NRC with Seller’s consent, cause a sealed bid to be deemed non-conforming (a “Non-conforming Bid”) and disqualified from consideration. NRC and Seller reserve the right to amend, supplement or modify these Terms and Conditions from time to time, without consent from or notice to prospective bidders. In the event the Terms and Conditions conflict with a provision of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (“PSA”) relating to a Property, the provision of the applicable PSA shall be controlling.
REFERENCED MATERIALS. The Terms and Conditions are set forth in two places in the sealed bid sale materials; (i) on the NRC website at www.nrc.com/1916 and (ii) in each PSP, and are incorporated by reference in each PSA.
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. All information that prospective bidders may receive in connection with this sealed bid sale is proprietary and non-public information that Seller considers confidential (“Confidential Information”), including, without limitation, Confidential Information contained in a PSP. Accordingly, each prospective bidder is required to sign and return a Confidentiality Agreement (“Confidentiality Agreement”) to NRC by mail, email or by fax prior to receiving a PSP. Please contact NRC to receive a Confidentiality Agreement.
CREDIT PROCESS. Each prospective bidder who intends to submit a sealed bid for any Property is required to fully complete, sign and return to NRC a financial prequalification form with their bid. A prequalification form is included with the Bid Package (as defined below) contained in the PSP. Successful bidders for Properties sold with fuel supply will be required to complete Seller’s and/or Seller’s gas supplier’s credit processes prior to completing the purchase of their Properties.
DUE DILIGENCE
PRE-BIDDING DUE DILIGENCE. Bidders are solely responsible for conducting their own due diligence on Properties prior to bid submission. PSAs submitted as sealed bids become immediately enforceable by the parties upon Seller’s execution and may be terminated only pursuant to the terms thereof. In the event a successful bidder defaults on its obligations under an enforceable PSA, Seller may have the right to retain such bidder’s Earnest Money Deposit (defined below).
PROPERTY SPECIFIC PACKAGES. A PSP for each Property is available for download at http://www.nrc.com/1916. Each PSP contains, as available, property-specific physical, legal, environmental and financial due diligence information. A PSP may include, as applicable, tax bills, surveys or site plans, title commitments, UST information and remediation reports.
PROPERTY INSPECTIONS. Properties may be inspected during normal business hours. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BIDDERS ASK QUESTIONS OF STORE MANAGERS OR STORE EMPLOYEES. BIDDERS VIOLATING THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM BIDDING. The store managers and employees have been instructed to refer any questions from a bidder directly to NRC. All pre-bid inspections are limited to non-invasive investigations. Please call NRC at (800) 747-3342, ext. 1916 for further information.
SEALED BID SUBMISSION
BID DEADLINE. Each sealed bid is required to be received by NRC as provided above by the Bid Deadline. A sealed bid received by NRC after the Bid Deadline is a Non-conforming Bid.
BID PACKAGE. The bid package (the “Bid Package”) for a Property contains bid submission instructions, the related PSA to be completed, signed and submitted with the sealed bid, and a pre-qualification form to be submitted to NRC. The Bid Package for each Property is contained in or sent with the related PSP. To obtain a Bid Package for a Property, a prospective bidder is required to order the related PSP from NRC.
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT. A sealed bid for a Property is made on the PSA contained in the related Bid Package. The PSA is required to be fully and correctly completed, without any modification and properly signed. A sealed bid received in any other format or on a PSA that is incomplete, incorrect or modified in any respect is a Non-conforming Bid. Instructions on how to complete the PSA in compliance with the Terms and Conditions are contained in the Bid Package.
BID DEPOSIT. Each sealed bid is required to include an initial bid deposit (the “Bid Deposit”) equal to the greater of 2.5% of the bid price indicated on the accompanying PSA or $10,000. The Bid Deposit is required to be made by wire transfer to NRC Realty & Capital Advisors, LLC’s escrow account (wire instructions are included in the Bid Package). A sealed bid that is submitted without a Bid Deposit that complies with this paragraph is a Non-conforming Bid. If a bid is not accepted by Seller, the Bid Deposit will be returned to the bidder subject to the terms outlined below.
NON-CONFORMING BIDS. NRC reserves the right, with Seller’s consent, to disqualify from consideration and reject any Non-conforming Bid. After a Non-conforming Bid is rejected, NRC will return the related Bid Deposit by certified mail within seven (7) business days after the later to occur of (i) the date of such rejection and (ii) the date that the related funds have cleared NRC’s escrow account.
