EG Group explained

EG Group Limited
Type:Private
Foundation:2001
Location City:Waterside, Lancashire
Location Country:United Kingdom
Industry:Retail
Revenue:$26.511 billion (2021)[1]
Num Employees:50,000+ (2021)
Parent:Optima Bidco (Jersey) Limited
Website:eg.group

EG Group Limited is a British operator of filling stations, convenience stores and food service providers across Europe, the United States and Australia. It was founded in Blackburn in 2001 by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, initially as Euro Garages.

In October 2015, private equity firm TDR Capital purchased a minority stake in Euro Garages for £1.3 billion.[2] In October 2016, TDR's European Forecourt Retail Group (EFR) merged with Euro Garages to form Intervias Group, which would later be renamed to EG Group.[3]

The group's acquisitions have been largely funded by debt, with a net debt of nearly £8 billion in March 2023.[4] As such, the group has sold assets and engaged in sale-and-leaseback property deals to reduce this debt.[5]

History

Growth and national expansion (2001–2015)

In March 2001, brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa purchased a BP forecourt in Bury, Greater Manchester for £150,000.[6] Later in the same year, the brothers would acquire additional forecourts.[7]

In October 2006, the group began rolling out Subway concessions at its forecourts.[8]

By February 2009, Euro Garages had 73 forecourts across North England and the Midlands.[9]

In July 2009, Euro Garages acquired its first motorway service area, Rivington services, and invested £12.5 million in refurbishing it.[10]

In January 2010, the group began franchising Starbucks locations, and in November of that year began a franchise agreement with Burger King.[11]

In February 2013, Euro Garages acquired 45 Esso petrol stations in North England and Wales from ExxonMobil, who were offloading their forecourt sites to focus on their core production and refining business.[12] [13] In the same month, the group acquired a number of vacant Little Chef premises, to transform into Starbucks franchises.[14]

In July 2013, the group entered into a trial agreement with Greggs, who wanted to enter the food-to-go sector.[15]

In January 2014, Euro Garages acquired another 48 Esso forecourts in the Midlands, nearly doubling Euro Garages' reach to 180 sites across the UK.[16] In April 2015, the group acquired another 104 Esso forecourts.[17] In October 2015, the group purchased 68 forecourts from Shell.[18]

TDR Capital and international expansion (2015–2023)

In October 2015, TDR Capital purchased a minority stake in Euro Garages.[19]

In February 2016, Euro Garages formed a franchise partnership with KFC.[20]

In October 2016, Euro Garages merged with TDR Capital's European Forecourt Retail group (EFR), to create Intervias Group, a new group comprising 1,450 locations, with a presence in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.[21]

In January 2017, Intervias Group began a trial to roll-out Sainsbury's Local to forecourts in the UK, though these were unsuccessful and were changed to Spar.[22]

In February 2017, Intervias Group purchased 78 UK properties from Kout Food Group, this including all 70 Little Chef sites (some with attached Burger King and Subway franchises) and 8 standalone Burger King sites.[23] The group would then transform the Little Chef sites into franchise partners by October 2018.[24] The group founded EG Diner as a stopgap in January 2018, when its licence to use the Little Chef name expired, ending the Little Chef brand after almost 60 years.[25]

In August 2017, EG Group opened its first hotel site, a former Travelodge hotel site in Monmouth, Wales, reopening it as Raglan Lodge. Another former Travelodge hotel site location in-between Preston and Bolton was acquired and reopened as Rivington Lodge.[26]

In November 2017, the business secured approximately 1,000 petrol stations from Esso in Germany, which would be transferred and integrated into the existing network by October 2018.[27]

In December 2017, Intervias Group announced a partnership with Krispy Kreme in the UK.[28]

In January 2018, Intervias Group announced that it had completed the acquisition of circa 1,200 sites in Italy from Esso.[29] In April 2018, Intervias Group completed the acquisition of a portfolio of 97 sites in the Netherlands to supplement is existing network in the country.[30]

