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Seven & i Holdings Co

Seven & i Holdings operates 7-Eleven, the world's largest convenience store chain, with more than 84,000 stores, including nearly 49,000 operated by licensees globally. Convenience stores, mainly in Japan and North America, represent 86% of group sales (81% of operating revenue) and around 90% of operating profits. 7-Eleven Japan, the market leader in Japan's convenience store industry, has acquired 46% value share and 38% share in store count. 7-Eleven, the largest convenience store chain in the US, made a $21 billion acquisition of Speedway in 2020. The deal increased its total store count to more than 13,000. Other retail includes superstores and specialty retailers, both of which have low margins. The financial business, mainly ATM operations, is another key profit contributor.

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Apollo Global Management is weighing a 1.5 trillion Japanese Yen equity stake in a management buyout of Seven &amp; i Holdings.

Apollo Weighs $9.5 Billion Stake In Seven &amp; i Buyout, Joining Ito Family&#39;s $60 Billion Deal: Report

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Seven &amp; i Holdings Co, the Japanese conglomerate that owns the global convenience store chain 7-Eleven, has become the focus of significant international investment interest. U.S.-based firms Bain Capital, KKR &amp; Co. Inc, and Fortress Investment Group have reportedly submitted bids for Seven &amp; i&#39;s supermarket and restaurant business holding company. 

Japanese 7-Eleven Owner Triggers International Investor Frenzy, Attracts Bain Capital And KKR Bids

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7-Eleven operator Seven &amp; i Holdings and Alimentation Couche-Tard have been in a back-and-forth $39-billion deal.

7-Eleven Store Operator Seven &amp; i Reclassified Under Japan&#39;s Investment Rules: What Does It Mean For $39B Couche-Tard Deal?

7-Eleven owner, Seven &amp; i Holdings, rejected Alimentation Couche-Tard&#39;s $39 billion takeover bid, stating the deal undervalued the company.

7-Eleven Owner Rejects Takeover Offer, Shareholders Are Peeved: Will Couche-Tard Raise Bid?

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Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc has approached Seven &amp; i Holdings for discussions after its $38.5 billion offer was declined. The Canadian firm remains interested in the acquisition.

Circle K Owner Couche-Tard Pursues Talks With 7-11 Operator Seven &amp; I After $38.5B Bid Rejected

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Seven &amp; i Holdings rejects a buyout offer of $14.86 per share as undervalued, stressing the need for fair valuation and addressing regulatory challenges.

Japanese 7-Eleven Operator Strikes Alimentation Couche-Tard&#39;s &#39;Undervalued&#39; $39B Takeover Offer

Shares of Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. Ltd., the owner of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, saw a significant decline in value after an initial surge sparked by a takeover proposal from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

7-Eleven Owner Seven &amp; i Holdings Sees 6% Drop In Shares Amid Alimentation Couche-Tard&#39;s Potential Takeover Bid

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Seven &amp; I Holdings is considering separating its Ito-Yokado supermarket arm from the lucrative 7-Eleven franchise.

Seven &amp; I Holdings Contemplates Separation Of Retail Arm, Shifts Focus To 7-Eleven Expansion

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has shared the story of how he and his family grew up poor in Hawaii.

&#39;You&#39;re Not You When You&#39;re Hungry&#39;: Why The Rock Bought All The Snickers At This 7-Eleven

Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) has marked July 5 as the 85th anniversary of the introduction of the Spam brand of canned pork.

Happy 85th Birthday, Spam!

SEVEN & I HLDGS UNSP/ADR by Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd

Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/APO#NYSE">APO</a>) is weighing a ¥1.5 trillion ($9.5 billion) equity stake in a management buyout of Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>). 
What Happened: The deal would see Apollo collaborating with the founding Ito family and Itochu Corp. to strengthen domestic control of Seven &amp; i, a global retail conglomerate known for operating 7-Eleven convenience stores, supermarkets, department stores, food services, financial services, and e-commerce platforms, Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/apollo-weighs-9-5-billion-stake-in-seven-i-management-buyout">reported</a>, citing people familiar with the matter.
It will be part of a bigger buyout attempt first estimated to cost 9 trillion Japanese Yen ($60.3 billion). The investment trumps the 7.5 trillion Japanese Yen ($50.25 billion) takeover bid by Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>).
Ito family and Itochu are considering pledging 500 billion Japanese Yen ($3.35 billion) and 1 trillion Japanese Yen ($6.7 billion) respectively, and major Japanese banks are providing supplemental funding.
Seven &amp; i shares rose 7.4% on the news, but its market value of 6.3 trillion Japanese Yen ($42.21 billion) is still below both proposed valuations. The company&#8217;s CFO Yoshimichi Maruyama confirmed Thursday that a special board committee is considering both the Couche-Tard and Ito family proposals.
The deal is a significant change in Japan&#8217;s corporate landscape, as domestic interests rally to retain control of the 7-Eleven operator. The company was recently added to Japan&#8217;s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act watchlist, though Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki indicated this wouldn&#8217;t <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/09/40902307/7-eleven-store-operator-seven-i-reclassified-under-japans-investment-rules-what-does-it-mean-for-39b">necessarily impede foreign investment</a>.
Seven &amp; i Holdings is undergoing strategic restructuring and expansion while facing investor pressure from takeover bids, including a counterproposal from a member of its founding family. 
Apollo did not immediately respond to&nbsp;<a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga</a>'s request for comment.
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Why It Matters: &#8220;The current MBO proposal is already high, so the fact that they've found another source of funding is a big positive for shareholders,&#8221; said Shun Tanaka, senior analyst at SBI Securities Co., suggesting it could spark higher competing offers.
Details of the investment structure are still under negotiation, but the consortium hopes to complete its proposal before Seven &amp; i&#8217;s May shareholders&#8217; meeting. The company is also simultaneously pushing for a restructuring plan that would separate its convenience store operations from other retail businesses.
Price Action: Seven &amp; I Holdings is currently trading at 2,509 Japanese Yen ($15.84) on Friday, gaining 5.66% for the day. Over the past year, the stock has risen by 31.78%.
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Apollo Weighs $9.5 Billion Stake In Seven & i Buyout, Joining Ito Family's $60 Billion Deal: Report

Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>), the Japanese conglomerate that owns the global convenience store chain 7-Eleven, has become the focus of significant international investment interest. 
What Happened: U.S.-based firms Bain Capital, KKR &amp; Co. Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), and Fortress Investment Group have reportedly submitted bids for Seven &amp; i&#8217;s supermarket and restaurant business holding company, according to sources cited <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-deals/Bain-KKR-bid-to-acquire-Seven-i-s-supermarket-business">by</a> Nikkei. 
York Holdings, Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corp. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SSUMY#OTC">SSUMY</a>) has also joined the bidding, reflecting strong domestic competition.
York Holdings, established by Seven &amp; i in October as part of a broader corporate restructuring, is designed to streamline the company's operations. The initial round of bidding concluded Thursday, with shortlisted contenders expected to begin detailed asset evaluations in early 2025.
According to a recent NHK <a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20241119/k10014643321000.html">report</a>, the founding Ito family of Seven &amp; i Holdings, the parent company of 7-Eleven, is actively pursuing plans to take the company private through a management buyout, aiming to prevent a potential takeover by a Canadian rival and consolidate control over the business within the family.
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Why It Matters: The renewed investor interest follows Seven &amp; i&#8217;s rejection of a $38.5 billion acquisition offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>), the Canadian parent company of Circle K. 
Couche-Tard aimed to create the world's largest convenience store operator through the merger but faced antitrust concerns in the U.S. Despite proposing divestitures to address regulatory issues, the bid was deemed not in the best <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40765790/circle-k-owner-couche-tard-pursues-talks-with-7-11-operator-seven-i-after-38-5b-bid-rejected">interests of Seven &amp; i's shareholders</a>.
Analysts, including JapanConsuming co-founder Michael Causton, have highlighted that Seven &amp; i remains undervalued due to its complex structure and corporate culture. 
Couche-Tard's strategic timing, paired with its reputation for deal-making, signals its recognition of the company&#8217;s long-term potential. However, acquiring Seven &amp; i at a lower valuation remains challenging as investor awareness of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40765790/circle-k-owner-couche-tard-pursues-talks-with-7-11-operator-seven-i-after-38-5b-bid-rejected">its intrinsic value grows</a>.
Price Action: Shares of Seven &amp; i rose 2.5% in Tokyo trading, on Friday following these developments, reflecting optimism about the company's strategic moves, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. 
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

On Friday, Japan&#8217;s Ministry of Finance released a <a href="https://www.mof.go.jp/english/policy/international_policy/fdi/Related_Guidance_and_Documents/20240913.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">list</a> of 88 companies that serves as a guide for foreign investors.
The so-called &#8220;Classification List&#8221; under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA) is meant to assess if companies must submit a prior notification when making inward direct investments or engaging in equivalent activities with Japanese-listed companies.
Initially released in May 2020, this update marks the sixth revision to the list. Along with other additions, the list included the much-talked-about Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDF#OTC">SVNDF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40897882/retail-sales-rise-0-1-in-august-more-than-expected-boosting-odds-of-larger-fed-ra">Retail Sales Rise 0.1% In August, More Than Expected, Boosting Odds Of Larger Fed Rate Cut</a>
Earlier this month, 7-Eleven store operator&nbsp;Seven &amp; i rejected a takeover offer from&nbsp;Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.&nbsp;(OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>), saying the deal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/09/40833437/7-eleven-owner-rejects-takeover-offer-shareholders-are-peeved-will-couche-tard-raise-bid" rel="noreferrer noopener">undervalues the company</a>.
However, the Canadian store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard remains interested in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40765790/circle-k-owner-couche-tard-pursues-talks-with-7-11-operator-seven-i-after-38-5b-bid-rejected" rel="noreferrer noopener">the $39 billion deal</a>&nbsp;to bring the Japanese convenience store company under its roof.
The Japanese convenience store operator has received a &#8216;Core Business&#8217; rating. This refers to specific industries designated from the viewpoint of national security, etc., in public notice.
The Reuters report highlighted Japan Finance Minister Shunichi&nbsp;Suzuki&#8217;s take, stating that the classification may not hinder the proposed $39 billion buyout.
Previously classified as non-core, with the updated classification Seven &amp; i might be positioning itself to fend off a possible takeover attempt, the report added.
Citing a Japanese official, Reuters added that Japanese companies have traditionally been less attractive targets for M&amp;A. However, initiatives like this are gaining positive reception, particularly as Japan seeks to boost foreign direct investment. The Couche-Tard deal would also bolster Japan&#8217;s position in the global market.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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7-Eleven Store Operator Seven & i Reclassified Under Japan's Investment Rules: What Does It Mean For $39B Couche-Tard Deal?

