The Japanese conglomerate Seven & i Holdings, owner of the well-known 7‑Eleven chain, recently reported a 15% drop in profits in the fourth quarter. This decline raises concerns about the company’s ability to withstand a potential takeover by Canadian powerhouse Alimentation Couche‑Tard. Despite achieving an operating profit of 105.6 billion yen (approximately 726.4 million USD) between December and February – a figure slightly surpassing the eight analyst estimates averaging 94.5 billion yen as compiled by LSEG – the noticeable downturn in profit indicates underlying challenges in an inflation-hit market environment.