Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s founder and top executives are spending three days in Tokyo this week, seeking to make their case for buying Seven & i Holdings Co. for about ¥7.1 trillion ($47.4 billion) despite being rebuffed by the Japanese retailer.

LAVAL, Quebec, & TOKYO — Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.'s proposed acquisition of Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd., parent company to 7-Eleven Inc., is a better deal than Seven & i's current breakup plan, asserted company leadership this week during a trip to Japan.

Artisan Partners, a U.S. fund, called on Seven i Holdings to allow due diligence on Alimentation Couche-Tards $47 billion buyout offer, urging the Japanese company to expedite the process amid concerns over

Tard Inc. is interested in buying the entirety of Seven & i Holdings Co., and will keep the local operations of the Japanese convenience store and retail giant intact, Chairman and founder Alain Bouchard said.

Tard’s planned $47bn buyout of Seven & i is a better deal and less risky than its target’s break-up plan, the Canadian retailer said as it urged the Japanese group to start talks. Couche-Tard executives said in Tokyo that they wanted more information on Seven & i’s business and the chance to discuss their bid with government officials in Japan.