Last week, 7-Eleven store operator Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDF#OTC">SVNDF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>) rejected a takeover offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>), saying the deal <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40748758/japanese-7-eleven-operator-strikes-alimentation-couche-tards-undervalued-39b-takeover-offer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">undervalues the company</a>.
ECanadian store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard remains interested in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40765790/circle-k-owner-couche-tard-pursues-talks-with-7-11-operator-seven-i-after-38-5b-bid-rejected" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the $39 billion deal</a> to bring the Japanese convenience store company under its roof.
Couche-Tard, owner of the&nbsp;Circle-K brand, expressed willingness to make divestitures to gain regulatory approval.
Alimentation Couche-Tard is reportedly discussing an increased takeover offer, according to a Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-12/couche-tard-is-said-to-discuss-higher-price-for-7-eleven-owner" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a> on Thursday.
The revised bid would likely be significantly higher than the initial value of $14.86 per share, Bloomberg reported. Couche-Tard has been evaluating how much it could potentially raise its offer.
Couche-Tard is facing a challenging situation. The price difference between both parties is so substantial that it greatly reduces the likelihood of a deal being made.
Seth Fischer, chief investment officer at Seven &amp; i shareholder Oasis Management, told Bloomberg that he&#8217;s &#8220;disappointed&#8221; over the rejected proposal.
&#8220;Couche-Tard has put forward a very serious proposal to the company and I am a little bit disappointed with the company&#8217;s reaction,&#8221; Fischer said.
Fischer added that there would be several buyers for Couche-Tard&#8217;s divestitures.
&#8220;Convenience stores in Japan are important in national emergencies,&#8221; Fischer said in a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-12/seven-i-shareholder-oasis-critical-over-turning-down-approach?srnd=phx-deals" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, adding that most 7-Elevens are within 500 meters of other stores. &#8220;Maybe that means some of those stores should be sold to a domestic owner&#8221; in case of any merger.
Now Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40748758/japanese-7-eleven-operator-strikes-alimentation-couche-tards-undervalued-39b-takeover-offer">Japanese 7-Eleven Operator Strikes Alimentation Couche-Tard&#8217;s &#8216;Undervalued&#8217; $39B Takeover Offer</a>
Image: Unsplash

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>)&nbsp;has approached Seven &amp; i Holdings (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>)&nbsp;for discussions after its $38.5 billion offer was declined. The Canadian firm <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40748758/japanese-7-eleven-operator-strikes-alimentation-couche-tards-undervalued-39b-takeover-offer">remains interested in the acquisition</a>.
What Happened: Seven &amp; i stated that the offer was not in the best interest of its shareholders and could face antitrust issues in the U.S., where the combined entity would become the largest convenience store operator.
Couche-Tard, owner of the Circle-K brand, expressed willingness to make divestitures to gain regulatory approval. The company believes a merger would address all regulatory concerns in Japan.
Couche-Tard emphasized its disappointment at Seven &amp; i&#8217;s refusal to engage in discussions, stating, &#8220;We are highly confident that collaborative discussions would lead to our ability to find increased value for 7&amp;i shareholders.&#8221;
The Canadian company is confident about securing financing for the deal, which would be the largest-ever foreign takeover of a Japanese firm and the biggest all-cash offer since Elon Musk&#8216;s $40.2 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, according to LSEG data.
Shares of the Japanese retail giant, which owns 7-Eleven, rose 2.5% in early Tokyo trading on Monday, reaching 2,191 yen ($15.35). This is above the $14.86 per share all-cash proposal that was turned down on Friday.
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Why It Matters: The rejection of Couche-Tard&#8217;s offer by Seven &amp; i comes after a series of strategic moves and market reactions. In April, Seven &amp; i considered <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38185863/seven-i-holdings-contemplates-separation-of-retail-arm-shifts-focus-to-7-eleven-expansion">separating its retail arm</a>, Ito-Yokado, to focus on expanding its 7-Eleven franchise.
Seven &amp; i has been innovating its business model, such as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/01/25112164/7-eleven-launches-subscription-program-waiving-fees-for-deliveries">launching a subscription program</a> in January 2022 that waived delivery fees.
JapanConsuming co-founder Michael Causton says, Seven &amp; i is considered undervalued due to factors related to its structure, timing, and corporate culture, with its long-term value being significantly higher. He notes that Couche-Tard recognizes this and has timed its bid strategically, showcasing its expertise in deal-making, according to Reuters report. However, acquiring Seven &amp; i at a lower price may prove challenging, as many investors are aware of the company&#8217;s true value.
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Image Via Shutterstock 
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

Circle K Owner Couche-Tard Pursues Talks With 7-11 Operator Seven & I After $38.5B Bid Rejected

Friday, Japanese convenience store operator Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDF#OTC">SVNDF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40448182/7-eleven-may-become-canadian-how-japanese-chain-could-change" rel="noreferrer noopener">rejected a takeover offer</a> from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>).
Two weeks ago, Alimentation, the convenience store operator, proposed an offer to buy&nbsp;Seven &amp; I, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/7-eleven" rel="noreferrer noopener">owner of 7-Eleven.</a> Alimentation bid $31 billion, according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-19/couche-tard-made-buyout-offer-for-seven-i-nikkei-reports?srnd=homepage-americas&amp;sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">report&nbsp;</a>from Bloomberg.
If the transaction were approved, the proposed deal would be the biggest-ever foreign takeover of a Japanese firm.
In a letter, Seven &amp; i <a target="_blank" href="https://www.7andi.com/library/dbps_data/_material_/localhost/en/release_pdf/2024_0906_ir01en.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">rejected</a> an unsolicited proposal to purchase all outstanding shares at $14.86 each. The decision was announced following a meticulous review by a Special Committee of independent directors.
Seven &amp; I&#8217;s board found the current proposal, described as opportunistic and significantly undervalued, inadequate for further discussions.
The proposal&#8217;s timing and valuation were criticized, with the board arguing that they undervalued the company&#8217;s independent growth potential and strategic initiatives, particularly in the U.S. market.
Additionally, the board highlighted substantial regulatory challenges the proposed transaction could face, noting the lack of a clear plan to overcome these obstacles or ensure transaction closure.
While acknowledging the vital role of Seven &amp; I in Japan&#8217;s food retail and banking sectors, the board remains open to negotiations that fully recognize the company&#8217;s value and can navigate the regulatory landscape effectively.
According to a Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-06/seven-i-drops-on-plans-to-tell-couche-tard-proposal-is-too-low" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, the deal, valued at $39 billion, is too low and carries regulatory risk. Seven &amp; I also signaled its willingness to consider a sweetened offer.
&#8220;We are open to sincerely consider any proposal that is in the best interests of 7&amp;i shareholders and other stakeholders,&#8221; committee chair&nbsp;Stephen Dacus&nbsp;wrote in the letter. &#8220;However, we will resist any proposal that deprives our shareholders of the company&#8217;s intrinsic value or that fails to specifically address very real regulatory concerns.&#8221;
Reuters points out that although the offer was turned down, Couche-Tard&#8217;s proposal highlights the increasing attention Japanese firms are receiving from Western investors, attracted by Japan&#8217;s efforts to improve corporate governance.
7-Eleven is the biggest U.S. convenience store operator with a 14.5% market share in 2023, and Couche-Tard&#8217;s brands had a 4.6% share, Reuters noted, citing GlobalData.
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Photo by Terence Toh Chin Eng via Shutterstock

