Roark Capital Management, LLC,[3] also known as Roark Capital Group or simply Roark Capital, is an American private equity firm with around $37 billion in assets under management. The firm is focused on leveraged buyout investments in middle-market companies, primarily in the franchise/multi-location, restaurant and food, health and wellness, and business services sectors. It is named for Howard Roark, the protagonist in Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead. The firm claims that its name is not meant to connote any particular political philosophy but instead signify the firm's admiration for the iconoclastic qualities of independence and self-assurance embodied by the central figure in The Fountainhead.[4]
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Private equity |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Neal Aronson (managing partner) |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people |
|
| Products | Leveraged buyout |
| AUM | US$37 billion (2023)[1] |
Number of employees | 1.4 million[2] |
| Website | roarkcapital |
History
editThe firm, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 2001 by the current Managing Partner, Neal K. Aronson.[5] Senior team members include President Paul D. Ginsberg, Chief Investment Officer Erik O. Morris, and Managing Directors Timothy Armstrong, Stephen D. Aronson, Dennis Gies, Clay Harmon, Geoff Hill, Kevin Hofmann, Ian Picache, Gregory Smith, Sarah Spiegel, Michael Thompson, and David Wierman.
Prior to founding Roark Capital Group in 2001, Aronson was a co-founder of U.S. Franchise Systems in 1995.
Investments
editRoark's current and former portfolio companies include:
Current investments
edit- Aftermath Services
- Anytime Fitness
- The Cheesecake Factory[6]
- CKE Restaurants: (Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito & Red Burrito)
- Culver's (minority investment)
- Divisions Maintenance Group
- Driven Brands: 1-800-Radiator & A/C, Abra, CARSTAR, International Car Wash Group/ICWG, Maaco, Meineke, Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops, Xpress Lube, Take 5 Oil Change, Pro Oil Change, Econo Lube & Tune
- Fitness Connection[7]
- Great Expressions Dental Centers
- Home Service Store
- Inspire Brands:[8] (Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In,[9] Jimmy John's, Dunkin', Mister Donut, Baskin-Robbins)
- Installation Made Easy
- Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurants[10]
- Massage Envy
- Mathnasium
- Miller's Ale House
- Orangetheory Fitness
- Pet Retail Brands: (Bosley's, Pet Supermarket, PetValu) Petstores[11]
- Primrose Schools
- Self Esteem Brands: (Basecamp Fitness, The Bar Method, Waxing the City)
- ServiceMaster Brands: (ServiceMaster Clean, ServiceMaster Restore, AmeriSpec, Furniture Medic, Merry Maids)
- Subway[12]
Former investments
edit- Atkins Nutritionals
- Batteries Plus Bulbs[13]
- Cyber Core Technologies
- Drybar
- Fastsigns
- GFL Environmental
- Il Fornaio: (Corner Bakery Cafe)[14]
- Money Mailer
- Movie Gallery
- Naf Naf Grill
- Peachtree Business Products
- PSC Info Group
- Qualawash
- Solterra Recycling
- United States Arbitrage Finance II
- USFS
- Waste Pro
- Wingstop
References
edit- ^ Durbin, Dee-Ann (August 24, 2023). "Sandwich chain Subway will be sold to fast-food investor Roark Capital". Associated Press.
- ^ Form ADV filing
- ^ "Roark Capital Management, LLC". OpenCorporates. November 24, 2004. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ^ "About Our Name". Roark Capital Group. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ Sorvino, Chloe. "The Drive-Thru Billionaire Who's Trying To Save Subway". Forbes. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
- ^ "ROARK CAPITAL BUYS A PIECE OF CHEESECAKE FACTORY". Restaurant Business Online. April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Atlanta private equity firm buys another fitness chain". Atlanta Business Chronicle. February 4, 2019.
- ^ "The Wendy's Company Sells Ownership Interest in Inspire Brands for $450 Million". wendys.com. Wendy's Company. August 16, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ Thorn, Bret (September 26, 2018). "Inspire Brands to buy Sonic Corp. for $2.3B". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ "Roark Capital Group Acquires Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q" (PDF). July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Pet Retail Brands: North America's 3rd Largest Pet Retailer". chainstoreguide.com. Chain Store Guides, LLC. October 8, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Lucas, Amelia (August 24, 2023). "Subway sandwich chain sells itself to Dunkin' owner Roark Capital". CNBC. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
- ^ Kaiser, Tom (July 22, 2016). "Roark Sells Batteries Plus Bulbs as Retail Heats Up". franchisetimes.com. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Atlanta's Roark Capital buys Il Fornaio parent firm". San Francisco Chronicle. June 14, 2011.