Darden, the restaurant operator (Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Capital Grille ) sold Red Lobster a few months ago. The acquirer was / is Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco, that also holds California Pizza Kitchen. Eddie Bauer, Zales and other consumer facing businesses. Golden Gate was formed by… Continue reading Red Lobster – In a Pinch, Clawing Its Way to the Bottom
Category: Buying
The Idiocy of Multi-Billion $ Evaluations
Part Deux – In Which I Continue My Rant On Valuations The other day, I penned my thoughts about private equity. Amplifying on that theme, there are a lot of unprofitable companies out there funded by private equity or venture money, with multi-billion dollar valuations. Oh yeah? Sez who? Apparently only the people who hope… Continue reading The Idiocy of Multi-Billion $ Evaluations
Carl’s Jr. Update
(OPINION) Investor Norman Peltz (Wendys/Arbys group, says he wants to play too, is studying CKE financials to see if he wants to bid. Peltz is an activist investor, and as head of Triarc Companies, has hit a couple home runs (let’s not talk about Snapple, tho). On the other hand, TH Lee, the first bidder,… Continue reading Carl’s Jr. Update
Lee Bags Carl Karcher
CKE, parent of Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s picked up by Thomas Lee Partners for close to a billion, including debt assumption. Lee also holds big stakes in Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins. This is the second big food deal this week, with the news that Diamond Foods (DMND) of California has gobbled up Kettle Foods… Continue reading Lee Bags Carl Karcher
Steak ‘n Shake Hungry for Western Sizzlin
Steak ‘n Shake and Western Sizzlin Corp. have announced they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to merge the Sizzlin group into a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNS. The deal is valued at $23 million. SNS has 486 restaurants, and the Sizzlin folks operate or franchise 113 outlets in 19 states. Full press release here.
There’s About to be a Gold Rush
Current economy aside, which will only add to this: – 76 million baby boomers are nearing retirement – 12 million private businesses are owned by baby boomers – It is likely more than 8 million businesses will sell – About $11 trillion in assets will change hands ( I read all this on the internet,… Continue reading There’s About to be a Gold Rush
Go (farther) West, Young Man
A second “gold rush” opportunity is at hand in China. 70,000 factories have closed as a result of the faltering US economy. Walk through any Wal-Mart in the US and you’ll have an idea of the breadth of the types of factories dependent upon the US economy. Some of these factories are available for outright… Continue reading Go (farther) West, Young Man
Why A Start-up Might Acquire a Company
Simple. There’s always acquisition money around, even when start-up capital isn’t available. You might have the greatest start-up in the world, just gaining traction, and there’s a competitor or strategic alliance that might be the very thing to catapult your start-up to the stratosphere. Go for it. Set out to acquire that company holding the… Continue reading Why A Start-up Might Acquire a Company
Why Buy Outside of Your Core Area of Expertise
Why would you consider purchasing a company that is in a segment that you know nothing about, and it doesn’t seem like a synergistic opportunity? Because the purpose of growing businesses is GROWTH, and none of us are smart enough to know where the economy is headed, nor the future mindset of consumers. So it’s… Continue reading Why Buy Outside of Your Core Area of Expertise
How’s the Fishing?
(or how to you differentiate between a “prospect” and a “suspect?” I get offered dozens of opportunities a day from every part of the globe. I cross off some immediately because they are dying industry segments……..some others because of geography or market conditions…………but I also have to sort out the “prospects” from the “suspects,” and… Continue reading How’s the Fishing?