Forget bankruptcy: Famous convenience store chain disappearing
The chain once operated over 400 stores in 13 states, but its iconic name is slowly being replaced.
When two companies merge, or one acquires the other, they usually present the move as a joint decision. That's a smart idea because fans of both brands will be scared that things they like will disappear as the two companies combine.
Most acquisitions, however, are not a merger of equals. One company generally has control, and that means that as operations are combined, the redundant workers from the weaker brand tend to be cut.
Related: Convenience store chain closes all stores after bankruptcy
You would think that upper management would have the vision to keep the best of both companies, but that's rarely the case.
These disparities tend to be larger when the original sale is presented as a purchase, not a merger. That's generally bad news for the company being bought.
To give a very public example, Mark Cuban recently sold a majority interest in the Dallas Mavericks. At the time of that sale, the new owners shared that Cuban would still have a large role and would actually still lead basketball operations.
