M&A Deal Summary

The Blackstone Group Acquires Casual Dining Group

On December 18, 2006, private equity firm The Blackstone Group acquired restaurant Casual Dining Group from LGV Capital for 432M GBP

Acquisition Highlights
  • This is The Blackstone Group’s 2nd transaction in the Restaurants sector.
  • This is The Blackstone Group’s 113th largest (disclosed) transaction.
  • This is The Blackstone Group’s 10th transaction in the United Kingdom.
Investment Fate
  • Casual Dining Group was recapitalized in 2015.

M&A Deal Summary

Date 2006-12-18
Target Casual Dining Group
Sector Restaurants
Buyer(s) The Blackstone Group
Sellers(s) LGV Capital
Deal Type Secondary Buyout
Deal Value 432M GBP
Advisor(s) Canaccord Genuity (Financial)

Target

Casual Dining Group

London, United Kingdom
Casual Dining Group is an independent restaurant company comprised of over 140 restaurants trading as Bella Italia, Café Rouge, and Las Iguanas. Its restaurants are located across the country, from Aberdeen to Plymouth, employing almost 8000 people and serving 20 million meals each year. Casual Dining was formed in 2002 and is based in London.

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Buyer(S) 1

Buyer

The Blackstone Group

New York, New York, United States

Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor


Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1987
PE ASSETS 131.0B USD
Size Mega
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

The Blackstone Group is a global alternative investment management firm. The Firm's investment activities span real estate, secondary investments, hedge funds, credit, infrastructure, and private equity. Blackstone's private equity group targets opportunities globally including buyout acquisitions of established companies, development projects, growth equity financings, and industry consolidations. Sectors of interest include automotive, healthcare, chemicals, industrial, commercial property, lodging, communications, media/publishing, consumer & retail, packaging, consumer products, pharmaceuticals, energy, technology, entertainment, telecommunications, financial services, theme parks, food & beverage, and transportation. Blackstone's private equity real estate group looks for opportunities across North/South America, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and Europe. The real estate group will consider both equity and debt investments. Areas of interest include healthcare, hotel, industrial, office, residential, and retail. The Blackstone Group was formed in 1987 and is based in New York, New York.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 106 of 340
Sector (Restaurants) 2 of 4
Type (Secondary Buyout) 11 of 81
Country (United Kingdom) 10 of 26
Year (2006) 16 of 16
Size (of disclosed) 113 of 172
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2006-11-30 HMH

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

HMH is a learning technology company committed to delivering connected solutions that engage learners, empower educators and improve student outcomes. As a leading provider of K–12 core curriculum, supplemental and intervention solutions, and professional learning services, HMH partners with educators and school districts to uncover solutions that unlock students' potential and extend teachers' capabilities. HMH serves more than 50 million students and four million educators in 150 countries. HMH was founded in 1832 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sell $3.4B
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-01-25 Catalent

Somerset, New Jersey, United States

Catalent is a provider of solutions for drugs, biologics and consumer health products. Among its core offerings, it develops and manufactures oral and sterile medication in nearly all dosage forms, holds patents for softgel (e.g. “Liqui-Caps” and “Vegicaps”) and Zydis fast-dissolve technologies used in many popular prescription and over-the-counter medicine. Catalent was founded in 2007 and is based in Somerset, New Jersey.

Buy $3.3B

Seller(S) 1

SELLER

LGV Capital

London, United Kingdom

Category Private Equity Firm
Founded 1989
PE ASSETS 1.6B GBP
Size Large
Type Sector Agnostic
DESCRIPTION

LGV Capital Ltd is the private equity arm of Legal & General Group plc, an FTSE-100 quoted insurance firm that invests in middle market consumer, healthcare, leisure and services companies headquartered in the British Isles. LGV focuses on buyouts of rapidly growing, profitable companies with defensible market positions and strong management. LGV looks to invest £15 million in businesses valued from £25 to £200 million. The Firm targets companies in specialist retail, consumer services, food/beverages, household, personal care/OTC products, luxury branded goods, residential care, education, life sciences, animal health, pubs, restaurants, caravan parks, spas, recreational facilities, consultancy, outsourcing, human capital, logistics, IT services and facilities managements. LGV Capital Ltd was formerly known as Legal & General Ventures. LGV was formed in 1989 and is based in London.


DEAL STATS #
Overall 7 of 19
Sector (Restaurants) 1 of 3
Type (Secondary Buyout) 4 of 11
Country (United Kingdom) 7 of 18
Year (2006) 3 of 3
PREVIOUS DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2006-06-23 Club Company

Reading, United Kingdom

Club Company is a golf and country club operator, operating 11 golf and country clubs (predominantly freehold or long leasehold) including The Warwickshire, Castle Royle, and Nizels. The country club format offered members a full range of facilities including golf courses, gyms, swimming pools, spas, sauna, health & beauty, creche, and function rooms. Club Company was founded in 1995 and is based in Reading, United Kingdom.

Sell £96M
FOLLOWING DEAL
DATE TARGET DEAL TYPE VALUE
2007-06-07 Kingfield Heath Holdings

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Kingfield Heath Holdings is a wholesale supplier of office products. It supplies a wide range of traditional stationery products, paper, envelopes, electronic office supplies, business machines, furniture and other office products to office supplies dealers and resellers throughout the UK. Kingfield Heath Holdings is based in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Sell -