Retail Zoo is an Australian company. It is the owner of multiple major restaurant chains, including Boost Juice, Betty’s Burgers, Cibo Espresso, Salsa's Fresh Mex Grill.[1]

Retail Zoo
Company typePrivate
IndustryFast food
Founded2000
FounderJanine and Jeff Allis
Revenue$178 million (2022)
$15 million (2022)
ParentAdamantem Capital

It is a private company valued at around half a billion dollars.[2] The company has explored a public listing on at least two occasions, first exploring and then putting on pause the idea in 2019; before resuming its pursuit of an IPO again in 2022.[2] In February 2023, Australian private equity firm Adamantem Capital acquired a majority stake in the company for $350 million.[3][4]

History

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Retail Zoo was founded by Janine and Jeff Allis in 2000.[5] A majority stake was later sold to private equity investor Riverside Company. In 2014 Riverside's shareholding was purchased by Bain Capital.[6][7] During this time, it explored a public listing on the ASX in 2019, but the listing ultimately didn't go ahead that year; and remained owned by Bain.[8][9][10][11] In 2022 the company lodged documents with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission to change its status to a public company.[1] However, it was later acquired by Australian private equity firm Adamantem Capital following a $225m capital raise through debt syndication by the Commonwealth Bank.[12]

Its reported valuation history is as follows:

Date $Valuation Source
2014 majority stake = $185m SmartCompany[4]
Oct, 2019 $482m Goldman Sachs estimate (sponsor-broker)[13]
Apr, 2022 $400m AFR estimate[2]
Feb, 2023 majority stake = $350m SmartCompany[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b Macdonald, Anthony (9 March 2022). "Boost for earnings now, Betty's for growth: Retail Zoo update". Australian Financial Review.
  2. ^ a b c "Bain's Retail Zoo tests appetite for ASX float". AFR. Retail Zoo's private equity owner is ready to give its $400 million-plus float plans a boost.
  3. ^ Macdonald, Anthony (7 February 2023). "Adamantem Capital hunts $200m debt for Retail Zoo buyout". Australian Financial Review.
  4. ^ a b c Van, Tong (7 February 2023). "Bain Capital sells stake in Boost Juice, Betty's Burgers parent in a deal worth $350 million". SmartCompany.
  5. ^ "Retail Zoo pair's $14.5m slice of paradise". The Australian. The entrepreneurial Retail Zoo co-founders, Janine and Jeff Allis, have spent a record $14.5m to buy at Bilgola Beach on Sydney's northern beaches.
  6. ^ "Bain Capital and Janine Allis to buy Boost Juice". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 May 2014.
  7. ^ Thompson, Sarah (17 March 2019). "Three banks in line for Bain Capital's Retail Zoo". Australian Financial Review.
  8. ^ "Retail Zoo IPO on the cards". The Australian. Investment bank Goldman Sachs is believed to be in the box seat to list Bain Capital's Retail Zoo business.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Sue (23 June 2019). "IPO hopeful Retail Zoo to upsize Boost Juice, Betty's Burgers". Australian Financial Review.
  10. ^ "Collins Foods gets taste for Retail Zoo as listing looms". The Australian. Australian-listed KFC and Taco Bell operator Collins Foods has been weighing an acquisition of Boost Juice owner Retail Zoo from Bain Capital.
  11. ^ "Bain Capital delays Retail Zoo IPO". Australian Financial Review. 23 October 2019.
  12. ^ "CBA seeks buyers for $225m Retail Zoo debt, bank meeting Wednesday". Australian Financial Review. 27 February 2023.
  13. ^ Thompson, Sarah; Macdonald, Anthony (1 Oct 2019). "Retail Zoo valued at as much as $482m: Goldman Sachs". Australian Financial Review.