3i and Prax Capital exit Little Sheep

UK-listed private equity firm 3i has divested its 11.3 percent stake in Little Sheep. China-focused private equity firm Prax Capital has also divested its entire stake in the company, Jeff Yao, co-founder of Prax Capital, said in an interview.

The two firms declined to comment on how much they sold their stakes for.

In a separate statement, US restaurant company Yum! Brands said that it has agreed to acquire a 20 percent interest in Little Sheep for approximately $63 million.

In June 2006, 3i invested $20 million for a minority stake in Little Sheep. Prax Capital co-invested $5 million alongside 3i. Since then, 3i has assisted the company’s franchise and business strategy development, executive and board recruitment, corporate governance and IPO preparation, according to 3i.

Headquartered in Inner Mongolia, Little Sheep is a hot pot restaurant chain with a 6 percent market share in China. At the end of 2008, the company operated 375 restaurants.

Little Sheep was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange in June 2008. Last year, the company saw a 34 percent rise in revenues and a 41 percent increase in profit, from RMB91 million ($13 million; €10 million) to RMB129 million. Store sales also grew by 10 percent.

China is an important investment market for 3i. The firm will continue to look for attractive opportunities, particularly in the food and beverage, energy, general industrials and healthcare sectors, said Anna Cheung, partner and co-head of 3i China, said in a statement.

Based in the US, Yum! Brands owns restaurant brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. It has more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries. In 2008, its revenues were in excess of $11 billion.