Japanese 7-Eleven Operator Strikes Alimentation Couche-Tard's 'Undervalued' $39B Takeover Offer

Shares of Seven &amp; I Holdings Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>), the owner of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, saw a significant decline in value after an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40448182/7-eleven-may-become-canadian-how-japanese-chain-could-change">initial surge sparked by a takeover proposal</a> from Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANCTF#OTC">ANCTF</a>).
What Happened: Seven &amp; I Holdings&#8217; shares fell over 6% in Tuesday&#8217;s morning trade in Tokyo, erasing some of the gains made the previous day. The drop followed the announcement of a potential takeover bid by Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard.
Despite the recent drop, Seven &amp; i&#8217;s shares had surged by almost 23% in Tokyo on Monday.
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Why It Matters: The offer&#8217;s financial details have not been disclosed, but if successful, it would mark the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/08/40448182/7-eleven-may-become-canadian-how-japanese-chain-could-change">largest-ever foreign buyout</a> of a Japanese company. Couche-Tard, the owner of Circle-K convenience stores, is the 13th most valuable Canadian public company.
Seven &amp; I confirmed that Couche-Tard has proposed to acquire all its outstanding shares. The Canadian company also confirmed that it had sent a &#8220;friendly proposal&#8221; to Seven &amp; I and is focused on reaching a mutually agreeable transaction.
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Image Via Unsplash
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/Kaustubh-Bagalkote" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kaustubh Bagalkote</a>

7-Eleven Owner Seven & i Holdings Sees 6% Drop In Shares Amid Alimentation Couche-Tard's Potential Takeover Bid

Seven &amp; I Holdings Co., Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDF#OTC">SVNDF</a>) (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SVNDY#OTC">SVNDY</a>) is contemplating a potential listing of Ito-Yokado as it <a href="https://www.7andi.com/en/ir/">seeks </a>to separate it from its more lucrative 7-Eleven franchise.
The company plans to create a globally integrated CVS management structure, including Japan and North America, with a unified leadership.
The Superstore (SST) business will aim to establish a refined management/business structure to provide employees with autonomy to pursue re-growth.
The retailer&#8217;s board and strategic committee will devise a plan for the separation and public offering of the legacy operation.
In response to pressure from&nbsp;ValueAct Capital Management&nbsp;last year, Seven &amp; I has initiated steps towards improving its valuation and embracing structural reform, reported&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-10/seven-i-climbs-on-reports-it-will-sell-ito-yokado-stores-unit?sref=TBDibEcD" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg</a>.
This includes potential store closures to boost performance. The reorganization aims to grant employees autonomy in driving growth and strategic decision-making.
Previously, Seven &amp; I had announced a collaboration with its supermarket unit to diversify product offerings in its larger convenience stores.
The company has also disclosed plans for share buybacks and a stock split. In its latest fiscal year, Seven &amp; I recorded a 5.5% increase in operating profit despite a slight decline in net sales. The company&#8217;s outlook for the current year slightly trails analysts&#8217; projections, as per the report.
CEO Ryuichi Isaka addressed investor concerns earlier this year, emphasizing the need to replicate the success of 7-Eleven Japan&#8217;s food business globally.
As per the report, Seven &amp; I has pushed back against calls for breakup, arguing it would harm shareholder value.
The status of ValueAct&#8217;s stake remains uncertain, with the investor no longer listed as a significant shareholder. However, it&#8217;s plausible that ValueAct still holds an indirect stake in the company, the report further noted.
Price Action: SVNDF shares traded lower by 1.81% at $14.33 on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Seven & I Holdings Contemplates Separation Of Retail Arm, Shifts Focus To 7-Eleven Expansion

