Darden - M&A Summary and Business Overview

RestaurantsCompany

Darden M&A Summary

Darden has acquired 4 companies, including 1 in the last 5 years. A total of 2 acquisitions came from private equity firms. It has also divested 2 assets.

Darden’s largest acquisition to date was in 2017, when it acquired Cheddar’s Casual Cafe for $780M. It’s largest disclosed sale occurred in 2014, when it sold Red Lobster Hospitality to Golden Gate Capital for $2.1B. Darden has acquired in 4 different US states. The Company’s most targeted sectors include restaurants (75%) and food (25%).

Darden Business Overview

Where is Darden headquartered?

Darden is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.

What is Darden’s revenue?

Darden disclosed revenue of 9,360M USD for 2022 and 7,196M USD for 2021.

How many employees does Darden have?

Darden has 177,895 employees.

What sector is Darden in?

Darden is a restaurants company.

When was Darden founded?

Darden was founded in 1968.

M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity6
    • M&A Buy Activity4
    • M&A Sell Activity2
  • Total Sectors Invested 2
  • Total Countries Invested 1
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 5
  • M&A Advisors 4

Darden

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

1000 Darden Center Drive,
Orlando, Florida 32837
United States,
(407) 245-4000
www.darden.com

Darden is a large full-service restaurant company that owns and operates more than 2,100 restaurants. Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Darden's restaurants includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House. Darden was formed in 1968 and is based in Orlando, Florida.


M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 T
Buy (0.2/yr) # 3 - - - 1 - 4
vol $1.4B $715M $2.1B
Sell (0.0/yr) # 2 - - - - - 2
vol $2.2B $2.2B
  6

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc. 2023-05-03 715M USD Add-on Acquisition
Winter Park, Florida · www.rhgi.com
Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, Inc. 2017-03-27 780M USD Add-on Acquisition
Irving, Texas · www.cheddars.com
Red Lobster Hospitality LLC 2014-05-16 2.1B USD Divestiture
Orlando, Florida · www.redlobster.com
Yard House USA, Inc. 2012-08-29 585M USD Add-on Acquisition
Irvine, California · www.yardhouse.com
Wildfish Seafood Grille restaurant brands/Eddie V's 2011-10-12 - Add-on Acquisition
Scottsdale, Arizona
Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill 2007-12-01 80M USD Divestiture
Greenwood, Indiana · www.smokeybones.com
View All >>

M&A by Sector

Sector Buy # Value Sell # Value
Restaurants 3 (75%) 2.1B (100%) 2 (100%) 2.2B (100%)
Food 1 (25%) - - -
Total 4 $2.1B 2 $2.2B

By Geo

State/Country Buy Value Sell Value
United States 4 2.1B 2 2.2B
  Florida 1 715M 1 2.1B
  Texas 1 780M - -
  California 1 585M - -
  Arizona 1 - - -
  Indiana - - 1 80M
Total 4 $2.1B 2 $2.2B

Top M&A Advisors

Financial Deals
Goldman Sachs
 2
BofA Securities
 1
Legal Deals
Hunton & Williams LLP
 2
Latham & Watkins
 1

Deal Values

buy # Total
$100M to $1B 3 $2.1B
TOTAL $2.1B
Largest Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, Inc.
$780M (2017-03-27)
sell # Total
> $1B 1 $2.1B
< $100M 1 $80M
TOTAL $2.2B
Largest Red Lobster Hospitality LLC
$2.1B (2014-05-16)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Investor(s)
50%
2 (50%)
Strategic(s)
25%
1 (25%)
Divested to
Investor(s)
100%
2 (100%)

Company Summary

SECTOR

Restaurants

Revenue

9,360   31% 2022
7,196   8% 2021
7,807   9% 2020
8,510   6% 2019
8,080   13% 2018
7,170   4% 2017
6,934   3% 2016
6,764   8% 2015
6,286   7% 2014
5,921   2013
(millions of USD) Show More Show Less

Employees

177,895

Established

1968

Public

NYSE: DRI

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