Seven & i Profit Decline Deepens as Couche-Tard Takeover Pressure Mounts

The retailer reported a 15% quarterly and 21% annual profit drop, accelerating restructuring efforts to counter a $47-billion bid.

Seven & i Holdings posted a 15% drop in fourth-quarter profit and a 21% decline in full-year operating profit, marking its first annual decrease in four years.
High inflation in Japan and uncertainty over U.S. tariffs have driven up costs and weakened consumer spending, impacting financial performance.
The company is fighting off a $47-billion takeover bid from Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard, citing regulatory hurdles as a potential barrier to the deal.
Strategic measures include a 2 trillion yen share buyback, plans to list its North American convenience store subsidiary by 2026, and divestiture of non-core assets.
Incoming CEO Stephen Dacus has pledged to adopt a more aggressive approach to reinvigorate growth and address investor skepticism about the company’s valuation.