MONTREAL — Alimentation Couche-Tard, parent of the Circle K convenience-store chain, said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire all of the shares of Norway-based Statoil Fuel & Retail, the leading convenience and fuel chain in Scandinavia, for around $2.8 billion.
The deal would transform Couche-Tard into a global player with convenience stores and retail fuel businesses in Canada, the U.S., and Central and Eastern Europe. In the U.S., the company has about 3,500 location, mostly under the Circle K banner. It has another 2,000 stores across Canada, mostly under the Couche-Tard and Mac's banners.
Oslo-based Statoil operates 2,300 fuel and convenience stores across Scandinavia, Poland, the Baltics, and Russia. Montreal-based supermarket retailer Metro Inc. is a part owner of Couche-Tard.
