Alimentation Couche-Tard, the Canadian operator of Circle K convenience stores, has reaffirmed its commitment to a friendly takeover of Japan's Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven. The company's founder, Alain Bouchard, expressed disappointment with Seven & i's focus on U.S. regulatory issues related to antitrust concerns, but emphasized that Couche-Tard sees a clear path to regulatory approval for the deal valued at 7 trillion yen. During a press conference in Tokyo, Couche-Tard's leadership, including CEO Alex Miller and CFO Filipe Da Silva, criticized Seven & i's response to the $47 billion takeover proposal. They highlighted their successful track record of acquisitions and stressed their intention to maintain Seven & i's world-class operations, management, store network, and employee employment post-acquisition, with no plans for store closures or layoffs. Couche-Tard aims to accelerate U.S. regulatory approval for the deal, which is seen as the primary obstacle. The Canadian company is determined to proceed with the acquisition, even if it takes time, and has no plans for a hostile takeover. Seven & i, on the other hand, has been exploring alternatives, including a massive share buyback and the sale of its supermarket subsidiary to fend off the proposed acquisition. Bouchard noted that the discussions have been limited to regulatory issues, resulting in 7 months lost, and emphasized the strategic fit between the two companies and Seven & i's role as part of Japan's social infrastructure.