BP Products North America agreed Thursday to a $1.3 billion deal to acquire TravelCenters of America Inc., the operator and franchisor of the TA, Petro Stopping Centers and TA Express travel center brands.
The acquisition – valued at $86 per share (an 84% premium to the average trading price of the prior 30 days) – is a result of the successful implementation of the company's turnaround and strategic plans implemented in 2019, said TA’s Chief Executive Officer Jonathan M. Pertchik.
"We have improved our core travel center business, expanded our network, launched eTA to prepare for the future of alternative fuels and improved our operating and financial results," he said, "none of which we could have accomplished without the hard work and dedication of our employees at every level.”
This is the second time BP has owned TA. Standard Oil of Ohio bought TA in 1984 from Ryder, and BP bought Standard Oil in 1987. BP sold TA in 1993.
BP was not the only suitor for the truckstop chain. The company said it received unsolicited interest to be acquired and ultimately went through multiple "competitive rounds of bidding from potential buyers that resulted in the transaction announced [Thursday]."
The sale still has to be approved by shareholders who own a majority of TA’s shares outstanding, however, Service Properties Trust, which owns 7.8% of TA’s shares outstanding, and The RMR Group, which owns 4.1% of TA’s shares outstanding, both have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the sale.
The transaction was unanimously approved by the TA Board of Directors.
