BGF has successfully exited leading hospitality operator Mission Mars, whose portfolio includes Rudy’s Napoletana and Albert’s Schloss.
The deal marks a full exit for BGF, which first invested in Mission Mars in 2018. Since then, BGF has supported the group’s growth from a single branch of Rudy’s and Albert’s Schloss in Manchester to 44 sites across the UK. The exit has generated a return for BGF of 3.75x MM and an IRR of 21%.
Fynveur, an investment holding owned by Artal and advised by Invus, has acquired a majority stake in Mission Mars, to accelerate the further roll-out of both brands.
Roy Ellis, CEO of Mission Mars, said: “We’d like to thank BGF for their support over the past eight years. They backed us at the early stages of growth and have been a supportive partner as we’ve expanded across the UK.
“It has been clear from early conversations that there is a strong culture and ambition fit between Mission Mars, Artal and the Invus team. Our focus on a world-class product, guest experience, team engagement and sustainable long-term growth remains at the forefront of our plans. We are also keen to explore potential strategic acquisitions which could further accelerate our growth plans.”
Mission Mars has delivered impressive growth through FY26, with five new openings all trading ahead of expectations. Several further openings are planned in the near term, including the first Rudy’s in Scotland – opening in Glasgow later this month. The group currently employs more than 1,800 colleagues.
Matt Widdall, Partner at BGF and an investor in its North West team, said: “This is an excellent example of a North West business which has created world-class brands and successfully rolled them out across the UK. In a sector that has faced well-documented challenges in recent years, Mission Mars is an exceptional success story.
“This deal is a strong outcome for all involved and testament to the alignment between the management team’s vision and BGF’s long-term outlook. We look forward to seeing Mission Mars continue to go from strength to strength with this new backing.”
