Azzurri Group acquired a controlling interest in the Irish-based Mexican restaurant chain Boojum from its previous majority owner, private equity firm Renatus Capital Partners. This strategic transaction marks Azzurri's entry into a new cuisine category, diversifying its portfolio beyond its established Italian brands like Zizzi and ASK Italian. The acquisition is intended to target the rapidly growing Mexican fast-casual segment and appeal to a younger demographic. For Azzurri, the deal provides an established and popular brand with a devoted customer base, serving as a platform for expansion into the Great Britain market. For Boojum, the partnership with a large, well-capitalized group like Azzurri offers the financial strength and operational platform necessary to accelerate its growth plans, particularly its intended expansion across the Irish Sea into the UK. The existing management team, led by Managing Director David Maxwell, is expected to remain in place to lead the business through this next phase of growth. The deal represents a successful exit for Renatus Capital Partners, which had backed the company since 2015 and overseen its expansion from five to fourteen locations.

BOOJUM, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2023, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, a level to compare with the average currently observed in the Retail & Consumer sector (11.4x).

Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.