TOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Artisan Partners, an investor

in Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF ), called on the

company's special committee to consider a formal bidding process

of competing takeover proposals to secure the highest offer.

Seven & i ( SVNDF ) 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 ).

In a statement, Artisan portfolio manager Ben Herrick said

the fund supports both offers at this stage.