LAVAL, QC, Aug. 1st, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Alimentation
Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B) announces today that it has
signed, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary Couche-Tard
Luxembourg S.A.R.L., an agreement to sell its lubricants business
to FUCHS PETROLUB SE ("FUCHS"). The sale is through a share
purchase agreement, pursuant to which FUCHS would acquire 100% of
all issued and outstanding shares in Statoil Fuel & Retail
Lubricants AB ("SFR Lubricants").
The deal, which is subject to standard regulatory approvals and
closing conditions, is expected to be completed before the end
of 2015. The parties to the deal have agreed not to disclose
the purchase price at this time.
SFR Lubricants is one of the leading suppliers of lubricants in
Scandinavia and the Baltics, and in recent years has had a high
rate of growth in Central and Eastern
Europe.
FUCHS PETROLUB is a global Group based in Germany which develops, produces and
distributes around 10,000 lubricants and related specialties across
the world. The Group, which was founded in 1931 and has its
headquarters in Mannheim, ranks
number one among the world's independent lubricant providers. The
Group has a workforce of more than 4,000 employees in a total of 50
operating companies worldwide. This acquisition complements their
existing European footprint, giving them a leading market position
in the Scandinavian region and strengthening their position in
Central and Eastern Europe.
"This transaction is in the best interests of both groups as
well as our respective employees," says Raymond Paré,
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of Alimentation
Couche-Tard Inc.
About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store
industry. In the United States, it
is the largest independent convenience store operator 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 April 26, 2015,
Couche-Tard's network comprised 7,848 convenience stores throughout
North America, including 6,404
stores with road transportation fuel dispensing. Its
North American network consists of 14 business units,
including ten in the United States
covering 41 states and the District of
Columbia and four in Canada
covering all ten provinces. About 80,000 people are employed
throughout its network and at the service offices in North America.
In Europe, Couche-Tard operates
a broad retail network across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Russia, which comprised 2,230 stores as at
April 26, 2015, the majority of which
offer road transportation fuel and convenience products while the
others are unmanned automated service-stations which offer road
transportation fuel only. The Corporation also offers other
products, including stationary energy, marine fuel, lubricants and
chemicals. Couche-Tard operates key fuel terminals and fuel depots
in six countries. Including employees at Statoil branded franchise
stations, about 19,000 people work in its retail network, terminals
and service offices across Europe.
In addition, under licensing agreements, about 4,700 stores are
operated under the Circle K banner in 12 other countries worldwide
(China, Guam, Honduras, Hong
Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, the
Philippines, United Arab
Emirates and Vietnam) which
brings to more than 14,700 the number of sites in Couche-Tard's
network.
For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please
visit: http://corpo.couche-tard.com.
The statements set forth in this press release, which describe
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 "will", "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 nature, 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 projection. 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 documents filed by Couche-Tard with securities
regulatory authorities in Canada.
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 press release is based on information available
as of the date of the release.
SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.