TOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Artisan Partners, a U.S.-based

investor in Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF ),

called on the company's special committee to consider a bidding

process of competing takeover proposals to secure the highest

offer.

The 7-Eleven convenience store owner received a buyout

proposal from a member of its founding Ito family, it said on

Wednesday, a potential $58 billion white-knight bid as it weighs

a rival offer from Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard ( ANCTF ).

The offer from Ito-Kogyo, a company linked to Seven & i ( SVNDF ) Vice

President Junro Ito, is non-binding and under review by the same

special committee set up to assess Couche-Tard's bid.

In a statement, Artisan portfolio manager Ben Herrick said

the fund supports both offers at this stage and urged the

committee to consider a formal bidding process, including an

auction, to explore additional third-party interest.

"Furthermore, we strongly recommend that the board grant

both parties equal access to conduct due diligence," Herrick

said. "Lastly, it is imperative for the board and special

committee to act with a sense of urgency without further delay."

Artisan holds 1.11% of Seven & i ( SVNDF ) shares, according to LSEG

data. The fund is among Seven & i's ( SVNDF ) vocal foreign investors that

have urged the company to focus on its core convenience store

business.