Tag: Payless ShoeSource

  • Bankruptcy looming for Payless ShoeSource?

    Bankruptcy looming for Payless ShoeSource?

    Struggling US retailer Payless ShoeSource is headed for bankruptcy, reports Bloomberg.

    Payless, which has not commented on the report, operates some 4000 stores globally and under the reported Chapter 11 protection likely to be sought next week, will immediately shutter between 400 and 500. As many as 1000 may be closed as part of the restructuring plan aimed at rescuing the 61-year-old company.

    The company is owned by Golden gate Capital and Blum Capital Partners, who bought the business in 2012 as part of the break-up of Collective Brands. Headquartered in Kansas, it employs about 22,000 staff.

    Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the discussions but unable to comment publicly because they were not public.

  • US investor buys into Mitra Adiperkasa

    US investor buys into Mitra Adiperkasa

    US private-equity company General Atlantic has made its first investment in Indonesia by buying into lifestyle retailer Mitra Adiperkasa (Map).

    It has subscribed for Rp1.08 trillion (US$80.5 million) in bonds issued by Map which are convertible into shares in its F&B subsidiary Map Boga Adiperkasa (MBA), which runs Cold Stone Creamery, Godiva, Krispy Kreme, Pizza Express and Starbucks in Indonesia. It has more than 300 stores across 24 cities, and has more than doubled its store count over the past five years.

    Map runs multi-channel retail concepts in Indonesia across a diversified portfolio of department stores, sportswear, specialty fashion, F&B, and lifestyle products. It has nearly 2000 retail stores.

    “We believe the rapid rise in Indonesia’s middle and young working classes, the increase in this population’s disposable income, and the continued rural-to-urban migration represents an opportunity for us to strengthen our international food brands and cement our leadership position in the F&B market,” says Map CEO V.P.

    Sharma. A portion of the investment money will be used to accelerate the F&B division’s network expansion.
    “Indonesia’s domestic consumption comprises more than half of gross domestic product, and consumption patterns are increasingly shifting toward modern and aspirational lifestyle brands,” says General Atlantic Southeast Asia head Wai hoong Fock. “These secular trends position MBA’s food & beverage portfolio well for further expansion.”

    Regional commitment

    The partnership, General Atlantic’s first investment in Indonesia, indicates its commitment to long-term market prospects in South-east Asia,” says Fock, who joined General Atlantic from CVC Capital Partners last year to lead its South-east Asia investing program. He is based in the firm’s Singapore office.
    General Atlantic has 18 investment professionals in Asia, based in offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, Mumbai and Singapore. The firm opened its Singapore office in 2011, investing three years later in Singapore-based online mobile entertainment/communication Garena platform. It has also supported the growth of retail and F&B companies including lifestyle brand Tory Burch, luxury fashion brand Zimmermann, restaurant group Barteca Holdings, urban juice-bar concept Joe & The Juice, community accommodation marketplace AirBNB and transportation network company Uber.

    Map has 1921 retail outlets in 68 cities throughout Indonesia. Its retail concepts include department stores (Debenhams, Galeries Lafayette, Seibu and Sogo), fashion and lifestyle (Crabtree & Evelyn, Kipling, Lacoste, Marks & Spencer, Massimo Dutti, Nautica, Sephora, Swarovski, Topman, Topshop and Zara), sports (Converse, Golf House, Oakley, Payless ShoeSource, Reebok, Rockport, Skechers, The Athlete’s Foot and The Sports Warehouse), F&B (Burger King, Cold Stone Creamery, Domino’s Pizza, Godiva, Krispy Kreme and Starbucks), kids (Kidz Station and Oshkosh B’Gosh) and bookstore Kinokuniya.

  • Thai Union takes bite of Red Lobster

    Thai Union takes bite of Red Lobster

    Seafood producer Thai Union has made a US$575 million strategic investment in US seafood restaurant company Red Lobster.

    Golden Gate Capital retains its majority shareholding in Red Lobster.

    Thai Union is regarded as the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 125 billion (US$ 3.7 billion) and a global workforce of more than 46,000 people. It says it has taken a 25 per cent interest in the restaurant chain, with the option to acquire an extra 24 per cent through the conversion of preferred shares.

    “Red Lobster is an iconic brand, with a leading market position in seafood casual dining and a world-class management team, and has delivered strong performance since Golden Gate acquired it in 2014,” says Thai Union Group CEO Thiraphong Chansiri.

    “This investment marks a strategic step to build Thai Union’s direct-to-consumer channel, and will enable us to benefit from the extensive restaurant industry expertise of both the Red Lobster management team and Golden Gate.”

    He says Thai Union has worked closely with Red Lobster for more than two decades.

    With 40 years’ industry experience, Thai Union has expanded its product lineup to include lobster, shrimp, sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon and crab. Its brands include Chicken of the Sea, John West, King Oscar and Petit Navire, and it has production units in 12 countries.

    JP Morgan acted as exclusive financial adviser to Thai Union for the investment.

    Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Red Lobster claims to be the world’s largest seafood restaurant company. As a private company owned by Golden Gate Capital, Red Lobster has 58,000 employees in more than 700 restaurants in the US and Canada, with a growing international footprint.

    Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private-equity investment firm with more than $15 billion of capital under management. In addition to Red Lobster, investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include California Pizza Kitchen, Pacific Sunwear, Payless ShoeSource and Zales.