On 5 February 2018, Intervias Group announced that it would purchase nearly eight hundred Kroger convenience stores for $2.15 billion.[31] In December 2018, EG Group completed its acquisition of 225 sites of Minit Mart from Travel Centers of America LLC for upwards of US$330m.[32]

On 9 November 2018, Australian retailer Woolworths announced to the Australian Securities Exchange it had entered into a binding agreement to sell its 540 fuel convenience sites to EG Group for 1.72bn. This created EG Australia.[33]

In July 2019, EG Group completed its acquisition of fifty four Fastrac branded sites in the United States,[34] and announced a deal to acquire sixty nine sites operated by Certified Oil, also in the United States.[35] On 31 July 2019, EG Group announced having entered a binding agreement to purchase Cumberland Farms.[36] [37] [38] EG America has become the nation's fourth largest convenience store chain following 7-Eleven's purchase of Speedway, and with Circle K and Casey's occupying the other spots ahead of EG America.[39] [40] Some EG America locations have begun offering franchised food concepts at their locations, such as Subway, Burger King, Sbarro, and Hunt Brothers Pizza, to compete better with chains that have long-established in-house food products.[41]

In early 2020, EG Group announced that they were opening 150 UK bakery outlets under a partnership with Cinnabon by 2025.[42] [43]

In March 2020, EG Group acquired 145 KFC outlets in the UK and Ireland from The Herbert Group.[44]

In October 2020, the Issa brothers and TDR Capital won a deal to buy the supermarket chain Asda from Walmart for £6.8 billion, bringing it back into British hands after more than 20 years.[45] Questions were raised after its auditor, Deloitte, "suddenly quit" to be replaced by KPMG.[46] However, the group indicated there were no auditing disagreements. This acquisition would mean EG Group would work with Asda to create 'Asda on the Move' and 'Asda Express', transforming a number of its existing Spar sites.[47]

In November 2020, EG Group entered into a binding agreement for the acquisition of 18 locations of Schrader Oil in Fort Collins, Colorado.[48]

In May 2021, EG Group bought Leon Restaurants in the UK for a reported £100 million.

In September 2021, EG Group acquired 52 British KFC restaurants from Amsric Group, becoming the largest KFC franchisee in western Europe.[49]

In October 2021, EG Group bought Cooplands, the UK's second-largest bakery operating mainly in North East England and Yorkshire.[50] Also in October 2021, the group announced it would sell 27 sites to Park Garage Group to satisfy the Competition and Markets Authority after buying Asda.[51]

In April 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Circle K parent Alimentation Couche-Tard was in talks to buy EG Group. This deal would significantly boost Circle K's presence in several markets including Europe, as well as giving it a location in every US state except Utah.[52]

In May 2022, EG Group bought 285 petrol stations in Southern Germany from OMV, which were partly supplied by refinery Burghausen. The price was 485 million Euro cash which equals 614 million Euro including pending lease obligations.[53]

Restructure plan (2023–present)

In March 2023, EG sold and leased back 415 of its American convenience stores to Realty Income for $1.5 billion (£1.18bn) to help to drive down its debts.[54]

In May 2023, it was announced that EG Group would spin-off the majority of the UK business to Asda: it would include the majority of the petrol stations, which would be rebranded under the Asda Express sub-brand, Greggs, Subway and Burger King franchises and the Leon Restaurants chain. The Cooplands chain, KFC, Cinnabon and Starbucks franchises and some of the petrol stations would be retained by EG Group, with the forecourts being rebranded to EG On The Move.[55] [56] The Issa brothers and TDR Capital already own a majority stake in Asda. The deal was finalised on 31 October 2023.[57] [58]

On 6 December 2023, EG Group announced that they would sell their 218 KFC UK and Ireland restaurants to KFC owner Yum! Brands for an undisclosed sum, meaning EG Group will leave the Irish market.[59]

