CHICAGO, June 22, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Arbor Private Investment Company has acquired Rice Garden, a privately held Asian quick-serve restaurant chain headquartered in Alhambra, Calif. Transaction terms were not disclosed.
RSM EquiCo Capital Markets initiated the transaction, led the negotiations and acted as exclusive financial advisor to Rice Garden.
"With many of its locations in grocery stores, Rice Garden was a perfect strategic fit for Arbor, which has an extensive investment history and deep contacts within the food and restaurant industries," said Brian Boyle, managing director of RSM EquiCo Capital Markets and head of the firm's Chicago office. "This acquisition provides Arbor with a solid entry into the 'quick-serve' restaurant market, and provides Rice Garden with significant opportunities for geographic expansion; both in grocery stores and stand-alone locations."
About RSM EquiCo Capital Markets
RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC (www.rsmequico.com) is a global provider of investment banking services to private and public companies with annual revenues of up to $1 billion. The firm brings together companies, capital and creativity on a national and international scale to help clients achieve their personal and strategic objectives.
As specialists in facilitating mergers and acquisitions, structuring recapitalizations, providing access to capital markets and offering fairness opinions, RSM EquiCo Capital Markets plays a noteworthy role in the "middle-market" field. These services include facilitating the acquisition of North American companies and raising capital for a wide variety of purposes, ranging from acquisitions and leveraged buyouts to balance sheet restructuring.
RSM EquiCo Capital Markets is licensed by the SEC and all state securities authorities, and is a member of the NASD and SIPC. The firm's international headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, Calif. It also has offices in Chicago, Boston, New York and London.
About Rice Garden, Inc.
Rice Garden operates Asian-themed quick service restaurants. The company, which was founded in 1994, has over 70 locations and 500 employees in California, Kansas, Missouri, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Illinois. Many locations are inside supermarkets such as Albertsons, Brookshire and Kroger. The company maintains a loyal customer base through strong store-level food management ensuring fresh, hot meals with minimal wait time for customers. Management will continue to support new store expansion as Rice Garden penetrates new geographic markets.
About Arbor Private Investment Company
Arbor Private Investment Company concentrates exclusively on the food and beverage industries with a specialized knowledge and a broad network of relationships concentrated in these industries. The firm has a successful track record of investing in leading suppliers and distributors to some of the world's most recognized consumer brands. Arbor's principals have over 100 years of experience financing, owning and operating food and beverage companies and have successfully executed $500 million in transactions within the sector. The firm has built a reputation as a valued equity partner to some of the world's most recognized food and beverage companies, including Coca-Cola, Nestle, McDonald's, and Sysco Foodservice.