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Roark Capital Group Mergers and Acquisitions Summary

Private Equity Firm Profile

In the last 3 years, Roark Capital Group has acquired 3 companies.

Roark Capital Group’s most common sectors for investment arefranchising (27%) and restaurants (22%) . The Firm’s most common investment types include secondary buyout (46%) and buyout (lbo, mbo, mbi) (29%). In total, Roark Capital Group has invested in 20 US states and 2 different countries. Its largest (disclosed) acquisition occurred in 2020 when it acquired The ServiceMaster for $1.6B.

In the last 3 years, Roark Capital Group has exited 1 company. The Firm’s most common exit type is trade sale (37%).

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M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity65
    • M&A Buy Activity46
    • M&A Sell Activity19
  • Total Sectors Invested 14
  • Total Countries Invested 2
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 17
  • M&A Advisors 8

Roark Capital Group

Roark Capital Group

1180 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 2500,
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
United States
(404) 591-5200
www.roarkcapital.com
contact@roarkcapital.com

Roark Capital Group is a private equity firm that focuses on middle-market investment opportunities. The Firm targets family-owned business transfers, management/corporate buyouts, recapitalizations, going-private transactions, and corporate divestitures. Roark Capital Group pursues companies with revenues between $20 million and $5 billion, and EBITDA of $10 to $500 million. Roark Capital primarily invests in consumer and business services companies, with a particular interest in the franchise, food and restaurant, specialty retail, direct marketing and financial services sectors. Roark Capital Group was formed in 2001 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.


Investment Criteria

Sectors of Interest: Business Services, Consumer Products, Distribution, Environmental, Financial Services, Food, Franchising, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Marketing, Restaurants, Retail

Target Transaction Types: Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI), Divestiture, Going Private, Growth Capital, Recapitalization, Secondary Buyout, Stake Purchase, Venture, Merger

Geographic Preferences: East US, Midwest US, South US, West US

Transaction Criteria Min Max
Target Revenue 20 5,000
Target EBITDA 10 500
Investment Size 50 1,000
Enterprise Value - -
values in millions of USD

M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 T
Buy (1.2/yr) # 40 3 - 1 - 2 46
vol $1.8B $1.0B $2.8B
Sell (0.8/yr) # 15 3 1 - - - 19
  65

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
Dave's Hot Chicken 2025-06-02 1.0B USD Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)
Pasadena, California · www.daveshotchicken.com
Ground Penetrating Radar Systems, Inc. 2025-01-13 - Secondary Buyout
Maumee, Ohio · www.gp-radar.com
Subway IP LLC 2023-08-24 - Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)
Milford, Connecticut · www.subway.com
Solterra Recycling Solutions 2022-05-10 - Trade Sale
Old Bridge, New Jersey · www.solterrarecycling.com
Mathnasium LLC 2021-11-16 - Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI)
Los Angeles, California · www.mathnasium.com
Youth Enrichment Brands LLC 2021-10-19 - Consolidation
San Rafael, California · www.youthenrichmentbrands.com
Pet Valu Holdings Ltd. 2021-06-23 - IPO
Markham, Ontario · www.petvalu.ca
Nothing Bundt Cakes 2021-05-14 - Secondary Buyout
Addison, Texas · www.nothingbundtcakes.com
Naf Naf Grill LLC 2021-03-17 - Stake Sale
Chicago, Illinois · www.nafnafgrill.com
Driven Brands, Inc. 2021-01-07 - IPO
Charlotte, North Carolina · www.drivenbrands.com
View All >>

Portfolio M&A

Company Acquired Add-On/Sale Date #
Youth Enrichment Brands LLC 2021-10-19 School of Rock LLC 2023-10-24 3
San Rafael, California · www.youthenrichmentbrands.com Canton, Massachusetts · www.schoolofrock.com
Inspire Brands, Inc. 2011-07-05 Rusty Taco, Inc. 2022-12-19 1
Atlanta, Georgia · www.inspirebrands.com Dallas, Texas · www.rustytaco.com
Youth Enrichment Brands LLC 2021-10-19 Streamline Brands 2022-01-01 2
San Rafael, California · www.youthenrichmentbrands.com Parker, Colorado · www.streamlinebrands.com
Inspire Brands, Inc. 2011-07-05 Jimmy John's Franchise LLC 2019-09-25 5
Atlanta, Georgia · www.inspirebrands.com Champaign, Illinois · www.jimmyjohns.com
Self Esteem Brands LLC 2018-01-01 The Bar Method Media, Inc. 2019-09-12 3
Woodbury, Minnesota · www.sebrands.com San Francisco, United States · www.barmethod.com
GoTo Foods LLC 2001-11-01 Jamba, Inc. 2018-08-02 6
Atlanta, Georgia · www.focusbrands.com Emeryville, California · www.jambajuice.com
Inspire Brands, Inc. 2011-07-05 Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. 2017-11-28 4
Atlanta, Georgia · www.inspirebrands.com Minneapolis, Minnesota · www.buffalowildwings.com
GoTo Foods LLC 2001-11-01 Cinnabon, Inc. 2004-11-04 5
Atlanta, Georgia · www.focusbrands.com Atlanta, Georgia · www.cinnabon.com

