Second Avenue Capital Partners provided a $35 million senior secured credit facility to a joint venture of Marquee Brands and CSC Generation in support of their newly acquired luxury kitchenware retailer Sur La Table. Proceeds from the transaction are being used to provide additional working capital and to support growth.
Sur La Table was founded in 1972 and is brand and curator of culinary products and tools for professional and home chefs. In addition to serving as a retailer to global brands in the sector, Sur La Table is also a provider of non-degree cooking schools in the United States with more than 650,000 students and that is growing at 19% per year.
“The acquisition of Sur La Table, a company known for its exceptional quality, represented an appealing opportunity for us,” Justin Yoshimura, CEO of CSC Generation, said. “Sur La Table’s seamless omnichannel shopping experience guided by passionate and highly knowledgeable staff, technology and one-a-kind offerings will allow the company to recover and forge ahead in a post-COVID-19 retail environment.”
“SACP was a true partner throughout the acquisition, from supporting us in the bidding process to delivering a credit facility concurrent with our closing,” Yoshimura said. “They remained flexible and executed on the terms provided, adjusting with us as the deal dynamics evolved. Within one week, SACP delivered a capital solution that provides Sur La Table with the resources to build long-term success.”
“These uncertain times have been very disruptive to the retail sector,” Chris O’Connor, president of Second Avenue Capital Partners, said. “Because of that disruption, many lenders are stepping back from the space. But with the insight gained from our affiliates and our retail-focused approach, these are exactly the types of transactions where we lean in. With Sur La Table, we see more than just a business with a loyal customer base. We see a company with a product offering that has enhanced purpose for an improved quality of life centered around the home.”
