Circle K Owner Makes a Move Toward Acquiring 7-Eleven for a Staggering Sum

If successful, the 7-Eleven acquisition would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.

By Carl Stoffers edited by Jessica Thomas Aug 21, 2024

Key Takeaways

  • Canadian firm Alimentation Couche-Tard has approached Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven, about a potential $38 billion takeover.
  • If successful, would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.
  • Couche-Tard, owner of the Circle K stores, aims to expand its global footprint significantly through this acquisition.

Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard has reportedly approached Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven, about a potential takeover valued at around $38 billion. 7-Eleven is the world’s largest convenience store chain, with more than 13,000 locations in North America and over 83,000 worldwide. If successful, the acquisition would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

7-Eleven, ranked #25 in the 2024 Franchise 500, has been owned by Japan’s Seven & I Holdings since 2005. Couche-Tard, which operates Circle K convenience stores, confirmed that it had submitted a proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of Seven & i. However, the Japanese company has not yet made a decision and has formed a special committee to review the offer.

Related: The Critical First 100 Days of Onboarding — What You’re Likely Overlooking That Could Make or Break Your New Hire

Couche-Tard, founded in 1980, has grown from a single store in Quebec to a global network of convenience stores and gas stations, largely through acquisitions. Circle K, ranked #56 on the 2024 Franchise 500, operates more than 12,000 franchises worldwide.

Related: Find Out Which Brands Have Ranked on the Franchise 500 for Longest, Earning a Spot In our New ‘Hall of Fame’

7-Eleven, the #3 Retail Franchise on the 2024 Franchise 500, recently announced its plans to make Japanese-inspired changes in the U.S., including upgrading its U.S. commissaries — 17 “hub” type locations around the country that make food for all its U.S. stores — and partnering with Japanese suppliers to offer a broader range of fresh food options. It’s unclear how the potential sale would impact these plans.

Read More: Reuters

Key Takeaways

  • Canadian firm Alimentation Couche-Tard has approached Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven, about a potential $38 billion takeover.
  • If successful, would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.
  • Couche-Tard, owner of the Circle K stores, aims to expand its global footprint significantly through this acquisition.

Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard has reportedly approached Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven, about a potential takeover valued at around $38 billion. 7-Eleven is the world’s largest convenience store chain, with more than 13,000 locations in North America and over 83,000 worldwide. If successful, the acquisition would be the largest-ever foreign buyout of a Japanese company.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

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Carl Stoffers

Senior Business Editor at Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur Staff
Carl Stoffers is the Senior Business Editor at Entrepreneur, where he covers the franchise industry. Before joining Entrepreneur, he was Managing Editor at IPVM and held editorial roles at The New York Times Upfront, The Marshall Project, and the New York Daily News. He holds a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University.

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