Alain Bouchard, founder and chairman of Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard, has confirmed that he is not considering a hostile takeover for Seven & i Holdings, the owner of 7-Eleven. Despite this, Bouchard's company maintains its proposal for a $47.3 billion buyout of Seven & i. The statement comes amid discussions surrounding various takeover proposals, with the editorial board of The Japan News questioning which proposal would increase value for the company. Additionally, a column from Reuters Japan highlights the complex position of Itochu Corporation regarding its investment in Seven & i, suggesting that the landscape of potential acquisitions remains intricate.