Judge Approves Winn-Dixie Sale of 26 Leases, Thousands of Prescription Records

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A U.S. bankruptcy judge yesterday approved Winn-Dixie's sale of prescription records to 10 different companies, supplying the retailer with about $16.5 million on the second day of a series of hearings that ends today. The sale of 11 supermarket leases was also approved earlier in the day, with more leases expected to be approved today. On Wednesday the judge approved Winn-Dixie's sale of 15 leases for $18 million.

CVS Corp., the biggest purchaser of prescription records, made out with records from 62 stores for $6.4 million, according to an Associated Press report. Other purchasers included Eckerd Corp., which bought records from 20 stores for $2.7 million; The Kroger Co., 12 store records for $1.47 million; Target Corp., nine store records for $1.15 million; and Publix, 11 store records for $1.9 million.

Each company will also receive the inventories of the closing Winn-Dixie pharmacies at no cost, the press report said.

The largest store lease purchase approved on Wednesday was Harris Teeter, Inc.'s offer of $15.98 million for six stores in North Carolina. Individual store leases that were approved include one in Madison, Ala., being sold to Star Market, Inc. for $20,000, and a lease in Atlanta, sold to OGA's Enterprises for $500,000.

A closed-door hearing on the sale of a $2 million lease of a Naples, Fla. store to Wal-Mart was expected to continue today.

Four of the leases that were approved on Wednesday were purchased by shopping centers in lease termination agreements.

Winn-Dixie is asking the judge to approve sales of about 102 stores and 10 pharmacies during the hearings. In addition to the store lease sales, Winn-Dixie has said it plans to close about 225 unprofitable stores.
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