LOUNGERS acquired by FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP

BC Partners, the existing majority owner of Cigierre, brings in QuattroR SGR and Anthilia Capital Partners as minority co‑investors through a substantial capital increase, with additional co‑investments from the company’s management and existing shareholders. The transaction is structured as a minority growth‑equity and refinancing package: funds advised by BC Partners retain majority control, while QuattroR and Anthilia provide fresh equity capital to support Cigierre’s next‑phase expansion plan and to optimize the group’s long‑term capital structure. The deal is paired with a comprehensive refinancing that strengthens Cigierre’s balance sheet by reshaping its long‑term debt profile with input from both existing and new financial partners, thereby improving flexibility and reducing refinancing risk.

PAI Partners agreed to sell a significant minority stake in European Camping Group to a subsidiary of ADIA. PAI Partners retains majority ownership of the group. The transaction, officially celebrated during the 2025 "Choose France" summit, marks a new phase of development for ECG to pursue geographic diversification and organic growth. The investment by ADIA reportedly totaling EUR600 million for the stake—underscores the attractiveness of the outdoor hospitality sector and ECG's position as its leading pan-European platform.

TIP, through its controlled vehicle Asset Italia 1 srl, has exercised its right of pre-emption to acquire an additional 36.02% stake in Alpitour from Dal 1802. This strategic maneuver follows the suspension of a formal sale process initiated in 2023, as the shareholders elected to consolidate control rather than exit to external bidders. The transaction allows Asset Italia to increase its total shareholding in the tour operator to approximately 94.6% (and up to 95.3% depending on co-sale rights). The rationale for the consolidation is rooted in Alpitour's exceptional financial recovery and structural profitability, characterized by significant revenue growth and high margins. By securing nearly full ownership, TIP and its club deal partners aim to further stabilize the group’s capital structure and capitalize on promising tourism sector tailwinds, leveraging Alpitour’s substantial asset base and market dominance to drive long-term industrial value.

FrenchFood Capital and Cerea Partners orchestrated a capital reorganization and equity strengthening of Boulangeries Sophie Lebreuilly. The two funds become the reference majority shareholders, working alongside the founders who remain operationally involved and invested. The deal brings in new minority backers (Sofiproteol, NextStage, etc.) to finance the continued rapid expansion of the network. The objective is to exceed 100 stores by the end of 2025 and deepen the company's ESG commitments (sourcing French wheat, rural employment).

La Compagnie des Alpes (CDA) has finalized the acquisition of a controlling majority stake in Soccer 5 France SAS, the parent company of Urban Group, executing a strategic cross-border corporate buyout within the leisure and sports entertainment sector. The transaction architecture was executed in two coordinated stages, beginning with an immediate equity buyout at closing, supplemented by a locked-in call/put option agreement to transfer an additional stake from the management holding vehicle, Soccer 5 Evolution, later that year. The total cash consideration was funded entirely through CDA’s internal corporate treasury reserves and existing bilateral revolving credit lines, leveraging capital raised during its previous public equity issuance to ensure zero reliance on conditional external acquisition debt. The remaining minority equity stake continues to be held by the historical founders and executive team, with a structured liquidity mechanism allowing CDA to purchase the residual balance in four to five years under an identical valuation framework.

The acquisition of Sticks’n’Sushi by McWin Capital Partners is structured as a control‑oriented acquisition, with McWin securing a majority stake in the business while retaining the existing management team and brand identity. At the time of the transaction, Sticks’n’Sushi operates 27 restaurants across the UK, Denmark, and Germany , illustrating a multi‑market, mid‑market platform that has extended its footprint from its core Danish base to the UK and Germany over many years. McWin positions the transaction as a strategic add‑on to its existing restaurant portfolio, leveraging its scale, sector expertise, and cross‑brand resources to support further expansion in the UK and Germany, two markets where Sticks’n’Sushi is still relatively nascent. The sponsor highlights the resilience of Sticks’n’Sushi through recent cost headwinds, the quality of its leadership, and the structural tailwinds in the sushi category (female‑friendly, family‑friendly, and suited for business and leisure occasions). The investment underscores McWin’s opportunistic strategy: seeking high‑performing concepts and teams that can scale, with a strong emphasis on unit economics, brand strength, and leadership quality.

