Investing.com - Darden Restaurants Inc (NYSE:DRI) and Chuy's Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:CHUY) have jointly announced their definitive agreement for a merger, with Darden set to acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy's.

The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $605 million, will see Darden purchasing shares at $37.50 each.

CHUY shares soared 47% in premarket trading Thursday.

Chuy's, founded in Austin, Texas in 1982, is a Tex-Mex restaurant chain recognized for its authentic and freshly prepared dishes.

As of July 16, 2024, Chuy's boasted 101 restaurants across 15 states, generating revenues of over $450 million in the last twelve months ending March 31, 2024.

Darden's CEO, Rick Cardenas, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, "Chuy's is a differentiated brand within the full-service dining industry with strong performance and growth potential." He also highlighted how the addition of Chuy's aligns with Darden's winning strategy and will diversify its portfolio into a new dining category.

Steven Hislop, Chairman, CEO, and President of Chuy's, shared similar sentiments, stating, "We are excited about the opportunity to join the Darden family and its portfolio of well-respected brands. Darden shares many of our same core values, particularly our operating philosophy and strong team member cultures. Together we will accelerate our business goals and bring our authentic, made-from-scratch Tex-Mex to more guests and communities."

Key aspects of the deal include a premium of 40% to the 60-day volume weighted average price, and an implied multiple of 10.3x Chuy's Transaction Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ending March 31, 2024.

Darden anticipates pre-tax net synergies of approximately $15 million by the end of its fiscal 2026. The transaction, which has been approved unanimously by the boards of both companies, is expected to be completed in Darden's fiscal second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

"While we see strategic rationale, we have a muted view of the transaction as financial implications for DRI are relatively modest, note CHUY's periods of growth challenges historically, and view the multiple as slightly high," analysts at BMO Capital Markets commented.

Elsewhere, Stephens analysts believe that Chuy's will "complement Darden's diverse portfolio of casual concepts." While Chuy's near-term EBITDA is only around 3% that of DRI's, the firm sees the acquisition as a strong fit due to the lack of Tex-Mex in the latter's portfolio.



"We believe the challenging macro backdrop and CHUY's softer traffic trends created an attractive opportunity for DRI to acquire a unique concept at a reasonable multiple," Stephens analysts added.

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