Financing

PE dealmakers to discuss what opens their checkbooks

Hands-on dealmakers will discuss current restaurant-company valuations and the next wave of private-equity acquisitions during a keynote presentation at the 2012 Restaurant Leadership Conference.

The panel will feature principals of the private-equity firms behind some of the industry’s major recent equity deals. Slated to appear are Rahul Aggarwal of Brentwood Associates (Zoe’s Kitchen, Yum! franchisees Pacific Island Restaurants and K-Mac Holdings),

Josh Olshansky, Golden Gate Capital (California Pizza Kitchen, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, On the Border), Steve Romaniello, Roark Capital (Arby’s, Corner Bakery, Il Fornaio), and

Andrew Taub, Catterton Partners (Outback Steakhouse, Noodles and Company, First Watch, Cheddars). The session will be moderated by Bill Krauss, managing director of GE Capital, Franchise Finance.

Although the participants have participated in a number of recent transactions, their focus will be on the future of private-equity investments in restaurants. Among the topics they’ll address are…

  • What makes a restaurant business an attractive acquisition target?
  • What metrics are used to evaluate the company?
  • How do you strive to add value to the companies you purchase?
  • What determines when you make your exit from an investment?

The general session is slated for Tuesday, March 27.

The Restaurant Leadership Conference is an invitation-only conference that brings together the leaders of the chain restaurant business. Attendees include the top executives of both restaurant franchisees and franchisors.

The conference will be held March 25-28 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. More information is available from the RLC website.

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