BALTIMORE, Md. -- Lehigh Gas affiliate Kwik Pik and other parties were successful bidders on Uni-Marts' assets for a total of $19.6 million plus assumption of certain debtor's liabilities in an auction managed by Matrix Capital Markets Group. The auction featured bidding that lasted nearly 15 hours, with more than 200 bidders.

Kwik Pik's stalking horse bid, approved by the bankruptcy court earlier this month, established a $16.7 million purchase price for 207 Uni-Marts' assets. The final purchase price represents a 17% improvement to the stalking horse bid.

DALLAS -- In what company officials call an "overwhelming referendum for Congressional action," 7-Eleven Inc. said that its franchisees and store operators have collected more than 1.6 million signatures in the "Stop Unfair Credit Card Fees" petition drive. "We believe this marks the largest number of signatures collected for a public policy issue on record," the company said.

WASHINGTON -- FDA officials have warned tobacco companies to think twice about circumventing a new ban on certain flavored-cigarettes by introducing similar products like little cigars. The ban affects cigarettes with fruit, candy or clove flavors. Although such products, primarily made by small, private firms or imported into the United States, account for a tiny segment of cigarettes smoked in the United States, the ban is the first major step taken by the FDA since the agency was given jurisdiction over the tobacco industry in June.