Holiday Stationstores Expands Into Alaska

BLOOMINGTON, MN-In a move expanding its retail reach to the far northern United States, Bloomington- based Holiday Stationstores said it plans to buy the Williams Cos.’ 26 gas station convenience stores in Alaska.

Holiday’s acquisition is part of a $265 million deal that also involves two Kansas-based firms, Flint Hills Resources and Koch Alaska Pipeline Co., buying Williams’ Alaska assets. It was not disclosed what portion of the $265 million deal reflects Holiday’s purchase.

Holiday Stationstores has 350 gas station convenience stores and about 3,500 employees in Minnesota, Wisconsin and nine other states in the Midwest and the north central United States. The sale, which requires regulatory approval, is expected to close during the first quarter of 2004.

Williams has sold more than $8 billion in assets since December 2001 in a restructuring plan designed to focus on finding, producing, processing and transporting natural gas.