A Canadian convenience store giant wants to buy the Japanese company that operates 7-Eleven in a deal that would create one of the world’s largest retail groups.

       Japan’s Seven & i Holdings said Monday that it had received a preliminary takeover bid from Alimentation Couche-Tard.

       The specifics of the proposal — including how much money was offered — have not been disclosed. Seven & i said in a statement that it had established a committee of independent directors to review the offer. Independent directors are members of the board who are not executives of the company.

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