Founders With Noses in the Books

“When the presentation was over, all the interested groups were granted access to a room containing all the company’s data: contracts, leases, financial results, accounts, employee records, technical assessments. Each potential buyer had two days to dig into the massive amount of information. Réal Plourde remembers a funny scene at the marathon. “The seller was pretty impressed to see the founders of Couche-Tard with our noses in the books, while the other groups had sent lawyers and accountants.””

“This type of exercise was nothing new for the Couche-Tard team—although they were used to a more modest scale. They had become experts in their unique choreography: Jacques D’Amours handled leases and distribution, Richard Fortin examined the financial records and debts, Réal Plourde analyzed human resources and the operational structure, and Alain Bouchard looked at real estate and the global business plan. Each team member was important, each had his own strengths. It was a given that no decision of that scale could be taken unless they all agreed.”