Seven & i's slumping stock price raises takeover risk

TOKYO -- Canadian convenience store giant Alimentation Couche-Tard's takeover proposal for Seven & i Holdings has highlighted the Japanese retail group's vulnerability to buyout attempts, as its restructuring efforts have failed to impress the stock market.

Following the announcement of the offer on Monday, a flood of buy orders saw the stock of the Japanese operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores go limit-up, closing at 2,161 yen -- up 23% from the previous trading day.