Can Do said its position on the bid was neutral, meaning it would neither back nor oppose Aeon's offer, which was priced at 2,700 yen ($23.79) per share in an initial round, followed by a second round at 2,300 yen a share. Can Do shares closed at 1,858 yen on Thursday.

($1 = 113.4800 yen)

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)