Seven & i founding family seeks CP Group’s support for record $58bn management buyout

If completed, the deal—valued at approximately $58bn—would be Japan’s largest-ever management buyout.

CP’s investment is expected to reach hundreds of billions of yen, though negotiations are ongoing. Seven & i has declined to comment, while CP stated it does not address speculation.

The Thai conglomerate, which operates 12,000 7-Eleven stores in Thailand, joins a list of potential backers that reportedly includes Japanese trading house Itochu and U.S. asset manager Apollo Global Management. The buyout would allow current management to retain control and ease pressure to sell unprofitable assets, though analysts suggest it may also be a tactic to encourage a higher bid from Couche-Tard.

Seven & i has faced mounting shareholder pressure to divest non-core businesses, which include supermarkets, specialty stores, and restaurant chains. In October, it announced plans to create a holding company for 31 subsidiaries. Sources indicate that private equity firms KKR and Bain Capital have each submitted bids exceeding $5bn for this spin-off.

As the bidding war intensifies, Seven & i’s future ownership structure remains uncertain, with private equity interest playing a crucial role in shaping its next chapter.

Source: Reuters

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