Pulsar Capital in talks to buy Andhra cuisine chain Nandhana Palace for $50–60 million
Mint.The deal size is expected to be $50-60 million ( ₹449-538 crore) and would likely provide a full exit to the promoters, one of the people said, adding that the transaction is likely to close in the coming weeks.The acquisition is part of Pulsar’s broader strategy to build a food platform through the consolidation of multiple assets, the second person said.Both spoke on the condition of anonymity.The mid-market private equity firm has a strong footprint across India, West Asia and other emerging markets. Led by former TPG executive Vish Narain, Pulsar has backed several consumer-facing companies, including Biryani by Kilo and Blue Tokai, and earlier this year partnered with PJP Investments to bring Papa John’s Pizza to India.Pulsar and Nandhana did not immediately respond to Mint’s requests for comment.Founded in 2004 by Ravichandar Ramaswamy, Nandhana Palace is among the more prominent Andhra-style restaurant chains, with multiple outlets across Bengaluru and Chennai.
His daughters later joined the business with the aim of building what the company describes as a “tasty yet healthy food” brand that reflects the cuisine’s culture, environment and flavours.In September, Mint reported that Nandhana was exploring a sale, part of a broader trend of restaurant chains and dessert brands considering exits amid rising investor interest. This has been supported by expectations of an imminent consumption boost following recent goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts, as well as a continued early-stage funding rush into consumer brands, leading to the emergence of several mid-sized players.Together, these trends are fuelling more platform plays and inorganic growth opportunities, prompting brands in the ₹100-crore revenue
. Read on livemint.com