Seven & i to forge capital, business alliance with Francfranc operator

TOKYO, Japan - Noritoshi Murata (R), president and chief operating officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., and Fumio Takashima, president of BALS Corp., operator of the Francfranc store chain, shake hands during a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 25, 2013, at which they announced that the two companies will conclude a capital and business alliance.