Montreal-based Jean Coutu Group Inc. said Thursday it will sell its Eckerd and Brooks drugstores to U.S. chain Rite Aid Corp. in a deal worth $3.4 billion US.

The deal will see Jean Coutu Group get $1.45 billion US plus 32 per cent of Rite Aid's equity and a 30.2 per cent voting stake, making it the biggest shareholder in the U.S. chain. Rite Aid will also assume $850 million US of Jean Coutu Group's debt.

Jean Coutu is the second biggest Canadian drugstore chain after Shoppers Drug Mart, with more than 320 outlets, most of them in Quebec.
Jean Coutu is the second biggest Canadian drugstore chain after Shoppers Drug Mart, with more than 320 outlets, most of them in Quebec.
(Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz)
The sale includes 337 Brooks stores, 1,521 Eckerd stores and six distribution centres located primarily on the U.S. East Coast. All of the stores will be rebranded with the Rite Aid name.

"We see this transaction as a unique strategic opportunity to optimize our U.S. presence by transforming our investment in a regional drugstore chain into the leading ownership position in a major national chain with the scale to better compete in the growing U.S. drugstore industry," said Jean Coutu, chairman, president and CEO of Jean Coutu Group.

As part of the sale, Michel Coutu, head of the company's U.S. operations, will become co-chairman of the board of directors of Rite Aid and a member of its executive committee.

Struggles to integrate U.S. stores

Jean Coutu Group bought 1,549 Eckerd stores in 2004 for $2.4 billion US, but has faced a costly struggle to integrate the U.S. stores.

Earlier this month, the Quebec company said its profit fell 34 per cent to $30.3 million US (12 cents a share) in the period ended May 27. In the same quarter last year, Jean Coutu Group reported a profit of $46.2 million US (18 cents a share).

Revenue rose slightly, however, to $2.9 billion US from $2.8 billion US last year.

Jean Coutu is the second largest Canadian drugstore chain after Shoppers Drug Mart, with more than 320 outlets, most of them in Quebec.

The acquisition of the Eckerd and Brooks stores will give Rite Aid about 5,000 stores in 31 states. The company will still remain the No. 3 drugstore chain in the U.S., trailing Walgreen and CVS.

Investors in Jean Coutu reacted favourably to the plan, sending shares of the company up more than 16 per cent, or $1.81, to $12.76 on TSX. Shares of Rite Aid slipped 32 cents to $4.36 US on the NYSE.