(Reuters) -Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard ( ANCTF ) said on Wednesday that it has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF ) for its takeover offer.

The detailed terms of the agreement will remain confidential, Seven & i ( SVNDF ) said in a separate statement.

Paul Yonamine, who chairs Seven & i's ( SVNDF ) independent Special Committee of the Board of Directors, said that "the execution of the NDA is a positive step in the constructive engagement process with ACT," in the separate statement.

Couche-Tard, which operates the Circle-K convenience stores in Canada and the United States, has been trying to acquire Seven & i ( SVNDF ) since August.