Seven&i Holdings Ratings Placed On CreditWatch Negative On Announced Purchase Of U.S.-Based Sunoco's Retail Business

Seven&i Holdings has announced it will acquire U.S.-based Sunoco LP's gasoline retail and convenience store business for about US$3.3 billion through 7-Eleven Inc., its U.S. operating subsidiary for North American convenience store business. The acquisition is consistent with the Seven&i group's growth strategy. Although organizing operations, including transfer and renovation of stores, is likely to take time, we expect expansion of the group's store network to enhance its convenience store business in North America. While the acquired business will make limited contributions to profit in the near term, key financial indicators for Seven&i group will deteriorate if the company finances the acquisition with debt or internal group funds and may take two to three

...+ Seven & i Holdings has announced it will acquire U.S.-based Sunoco LP's gasoline retail and convenience store business for about US$3.3 billion through 7-Eleven Inc., its U.S. operating subsidiary for North American convenience store business. + The acquisition is consistent with the Seven & i group's growth strategy. Although organizing operations, including transfer and renovation of stores, is likely to take time, we expect expansion of the group's store network to enhance its convenience store business in North America. + While the acquired business will make limited contributions to profit in the near term, key financial indicators for Seven & i group will deteriorate if the company finances the acquisition with debt or internal group funds and may take two to three years to recover. + We are placing on CreditWatch with negative implications our long-term ratings on Seven & i, Seven-Eleven Japan, and 7-Eleven Inc. and the short-term rating on Seven-Eleven Japan. + We will resolve...

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