Press Releases

Baar-Zug, 4 November 2010

Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, led the mezzanine debt financing in Collins Foods Group, the largest Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchisee in Australia, on behalf of its clients. The transaction was completed as part of the refinancing of Collins Foods Group's maturing debt by private equity owner Pacific Equity Partners.

Since opening the first KFC restaurant in Australia in 1969, Collins Foods Group has consistently increased its footprint. The company currently operates 118 KFC restaurants in Australia, making it the largest KFC franchisee in the country. Furthermore, Collins Foods Group owns and operates 26 Sizzler casual dining restaurants in Australia and is the franchisor of 56 Sizzler stores in Thailand, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Collins Foods Group has a large, modern store portfolio which is highly profitable and generates strong cash flow. The company's credit quality is further enhanced by a solid track record and a strong management team.

René Biner, Partner and Head Private Finance at Partners Group, comments: "We are very excited to be involved in the refinancing of this strongly performing company and expect that such attractive refinancing opportunities will increasingly become an important source of deal flow over the coming months."