June Breakfast (6/12) – Roark Capital Group’s Franchise Investment Philosophy

Come hear Neal Aronson, Managing Partner of Roark Capital Group, share his story on the founding of the private equity firm, their investment philosophy and outlook for the coming year.

Neal Aronson is the Founder and Managing Partner of Roark Capital Group. Roark Capital is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in business and consumer service companies with attractive growth prospects. Specific areas of focus include franchise, brand management, environmental services and marketing services. The firm has $2 billion of equity capital under management.

Roark Capital has made investments in 21 franchise companies that together have generated approximately $8 billion in system sales through 3,500 franchisees and 10,000 stores that operate in 50 U.S. states and 47 countries. Roark Capital’s brands include FOCUS Brands (the owner of Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky’s, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Seattle’s Best Coffee International), Money Mailer, FASTSIGNS, Wingstop, McAlister’s, Primrose Schools, Pet Valu, Batteries Plus, Corner Bakery, Arby’s, Il Fornaio and Atkins.

Prior to founding Roark Capital, Aronson was the co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Franchise Systems. In five years, USFS was transformed from one brand with 22 hotels in nine states to three brands with more than 500 hotels in 50 states and five countries, making USFS the tenth largest hotel company in the U.S. Aronson was a Principal of Odyssey Partners, L.P., a private investment partnership founded by Jack Nash and Leon Levy. Prior to Odyssey, Aronson was a Principal and General Partner at Acadia Partners, L.P. (which has since become Oak Hill Partners), and subsequently a Managing Director of its successor company Rosecliff Inc. Aronson began his career in the corporate finance department at Drexel, Burnham, Lambert Incorporated.

For more information, visit Roark Capital Group.