Private Equity Was Active in Franchising in 2014

Originally posted on 12/10/2014, content updated on 12/05/2023

In 2014, private equity continued to play an important role in franchising. Private equity offered a franchisor with a growing franchise system a promising pathway to rapid growth. An investment group could assist a franchise company strategically, tactically and with economies of scale.

Private equity saw value in the ongoing royalty stream of a franchise system. Franchised restaurants, hotels and retailers also typically had higher valuations than non-franchised businesses. This point was brought home to me at the Capital Roundtable “Private Equity & Franchising” event in New York City in October 2014. Using numbers from Capital IQ, Matt Kelly, of North Point Advisors in San Francisco, demonstrated that publicly traded restaurant, hotel, and retail companies headquartered in the U.S. with a high percentage of franchised outlets tended to trade at higher valuations than those with just a few franchises. In the group of companies he identified, the multiple of enterprise value to EBITDA averaged 9.7 in the companies less than 30% franchised. Those 30% to 60% franchised had an average multiple of 12.2x. Those more than 60% franchised had an average multiple of 15.0x.

Here is a quick rundown of private equity acquisitions of franchise systems in 2014:

• Roark Capital acquired Anytime Fitness in March 2014. At the time, Roark also owned Arby’s, Batteries Plus Bulbs, Carl’s Jr., Corner Bakery, Massage Envy, Primrose Schools, Wingstop and Focus Brands, which in turn owns Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister’s, Moe’s and Schlotzsky’s.

• The Riverside Company acquired The Dwyer Group (Mr. Rooter, Rainbow International, Aire Serv, Glass Doctor, Mr. Appliance and others) from TZP Group in August 2014 after previously owning Dwyer from 2003 to 2010. TZP Group acquired Snap Fitness in January 2014.

• Sentinel Capital (Cottman Transmission Systems, Huddle House Restaurants; Interim Healthcare; Massage Envy) acquired TGI Friday’s in July 2014 and Checkers and Newk’s Eatery in March 2014.

• Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, FastSigns International, Lawn Doctor, Senior Helpers, Wetzel’s Pretzels) acquired FASTSIGNS International in July 2014. Levine Leichtman also owns Global Franchise Group (Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo’s) which acquired Hot Dog on a Stick in August 2014. Levine Leichtman formerly owned Quizno’s.

• Apollo Global Management acquired CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese) in early 2014.

2013 saw the following notable private equity franchisor purchases:

• Centre Partners (Uno Restaurant Holdings) acquired Captain Ds in December 2013.

• Sun Capital Partners (Boston Market, Friendly’s, Bar Louie Restaurants) acquired Johnny Rockets in June 2013.