Couche-Tard seeks takeover talks with Seven & I

Alimentation Couche-Tard, a Canadian company, is seeking a takeover of Seven & I Holdings, which operates 7-Eleven stores. To gain support, Couche-Tard has been meeting privately with key shareholders of Seven & I. Last week, Alain Bouchard, the founder and Chairman of Couche-Tard, held discussions in Tokyo with some of these shareholders. He aimed to present the benefits of a potential takeover. During these meetings, he did not directly ask them to influence Seven & I. However, he highlighted the strengths of the business, especially 7-Eleven's position in Japan and its growth possibilities. Couche-Tard wants to show that it is not planning a hostile takeover. The company has maintained that it seeks a cooperative approach to the negotiations. This effort follows a prolonged standoff between the two firms.