Blackstone Acquires Tropical Smoothie Cafe from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners and Management Acquire Tropical Smoothie Cafe

September 8, 2020

Restaurants & Hospitality

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) partnered with Tropical Smoothie Cafe's management team to acquire Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading franchisor of fast-casual cafes with over 870 units across 44 states. The company will continue to be led by CEO Charles Watson and the existing executive team as LLCP works with management to grow unit count, improve franchisee unit economics and expand system-wide sales; debt financing was provided by Golub Capital.

Blackstone Growth Makes Growth Investment in 7 Brew Coffee

February 14, 2024

Restaurants & Hospitality

Blackstone Growth (Blackstone) has made a growth equity investment in 7 Brew Coffee to accelerate the drive-thru beverage chain's U.S. expansion. Jimmy John Liautaud is identified as a selling shareholder; terms were not disclosed.

Blackstone Real Estate Acquires Village Hotels from KSL Capital Partners

June 26, 2024

Restaurants & Hospitality

Funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate have completed the acquisition of Village Hotels from affiliates of KSL Capital Partners. Village Hotels owns and operates 33 hotels across the United Kingdom (approximately 4,400 keys) with integrated fitness clubs, food & beverage outlets and co-working spaces; Blackstone said it plans to expand the number of hotels in the UK and enhance existing facilities.

Tamarix Equity Partners and Pacific General Holdings Invest in Playa Bowls

August 23, 2021

Restaurants & Hospitality

Tamarix Equity Partners and Pacific General Holdings announced a strategic growth investment in Playa Bowls LLC, the New Jersey-founded healthy fast-casual açaí and smoothie chain. The investment will support Playa Bowls' expansion and franchise growth across the United States and internationally; terms were not disclosed.

Blue Ridge Associates Acquires TSC 401K

June 6, 2024

Financial Services

Blue Ridge Associates, a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, has acquired Tax Sheltered Corporation/Tax Sheltered Compensation, Inc. (TSC), a provider of retirement plan administration and recordkeeping services. The acquisition expands Blue Ridge's capacity and technical capabilities in ESOP and qualified retirement plan administration, adding TSC's ~3,100 plans covering over 152,000 participants to its platform.

Sunny Sky Products Acquires Bevolution Group from Highlander Partners

November 6, 2023

Food & Beverage

Sunny Sky Products, a portfolio company of TJC, has completed the acquisition of LX/JT Holdings Inc and subsidiaries (doing business as Bevolution Group) from Highlander Partners. The transaction adds Bevolution’s clean-label smoothie bases, cocktail mixes and concentrates and its three U.S. manufacturing sites to Sunny Sky’s beverage platform, expanding product offerings and manufacturing capabilities for the foodservice and convenience-store channels.