In March 2024, it emerged that Zuber Issa may acquire some assets from EG Group, and then operate them independently, these assets were confirmed to be the Cinnabon franchise and the rest of the petrol station business, although EG Group would keep some Starbucks franchise stores, Evpoint and Cooplands, effectively staying in the UK.[60] [61]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Report 2021. EG Group. 7 June 2022. 7 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220607190728/https://www.eg.group/media/5zwfuwgg/eg-group-q4-2021-trading-update-press-release.pdf?culture=en. live.
  2. Web site: Begum . Shelina . 2015-10-20 . TDR Capital takes a bite into Euro Garages for £1.3bn . 2024-01-23 . Manchester Evening News . en.
  3. Web site: 2016-10-06 . Euro Garages and EFR deal details emerge TheBusinessDesk.com . 2024-01-23 . North West . en.
  4. Web site: Morgan . Aoife . 2023-06-09 . EG Group extends $3.4bn loan deadline following Asda deal - Retail Gazette . 2024-05-27 . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Asda Completes Purchase of EG Group’s UK Business . 2024-05-27 . www.convenience.org.
  6. News: McCall. Alastair. Watts. Robert. High-octane rise of brothers' firm shows family value. The Sunday Times. 7 May 2017. 3.
  7. Web site: Our Enterprise Journey . 2024-03-23 . www.eg.group.
  8. Web site: Our Enterprise Journey . 2024-01-23 . www.eg.group.
  9. Web site: 2009-02-23 . Euro Garages Petrol station forecourt operator in North of England About us . 2024-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090223220639/http://www.eurogarages.com/about_euro_garages/about_euro_garages.php . 23 February 2009 .
  10. Web site: 2011-07-26 . £12.3m rebuild of Lancashire service station complete . 2024-08-21 . Lancashire Telegraph . en.
  11. Web site: Our Enterprise Journey . 2024-01-23 . www.eg.group.
  12. Web site: Euro Garages buys 45 Esso petrol stations . 2024-01-23 . www.ft.com.
  13. News: Mustoe . Howard . 2020-10-02 . Who are Asda's new owners the Issa brothers? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201003191753/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54343391 . 2020-10-03 . 2020-10-03 . BBC News . en-GB.
  14. Web site: https://www.caterlyst.com/Caterlyst3/Insight/Sector.aspx?t=14&n=3703 . 2024-02-17 . www.caterlyst.com.
  15. Web site: Propel Newsletter Archive Page . 2024-01-23 . www.propelinfonews.com.
  16. Web site: Begum . Shelina . 2014-01-15 . Euro Garages to acquire 48 Esso sites . 2024-01-23 . Manchester Evening News . en.
  17. Web site: 2015-04-07 . Euro Garages to buy 104 sites from Esso . 2024-01-23 . Forecourt Trader . en.
  18. Web site: Euro Garages snaps up 68 new locations . 2024-01-23 . Lancashire Business View . en.
  19. Web site: Begum . Shelina . 2015-10-20 . TDR Capital takes a bite into Euro Garages for £1.3bn . 2024-01-24 . Manchester Evening News . en.
  20. Web site: Wood . John . 2017-03-15 . Euro Garages opens its first KFC drive-thru . 2024-01-24 . Forecourt Trader .
  21. Web site: Wood . John . 2016-10-05 . Euro Garages merges to form giant group . 2024-01-24 . Forecourt Trader .
  22. Web site: 2016-10-06 . Fast-growing Blackburn firm Euro Garages secures deal with Sainsbury's . 2024-01-23 . Lancashire Telegraph . en.
  23. News: Questions over Little Chef future as owner sells restaurants . en-GB . belfasttelegraph . 2022-06-29 . 0307-1235 . 2022-06-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629195127/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/questions-over-little-chef-future-as-owner-sells-restaurants-35421853.html . live .
  24. Web site: Media . Insider . Little Chef sites sold to Euro Garages . 2022-05-04 . Insider Media Ltd . en . 2022-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422121146/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/little-chef-sites-sold-to-euro-garages . live .