SEALED BID EVALUATION AND AWARD
EVALUATION AND AWARD OF SEALED BIDS. NRC will present all sealed bids received by the Bid Deadline to Seller for consideration. Seller will review all sealed bids, other than rejected Non-conforming Bids. Seller may accept or reject sealed bids, in its sole and absolute discretion. Seller and NRC reserve the right to request and review additional financial information relating to a bidder and/or other information confirming a bidder’s ability to close a sale. All sales are final upon acceptance and execution by Seller of the related PSAs. Seller shall attempt to accept or reject all bids within twenty (20) business days of the Bid Deadline, after which initial bid deposits shall be returned to unsuccessful bidders.
BEST AND FINAL BIDS. Seller reserves the right to solicit a best and final offer (“BAFO”) for any Property. NRC shall notify bidders of Seller’s intent to solicit a BAFO by facsimile. In that case, bidders will be given an opportunity to raise, but not lower or withdraw, their bids. If a bidder elects not to submit a BAFO, such bidder’s original bid amount remains in effect. If accepted by Seller, a BAFO will amend the purchase price of the related PSA.
PROHIBITION ON WITHDRAWING SEALED BIDS. Both sealed bids and BAFOs are purchase offers that, pursuant to this paragraph, remain in effect for a period of twenty (20) business days following the Bid Deadline, in the case of sealed bids, and twenty (20) business days following the date the BAFO is received by NRC, in the case of BAFOs. Sealed bid and BAFO purchase offers during such periods are irrevocable and may not be withdrawn.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF AWARD OF BID. The effective date of the award of a sealed bid is the date on which Seller signs the related PSA. NRC will notify successful bidders of awards by facsimile; however, the awards are not legally binding or enforceable until the date on which Seller delivers a fully signed PSA to the successful bidder.
ADDITIONAL EARNEST MONEY REQUIREMENT. Within two (2) business days after receiving written notice from NRC of Seller’s acceptance of a sealed bid, a successful bidder is required to deposit sufficient additional funds (the “Additional Bid Deposit”) that, when added to the initial Bid Deposit, equals the greater of 10% of the purchase price of the accepted sealed bid or $25,000. The Additional Bid Deposit is required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to NRC’s escrow account (wire instructions will be provided by NRC). The Bid Deposit, together with the Additional Bid Deposit, is collectively referred to herein as the “Earnest Money Deposit”. The Earnest Money Deposit will be held by NRC for the benefit of the parties and without obligation to invest funds. NRC reserves the right to allocate any of a bidder’s excess Bid Deposits on other Properties to the Earnest Money Deposit of an accepted sealed bid in connection with satisfying the Additional Bid Deposit requirement of this paragraph.
SELLER’S RESERVATION OF RIGHTS. Seller expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and without giving reasons therefor, to decline any bid, postpone, extend, or cancel the Bid Deadline, or withdraw any Property from the sealed bid sale at any time without notice. Seller further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, without notifying any bidder, giving any bidder similar opportunity, or re-offering a Property, to negotiate the terms of a bid, to overlook minor inconsistencies or nonconformance in a bid, to extend any deadlines or to accept any bid for any reason, whether or not such bid is the highest purchase price. Seller also reserves the right to terminate, at any time, further participation in the process by any party or all parties, to modify any of the rules or procedures set forth herein or any other procedures without prior notice or assigning any reason therefor, to reject any or all proposals, or to terminate the process contemplated hereby. Seller reserves the right to take any action, whether in or out of the ordinary course of business, which Seller, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or prudent in the conduct of its business. Seller may require verification of funds available to close on offers before accepting any bid. The Terms and Conditions are subject to modification as may be required by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT TERMS
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT. The purchase of each Property will be subject and consummated pursuant to the provisions of the applicable PSA. Certain PSA provisions have been summarized herein for the benefit of prospective bidders, including, without limitation, certain environmental terms. These summaries do not restate the PSA provisions and are not intended to be full, complete and accurate descriptions thereof. Accordingly, bidders may not rely on these summaries as enforceable provisions. The applicable PSA is the sole agreement relating to rights, remedies and obligations of each party in connection with the purchase of a Property.