Dwayne &ldquo;The Rock&rdquo; Johnson has shared&nbsp;the story of how he and his family grew up poor in Hawaii. He also often talks about how seriously he takes his workouts, and the 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/01/25098546/did-dwayne-johnson-buy-a-t-rex-fossil-for-31m-heres-why-the-rocks-manningcast-appearance-leaves-some">he eats to build muscle</a>.
But, before he was famous and eating meals fit for a family, he was getting his pre-workout from a local 7-Eleven&nbsp;in Hawaii, stealing Snickers bars daily as a teenager. The convenience store&nbsp;chain is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based&nbsp;Seven and I Holdings&nbsp;Co (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>).
Yep, the ex-wrestler and &quot;Black Adam&quot; star&nbsp;said in a recent Instagram post that his family was &quot;poor as hell&quot; when he was growing up on the island and that when he was just 14 years old, he would steal a Snickers from the store, which he ate&nbsp;before working out.
Read also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/22/10/29381497/did-black-adam-save-dc-comics-how-the-rock-could-revive-warner-brothers-stock">Did Black Adam Save DC Comics? How The Rock Could Revive Warner Brothers Stock</a>
&ldquo;I used to stop here every day at this 7-Eleven and steal a king-sized Snickers bar because I couldn&rsquo;t afford one,&rdquo; Johnson explained as he filled a brown paper bag full of the&nbsp;chocolate bars made by Mars Inc.
The former wrestler returned to the same 7-Eleven where he used to commit the thefts and instructed the clerk to ring up all the Snickers bars in the shop, leave them on the counter, and offer them to any customers who appear to be lurking to swipe a Snickers.
Johnson acknowledged that some people would find the gesture &quot;silly,&quot; but added that every time he has visited the 7-Eleven in Hawaii, he &quot;always knew&quot; that he &quot;needed to go in and clean out every Snickers bar they had - the right way.&quot;
He also paid for all the customers&rsquo; goods while he was in the 7-Eleven, reaching a bill of $298.
&ldquo;And as a bonus, it was a lot of fun to take care of everybody who walked into 7-Eleven while I was there. Least I could do considering all the s**t&nbsp;I used to steal from here,&rdquo; Johnson said.
&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t change the past and some of the dumb stuff we may have done, but every once in a while we can add a little redeeming grace note to that situation &mdash; and maybe put a big smile on some strangers&#39;&nbsp;faces,&rdquo; he said.
More entertainment:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/22/11/29880530/fortune-fails-the-brave-super-bowl-cryptocurrency-related-companies-continue-curse">Fortune Fails The Brave: Super Bowl Cryptocurrency-Related Companies Continue Curse</a>
Photo: Courtesy of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyabc/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1666106088046_259013" target="_blank" title="Go to Walt Disney Television's photostream">Walt Disney Television</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jjbers/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1669553572599_279178" title="Go to JJBers's photostream">JJBers</a>&nbsp;on flickr

'You're Not You When You're Hungry': Why The Rock Bought All The Snickers At This 7-Eleven

Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hrl#NYSE">HRL</a>) has marked July 5 as the 85th anniversary of the introduction of the Spam brand of canned pork.
In The Beginning: Spam was introduced on July 5, 1937, consisting of six ingredients &ndash; pork with ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, sodium nitrite &ndash; and marketed with the goal of introducing a low-cost canned product with an extended shelf life. The product&rsquo;s name was picked in a contest, with Ken Daigneau, a brother of a Hormel executive, winning $100 for his creativity.
Spam came into its own during World War II&nbsp;when the shipment of food to Allied troops proved challenging. The canned Spam presented no logistics problems, and its distribution was extended to the U.K. and the Soviet Union to help alleviate their food shortages. After the war, the product became a popular staple in several Asian countries and territories where the U.S. maintained military bases.
And, of course, Monty Python fans have long savored the joys of Lobster Thermidor aux crevettes with a Mornay sauce, garnished with truffle p&acirc;t&eacute;, brandy and a fried egg on top, and Spam.
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_bW4vEo1F4E" width="560"></iframe>
What Happens Next: According to a press statement from Hormel, Spam products and recipes are on the menus of over 700 American restaurants, included the Hawaiian outlets of McDonald&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mcd#NYSE">MCD</a>) and the Seven &amp; i Holdings Co., Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>) chain 7-Eleven. The company added it was &ldquo;in the pantries of celebrity chefs like Dale Talde, Jordan Andino, Jamie Chung, Roy Choi and more.&rdquo;
However, Hormel only noted the anniversary of Spam&rsquo;s debut without any special products or observances, only noting that &ldquo;the brand is eager to share several announcements later this year, including a new limited-time Spam variety that is sure to excite around the holiday season.&rdquo;
Photo: A Spam anniversary cake, via Hormel
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7-Eleven has launched a new program that waives the fee for delivery service in exchange for a monthly subscription.
What Happened: The Irving, Texas-based company debuted the 7NOW Gold Pass service through its app, which enables free deliveries on more than 3,000 food and drink items and groceries.
For a $5.95 a month subscription, 7-Eleven will deliver any customer order in what the company described as &ldquo;typically in about 30 minutes.&rdquo; Subscribers with at least $10 in delivered goods will receive additional benefits, including the option to select a free product. Members of the 7Rewards loyalty program can double the rewards when ordering through the 7NOW Gold Pass service
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/22/01/25009055/stock-wars-coca-cola-vs-pepsico">Stock Wars: Coca-Cola Vs. PepsiCo</a>
Why It Matters: 7-Eleven has been running a delivery service via its 7NOW app since 2018, and the company added that the new free service &ndash; which is available to its U.S. customers only &ndash; will pay for itself in about three delivery orders per month.
&quot;Our 7NOW Gold Pass subscription delivery service brings convenience to a whole new level, giving our customers the ability to order what they want, when they want it &ndash; and now as often as they want without an added delivery fee,&quot; said Raghu Mahadevan, 7-Eleven senior and chief digital officer. &quot;Whether our customers are ordering their favorite snacks and drinks for a fun night in with friends and family, or keeping their home stocked with everyday essentials, they can have it all with the 7NOW Gold Pass service.&quot;
7-Eleven is a subsidiary of Japan&rsquo;s Seven &amp; i Holdings Co., Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>).
Photo: 7-Eleven

