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Seven & i financier Craftsmen promotes competitive bidding process

Artisan Partners, a U.S.based investor in Japanese retail giant Seven & & i Holdings, contacted the company's special committee to consider a bidding procedure of completing takeover propositions to secure the greatest offer.

The 7-Eleven convenience store owner got a buyout proposition from a member of its starting Ito household, it said on Wednesday, a prospective $58 billion white-knight quote as it weighs a competing deal from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard.

The offer from Ito-Kogyo, a company linked to Seven & & i Vice President Junro Ito, is non-binding and under review by the same special committee established to assess Couche-Tard's quote.

In a statement, Artisan portfolio supervisor Ben Herrick stated the fund supports both provides at this phase and urged the committee to consider a formal bidding procedure, including an auction, to check out additional third-party interest.

Moreover, we highly suggest that the board grant both parties equivalent access to carry out due diligence, Herrick stated. Last but not least, it is crucial for the board and unique committee to act with a sense of urgency without further hold-up.

Artisan holds 1.11% of 7 & & i shares, according to LSEG information. The fund is among 7 & & i's singing foreign financiers that have urged the business to concentrate on its core corner store service.

(source: Reuters)