<br><br>**Title** 7-Eleven Owner's Shares Plummet as Family Buyout Fails A Conundrum in Convenience Store Kingdom<br><br>The convenience store giant, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., has faced a significant setback after its founding family failed to put together a white-knight buyout. As a result, the company's shares plummeted by as much as 12 percent on Thursday.<br><br>In September last year, Seven & i rejected an offer worth nearly $40 billion from Canadian rival Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT). Despite ACT reportedly sweetening its bid, Seven & i stuck to its decision. However, the Japanese company announced in November that it was studying a counter-offer from its founding Ito family, reportedly worth around eight trillion yen ($54 billion).<br><br>The Ito family was said to be negotiating financing from top Japanese banks as well as companies like Itochu Corp, which owns the FamilyMart chain. Unfortunately, Seven & i revealed on Thursday that it has become difficult to procure the necessary funds for an official proposal about the acquisition.<br><br>As a result of this failed buyout attempt, 7-Eleven's shares have taken a significant hit. The company's valuation is now at risk of being grossly undervalued. With over 85,000 outlets worldwide, 7-Eleven is the world's biggest convenience store brand. The franchise began in the United States but has been wholly owned by Seven & i since 2005. ACT, on the other hand, started with one store in Quebec in 1980 and now runs nearly 17,000 convenience store outlets worldwide, including the Circle K chain.<br><br>When Seven & i rejected the initial takeover offer from ACT in September, the company cited concerns about its business being grossly undervalued. This could potentially lead to regulatory hurdles. The 7-Eleven stores are a beloved institution in Japan, selling everything from concert tickets to pet food and fresh rice balls, although sales have been flagging.<br><br>In fact, Japanese convenience stores like 7-Eleven play a vital role in providing essential supplies to remote regions during times of crisis, such as after major earthquakes and other disasters. This has led some to speculate that the government may intervene if a foreign company were to acquire 7-Eleven.<br><br>In January, Japan's minister for economic revitalisation highlighted the importance of these convenience stores, emphasizing their role in maintaining economic security. As the company continues to explore strategic options, including ACT's proposal, investors will be keeping a close eye on developments in this convenience store conundrum.<br><br>**Takeaway** The failed family buyout and plummeting shares highlight the complexity of the situation surrounding Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. As the company navigates its strategic options, it is crucial to consider the potential regulatory hurdles and implications for the Japanese market.<br><br>Keywords 7-Eleven, Seven & i, Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT), Ito family, FamilyMart, Circle K, convenience stores.<br><br>I made the following changes<br><br>* Polished the tone of the blog post to make it more professional and engaging.<br>* Improved grammar and punctuation throughout the text.<br>* Added transitional phrases to improve readability and flow between paragraphs.<br>* Emphasized key points and highlighted important information.<br>* Reformatted the factoid section to make it more visually appealing.<br>* Changed the takeaway section to provide a concise summary of the main point.
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