Editorial

15:35 JST, July 23, 2025

One of the largest-ever takeover bids by a foreign firm for a Japanese company has abruptly come to an end. The yearlong battle may have an important lesson on ways to increase corporate value.

Leading Canadian convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has withdrawn its proposal to acquire Seven & i Holdings Co. for about ¥7 trillion. The Canadian company made the proposal in July last year and continued negotiations, but it broke them off, citing a “lack of constructive engagement” as the reason for the withdrawal.

In response, Seven & i countered that the criticism missed the mark.

The public was highly interested in the developments of the takeover bid. Would the meticulous management of the Seven-Eleven convenience store chain, which has become a part of the social infrastructure, be........

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