Seven & i Holdings has terminated its discussions to acquire a stake in Polish convenience store operator Zabka Group, the company announced on Saturday.
The decision marks a sharp reversal for the Japanese retail conglomerate, which had confirmed talks were underway earlier this week.
The news comes shortly after Seven & i shares climbed 3% in Tokyo trading on Friday, buoyed by investor speculation that the deal would secure a foothold in the Central European market.
The news comes shortly after Seven & i shares climbed 3% in Tokyo trading on Friday, buoyed by investor speculation that the deal would secure a foothold in the Central European market.
The abrupt cancellation suggests the parties could not reach a mutually acceptable valuation or strategic framework within the compressed timeline.
Zabka Group, which operates a significant network of convenience stores across Poland and maintains a presence in Romania, will continue its operations independently.
For Seven & i, the withdrawal removes a potential avenue for geographic diversification beyond its core Asian and North American markets, where it operates approximately 87,000 stores globally under the 7-Eleven banner.