Shamal Holding, a Dubai-based investment firm, completed the acquisition of the remaining stake in SUSHISAMBA Group, taking full controlling interest in the global restaurant brand. This transaction represents the culmination of a decade-long partnership, as Shamal Holding had been a fifty percent owner of the brand since 2014. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is deeply rooted in Shamal's vision to expand its global portfolio of high-end hospitality and lifestyle assets. By taking full control, Shamal aims to leverage its resources and expertise to accelerate SUSHISAMBA's international growth and drive the next phase of its evolution as an iconic dining and entertainment concept. This move aligns with Shamal's broader investment strategy of cultivating extraordinary experiences that mirror Dubai's global ambition and energy. For SUSHISAMBA, the deepened commitment from its long-standing partner is expected to provide a robust platform for continued expansion into new markets and further solidify its position as a trendsetting brand in the competitive global hospitality industry. The transaction signals a new chapter of strategic growth, backed by a dedicated and well-capitalized owner.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has acquired a 49% stake in Rocco Forte Hotels, valuing the group at £1.4 billion. This transaction marks the PIF's entry into the luxury hospitality sector and reflects the fund's confidence in the commercial opportunities and strength of the international hospitality and tourism sectors. The PIF plans to invest tens of millions of pounds in the group to double the size of its hotel portfolio over the next five years, with openings planned in the Middle East, Italy, and the United States. This acquisition is the latest in a series of investments by the PIF in the luxury hospitality sector, aimed at diversifying the economy of Saudi Arabia and promoting tourism development in the country.

General Atlantic acquired a majority stake in Joe & the Juice from Swedish private equity firm Valedo Partners. The deal is structured as a buy‑out of Valedo’s entire holding, which fully exits the business, while General Atlantic, which has been a minority investor since 2016, steps up to majority control. The transaction is intended to support Joe & the Juice’s international expansion, with a particular focus on the U.S. and the UK, as well as on deepening the company’s digital footprint and improving its balance‑sheet structure by reducing leverage. Since General Atlantic’s initial minority investment in 2016, Joe & the Juice has grown its store count from about 175 to more than 360 globally and increased revenue by more than fourfold, demonstrating strong underlying unit economics and category resilience. The group already operates more than 60 sites in the UK and around 70 in the U.S., with additional franchised locations in the Middle East and other regions, creating a diversified, multi‑market platform. By taking majority control, General Atlantic aims to accelerate both company‑owned and franchised store rollout, enhance brand consistency, and professionalize corporate‑governance and commercial‑roll‑out processes, leveraging its sector‑specific consumer‑investment expertise and global network.

D&D London has been acquired by a consortium consisting of Calveton and Breal Capital. The deal follows a period of financial instability for the group and includes a critical £40 million balance sheet recapitalization to facilitate future growth and investment in new sites. Unlike traditional private equity, the buyers are investing "patient money" (proprietary capital) without rigid exit horizons, focusing on the long-term preservation of the group's heritage. David Loewi, co-founder and CEO, remains a shareholder and leader of the business. The strategic rationale for the acquisition is to stabilize the group's finances after pandemic-induced losses and to provide a platform for international expansion. Calveton (owner of Byron) and Breal (owner of Vinoteca and Black Sheep Brewery) leverage their specialized hospitality expertise to professionalize the group's management, including the appointment of a Chief Advancement Officer. This transaction highlights a major consolidation trend in the premium UK dining sector, where distressed high-profile assets are rescued by specialized turnaround investors seeking to capitalize on strong brand equity and recovered post-pandemic consumer demand.