7-Eleven Launches Subscription Program Waiving Fees For Deliveries

Kellogg Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/k#NYSE">K</a>) has added an air of secrecy to its Pop-Tarts product line with the introduction of its first mystery flavor.
Hmmm, Tastes Like&hellip;: The new Mister E Pop-Tart challenges consumers&rsquo; taste buds to identify the new flavor by working in collaboration with Mister E, a new character described by the company as a &ldquo;world-class investigator&rdquo; within the augmented reality sphere.
Kellogg is coordinating a sweepstakes competition, with participants invited to scan the QR code on a box of Mister E Pop-Tarts and join Mister E in an AR probe that offers clues on the new flavor. Prizes include gaming consoles, Pop-Tarts hoodies and Pop-Tarts embroidered hats.
The sweepstakes kicks off on May 27 and runs through Aug. 31.
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Pop-Tarts-a-Go-Go: Kellogg appears to be giving new attention to its Pop-Tarts. Last month, the company added three new flavors to the product line: peach cobbler, lemon cr&egrave;me pie and tropical mango. In January, salted caramel pretzel Pop-Tarts were released, joining two other pretzel flavors,&nbsp;cinnamon sugar and chocolate.
In April, Kellogg teamed with 7-Eleven,&nbsp;a subsidiary of Japan&rsquo;s Seven and&nbsp;I&nbsp;Holdings - ADR&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>), in setting a new Guinness World Record for the World&rsquo;s Largest Box of Toaster Pastries &mdash; in this case, a box in Dallas filled with 1,331 pounds&nbsp;of individual Pop-Tart packages, which was&nbsp;later donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
In its Q1 earnings report, Kellogg recorded net sales of $3.58 billion, up by more than 5% from one year earlier. The company added its diluted earnings per share were $1.11, up by more than 12%.
At last check Wednesday at publication, Kellogg shares were at $65.80, in between its 52-week high of $72.88 and its 52-week low of $56.61.
(Photo courtesy Kellogg.)

Restaurants

Kellogg Challenges Pop-Tart Addicts With New Mystery Flavor: What You Need To Know

Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mpc#NYSE">MPC</a>) has agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/20/08/n16890265/marathon-petroleum-corp-announces-agreement-for-21-billion-sale-of-speedway">sell</a>&nbsp;its Speedway convenience store business to 7-Eleven, Inc, a subsidiary of Japan&rsquo;s Seven &amp; i Holdings Co., Ltd (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>) for $21 billion in cash, the two companies announced Sunday.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
The fuel maker said it expects to close the deal in the first quarter of 2021 and revealed that the after-tax cash proceeds amount to $16.5 billion. The oil company will use the proceeds to repay debt and safeguard its investment-grade profile as well as return capital to its shareholders.
As a part of the deal, Marathon has signed a 15-year agreement to supply 7.7 billion gallons fuel to Speedway every year.&nbsp;
7-Eleven said it stands to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/20/08/n16890267/7-eleven-inc-transforms-its-u-s-store-network-through-acquisition-of-speedway">acquire</a> 3,900 Speedway stores in 35 states.
&ldquo;This acquisition is the largest in our company&#39;s history and will allow us to continue to grow and diversify our presence in the U.S., particularly in the Midwest and East Coast,&rdquo;&nbsp;the convenience stores&nbsp;chains&#39;s&nbsp;CEO Joe DePinto said in a statement.
<h3>Why It Matters</h3>
In June, reports <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/20/06/16310212/marathon-negotiating-sale-of-speedway-after-pandemic-stymied-earlier-efforts">emerged</a> that Canadian convenience store operator&nbsp;Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ancuf#OTC">ANCUF</a>)&nbsp;was looking to buy Speedway.
Marathon was under pressure from activist investors, such as Elliott Management Corp., to sell Speedway, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/marathon-petroleum-in-talks-with-potential-buyers-of-speedway-gas-station-unit-11592515818">according</a> to the Wall Street Journal.
7-Eleven and the Ohio-based oil firm had also held discussions for the sale of Speedway at an earlier occasion but those talks reportedly fell through due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marathon posted a record $9.2 billion Q1 loss and is set to report Q2 earnings on Monday.
<h3>Price Action&nbsp;</h3>
Marathon shares closed almost 0.3% higher at $38.20 on Friday and gained another 0.5% in the after-hours.
Seven &amp; i OTC shares closed 3.19% lower at $15.17 the same day.
&nbsp;

ANCUF

7-Eleven To Buy Marathon Petroleum Convenience Stores Arm Speedway For $21B

Seven & I Also Preparing To Submit Rival Bid For Speedway

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
&bull; Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/WBA#NASDAQ">WBA</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $1.18 per share on revenue of $34.32 billion.
&bull; AZZ Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/AZZ#NYSE">AZZ</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.61 per share on revenue of $258.96 million.
&bull; Helen Of Troy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/HELE#NASDAQ">HELE</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.49 per share on revenue of $347.08 million.
&bull; Park Aerospace Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/PKE#NYSE">PKE</a>) is estimated to report earnings for it&#39;s first quarter.
&nbsp;
<h3>Companies Reporting After The Bell</h3>

&bull; Pricesmart Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/PSMT#NASDAQ">PSMT</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.26 per share on revenue of $693.45 million.
&bull; Franklin Covey Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/FC#NYSE">FC</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.30 per share on revenue of $48.88 million.
&bull; WD-40 Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/WDFC#NASDAQ">WDFC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.07 per share on revenue of $108.10 million.
&bull; Griffin Industrial Realty Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/GRIF#NASDAQ">GRIF</a>) is estimated to report earnings for its second quarter.
&bull; Simulations Plus Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="/stock/SLP#NASDAQ">SLP</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.09 per share on revenue of $11.21 million.
&nbsp;

