Patisserie Valerie to raise £33m in stock flotation
Café and casual dining firm Patisserie Holdings, which owns the Patisserie Valerie brand, has revealed plans to float on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market.
The company, which is backed by Luke Johnson's Risk Capital Partners, said it hoped the move would raise £33m.
Patisserie Holdings has expanded significantly under the management of Johnson, Paul May and Chris Marsh, from eight stores in 2006, to more than 130 to date. It added that independent research had helped it identify another 250 potential sites in the UK.
The business currently operates under five different brands: Patisserie Valerie; Druckers - Vienna Patisserie; Philpotts; Baker & Spice; and Flour Power City Bakery.
The proceeds of the flotation are expected to enable the company to repay all of its existing debt.
It reported EBITDA for the 52 weeks to 30 September 2013 of £12m, up 25.1% on the previous year.
In a statement, Johnson, who is executive chairman, said: ""Patisserie Holdings has a leading position in an attractive market, built around five differentiated brands. The management team has an excellent track record in the sector and has grown the business from eight stores in 2006 to more than 130 stores today, delivering seven years of uninterrupted increases in revenue and EBITDA.
"I am pleased to welcome Lee Ginsberg who is joining the Board alongside Paul May, Chris Marsh and James Horler. The rapid progress made by the group over recent years and the opportunities that lie ahead make this an exciting time for us to bring the Group to AIM."
Paul May, chief executive of Patisserie Holdings added: "We have built a strong business around a portfolio of appealing brands supported by our own bakeries and logistics. Our stores combine high quality, value for money, affordable treats with efficient service in a visually appealing environment. We trade in flexible locations that attract consumers for breakfast, a casual lunch, a quiet meeting in the afternoon or a relaxing dinner. This flexibility drives all day trading which benefits us even during the traditionally quieter mid-morning and mid-afternoon periods.
"With this favourable positioning across fragmented markets, we believe we are well-placed to continue to deliver strong organic growth, with additional opportunities for potentially attractive acquisitions of other, smaller branded groups."