Circle-K ups ante in push for Carrefour takeover

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire had said he was prepared to give a 'clear and definitive no' to a deal.

Circle-K's owner has not given up hope of landing French supermarket giant Carrefour despite mounting opposition from the French government.

Top executives from Circle-K owner Alimentation Couche-Tard are in Paris seeking to salvage a $20bn (€16.5bn) bid for French supermarket giant Carrefour, with investment plans and employment commitments as the French government escalates its objections.

The Canadian convenience-store operator plans to pump €3bn into Carrefour over five years, according to sources.