OpCapita Consumer Opportunities Fund II LP (“the Fund”), advised by OpCapita LLP (“OpCapita”), the European private equity partnership, announced the signing of an agreement to acquire Sebeto Group Spa (“Sebeto” or “the Company”), a leading operator of casual-dining restaurants in Italy and 11 other countries, including the flagship Rossopomodoro pizza chain.
The Fund is acquiring the Company from funds advised by Change Capital Partners LLP (“Change Capital”), the London-based private equity firm. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.
Rossopomodoro is one of the best-known restaurant chains in Italy, with a strong identity and a very high brand awareness. It has more than 60 branches across the country and more than 20 outlets internationally, including the in the US, the UK, Germany, Denmark and Turkey.
OpCapita sees significant potential to further improve and grow the Rossopomodoro brand. In Italy, the aim is to reinforce its position as the country’s leading domestic pizza chain, leveraging the favourable market conditions: modern, casual dining is growing rapidly, with multi-site operators gaining a progressively stronger market share. The authentic Italian/Neapolitan identity of the concept will also be the mark of further clustered international expansion and will benefit from the registration last year of the Art of Neapolitan ‘Pizzaiuolo’ on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Rothschild & Co acted as sole financial adviser to Change Capital and the other shareholders in connection with the disposal of Sebeto. Lazard acted as sole financial advisor to OpCapita. Legal advisors on the deal were Chiomenti, advising OpCapita, Legance Avvocati Associati advising Change Capital and Studio Legale Ambrosino-Pecora, advising founders and other shareholders.
