OAKVILLE, ON, 2017-Nov-20 — /EPR Retail News/ — Burger King Europe GmbH (“BKE”), an affiliate of Restaurant Brands International Inc. (“RBI”), and Bridgepoint Advisers Limited (“Bridgepoint”) announced today (November 16, 2017) a master franchise joint venture agreement to further develop and strengthen the position of the BURGER KING® brand in the United Kingdom.
The Agreement will result in the establishment of a new BURGER KING® UK entity and Bridgepoint will simultaneously acquire Caspian UK Group, one of the UK’s largest BURGER KING® franchisees with 74 restaurants. As master franchisee, Bridgepoint will have exclusive development rights for the brand in the UK.
“We are thrilled to announce this agreement to increase the pace of growth for the BURGER KING® brand in the UK, one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant markets,” said José Cil, President of the BURGER KING® brand. “The Bridgepoint team has extensive experience in the UK market and a strong track record investing in and developing leading brands in the quick service restaurant industry, which positions them well for success.”
“BURGER KING® is a preeminent global consumer brand with a robust and growing presence in the UK market, well-liked by consumers,” said a Bridgepoint spokesperson. “We look forward to appointing a highly regarded management buy-in team to reinvigorate a much-loved brand and to grow the existing UK business.”
“BURGER KING® is an iconic global brand with a long-standing heritage in the quick service restaurant market,” said Martin Robinson, chairman designate of BURGER KING® UK. “Working with Bridgepoint and BKE, the team believes it can deliver growth and further opportunities for the brand to flourish in the UK market.”
Today, the BURGER KING® brand has a significant presence across a number of countries in Europe and approximately 500 restaurants in the United Kingdom. This joint venture will help to further increase the presence and strength of the BURGER KING® brand in the UK and Europe.
About Restaurant Brands International Inc.
Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant companies with more than $29 billion in system-wide sales and over 23,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. RBI owns three of the world’s most prominent and iconic quick service
restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, and POPEYES®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for over 40 years. To learn more about RBI, please visit the company’s website at www.rbi.com.
About BURGER KING®
Founded in 1954, the BURGER KING® brand is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world. The original HOME OF THE WHOPPER, the BURGER KING® system operates over 16,000 locations in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. Almost 100 percent of BURGER KING® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the BURGER KING® brand, please visit the BURGER KING® brand website at www.bk.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Bridgepoint
Bridgepoint is a European private equity firm. With over €20 billion of capital raised to date, it typically focuses on acquiring well managed companies in attractive sectors helping companies and management teams by investing in expansion, operational transformation or via consolidating
acquisitions. Current investments in the food and casual dining sector include Zizzi & ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, Deliveroo and Pret A Manger.
The Firm operates three divisions:
1. Bridgepoint Europe, which concentrates on middle market companies across Europe typically valued between €200 million and €1 billion. It has offices in Europe, China and the United States in Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Stockholm. It is
currently investing a €4 billion fund, Bridgepoint Europe V.
2. Bridgepoint Development Capital, a separate ‘lower mid-cap’ or smaller buyout and growth capital business which focuses on the acquisition of companies in the UK, France and the Nordic region, typically valued between €50 million and €150 million. In 2016 it raised a new £600 million
fund, BDC III.
3. Bridgepoint Growth makes earlier stage growth capital investments in fast-growth smaller businesses, typically valued up to £30 million, seeking equity investment between £5 million and £15 million. It has a focus on the consumer, media, technology and business services sectors and in
particular on companies utilizing digital technologies to achieve transformational growth in their endmarkets.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are often identified by the words”may,” “might,” “believes,” “thinks,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” or similar expressions and reflect expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements include statements about (i) the expected structure of the franchise relationship with Bridgepoint; and (ii) the growth of the UK fast food hamburger industry, the expected growth of the BURGER KING® brand in the UK and the future opportunities for the brand in such market. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are detailed in RBI’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities regulatory authorities in each province and territory of Canada, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following: risks related to the ability to successfully implement BURGER KING®’s growth strategy in the UK market and risks related to BURGER KING®’s ability to compete in an intensely competitive industry. Other than as required under U.S. federal securities laws or Canadian securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise.
For further information, please contact:
Restaurant Brands International
E: media@rbi.com
Bridgepoint
James Murray
Tel: +44 207 034 3555
E: james.murray@bridgepoint.eu
Instinctif Partners
Guy Scarborough, Damian Reece
Tel: +44 207 457 2020
E: guy.scarborough@instinctif.com or damian.reece@instinctif.com
SOURCE: Restaurant Brands International Inc.