Shares of Seven & i Holdings Co. increased by more than 4% after a Nikkei report indicated that the company is close to finalizing a deal to acquire a stake in Zabka Group, a leading convenience store operator in Poland. This potential transaction, valued at several hundred billion yen, is part of Seven & i's broader strategy to enhance its presence in the Eastern European market.
Zabka Group, which has been operational since 1998, boasts over 10,000 franchise-operated stores across Poland, specializing in hot snacks and groceries. The report also noted that Zabka's shares on the Warsaw Stock Exchange surged 10.9% to reach a record high on Thursday.
Seven & i aims to increase its global store count from 87,000 to 100,000 by 2030, and this investment in Zabka is expected to significantly strengthen its retail network in Europe. If the deal is completed, it would represent Seven & i's first major overseas investment in five years, following its $21 billion acquisition of the U.S. chain Speedway in 2021.
Neither Seven & i Holdings nor Zabka Group has commented on the report as of yet