Компания Legendary готова приобрести банкротство фруктового гиганта Brewster за 231,3 млн долларов

Legendary keeps inside track to acquire Gebbers fruit company Published 12:41 pm Tuesday, September 1, 2026 Legendary Fruit Company has been the only bidder for Brewster Heights Packing and Orchards in north-central Washington and appears poised to acquire the bankrupt tree-fruit giant this month. No one has topped Legendary’s stalking-horse bid of $231.3 million, despite a marketing campaign, Brewster attorney John Mitchell said at a court hearing Sept. 1. Legendary, a Central Washington tree-fruit company, formed an entity called Heritage Orchard Alliance to acquire Brewster, the flagship company of the sixth-generation Gebbers Farms. Legendary bid $75 million in cash, while assuming $156.3 million in Brewster’s debts. Brewster and 12 affiliated Gebbers companies reported owing two lenders a total of $225 million. Brewster owes millions more to other lenders and unsecured creditors. Agronomic services company Wilbur-Ellis has a lien on the 2026 crop, but still faces losing $3.2 million in unsecured debt, according to court records. “We’re somewhat disappointed we did not receive an overbid. Debtors always want a robust auction,” Mitchell said. If someone shows up with a better offer, Brewster will listen, he said. “But our primary focus right now is moving ahead with Heritage.” Brewster had 4,700 full-time employees in July, according to court records. The company cited poor financial returns for Washington agriculture as a whole in its initial bankruptcy filing. If the sale goes through, it’s unlikely all creditors would be paid, bankruptcy Judge Frederick Corbit said. “But we would have a continuing business that employs thousands of people in Central Washington,” he said. Another potential suitor, Copper Leaf, a commercial real estate company, has not gone away. Copper Leaf attorney Michael Zoretic told Corbit that a better offer might be coming. “Copper Leaf has made an overture — we believe a strong one,” Zoretic said. “We believe there is a chance there is going to be a superior bid.” Mitchell said Copper Leaf offered $170 million in cash, but showed it had only secured $50 million. “They basically never got out of the starting gate,” he said. “This company (Brewster) needs to get sold, and the only viable proposal is that of Heritage.” Corbit set a hearing on the sale for Sept. 14.