Earnings

Pre-Market Outlook

GRIF

HELE

PSMT

WDFC

Earnings Scheduled For July 9, 2020

After the pandemic brought to a halt its earlier efforts, Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mpc#NYSE">MPC</a>) has been in&nbsp;negotiations for the sale of its Speedway gas-station unit.
<h3>What Happened</h3>
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ancuf#OTC">ANCUF</a>), a Canadian company, is said to be a possible buyer of the gas-station unit, reported the Wall Street Journal.&nbsp;
There is no clarity on the valuation of Speedway, but last fall it was estimated to be worth between $15 billion and $18 billion by Marathon.
No concrete time-frame for a deal has yet emerged, and Marathon may spin off the gas-station business instead of selling it.
<h3>Why It Matters</h3>
According to the WSJ, Marathon had planned to separate Speedway from itself due to pressure from activist investors such as Elliott Management Corp.
Talks for the sale of Speedway were held with the parent of 7-11 convenience stores, the Japanese Seven &amp; i Holdings Co. Ltd. (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>), but sale efforts had to be halted due to the pandemic. The <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-05/seven-i-said-to-scrap-22-billion-plan-for-marathon-s-speedway?sref=XoUMza3N">failed deal</a> would have raked in $22 billion.
Hopeful of a sale, Marathon delayed the spinoff schedule to the first quarter of 2021 instead of the end of this year, reported the WSJ.
Speedway owner, Marathon, owns and runs nearly 4,000 convenience stores in the United States. Couche-Tard operates nearly 10,000 such stores in North America.
Marathon&rsquo;s market capitalization has eroded by a third in 2020 to near $25 billion, it posted a first-quarter loss of $9.2 billion, the largest quarterly loss ever.
The company is now under the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-marathon-pete-mplx/marathon-petroleum-names-midstream-boss-as-new-ceo-to-retain-unit-idUSKBN21521A">leadership</a> of Michael Hennigan, who took over as CEO from Gary Heminger in mid-March. Heminger resigned following pressure from activists.&nbsp;
<h3>Price Action&nbsp;</h3>
Marathon Petroleum shares traded 5.93% higher at $40.75 in the after-hours session on Thursday. The shares had closed the regular session 3.61% higher at $38.47.
Image:&nbsp;Marathon Petroleum

Marathon Negotiating Sale of Speedway After Pandemic Stymied Earlier Efforts

Casey&rsquo;s General Stores Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/casy#NASDAQ">CASY</a>) shares are soaring following a a big second-quarter earnings beat&nbsp;Monday.
The convenience store chain reported<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/18/12/12828383/8-stocks-to-watch-for-december-11-2018"> Q2 earnings</a> of $1.80 per share, beating estimates by 24 cents. Sales slightly missed estimates by $2 million, coming in at $2.538 billion.
<h3>The Sell-Side Reacts</h3>
Sidoti analyst Anthony Lebiedzinski maintained a Neutral rating with a $130 price target following the quarterly print.&nbsp;
&ldquo;As we see it, Casey&rsquo;s maintains a good balance sheet, with debt at 49 percent&nbsp;of capital at the end of Q2. We also think CASY will resume generating positive free cash flow in 2019 and expect approximately $4 per share of free cash flow each year in 2019 and F2020,&rdquo; the analyst said.
Gabelli Securities analyst Damian Witkowski said Casey&rsquo;s is the firm&#39;s best idea for 2019, reiterating a Buy rating on the company and raising the full-year EPS outlook from $4.30 to $4.50 on the basis of better-than-expected Q2 results and a favorable fuel margin environment.
&ldquo;We believe CASY remains the most attractive&nbsp;&nbsp;publicly traded, acquisition target in the consolidating convenience store industry,&rdquo; the analyst said.&nbsp;
As the fourth-largest convenience store operator in the U.S., Casey&rsquo;s would not only provide a potential buyer with scale, but a small town focus, real estate ownership self-distribution capabilities and a competitive moat alongside an opportunity for organic growth, Witkowski said.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We have seen large deals consummated in this space over the last five years as scale becomes more important in this mature and highly fragmented industry.&quot;
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc&nbsp;(OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ancuf#OTC">ANCUF</a>) and SEVEN &amp; I HOLDI/ADR (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>), the owner of 7-Eleven, are expected to remain&nbsp;active consolidators in the convenience store space, according to Gabelli.&nbsp;Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mpc#NYSE">MPC</a>)&rsquo;s Speedway banner and EG Group, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/18/12/12815404/what-to-do-with-krogers-stock">which&nbsp;acquired</a> Kroger Co (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kr#NYSE">KR</a>)&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kroger-and-eg-group-announce-definitive-agreement-for-purchase-of-krogers-convenience-store-business-300593370.html">convenience stores earlier in the year,</a> are&nbsp;other potential consolidators, the firm said.&nbsp;
<h3>Price Action</h3>
Casey&rsquo;s General Stores shares were trading up 1.51 percent to $131.42 after the open Wednesday.
Related Links:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/18/09/12362648/a-pros-take-on-kroger-stock-after-thursdays-plunge">A Pro&#39;s Take On Kroger Stock After Plunge</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/18/06/11928632/krogers-stock-met-its-value-potential-pivotal-downgrade">Kroger&#39;s Stock Met Its Value Potential; Pivotal Downgrades To Hold</a>

Analyst Color

Price Target

Reiteration

Analyst Ratings

CASY

Casey's General Stores Analysts Talk Free Cash Flow, Acquisition Potential After Q2 Beat