ROFR PROPERTIES. For some Properties, Seller will provide the convenience store franchisor or the fuel supplier (the “ROFR Party”) with a with a sixty (60) day (the “ROFR Period”) right of first refusal ("ROFR") to purchase the related Property (the “ROFR Property”) in accordance with Seller’s existing agreements with the ROFR Party. A condition precedent to the consummation of the sale of that ROFR Property is that the ROFR Party must decline to exercise its ROFR. In the event that the ROFR Party exercises the ROFR, the PSA will be terminated and the earnest money returned to the Purchaser.
CLOSING DATES AND TRANSFER OF POSSESSION. Successful bidders for all non-ROFR Properties will be required to close escrow within sixty (60) days. If a ROFR Party declines to exercise the ROFR, a successful bidder for a ROFR Property will be required to close escrow sixty (60) days after the expiration of the ROFR Period. Seller shall have the sole option of extending the closing date for all Properties for as many as ninety (90) days if it finds it necessary. Transfer of possession will occur upon the escrow closing. The PSA for each Property provides that Seller will designate the escrow agent for the closing of the Property. In the event that Purchaser requests to use a different title company and Seller consents, Purchaser shall be required to pay to Seller an additional $10,000 at closing.
CLOSING COSTS. Purchaser will pay for the cost of all title insurance policies issued at closing and the costs of any money lenders escrow. Purchaser and Seller shall equally share the costs of any deed and money escrow fees. Seller is providing Purchaser with a current ALTA survey and current Phase I environmental report which will be assigned to Purchaser at closing, unless stated otherwise in the PSP. At closing, Purchaser shall reimburse Seller between $3,500 and $6,000 for the cost of the survey and $2,000 for the cost of the environmental report.
TRANSFER OF TITLE. All Properties will be conveyed by special or limited warranty deed with marketable title. Seller will provide title free and clear of monetary liens, except non-delinquent real estate taxes, and subject to standard permitted exceptions outlined in the title commitment. The Purchaser will pay for title insurance coverage. Real estate taxes will be current to the date of closing. Except as stated in the paragraph below entitled “ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS”, all Properties will be conveyed “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,” regarding any conditions affecting the Properties, with no representations or warranties.
NO MORTGAGE CONTINGENCY. The PSAs for the Properties do not contain a mortgage contingency. In the event that the Purchaser is unable to secure purchase financing, the PSA may not be terminated on that basis.
LICENSES, PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATION. It is the Purchaser’s sole responsibility to obtain, at its expense, any licenses, permits and authorizations (collectively, “Licenses”) required to acquire, manage, develop, lease and/or operate a Property. Purchaser’s procurement of these items is not a condition to Closing. Please see the PSP for each Property for additional information.
ESTIMATED INVENTORY VALUE. For all Properties, Purchaser will purchase non-petroleum and petroleum inventory, as applicable and less any Seller proprietary items (the “Inventory”) located at the Properties from Seller at closing. The Purchase Price for a Property does not include the Inventory items, and Inventory shall be paid for separately by Purchaser. Not less than seven (7) days prior to the closing date for all sites where Inventory is being transferred, NRC shall deliver by facsimile or e-mail to Purchaser an estimated value of the Inventory (the “Estimated Inventory Value”). Purchaser shall deposit with NRC one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Estimated Inventory Value at least five (5) days prior to the closing date by wire transfer of immediately available funds (the “Inventory Deposit”). Failure to make the Inventory Deposit as set forth herein shall be considered a default under the PSA and may result in the forfeiture of the Earnest Money Deposit, in Seller’s complete and sole discretion.
ACTUAL INVENTORY VALUE. Where applicable, a physical count of the Inventory on hand at the Property (the “Inventory Review”) shall be conducted by a third party servicer designated by Seller at closing. Purchaser is required to purchase at closing the entire Inventory unless otherwise agreed by Seller. The cost of the Inventory Review shall be divided equally between the parties. On the day after closing, the third party servicer will perform the Inventory Review and then calculate the purchase price of the Inventory as set forth in the PSA. Any difference between the Estimated Inventory Value and the final value of Inventory, as determined by the Inventory Review (the “Final Inventory Purchase Price”) may result in additional amounts due from Seller or Purchaser, as the case may be. The appropriate party must remit such additional amounts within two business days following final determination. See the PSA for specific details. Inventory shall not include any out-of-code or damaged merchandise and Seller shall remove all out-of-code or damaged merchandise prior to conclusion of the physical inventory at the Property.
