LAVAL, QC,
Dec. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B) announces today
that it has signed, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary,
Mac's Convenience Stores LLC, an agreement to acquire 29 stores, 25
stores are located in Illinois,
three in Missouri and one in
Oklahoma. The transaction is
anticipated to close in December
2012. The transaction is subject to standard regulatory
approvals and closing conditions. According to a confidentiality
agreement between the parties, the purchase price cannot be
disclosed. Available cash dollars will be used for the
transaction.
All stores offer motor fuel branded Phillips
66. They would eventually be rebranded under the
Circle K brand and continue to offer motor fuel under
Phillips 66. Couche-Tard's Midwest division would
operate 28 of them and the other one would be operated by the
Southwest division. Two sites are equipped with car washes.
Pursuant to this transaction, Couche-Tard would buy the land and
buildings for 25 locations and would assume or enter into leases
for the remaining locations.
In addition, pursuant to a related agreement,
Couche-Tard would purchase the rights for the supply of 29
Wholesale stores located throughout the same geographic area.
"Subsequent to this transaction, our network in
the Midwest division would include a total of 527 company
operated-stores and 212 locations under wholesale or franchise
agreements. These stores occupy strategic locations within their
respective trade areas. Strategically, this acquisition would be a
great addition to our expansion and growth plans for the Midwest
division." commented Bruce Landini,
Vice-President Operations, Midwest.
About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian
convenience store industry. In North
America, Couche-Tard is the largest independent convenience
store operator (whether integrated with a petroleum corporation or
not) in terms of number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience
store and road transportation fuel in Scandinavian countries and in
the Baltic States while it has a growing presence in Poland.
As of October 14,
2012, Couche-Tard's network comprises 6,172 convenience
stores throughout North America,
including 4,590 stores with road transportation fuel dispensing.
Its North-American network consists of 13 business units, including
nine in the United States covering
40 states and the District of
Columbia and four in Canada
covering all ten provinces. More than 60,000 people are employed
throughout Couche-Tard's network and at its service offices in
North America.
Through its acquisition of Statoil Fuel &
Retail, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across
Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), and Russia with 2,301 stores as at September 30, 2012, the majority of which offer
road transportation fuel and convenience products while the others
are unmanned automated service-stations (road transportation fuel
only). Couche-Tard also offers other products, including stationary
energy, marine fuel, aviation fuel, lubricants and chemicals. It
operates 12 key fuel terminals and 38 fuel depots in eight
countries as well as approximately 400 road tankers. Including
employees at Statoil branded franchise stations, about 18,500
people work in Couche-Tard's retail network, terminals and service
offices across Europe.
In addition, under licensing agreements, about
4,100 stores are operated under the Circle K banner in nine other
countries (China, Guam, Hong
Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, Macau, Mexico, Vietnam and United
Arab Emirates).
For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please
visit: http://www.couchetard.com
The statements set forth in this press release, which describes
Couche-Tard's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or
forecasts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such
as "plan", "evaluate", "estimate", "believe", "expect" and other
related expressions are used to identify such statements.
Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very natures,
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such
that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ
materially from those indicated or underlying these statements, or
could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular
projections. Major factors that may lead to a material difference
between Couche-Tard's actual results and the projections or
expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include
the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the
ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins on
motor fuel sales, competition in the convenience store and retail
motor fuel industries, exchange rate variations, and such other
risks as described in detail from time to time in the reports filed
by Couche-Tard with securities authorities in Canada and the
United States. Unless otherwise required by applicable
securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. The
forward-looking information in this release is based on information
available as of the date of the release.
SOURCE ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD INC.