HONG KONG – Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is among the companies short-listed to buy a $16 billion minority stake in China's Sinopec Sales, the world's largest fuel retail network.

Formally known as China Petroleum & Chemical Corp, state-run Sinopec plans to sell up to 30% of Sinopec Sales by the end of the year, as Beijing restructures government-owned assets. Sinopec Sales booked a net profit of approximately $4.1 billion last year from more than 30,000 service stations and more than 23,000 convenience stores.

Couche-Tard, which operates more than 6,000 convenience stores throughout North America, also runs about 4,200 stores under the Circle K brand in China, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam and other countries. Couche-Tard officials have declined to comment at this stage.