| Founded | 2001 (age 25) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Neal Aronson (managing partner) |
| Hq location city | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Hq location country | U.S. |
| Industry | Private equity |
| Key people |
|
| Products | Leveraged buyout |
| Aum | US$37 billion (2023)[1] |
| Num employees | 138[2] |
| Website | roarkcapital.com |
Roark Capital Management, LLC,[3] also known as Roark Capital Group or simply Roark Capital, is an American private equity firm with around $37 billion in assets under management. The firm is focused on leveraged buyout investments in middle-market companies, primarily in the franchise/multi-location, restaurant and food, health and wellness, and business services sectors. It is named for Howard Roark, the protagonist in Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead. The firm claims that its name is not meant to connote any particular political philosophy but instead signify the firm's admiration for the iconoclastic qualities of independence and self-assurance embodied by the central figure in The Fountainhead.[4]
History
The firm, which is based in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded in 2001 by the current Managing Partner, Neal K. Aronson.[5] Prior to founding Roark Capital Group in 2001, Aronson was a co-founder of U.S. Franchise Systems in 1995.
In March 2026, Roark Capital Group was considering an initial public offering for Inspire Brands which would raise about $2 billion as early as 2026.[6]
Investments
Roark's current and former portfolio companies include:
Current investments
- Aftermath Services
- Anytime Fitness
- CKE Restaurants: (Carl's Jr., Hardee's, Green Burrito & Red Burrito)
- Culver's (minority investment)
- Dave's Hot Chicken[7]
- Divisions Maintenance Group
- Driven Brands: 1-800-Radiator & A/C, Abra, CARSTAR, International Car Wash Group/ICWG, Maaco, Meineke, Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops, Xpress Lube, Take 5 Oil Change, Pro Oil Change, Econo Lube & Tune
- Fitness Connection[8]
- GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands):[9] Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba Juice, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's
- Great Expressions Dental Centers
- Home Service Store
- Inspire Brands:[10] (Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In,[11] Jimmy John's, Dunkin', Mister Donut, Baskin-Robbins)
- Installation Made Easy
- Jim 'N Nick's BBQ Restaurants[12]
- Massage Envy
- Mathnasium
- Miller's Ale House
- Orangetheory Fitness
- Pet Retail Brands: (Bosley's, Pet Supermarket, PetValu) Petstores[13]
- Primrose Schools
- Self Esteem Brands: (Basecamp Fitness, The Bar Method, Waxing the City)
- ServiceMaster Brands: (ServiceMaster Clean, ServiceMaster Restore, AmeriSpec, Furniture Medic, Merry Maids)
- Subway[14]
- Youth Enrichment Brands: (School of Rock)[15][16]
Former investments
- Atkins Nutritionals
- Batteries Plus Bulbs[17]
- The Cheesecake Factory[18]
- Cyber Core Technologies
- Drybar
- Fastsigns
- GFL Environmental
- Il Fornaio: (Corner Bakery Cafe)[19]
- Money Mailer
- Movie Gallery
- Naf Naf Grill
- Peachtree Business Products
- PSC Info Group
- Qualawash
- Solterra Recycling
- United States Arbitrage Finance II
- USFS
- Waste Pro
- Wingstop
References
- ^ Durbin, Dee-Ann (2023-08-24). "Sandwich chain Subway will be sold to fast-food investor Roark Capital". Associated Press.
- ^ Form ADV filing
- ^ "Roark Capital Management, LLC". OpenCorporates. 2004-11-24. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ "About Our Name". Roark Capital Group. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
- ^ Sorvino, Chloe. "The Drive-Thru Billionaire Who’s Trying To Save Subway". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
- ^ "Roark Weighs $2 billion IPO of Dunkin' owner Inspire Brands". Reuters. 6 March 2026.
- ^ Hot chicken is on the menu Forbes, 2025/03/21
- ^ "Atlanta private equity firm buys another fitness chain". Atlanta Business Chronicle. 2019-02-04.
- ^ "Roark:: Current Investments"
- ^ "The Wendy's Company Sells Ownership Interest in Inspire Brands for $450 Million". wendys.com. Wendy's Company. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ Thorn, Bret (26 September 2018). "Inspire Brands to buy Sonic Corp. for $2.3B". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ "Roark Capital Group Acquires Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q". 2017-07-10.
- ^ "Pet Retail Brands: North America's 3rd Largest Pet Retailer". chainstoreguide.com. Chain Store Guides, LLC. 8 October 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Lucas, Amelia (24 August 2023). "Subway sandwich chain sells itself to Dunkin’ owner Roark Capital". CNBC. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ Huglen, Alyssa (2025-07-14). "School of Rock Makes International Strides Under Youth Enrichment Brands". franchisetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
- ^ "Sterling’s School of Rock Sold to Roark’s Youth Enrichment Brands". peprofessional.com. Retrieved 2026-04-23.
- ^ Kaiser, Tom (2016-07-22). "Roark Sells Batteries Plus Bulbs as Retail Heats Up". franchisetimes.com. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ "ROARK CAPITAL BUYS A PIECE OF CHEESECAKE FACTORY". Restaurant Business Online. 2020-04-20.
- ^ "Atlanta's Roark Capital buys Il Fornaio parent firm". San Francisco Chronicle. 2011-06-14.