Partners Group acts as Mandated Lead Arranger in the mezzanine refinancing for Caffè Nero

Partners Group acts as Mandated Lead Arranger in the mezzanine refinancing for Caffè Nero

Press release

Baar-Zug, 8 January 2014

Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, acted as Mandated Lead Arranger and invested, on behalf of its clients, in the mezzanine debt refinancing of family-owned and London headquartered, European coffee house chain, Caffè Nero.

Caffè Nero, the Italian Coffee Company, has more than 600 stores across five countries (UK, Poland, Cyprus, Turkey and the UAE) and employs over 4'500 staff across 200 cities. Since the company was founded by Dr Gerry Ford in 1997, the company has shown impressive performance recording year-on-year growth in every year since inception. Caffè Nero has benefitted as the out-of-home coffee drinking culture has expanded and coffee houses are increasingly seen as a place to relax, socialise and network. The credit quality is reinforced by its strong brand, robust cash flow generation and track record of achieving sustained growth even during the downturn.

Patrick Ward, Chairman UK and Middle East of Partners Group, says “I am delighted that Partners Group has the opportunity to support Gerry and his team as they continue to successfully grow their business. We are delighted to be the anchor mezzanine investor in this prominent transaction, and our role underlines Partners Group's position as a leading private debt provider.”

Dr. Gerry Ford, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Caffè Nero, comments: “I am pleased that we are able to welcome Partners Group as a key member of the lending group. We look forward to working with their team as we look to realize our ambitions.”

Christopher Bone, Senior Vice President in the Private Debt team of Partners Group, adds “Caffè Nero's brand, its emphasis on quality and positioning in a growing market, underline why this is an attractive mezzanine investment opportunity. We are delighted to invest in this business under its experienced ownership and look forward to working with and supporting the management team.”

 

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with over EUR 30 billion in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 700 people, is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a market capitalization of over CHF 6.5 billion and a major ownership by its partners and employees.

 

Investor relations contact

Philip Sauer

Phone: +41 41 784 66 60

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Media relations contact

Alexander von Wolffradt

Phone: +41 41 784 66 45

E-mail: [email protected]

 

www.partnersgroup.com

Press release

Baar-Zug, 8 January 2014

Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, acted as Mandated Lead Arranger and invested, on behalf of its clients, in the mezzanine debt refinancing of family-owned and London headquartered, European coffee house chain, Caffè Nero.

Caffè Nero, the Italian Coffee Company, has more than 600 stores across five countries (UK, Poland, Cyprus, Turkey and the UAE) and employs over 4'500 staff across 200 cities. Since the company was founded by Dr Gerry Ford in 1997, the company has shown impressive performance recording year-on-year growth in every year since inception. Caffè Nero has benefitted as the out-of-home coffee drinking culture has expanded and coffee houses are increasingly seen as a place to relax, socialise and network. The credit quality is reinforced by its strong brand, robust cash flow generation and track record of achieving sustained growth even during the downturn.

Patrick Ward, Chairman UK and Middle East of Partners Group, says “I am delighted that Partners Group has the opportunity to support Gerry and his team as they continue to successfully grow their business. We are delighted to be the anchor mezzanine investor in this prominent transaction, and our role underlines Partners Group's position as a leading private debt provider.”

Dr. Gerry Ford, Founder, CEO and Chairman of Caffè Nero, comments: “I am pleased that we are able to welcome Partners Group as a key member of the lending group. We look forward to working with their team as we look to realize our ambitions.”

Christopher Bone, Senior Vice President in the Private Debt team of Partners Group, adds “Caffè Nero's brand, its emphasis on quality and positioning in a growing market, underline why this is an attractive mezzanine investment opportunity. We are delighted to invest in this business under its experienced ownership and look forward to working with and supporting the management team.”

 

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with over EUR 30 billion in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 700 people, is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a market capitalization of over CHF 6.5 billion and a major ownership by its partners and employees.

 

Investor relations contact

Philip Sauer

Phone: +41 41 784 66 60

E-mail: [email protected]

 

Media relations contact

Alexander von Wolffradt

Phone: +41 41 784 66 45

E-mail: [email protected]

 

www.partnersgroup.com