Potential buyers line up for upmarket burger chain Byron

Interest in the acquisition of upmarket burger chain Byron continues to grow as Lord Jacob Rothschild's investment firm becomes the latest big name to emerge as a contender.

RIT Capital Partners has joined a string of private equity companies believed to be interested in acquiring the fast-growing restaurant group on an asking price of £100m.

Byron's owner Gondola, which also owns Pizza Express, Zizzi and Ask, put the business up for sale in February.

Other firm's believed to be interested in the acquisition include LDC, TA Associates, Graphite Capital, Investcorp, Phoenix Equity Partners, Equistone and Lion Capital.

TDR Capital, a previous backer of Pizza Express, and Searchlight Capital, the American buyout firm, are also understood to be in the running, reported the Sunday Times.

Founded by Tom Byng in 2007, Byron has grown from its debut site on London's Kensington High Street to more than 30 sites.

Corporate finance firm DC Advisory Partners is handling the sale.

http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/Articles/11/2/2013/347383/burger-chain-byron-for-sale-for-an-estimated-120m.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Burger chain Byron sale goes to first round >>](http://www.catererandhotelkeeper.co.uk/Articles/29/4/2013/348287/burger-chain-byron-sale-goes-to-first-round.htm)

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Burger chain Byron for sale for an estimated £120m >>