ROUND TABLE PIZZA acquired by GLOBAL FRANCHISE GROUP

Leonard Green & Partners (LGP) has entered into a binding agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Pure Gym from CCMP Capital Advisors. This secondary buyout marks the complete exit for CCMP, which had held a majority stake since May 2013. The acquisition is a strategic entry for LGP into the UK fitness market, leveraging its extensive track record and expertise in the leisure and retail sectors. For Pure Gym, the partnership with LGP provides a new capital partner to fuel the next phase of its growth momentum following its successful rise to the top of the UK market

UK-based private equity firm TDR Capital entered into exclusive negotiations to acquire Buffalo Grill in a tertiary leveraged buyout from a consortium of financial sponsors, including majority shareholder Abénex Capital, NiXEN Partners, and Céréa Partenaire. TDR Capital secured the deal pre-emptively by submitting a swift, firm, all-cash offer within a two-week timeframe, which allowed it to bypass a formal auction process being prepared by advisor DC Advisory. This decisive bid outmaneuvered other interested parties, including Mexican strategic buyer Alsea

Freeman Spogli & Co. acquired Cafe Rio, Inc. from KarpReilly LLC, taking a majority interest in the fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain while existing management retained significant equity. The transaction marked Freeman Spogli's entry into the growing fast-casual segment, with Cafe Rio's leadership team continuing to guide operations from Salt Lake City headquarters. This deal made strategic sense as Cafe Rio's scratch-made Mexican cuisine and loyal customer base aligned perfectly with Freeman Spogli's successful restaurant investments including El Pollo Loco and other consumer concepts

BlueGem Capital Partners acquired an 80% stake in Big Fernand from its founders and the SEP family office (Riccobono family) to accelerate the brand’s global trajectory. The transaction included an immediate capital injection of at least €7 million to fund a massive scale-up, with the goal of reaching 100 restaurants shortly after the deal. The strategic rationale was focused on transitioning Big Fernand from a successful national niche player into a global gourmet burger champion. Key post-acquisition initiatives included the buyout of franchised locations in Hong Kong to bring them under direct control and the opening of several flagship locations in Paris

JAB entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Panera Bread Company. The transaction was unanimously approved by Panera's Board of Directors and expected to close in the third quarter of 2017, subject to shareholder approval and regulatory clearances. The strategic rationale reflects JAB's continued build-out of its coffee and quick-casual platform, adding Panera as a leading bakery-café concept with strong brand equity and innovation momentum. Panera's digital, wellness, and omni-channel initiatives align with JAB's portfolio themes, offering cross-pollination opportunities across its beverage-heavy holdings

BlueGem Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Lateral to facilitate the next phase of the group's national development. The transaction marked a transition from a founder-led business to a private equity-backed platform, specifically targeting the high-growth premium tapas segment in Spain. The strategic rationale focused on leveraging Lateral’s high brand awareness and proven unit economics to execute a nationwide roll-out. BlueGem's investment was designed to support the existing management team in scaling the concept beyond its Madrid stronghold into other major Spanish cities

The sale of Park Holidays UK by Caledonia Investments occurs after a 3-year holding period, during which the holiday park network underwent substantial expansion, growing from 23 to 26 establishments. This secondary buyout enables Intermediate Capital Group to enter the still highly fragmented UK outdoor hospitality market, with the goal of consolidating independent operators and modernizing existing infrastructure. Financing provided by the new majority shareholder will be crucial in supporting this expansion strategy, aimed at bolstering Park Holidays UK's market position

General Atlantic, a global growth‑equity firm, entered the capital of Joe & the Juice by acquiring a minority stake through a strategic growth‑equity round, joining existing shareholder Valedo Partners as a co‑investor. The transaction is designed to support the chain’s global expansion, particularly in the United States and the UK, by providing capital to open up to 150 new stores in the U.S. over the subsequent years and to strengthen its omnichannel and brand‑development capabilities. At the time of the investment, Joe & the Juice operated about 160 outlets worldwide, with most locations concentrated in Northern Europe and the UK, and a nascent but growing presence in Asia and the U.S...

JAB Beech completed its acquisition of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in July 2016 through a definitive deal that had originally been announced in May of that year. The deal was approved by Krispy Kreme shareholders at a special meeting and completed after the company received the required regulatory and shareholder approvals. The strategic logic was to place one of the most recognizable doughnut brands in the world into JAB's growing consumer portfolio, alongside its coffee and beverage assets. Krispy Kreme offered a premium sweet bakery concept with global brand awareness, a loyal customer following, and meaningful runway in coffee, international franchising, and wholesale distribution

In a transformative cross-border transaction, MTY Food Group has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Kahala Brands. The deal is classified as a Full Acquisition (100%), structured as a merger between a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTY and the target. This acquisition marks MTY’s entry into the United States, effectively doubling its scale with the combined entity. This strategic deal allows MTY to fully internalize Kahala’s profitable and scalable U.S. platform, moving its regional headquarters to Arizona to leverage local expertise