Deal opens key markets

Article Excerpt

ALIMENTATION COUCHETARD $64.78 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couchetard. com; Shares outstanding: 567.4 million; Market cap: $36.8 billion; Dividend yield: 0.5%) operates 10,547 convenience stores throughout North America and Europe. The company will now buy fuel and convenience-store chain CST Brands (symbol CST on New York) for $4.4 billion U.S. CST has more than 2,000 outlets, in the southwestern U.S., New York and Eastern Canada. That number includes more than 600 stores in the fast-growing Texas market. Couche-Tard has a history of introducing new, more profitable items to the stores it buys. This includes a wider range of drinks and improved fresh and takeout food. That lets the company take full advantage of the traffic at each location; it also cuts the risk of growing by acquisition. As part of the deal to buy CST, Couche-Tard has agreed to sell an unspecified number of Canadian CST locations, mainly those that sell gas. Parkland Industries (symbol PKI on…