DE-IDENTIFICATION. Prior to closing, Seller shall, as it deems necessary and/or appropriate, in its sole discretion, remove from the Properties, signage, advertising and other displays on or in the Properties, including on or in the buildings comprising or underlying the Properties, containing any of Seller’s trade names, trademarks or other intellectual property owned or licensed by Seller. Proprietary back office computers, POS systems and proprietary equipment may also be removed by Seller prior to closing.
BUYERS PREMIUM. Each successful bidder will pay to Seller, in addition to the purchase price, an amount equal to two percent (2%) of the purchase price of the Property at closing (“Buyers Premium”).
DUAL AGENCY ACKNOWLEDGMENT, CONSENT AND WAIVER. NRC is acting as the marketing and sealed bid sale coordinator for Seller in connection with any offering or sale of Properties pursuant to these Terms and Conditions and in no event is NRC representing Purchaser as its agent in connection with any transaction contemplated or consummated in connection herewith. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if it is determined that NRC is acting as an agent for Purchaser hereunder, Purchaser and all parties claiming by, through or under Purchaser shall hereby affirm and acknowledge that NRC is not acting in any manner which shall result in a dual agency, and Purchaser hereby consents to all such actions of NRC and disclaims, waives and forever releases NRC from any and all obligations that might be imposed on an agent in connection with any transaction hereunder and Purchaser hereby consents to same. Purchaser further disclaims, waives, forever releases indemnifies and holds Seller harmless from any liability, loss, cost or obligation arising from any acts or omissions of NRC.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. Responsibility for environmental liabilities and indemnification for environmental matters for each Property is allocated as of closing as provided in the PSA for that Property. For a Property where either no known contamination exists or a “No Further Action” letter or similar document has been issued, the purchaser will be purchasing such Property on an “AS IS, WHERE IS” basis. For a Property where known contamination exists, the purchaser will be purchasing such Property on an “AS IS, WHERE IS” basis, except Seller will retain responsibility for remediating in accordance with applicable law the environmental condition reflected in the most recent environmental report(s) obtained by Seller with respect to such condition, which report(s) will be made part of the PSA. Please see the website or PSP for each Property for additional information.
DISCLAIMER. Seller and NRC and their respective members, directors, officers, employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, “Representatives”) disclose that they may not have complete knowledge of the physical, environmental or economic characteristics of the Properties. Accordingly (except as otherwise specifically stated in a PSA), Seller and NRC and their Representatives disclaim any warranty, guaranty or representation, express or implied, concerning (a) the condition or state of repair of the Properties, including, without limitation, any condition arising in connection with the generation, use, transportation, storage, release, or disposal of petroleum products, toxic or hazardous substances, on and under, above, upon, or in the vicinity of the Properties, and its impact on water, soil and geology; (b) the suitability of the Properties and their water, soil and geology for any activities and use that the purchaser may elect to conduct; (c) the extent of any right of way, lease, possession, lien, encumbrance, easement, license, reservation, or condition in connection with the Properties; (d) the compliance of the Properties or their operation with any applicable laws, ordinances, or regulations of any government or other body, including without limitation, compliance with any land use, Americans with Disabilities Act, wetland, or zoning law or regulation, or applicable environmental or coastal laws, rules, ordinances, and regulations; (e) title to or the boundaries of the Properties; and (f) the physical condition of the Properties, including, without limitation, the structural, mechanical and engineering characteristics of the improvements to the Properties.
Except as stated above and as set forth in the related PSA, the sale of each Property is on an “AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH ALL FAULTS,” basis. Neither Seller, NRC, nor any of their Representatives make any warranty or representation, express or implied, or arising by operation of law, including, without limitation, any warranty of condition, habitability, or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, with respect to the Properties. Bidders will buy the Properties based solely on their own investigations. By accepting title to any Property, a bidder acknowledges that it has conducted any investigation that it has considered necessary or advisable and that it is not relying upon any representations of Seller, NRC or any of their Representatives. The materials and information concerning the Properties contained in the sales mailer, postcards, other brochures, the PSP and the Bid Package, and any other information provided by Seller or NRC or their Representatives, is based in part upon information and materials obtained from sources considered reliable, without independent verification. Bidders must not base their bids upon that information or environmental studies, repair estimates, other studies, or pro-forma and financial information that Seller or NRC provides, but must rely solely on their own estimates and studies. No warranty or representation, express or implied, is made by Seller, NRC, or any of their Representatives, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided to bidders.