Highway Technologies, Inc. was a large, Houston-based[1] US construction company with offices in 33 cities[2] that filed for bankruptcy in May 2013, laying off 740 of its 825 employees.[3] The company was founded 30 years ago.[when?][4]

The company supplied "highway barriers, traffic control devices and rent[ed] barriers for detours and emergency closures".[4]

Liquidation of company assets began in June 2013[5] and continued through November 2013,[6] with some local branches sold in their entirety to new owners.

Locations

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The company operated in over 30 US cities,[7][8] with as many as 50 to 80 employees at some locations:[1]

Company bankruptcy

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The Houston-based company laid off 740 employees, of 825 total, on May 17, 2013, and filed for bankruptcy on May 22.[1] The bankruptcy filing indicated that company assets were between $50 and $100 million while liabilities were between $100 and $500 million.[5]

Disruptions

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Event disruptions occurred as a result of the suspension of operations in a number of cities. In Denver, the Colfax Marathon and the American Ninja Warrior competition lost the contracted support services for the provision of traffic barricades for the event.[2] Fifteen active projects were shut down in Montana by the closure of the Missoula office, where 180 employees lost their jobs.[10][11]

Liquidation

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"Bankruptcy was seen as the best option to protect the company's assets for its creditors".[1] At the May 23, 2013, bankruptcy court hearing, approval was given "to start to sell any assets below $200,000. The company pursued the sale of its assets both piecemeal and on a turnkey — intact branches — basis through private sales and auctions"[1][12]

Some Highway Technologies local enterprises were sold in their entirety to new owners.[12] In early August, the Denver branch emerged from bankruptcy as Colorado Barricade, sold at a price of US$775,000 plus assumption of certain liabilities pertaining solely to the existing operation, and hired back some 20 of the 50-plus employees of Highway Technologies Denver operation within the first week of operation.[9]

Over 60,000 remaining assets were sold off in auctions held between August and November 2013,[6] including 4700 items sold at one two-day auction in Texas in late August.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Highway Technologies' abrupt bankruptcy affects 740 employees nationwide, May 28, 2013, Houston Business Journal.
  2. ^ a b Traffic-barrier company closes its doors day before Colfax Marathon, May 18, 2013, Denver Post.
  3. ^ Construction supply company closes doors, lays off 740, May 28, 2013, Houston Chronicle.
  4. ^ a b "Highway Technologies Lays off 180 Employees". NightcapTV.com. May 29, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Company Bankruptcy Information for Highway Technologies, Inc". BusinessBankruptcies.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Assets previously owned by Highway Technologies". Auction web announcement. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. Retrieved November 16, 2013. 60,000+ lotted assets — No minimum bids on trucks, signs & more. These highway safety products will all be sold to the highest bidders at 13 Ritchie Bros. unreserved auction between Aug & Nov 2013.
  7. ^ "Highway Technologies Private Treaty Sale". HilcoInd.com. 2013. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Highway Technologies Private Treaty Sale
  9. ^ a b Proctor, Cathy (August 2, 2013). "Denver branch of Highway Technologies emerges from closure as Colorado Barricade". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  10. ^ Foster, Emily (June 10, 2013). "Hundreds Lose Jobs As Highway Co. Goes Bankrupt". abc Fox Montana. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  11. ^ missoulian.com. "missoulian.com". Missoulian.com. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  12. ^ a b Brenzel, Kathryn (November 16, 2013). "Highway Technologies Seeks To Sell Off Branches For $5M". Law 360. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  13. ^ "Ritchie Bros. sells over US $53 million of industrial asset's at Houston auction: Most items ever sold at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Texas" (PDF). press release. Ritche Bros. Auctioners. Retrieved November 16, 2013.