TOKYO, April 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Seven & i Holdings ( SVNDF )

said on Wednesday fourth-quarter profit fell 15%, a

result that is likely to hamper its ability to fend off a

takeover attempt by Canada's Alimentation Couche-Tard ( ANCTF ).

The operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores booked operating

profit of 105.6 billion yen ($726.4 million) for the

December-February period, somewhat ahead of the 94.5 billion yen

average of eight analyst estimates compiled by LSEG.

The result was its fourth consecutive quarter of profit

decline, as high levels of inflation hurt consumer spending both

in Japan and in North America. It has suffered in its home

market in particular as price-conscious customers shift to

cheaper rivals.

Seeking to bat away Couche-Tard's $47 billion bid, Seven has

argued that antitrust barriers in the U.S. may nix any deal and

its own initiatives to overhaul its business are sufficient to

increase corporate value.

After a management buyout led by Seven & i's ( SVNDF ) founding family

collapsed in February due to lack of funding, it has begun

selling off non-core businesses and has appointed a new CEO.

It has also announced a $2 billion share buyback and

proposed listing its North American convenience store subsidiary

by the second half of 2026.

In their most concrete sign of engagement yet, Seven & i ( SVNDF ) and

the operator of Circle-K stores said they were working together

to find buyers for around 2,000 of their convenience stores in

the U.S. - a step seen as necessary for their potential merger

to pass a U.S. Federal Trade Commission review.

Sources have told Reuters that interested buyers are

primarily private equity firms.

Shares in Seven & i ( SVNDF ) closed at 1,848.5 yen on Wednesday

before the results. That remains far below Couche-Tard's offer

of around 2,700 yen, indicating that investors are sceptical the

bid will succeed.

($1 = 145.3800 yen)