  25. Web site: Farrell . T. . 2013-12-11 . The rise and fall of the Little Chef empire (1958 - 2018) . 2022-06-29 . Let's Look Again . en-GB . 2021-10-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028084754/http://letslookagain.com/2013/12/the-rise-and-fall-of-little-chef/ . live .
  26. Web site: News Airwave Europe . 2024-05-28 . www.airwave.tv . en-GB.
  27. News: 2017-11-29 . ExxonMobil and EG Group Enter into New Partnership for German Esso Stations . https://web.archive.org/web/20190728082733/http://www.eurogarages.com/exxonmobil-and-eg-group-enter-into-new-partnership-for-german-esso-stations/ . 2019-07-28 . 2018-04-11 . EG Group . en-US.
  28. Web site: Our Enterprise Journey . 2024-01-24 . www.eg.group.
  29. Web site: EG Group completes on 1,200 Esso sites in Italy - Forecourt Trader . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182139/https://forecourttrader.co.uk/news/eg-group-completes-on-1200-esso-sites-in-italy/641297.article . 2023-01-21 . 2018-04-11 . forecourttrader.co.uk.
  30. News: Nieuws NRGValue . 2018-05-11 . NRGValue . nl-NL.
  31. News: 2018-02-05 . Kroger to sell its convenience stores to UK's EG Group for $2.15 billion . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190115/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/05/kroger-to-sell-its-convenience-stores-to-uks-eg-group-for-2-point-15-billion.html . 2018-02-06 . 2018-02-07 . CNBC.
  32. Web site: Lindenberg . Greg . December 7, 2018 . TravelCenters of America Completes Minit Mart Sale . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182142/https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/travelcenters-america-completes-minit-mart-sale . 2023-01-21 . 2019-02-04 . CSP Daily News . en.
  33. News: Hatch . Patrick . 9 November 2018 . Woolworths offloads servos to British group EG for $1.7 billion . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182657/https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/woolworths-offloads-servos-to-british-group-eg-for-1-7-billion-20181109-p50f4n.html . 21 January 2023 . 9 November 2018 . Fairfax Media . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  34. Web site: Lindenberg . Greg . July 2, 2019 . EG Group Completes Fastrac Acquisition . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182140/https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/eg-group-completes-fastrac-acquisition . 2023-01-21 . 2019-07-19 . CSP Daily News . en.
  35. Web site: Lindenberg . Greg . May 13, 2019 . EG Group to Acquire Certified Oil Business . 2019-07-19 . CSP Daily News . en.
  36. Web site: EG Group to acquire Cumberland Farms in the USA . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182141/https://www.eg.group/news/eg-group-to-acquire-cumberland-farms-in-the-usa/ . 2023-01-21 . 2021-12-09 . www.eg.group.
  37. Web site: EG Group to Acquire Cumberland Farms . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182141/https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/eg-group-acquire-cumberland-farms . 2023-01-21 . 2019-08-01 . CSP Daily News.
  38. Web site: July 31, 2019 . UK's EG Group Buys Cumberland Farms C-Store Chain . CStore Decisions.
  39. Web site: EG America LLC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182659/https://www.cspdailynews.com/top-202-convenience-stores-2020/eg-america-llc . 2023-01-21 . 2021-12-09 . CSP Daily News.
  40. Web site: Our brands . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182658/https://www.turkeyhillcstores.com/our-brands . 21 January 2023 . 9 December 2021 . Turkey Hill Stores.
  41. News: Kulp . Andrew . January 31, 2020 . Taking aim at competition, Turkey Hill partners with fast food chains . March 13, 2020 . Reading Eagle.
  42. Web site: 2020-11-30 . EG Group to Open 150 Cinnabon® Bakeries Across the UK Under New Master Licensee Deal . 2020-12-22 . Euro Garages . en-US . 2021-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210127065255/https://uk.eurogarages.com/company-news-fuel-retailers-join-forces/ . live .
