Note 7. Sale and Disposition of Assets

The following table provides the Partnership’s (gain) loss on sale and dispositions of assets for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):


	2019		2018		2017
Sale of natural gas brokerage and electricity businesses	$	—	$	—	$	(14,172)
Periodic divestiture of gasoline stations		(2,481)		(263)		818
Strategic asset divestiture program - Real estate firm coordinated sale		(2,046)		995		1,603
Loss on assets held for sale		1,660		4,650		9,988
Other		137		498		139
Total	$	(2,730)	$	5,880	$	(1,624)

Sale of Natural Gas and Electricity Brokerage Businesses

On February 1, 2017, the Partnership completed the sale of its natural gas marketing and electricity brokerage businesses for a purchase price of approximately $17.3 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. Proceeds from the sale amounted to approximately $16.3 million, and the Partnership realized a gain on the sale of $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. Prior to the sale, the results of the natural gas marketing and electricity brokerage businesses were included in the Commercial segment.

Periodic Divestiture of Gasoline Stations

As part of the routine course of operations in the GDSO segment, the Partnership may periodically divest certain gasoline stations. The gain or loss on the sale, representing cash proceeds less net book value of assets and recognized liabilities at disposition, net of settlement and dispositions costs, is recorded in net (gain) loss on sale and disposition of assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and amounted to a (gain) loss of ($2.5 million), ($0.3 million) and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Strategic Asset Divestiture Program

The Partnership identified certain non-strategic GDSO sites that are part of its Strategic Asset Divestiture Program (the “Divestiture Program”). The gain or loss on the sales of these sites, representing cash proceeds less net book value of assets and recognized liabilities at disposition, net of settlement and dispositions costs, is recorded in net (gain) loss on sale and disposition of assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Real Estate Firm Coordinated Sales—The Partnership has retained a real estate firm to coordinate the continuing sale of non-strategic GDSO sites. The Partnership sold 16 sites during the year ended December 31, 2019. The Partnership recognized a gain of ($2.0 million) on the sales of these sites for the year ended December 31, 2019, including the derecognition of $2.9 million of GDSO goodwill.

The Partnership recognized losses of $1.0 million and $1.6 million on the sales of sites for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, including the derecognition of $3.9 million and $4.0 million of GDSO goodwill for these respective periods.

Loss on Assets Held for Sale

In conjunction with the periodic divestiture of gasoline stations and the sale of sites within the Divestiture Program, the Partnership may classify certain gasoline station assets as held for sale. Impairment charges related to assets held for sale are included in net (gain) loss on sale and disposition of assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The Partnership classified 7 sites as held for sale at December 31, 2019 associated with the periodic divestiture of gasoline station sites and the real estate firm coordinated sales discussed above. The Partnership recorded impairment charges related to these assets held for sale in the amount of $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.

The Partnership recorded impairment charges related to assets held for sale associated with the periodic divestiture of gasoline station sites and the real estate firm coordinated sales in the amount of $4.7 million and $10.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Assets held for sale of $4.6 million and $8.1 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are included in property and equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Assets held for sale are expected to be sold within the next 12 months.

Other

The Partnership recognizes gains and losses on the sale and disposition of other assets, including vehicles, fixtures and equipment, and the gain or loss on such other assets are included in other in the aforementioned table.