Whitbread sells TGI Friday's to joint venture

Whitbread has sold American-themed restaurant and bar TGI Friday's to a joint venture between TGI global franchise owner Carlson and private equity group ABN AMRO Capital for £74.1m.

The deal will see the newly-formed venture, called TGI Friday's UK Limited, buy 30 of the 45 properties and take control of the UK trading name. ABN will own 60% of the new business while Carlson will own the remaining 40%.

The freeholds on the remaining 15 properties were sold and leased back from property developer British Land for £48.37m.

Whitbread chief executive Alan Parker said: "This sale marks the completion of the review of our restaurants business announced last year. We are now a leaner more focussed group."

Paul Southwell, managing partner of ABN's UK buyout team said: "TGI Friday's is a well-established brand in the US and one which we feel can be further developed in the UK."

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By Tom Bill

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