Year in Review: Top M&A Deals of 2014

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — 2014 may go down in convenience store history as the year of consolidation.

However, if the flurry of merger and acquisition activity that's occurred in December continues into the new year, 2015 could give this year a run for its money. Most notably, Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. just inked a definitive merger agreement with The Pantry Inc., operator of Kangaroo Express. The two retailers announced the deal Dec. 18 after The Pantry quietly put itself on the auction block.  

These are the top 10 M&A headlines of 2014, as reported by CSNews Online: 

1. Couche-Tard Wins The Pantry
The 1,500-store deal will expand the retailer's Southeast footprint.

2. Speedway Takes Ownership of Hess Retail
The MPC subsidiary will rebrand all locations in three years.​

3. Susser & ETP Merger Is a Done Deal
More than 600 Stripes and Sac-N-Pac convenience stores involved.

4. Sunoco LP Heads West With Aloha Petroleum Buy
Transaction allows company to enter fast-growing Hawaii market.

5. CST Brands Purchases Lehigh Gas' General Partner Interest
Lehigh Gas changes identity to CrossAmerica Partners. 

6. CST Brands Finds a Nice & Easy Deal
Acquisition of New York retailer closed early in the fourth quarter.

7. Erickson Oil Is Acquisition No. 2 for CrossAmerica
​Certain sites will transition to CST Brands over time.

8. CST & CrossAmerica Make Landmark Purchase
Deal marks third combined acquisition in less than three months.

9. Global Partners Signs $383M Deal for Warren Equities
Includes c-store and retail gas assets in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

10. Par Petroleum Expands Its Hawaii Holdings
Acquisition of Mid Pac Petroleum gives the company 80 more retail outlets.

Stay tuned to CSNews Online through Jan. 5 for more 2014 Year in Review recaps.