Tue Mar 11 07:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Canadian Firm Presses Ahead with $47 Billion Bid for 7-Eleven Owner Despite Resistance
**Tokyo/New York –** Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian owner of Circle K, is doubling down on its $47 billion bid for Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, despite facing significant pushback. Couche-Tard insists it has a clear path to securing US regulatory approval for the deal, which would be Japan’s largest-ever foreign acquisition, even as Seven & i’s CEO expresses concerns about regulatory hurdles.
In a statement released Tuesday, Couche-Tard expressed frustration with the lack of engagement from Seven & i, highlighting its proactive efforts to address potential US antitrust issues by identifying a portfolio of US stores for divestiture and initiating discussions with potential buyers. The company claims it has already presented a detailed plan to Seven & i outlining store divestitures and a significant termination fee, although sources within Seven & i suggest this proposal lacked sufficient detail and a suitably high termination fee.
Seven & i’s newly appointed CEO, Stephen Dacus, has repeatedly cited major regulatory obstacles as a reason to reject the offer, fearing a lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful legal battle. Couche-Tard, however, remains confident, asserting that it has secured financing commitments from major banks, including Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Canada, and Scotiabank, to fund the acquisition.
The deal faces significant hurdles due to the substantial overlap in the US convenience store market between Couche-Tard and Seven & i, which together control approximately 20,000 locations. While Couche-Tard has proactively attempted to address these concerns, the future of this potentially transformative merger remains uncertain. Seven & i has yet to respond publicly to Couche-Tard’s latest statement.
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