The bidding war for Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, is intensifying as domestic investment fund Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) has submitted a bid for the acquisition of Ito-Yokado, a subsidiary of Seven & i. This comes amid reports that U.S. investment firm Bain Capital is also in the running, with multiple bidders being considered. The estimated value of the new company formed from Ito-Yokado is approximately 500 billion yen. Meanwhile, Seven & i is facing challenges in the convenience store sector, with rising prices driving customers towards supermarkets and drugstores, highlighting a shift in consumer preferences. Competitors like FamilyMart and Lawson are reportedly implementing effective strategies to retain customers, while Seven & i has been criticized for its delayed response to market changes.