The executive chairman and founder of Restaurant Brands Europe (RBE), owner of Burger King in Spain, Gregorio Jiménez, will take control of 51% of the group’s share capital after closing an agreement to acquire Cinven’s stake, in a transaction valued at more than 2,300 million euros, the company said this Friday.
In the new share distribution, Grupo Costa, Point Break Capital Management and a group of private investors will remain, among whom are Santiago Jiménez and Fernando Núñez, the latter representing Grupo Ibérica. Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of the brands, has supported the operation and maintains its backing for RBE’s roadmap.
The acquisition will be financed through a 1.4 billion euro loan granted by Santander CIB, JPMorgan and BBVA. The first two have also served as financial advisors to the consortium, while A&O Shearman acted as legal advisor.
Since 2017, RBE has multiplied its revenues by more than five, going from 282 million to 1,541 million euros in 2025, and has increased its Ebitda from 52 to 245 million euros.
The group manages the Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons brands in Spain, Portugal and Italy. It has more than 1,150 company-owned restaurants, integrated into a network that exceeds 1,400 locations, and employs more than 26,000 people directly, a figure that rises to more than 42,000 jobs including the entire network.
"This transaction represents a natural step in the evolution of Restaurant Brands Europe and reaffirms my commitment to the project. We face this new stage with a long-term vision, supported by an extraordinary team, committed partners and brands with great growth potential," Gregorio Jiménez said.
"The last few years have meant a period of enormous transformation and growth. Cinven has been a true partner throughout this journey in which we have strengthened our organization, expanded our international presence and built a platform prepared to continue growing with ambition," Borja Hernández de Alba, CEO of RBE, said.
The company emphasizes that the transaction ensures continuity of the current business model and that the executive team will keep, unchanged, its expansion strategy based on sustainable growth.