Private Equity

Azzurri Group looks to test bidders’ appetite with auction sale

08-Dec-2023 By James McAllister

Azzurri Group owner Towerbrook Capital Partners is lining up bankers to launch an auction next year of the Ask, Zizzi and Coco di Mama restaurant chains.

Joe & The Juice acquired by General Atlantic

14-Nov-2023 By Finn Scott-Delany

Joe & The Juice is set to be acquired by New York-based investment firm General Atlantic, with plans for growth across the US, Europe and the Middle East.

Gail's investor McWin acquires majority stake in Big Mamma

19-Sep-2023 By James McAllister

McWin, the private equity backer of high street bakery chain Gail's, has acquired a majority stake in French-owned Italian restaurant group Big Mamma.

Gail's investor McWin to acquire majority stake in L’Osteria

25-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

McWin, the private equity backer of high street bakery chain Gail's, is to acquire a majority stake in German restaurant brand L’Osteria with a view to driving further European growth.

Imbiba announces first close of its new £90m fund

16-Jan-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Private equity house Imbiba has announced the first close of its new £90m fund at around £70m following significant investment from the British Business Bank alongside other investors including Asahi UK.

White Rabbit Projects wins backing of Gail’s investor McWin  

29-Nov-2022 By James McAllister

Hospitality incubator White Rabbit Projects has secured a multi-million-pound investment from McWin, the private investment firm that also backs high street bakery chain Gail's.

D&D London to undergo auction

19-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

D&D London is set to undergo a sale process, which could value the group at £100m.

D&D London set for £100m takeover

04-Oct-2021 By James McAllister

High-end restaurant group D&D London is reportedly close to being acquired by Montecito Equity Partners.

TriSpan acquires majority stake in Pho

02-Aug-2021 By Georgi Gyton

TriSpan has acquired a significant majority stake in Vietnamese restaurant group Pho.

Brighton's The Bok Shop plans expansion

18-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Brighton-based premium fried chicken brand The Bok Shop is set for expansion with 10 sites planned in the next two years.

Platinum drops Marston’s takeover bid

11-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Platinum Equity has announced it does intend to submit a revised proposal to takeover brewer and pubco Marston’s.

Marston’s rejects Platinum Equity bid

01-Feb-2021 By James McAllister

Brewer and pubco Marston’s has rejected a takeover bid from Platinum Equity Advisors, stating that it 'very significantly undervalues' the business.

Marston’s piques private equity interest

29-Jan-2021 By Georgia Cronin

Brewer and pubco Marston’s has confirmed reports that Platinum Equity has made an initial approach to take the company private.

Market Halls in line for c.£20m private equity investment

31-May-2019 By Sophie Witts

Market Halls is set to receive a major investment from private equity firm Bridgepoint to support its further expansion.

Thunderbird are go: the fried chicken brand that's taking on KFC

09-Apr-2019 By Restaurant magazine

With backing from private equity group TriSpan, can Thunderbird Fried Chicken take flight in the highly competitive chicken sector?

Thunderbird Fried Chicken backed by TriSpan

24-Jan-2019 By Sophie Witts

London street food brand Thunderbird Fried Chicken has received an investment from private equity group TriSpan to support its expansion.

Prezzo to close 94 "underperforming" restaurants

02-Mar-2018 By Sophie Witts

Prezzo has confirmed it has entered in to a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) that will see almost a third of its restaurants close.

YO! Sushi hires ex-Pizza Express boss as it gears up to crack US market

28-Nov-2017 By Sophie Witts

YO! Sushi has hired former Pizza Express boss Richard Hodgson to lead the company as it prepares to ramp up its international expansion.

Four stages to successfully funding your restaurant growth

21-Aug-2017 By Benoit Broch

Benoit Broch at private equity firm Livingbridge discusses what a successful restaurant brand growth path should look like

Deliveroo confirms $275m investment into expansion and new projects

05-Aug-2016 By Hannah Thompson

Online food ordering and delivery service Deliveroo has confirmed it has received a $275m (£210m) investment to help it expand in new and existing markets, and into other similar projects.

How to crowdfund for a restaurant successfully

28-Sep-2015 By Emma Eversham

Crowdfunding - the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people – is arguably no longer the ‘alternative’ finance method for hospitality businesses.

Center Parcs UK’s Martin Robinson: "Stick to your guns to build success"

24-Mar-2015 By Emma Eversham

Sticking to Dutch founder Piet Derksen’s original idea to create an environmentally and family-friendly holiday park and refusing to make drastic changes at the request of private equity companies has helped Center Parcs UK become the success it is today,...

Active Private Equity takes stake in Honest Burgers

19-Jan-2015 By Mark Wingett

Active Private Equity, the backer of Leon and Evans Cycles, has taken a 50 per cent stake in Honest Burgers, the London-based better burger concept.

Hony Capital acquires PizzaExpress

14-Jul-2014 By Mark Wingett

Hony Capital, one of China’s largest private equity firms, has acquired PizzaExpress, in a deal that values the Cinven-backed chain at £900m - the largest transaction in the European restaurant sector in the past five years.

Cote Restaurants acquired by CBPE

13-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Cote Restaurants, the 45-strong French bistro chain founded by Andy Bassadone and Chris Benians, has been acquired by private equity firm CBPE Capital in a deal reportedly worth £100m. 

Finding finance in hospitality: Private equity

01-Aug-2013 By Peter Ruddick

From Piper Private Equity’s backing of Be At One and more recently Loungers to Graphite Capital’s management buy-out of Hawksmoor, there are private equity (PE) deals to be done in the hospitality industry but are they right for your business?

Finding finance in hospitality: Where to start

29-Jul-2013 By Emma Eversham

In the first of our five-part series on finding funding within the hospitality industry we ask experts in the field what the market's like and what operators can do to enable them to successfully set up or grow their restaurant, hotel or pub business.

D&D London undergoes management buyout to help further restaurant expansion

22-Apr-2013 By Emma Eversham

D&D London has confirmed that private equity firm LDC has performed a £50m management buyout of the restaurant group.

Punch Taverns presses on with pub disposals, 65 venues up for sale

08-Jan-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Punch Taverns is continuing with its pub disposal programme after putting 65 sites across the country up for sale through specialist property agent Christie & Co. 

Loungers receives £16m investment from Piper

10-Apr-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The bar and causal dining restaurant group Loungers has received a £16m investment from private equity specialists Piper which will now take a significant minority stake in the company led by managing director Alex Reilley.

Restaurant and bar mergers and acquisitions set to rise in 2012

13-Dec-2011 By Peter Ruddick

Restaurants and bars in the UK should be prepared for an increase in mergers and acquisitions next year as successful chains look to cash in and buyers prepare for growth in 2013, according to a new report.