Japan's Seven & i Holdings said on Monday that talks have begun with Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard over a store sale plan that would set the stage for ACT's $47 billion takeover bid.

Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., the operator of Circle K convenience stores, said Thursday its discussions with its Japanese

Couche-Tard's top executives are in Tokyo Thursday to promote their multi-billion dollar bid to purchase the parent company of the 7-Eleven stores

Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard on Tuesday said it is confident there is a "clear path" to overcome U.S. regulatory hurdles in its proposed $47 billion acquisition of Japan's Seven & i, and expressed frustration at the 7-Eleven owner's "limited engagement.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. will keep up “friendly and persistent” attempts to forge a deal to acquire Seven & i Holdings Co., saying that it has the financing in place and sees a clear path to gaining antitrust regulatory appeal in the US.