M&A by Sector

Sector Current # Value All-time # Value
Franchising 10 (45%) - 12 (26%) -
Restaurants 6 (27%) 1.0B (39%) 10 (22%) 1.0B (35%)
Consumer Services 3 (14%) 1.6B (61%) 6 (13%) 1.6B (55%)
Environmental - - 3 (7%) 180M (6%)
Retail - - 3 (7%) 109M (4%)
Business Services 1 (5%) - 3 (7%) -
Marketing - - 2 (4%) -
Distribution - - 1 (2%) -
Education 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
Food - - 1 (2%) -
Healthcare Services - - 1 (2%) -
Information Technology - - 1 (2%) -
Software - - 1 (2%) -
Technology Hardware 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
Total 22 $2.6B 46 $2.8B

Acquisitions By Geo

State/Country Current # Value All-time # Value
United States 22 (100%) 2.6B (100%) 44 (96%) 2.7B (93%)
  California 5 (23%) 1.0B (39%) 8 (17%) 1.0B (35%)
  Georgia 4 (18%) 1.6B (61%) 7 (15%) 1.6B (55%)
  Florida 2 (9%) - 5 (11%) 100M (4%)
  Texas 2 (9%) - 5 (11%) -
  Wisconsin 1 (5%) - 2 (4%) -
  Illinois - - 2 (4%) -
  Colorado - - 2 (4%) -
  Tennessee 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Ohio 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Mississippi 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Minnesota 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Kentucky 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Connecticut 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Arizona 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Alabama 1 (5%) - 1 (2%) -
  Pennsylvania - - 1 (2%) -
  North Carolina - - 1 (2%) -
  New Jersey - - 1 (2%) -
  Michigan - - 1 (2%) -
  Maryland - - 1 (2%) -
Canada - - 2 (4%) 189M (7%)
  Ontario - - 2 (4%) 189M (7%)
Domestic 22 (100%) 2.6B (100%) 44 (96%) 2.7B (93%)
Cross-border - - 2 (4%) 189M (7%)
Total 22 $2.6B 46 $2.8B

Acquisitions by Deal Type

Type Current # Value All-time # Value
Secondary Buyout 8 (36%) - 21 (46%) -
Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) 5 (23%) 1.0B (39%) 13 (28%) 1.2B (42%)
Growth Capital 3 (14%) - 5 (11%) -
Consolidation 3 (14%) - 3 (7%) -
Stake Purchase 2 (9%) - 2 (4%) -
Divestiture 1 (5%) 1.6B (61%) 1 (2%) 1.6B (55%)
Going Private - - 1 (2%) 109M (4%)
Total 22 $2.6B 46 $2.8B

Exits by Deal Type

Type Total # Value
Secondary Sale 5 (26%) -
Trade Sale 5 (26%) -
IPO 3 (16%) -
Merger 3 (16%) -
Trade Sale - Public Company 2 (11%) -
Stake Sale 1 (5%) -
Total 19 -

Top M&A Advisors

Financial Deals
Guggenheim Securities
 1
J.P. Morgan Securities
 1
North Point Advisors
 1
Legal Deals
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
 6
King & Spalding
 4
DLA Piper
 4

Deal Values

buy # Total
> $1B 2 $2.6B
$100M to $1B 1 $109M
< $100M 2 $180M
TOTAL $2.8B
Largest The ServiceMaster Co. LLC
$1.6B (2020-09-02)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Investor(s)
46%
21 (46%)
Strategic(s)
2%
1 (2%)
Exited to
Investor(s)
26%
5 (26%)
Strategic(s)
47%
9 (47%)

Investor Summary

Investor Type

Private Equity Firm

Size

Mega

PE Assets

33.0B USD

Established

2001

Specialist/Generalist

Generalist

Leadership

Neal Aronson

Founder & Managing Partner

Wesley Lee

CFO

Allison Hill

Head of Diversity & Social Responsibility

Bert O'neal

Head of Operations

Clayton Harmon

Managing Director

FAQ

When was Roark Capital Group founded?

Roark Capital Group was founded in 2001.

What type of investor is Roark Capital Group?

Roark Capital Group is a private equity firm.

Where is Roark Capital Group headquartered?

Roark Capital Group is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

How much capital does Roark Capital Group have under management?

Roark Capital Group has 33.0B USD under management.

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