Founder Alain Bouchard, CEO Alex Miller and CFO Filipe Da Silva will hold a media briefing from 11am on March 13.

Couche-Tard, which operates Circle-K convenience stores, said earlier it is in exploratory talks with third parties about a potential sale of US stores to help it gain regulatory approval should it reach a deal to take over Seven & i.

The Canadian company said it has identified a portfolio of US stores and is in talks to “identify possible acquirers”.

“We believe there is a clear path to obtaining regulatory approvals of a transaction with 7&i and have made a robust proposal to 7&i about our commitment to doing so,” a Couche-Tard spokesman said.

Seven & i has opposed the takeover bid and said US antitrust law would be a barrier to any deal.

The companies are the top two players in the US convenience store market, with about 20,000 locations between them.

Seven & i on Thursday appointed its first foreign CEO, Stephen Dacus, handing him the task of overhauling its business to fend off the bid.

Dacus said he spoke with Couche-Tard on Thursday and that talks would continue though significant regulatory hurdles stood in the way of any merger, particularly in the United States.