Baker Technologies is a company offering a customer engagement platform especially designed for <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/cannabis">cannabis</a> dispensaries and brands, often dubbed &ldquo;the salesforce.com, inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/crm#NYSE">CRM</a>) of pot.&quot;
A couple of weeks ago, the firm, which is now active in 10 U.S. states and <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/17/03/9187252/cronos-execs-on-marijuana-legalization-in-canada-and-how-it-affects-the-co-market">Canada</a>, announced it had secured a $1.6 million extension to a 2016 seed round, bringing its total raised capital to $3.5 million.
Following the news release, Benzinga had the chance to chat with Baker&rsquo;s CEO Joel Milton. Check out the highlight of our conversation below.
<h3>Get Cookin&rsquo; With Baker</h3>
Baker is &ldquo;like a wing man for dispensaries [...] Our goal is to really help dispensaries look good, build their brands, connect with their customers, and drive more revenue,&rdquo; Milton said.
&ldquo;There is a lot of competition in the cannabis space for the end consumer. Everyone wants John Doe, the shopper for cannabis. There are more dispensaries in Denver than Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sbux#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) and 7-Elevens (SEVEN &amp; I HOLDINGS UNSP ADR EACH REPR 0.5 ORD (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>))combined,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;What we noticed is that dispensaries were spending a lot of money on customer acquisition by putting deals on websites, trying to drive foot traffic. But, what was happening was that the customers would come in, take advantage of the deal, and then leave &mdash; and they would never come back again until there was another deal; I call this the Groupon Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/grpn#NASDAQ">GRPN</a>) phenomenon.&rdquo;
So, Baker has come up with a solution to turn foot traffic into repeat, loyal customers. The process starts by adding a products menu to the dispensary&rsquo;s website, so that customers are not re-directed to third party sites like WeedMaps or Leafly. &ldquo;This lets customers see what&rsquo;s in stock; [take into account that] 75 percent of customers actually want to know that their favorite product or products are in stock before they go to the store, and even order or reserve them [depending on whether delivery is legal in that state or not].&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our online menu tool is similar to OpenTable (Priceline Group Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pcln#NASDAQ">PCLN</a>)) or GrubHub Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/grub#NYSE">GRUB</a>)'s Seamless [meaning it&rsquo;s integrated to the customer&rsquo;s own site],&rdquo; he concluded.
Beyond this menu service, Baker offers Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) iPads for the stores, where customers sign in for deals and loyalty rewards. &ldquo;This is a great opportunity for the dispensary to actually capture their customers&rsquo; information, and it texts them to keep them coming back.
Finally, the &ldquo;salesforce component.&rdquo; The third thing Baker does is collect data on clients and allows dispensaries to send personalized messages to different groups of people based on their interests. This way, they can reach out to customers without them feeling spammed.
&ldquo;If you look at Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), one of the ways it makes so much money is by those recommended products &mdash; Every time you go on there they show you things that you actually want. Dispensaries do the same thing. And, not only does that make more money because people want to buy the product that they like, but it also makes the customers feel like their dispensary knows them.
<h3>High Results</h3>
Benzinga: Let&rsquo;s talk a bit about results. Your press kit assures that clients have seen an average increase in order size of 40 percent in just six weeks. You also mention a 300 percent return on investment in just 10 weeks. Could you explain these figures a bit?
Milton: Like salesforce, Baker is a SAAS company; we charge a monthly software service fee. If you take our average annual contract size &mdash; let&rsquo;s just say $10,000. What we find is that within six weeks of using Baker, dispensaries will see a $30,000 increase in their revenues, which represents a 300 percent ROI on the full year&rsquo;s cost of the platform. And, we have actual data to prove this.
BZ: How do you deal with finances in an industry that is underserved by traditional financial institutions? 
Milton: Fundraising is obviously a challenge; the majority of institutional investors are not able to invest in cannabis. They have various vice clauses in the LPAs &mdash; So, the pool of investors is actually quite limited. There is a lot of interest in the space. It is sexy, it&rsquo;s growing really quickly, it&rsquo;s interesting, there is a ton of opportunity &mdash; but there aren&rsquo;t as many deep-pocketed players in the space at the moment. [Unlike most other industries], the hard part isn&rsquo;t getting an initial meeting, but it is finding someone who can actually participate in funding or financing your company.&nbsp;
BZ: Let&rsquo;s talk a bit about the recent raise. You completed a $1.6 million raise: who&rsquo;s investing and how did you get there?&nbsp; 
Milton: We&rsquo;ve been growing 20 percent month-over-month very consistently [...] So, while we were in the middle of this pretty aggressive growth trajectory, we wanted to make several more hires and really beef up our engineering team and also our sales and support team. I circulated the idea casually and within about a week we were completely subscribed in terms of the round. Within a week, the round was essentially full, primarily from existing investors, although we did bring in one or two additional outside investors to participate as well.
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Meet One Of The Largest VC-Backed Cannabis Companies In The U.S., Generating 300% ROI In 10 Weeks

If there wasn't one already, there may be a 7-Eleven store coming near you.
7-Eleven believes it will soon be able to double its average daily sales per store. The result? The company is <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/news/3210424-7-eleven-eyes-huge-expansion-u-s">doubling its stores</a>.
7-Eleven President Kazuki Furuya <a href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/21/business/corporate-business/eager-expand-seven-eleven-japan-aims-20000-stores-u-s/#.V-UiNvArKUk">has announced</a> a plan to more than double the current amount of stores it owns in the United States to over 20,000. There are currently 8,500 7-Eleven stores in the United States.
<bzrelatedlink>Related Link: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/16/08/m8317713/7-eleven-offers-procharge-r-liquid-protein-at-participating-stores-nati">7-Eleven Offers ProCharge(R) Liquid Protein At Participating Stores Nationwide</a></bzrelatedlink>
The reason for the increased confidence? 7-Eleven is seeing more traffic from middle-income consumers and no longer solely appeals to lower-income individuals. An increase in the quality of the goods has already helped the company add to the convenience factor that is driving more traffic to the chain.
7-Eleven is owned by Japanese retail group SEVEN &amp; I HOLDINGS UNSP ADR EACH REPR 0.5 ORD (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>).
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7-Eleven Doubles Down, Plans Massive Expansion

Japanese Seven &amp; I Holdings Co (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/svndy#OTC">SVNDY</a>) reported a 32% rise in its profit for the nine-month period.

Seven &amp; I's net profit climbed to Y128.02 billion ($1.2 billion), versus a year-ago profit of Y96.96 billion. 

Its revenue rose 13.8% to Y4.187 trillion from Y3.678 trillion, while operating profit jumped 15.1% to Y249.14 billion. 

Seven &amp; I shares closed at $79.60 yesterday.


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