  43. Web site: Gilbert . Helen . 2020-11-30 . Cinnabon to open 150 sites in the UK . 2020-12-22 . British Baker . en . 2021-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210124120115/https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/retail/cinnabon-to-open-150-sites-in-the-uk/650857.article . live .
  44. Web site: EG Group buys largest KFC franchise operator in UK & Ireland . 2020-09-21 . The Grocer . en . 2021-03-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210301224955/https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/mergers-and-acquisitions/eg-group-buys-largest-kfc-franchise-operator-in-uk-and-ireland/602750.article . live .
  45. News: Jordan . Dearbail . 2 October 2020 . Asda bought by billionaire Issa brothers in £6.8bn deal . BBC News . 2 October 2020 . 2 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201002103910/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54383131 . live .
  46. News: 2021-04-18 . Leon: Billionaire Issa brothers buy fast food chain . en-GB . BBC News . 2021-04-18 . 2023-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182144/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56792024 . live .
  47. Web site: Asda opens largest Asda On the Move store . 2022-09-10 . Corporate - ASDA . en-US . 2022-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220910193259/https://corporate.asda.com/newsroom/2022/03/18/asda-opens-largest-asda-on-the-move-store . live .
  48. News: Lindenberg . Greg . 9 November 2020 . EG Group to Acquire Schrader Oil . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182656/https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/eg-group-acquire-schrader-oil . 21 January 2023 . 31 December 2020 . CSP Daily News.
  49. Web site: 2021-09-27 . EG Group acquires 52 KFC restaurants . 2024-02-28 . The Caterer . en.
  50. News: Robinson . Jon . Le . Josie Vay . 4 October 2021 . Billionaire Issa brothers buy Britain's second-biggest bakery in multi-million pound deal . Manchester Evening News . 5 October 2021 . 4 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211004203629/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/billionaire-issa-brothers-buy-britains-21754531 . live .
  51. Web site: Boulton2021-10-05T09:42:00+01:00 . Merril . EG Group confirms sale of 27 sites to Park Garage Group . 2024-04-08 . Forecourt Trader . en.
  52. Web site: 29 April 2022 . Couche-Tard, EG Group in Merger Talks: Report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230121182657/https://www.cspdailynews.com/mergers-acquisitions/couche-tard-eg-group-merger-talks-report . 21 January 2023 . 7 May 2022 . CSP Daily News.
  53. Web site: Verkauf des OMV Tankstellengeschäfts in Deutschland an EG Group abgeschlossen . 2023-03-01 . www.omv.de . de.
  54. News: EG Group sells convenience store portfolio in US for $1.5bn. CRE Herald. 6 March 2023. 8 April 2024.
  55. News: UK's Asda to buy EG petrol stations unit in $2.9-bln deal . Reuters. 30 May 2023.
  56. Web site: 2023-10-31 . EG Group to retain Cooplands Bakery brand, KFC and Starbucks franchises following cut-price Asda sale - Prolific North . 2023-11-05 . en-GB.
  57. Web site: Issa Brothers and TDR Capital Complete the Acquisition of Asda from Walmart. live. 2021-04-06. corporate.walmart.com. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210216224431/https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2021/02/16/issa-brothers-and-tdr-capital-complete-the-acquisition-of-asda-from-walmart . 16 February 2021 .
  58. Web site: Hunt . Simon . 2023-10-31 . Issa brothers complete EG Group UK sale to Asda at a discount . 2023-10-31 . Evening Standard . en.
  59. Web site: Wright . Georgia . 2023-12-06 . EG Group to sell all 218 KFC UK&I franchise restaurants to reduce debt - Retail Gazette . 2023-12-06 . www.retailgazette.co.uk . en-GB.
  60. Web site: EG Group in talks to sell some UK assets to co-founder Zuber Issa . 2024-04-07 . www.ft.com.
  61. Web site: Wright . Georgia . 2024-05-20 . Zuber Issa to acquire EG's UK arm as group returns to profit - Retail Gazette . 2024-05-20 . en-GB.

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