Canadian Company Alimentation Couche-Tard Tries to Buy Polish Rival Zabka

Alimentation Couche-Tard tried to buy 7-Eleven's parent company but failed.

Alimentation Couche-Tard has a new target after failing to buy a French grocery store and 7-Eleven. The company wants to buy Polish convenience store operator Zabka Group.

The owner of Couche-Tard and Circle K stores announced it is going after Zabka. This was announced on a Friday.

Couche-Tard made an offer of over $12 billion for a controlling stake in Zabka. The offer prices Zabka at 32 Polish zloty per share. The company wants to buy most of Zabka's shares.

If the deal is successful, it will be Couche-Tard's largest acquisition. This will help the company expand its business.

Zabka has over 13,000 convenience stores in Poland and Romania. The company's name comes from the Polish word for frog.

Alimentation Couche-Tard has 17,300 locations in 27 countries. The company has nearly 400 stores in Poland.

Both Zabka and Couche-Tard sell many drinks and snacks. They have also started selling hot food in recent years.

At Zabka, one in five transactions includes a quick meal. Some Zabka locations are fully autonomous.

Couche-Tard sells beverages and fuel. About 13,200 of its locations have gas stations. Zabka does not sell fuel.

Couche-Tard's CEO said the deal is about bringing together the strengths of both companies. He wants to better serve customers.

The CEO expects to save about $250 million in costs within three years of the deal closing.

The transaction was planned for a long time. Couche-Tard's executives had been looking at Zabka for 15 years.

Their attention was diverted to other targets at times.

Couche-Tard tried to buy 2,000 service stations from a French oil company.

Couche-Tard pulled out of a bid for 7-Eleven's parent company.

In 2021, Couche-Tard tried to buy a French grocery chain. The deal failed due to food-security concerns.

Couche-Tard bought 2,200 European gas stations from a French oil company in 2023.

In 2024, Couche-Tard tried to buy 7-Eleven's parent company. The deal failed due to disagreements over valuation and risks.

Media reports said 7-Eleven's parent company was also looking at Zabka. The plan was abandoned due to disagreements.

Couche-Tard dropped its $47-billion bid for 7-Eleven.

It was the company's founder who suggested looking at Zabka again.

The founder said, 'You guys need to go look at Zabka again.'

The suggestion turned into the offer announced on Friday.

Zabka's incoming CEO said the company was open to Couche-Tard's offer. He said Couche-Tard's executives were keen to listen to Zabka's story.

The Québécois convenience store brand Couche-Tard is trying to buy Zabka.

Zabka's CEO said Couche-Tard's executives are like his company. They are both focused on customers and making life easier.

Zabka's executive managers and investors support the deal. They hold 57% of the company's shares.

The transaction needs regulatory approvals. It is expected to close by December.

The number of Zabka shares bought by Couche-Tard will depend on how many shareholders accept the offer.

If Couche-Tard gets at least 95% of Zabka's shares, it will delist the company from the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Zabka might be fully integrated into Couche-Tard. It could also continue to run as a public company.

Couche-Tard has time to plan its priorities before the deal closes in December.

An analyst saw the plan as both bold and measured. It could advance Couche-Tard's long-term growth goals.

The analyst said the strategic and financial fit appears sensible. There are still questions about the regulatory process and timeline.

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