Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) and Japan's Seven & i said they have signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that will give the Canadian company access to the Japanese retailer's financial data as it seeks a $47 billion acquisition.

In March, Seven & i and Couche-Tard set an end-of-the-month deadline for potential buyers of the companies' U.S. convenience stores to express their interest and address antitrust concerns, as Convenience Store News previously reported. Potential buyers have reportedly already entered talks and signed NDAs.

Alimentation Couche-Tard has signed a non-disclosure agreement with Seven & i Holdings Co. Ltd., advancing takeover talks between the two convenience-store retailers that have been ongoing since August .