Seven & i Holdings Co. (OTC:SVNDY), the Japanese conglomerate that owns the global convenience store chain 7-Eleven, has become the focus of significant international investment interest.

What Happened: U.S.-based firms Bain Capital, KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR), and Fortress Investment Group have reportedly submitted bids for Seven & i's supermarket and restaurant business holding company, according to sources cited by Nikkei.

York Holdings, Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corp. (OTC:SSUMY) has also joined the bidding, reflecting strong domestic competition.

York Holdings, established by Seven & i in October as part of a broader corporate restructuring, is designed to streamline the company's operations. The initial round of bidding concluded Thursday, with shortlisted contenders expected to begin detailed asset evaluations in early 2025.

According to a recent NHK report, the founding Ito family of Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, is actively pursuing plans to take the company private through a management buyout, aiming to prevent a potential takeover by a Canadian rival and consolidate control over the business within the family.

Why It Matters: The renewed investor interest follows Seven & i's rejection of a $38.5 billion acquisition offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:ANCTF), the Canadian parent company of Circle K.

Couche-Tard aimed to create the world's largest convenience store operator through the merger but faced antitrust concerns in the U.S. Despite proposing divestitures to address regulatory issues, the bid was deemed not in the best interests of Seven & i's shareholders.

Analysts, including JapanConsuming co-founder Michael Causton, have highlighted that Seven & i remains undervalued due to its complex structure and corporate culture.

Couche-Tard's strategic timing, paired with its reputation for deal-making, signals its recognition of the company's long-term potential. However, acquiring Seven & i at a lower valuation remains challenging as investor awareness of its intrinsic value grows.

Price Action: Shares of Seven & i rose 2.5% in Tokyo trading, on Friday following these developments, reflecting optimism about the company's strategic moves, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.