Couche-Tard denies problems after CFO quits
Alimentation CoucheTard reassured investors Wednesday that the sudden resignation of its chief financial officer doesn’t signal a financial problem or disagreement within the convenience store company.
“There are no accounting irregularities or we would have disclosed those,” CEO Brian Hannasch said during a conference call.
He said the company continues to perform well and is supported by a very strong financial team.
Raymond Paré will leave the company Thursday to “pursue other interests and spend more time with his family.”
He’s been with the Couche-Tard for 13 years, including about seven as CFO. Hannasch will handle financial and investor issues until a replacement is found, while Paré will remain available to ensure a smooth transition.
Both men said the resignation, which had been in discussion for several weeks, wasn’t prompted by any internal disagreement over big moves made in recent years.
“Ray has been an intimate part of all those key decisions and been very much aligned,” Hannasch told analysts and the news media.
He said Paré was instrumental in the company’s growth through key acquisitions including Statoil Fuel & Retail in northern Europe and The Pantry in the United States.
Paré declined to disclose his next career move but said he remains a “very big believer” in Quebecbased Couche-Tard.
“The culture, the DNA of the company is well-established and I have no doubt ... that the trend of the success of this company will continue,” he said.
Hannasch doesn’t expect the search for Pare’s replacement will take long and gave assurances that the process won’t slow its acquisition activities.
Analyst Irene Nattel of RBC Capital Markets said Paré’s sudden departure was not “optimal” but the conference call reinforced her view that Paré’s departure isn’t “a harbinger of bad news on the financial front.”
Meanwhile, Couche-Tard announced Wednesday that it is expanding its reach in the southern United States with a deal to buy 18 convenience stores operating under the Texas Star brand.
The deal also includes two Subway stores and a dealer fuel supply network in the southern part of Texas. The purchase price wasn’t disclosed.
The convenience stores will be converted to the Circle K brand and will continue to sell Shell and CITGO-branded fuel. The deal is expected to close by next April.