Private equity firm Gateway Partners purchased a stake in the Tim Hortons Gulf franchise from the Apparel Group, which owns and manages the coffee chain in the region.
Apparel Group's chairman Nilesh Ved confirmed Gateway's investment, following a report by Reuters, but declined to reveal the value or size of the deal when contacted by The National on Saturday.
The company will use the proceeds from the transaction to grow the business, Mr Ved said in an emailed statement, without elaborating on the details.
Gateway Partners, which is led by former Standard Chartered banker Viswanathan Shankar, reportedly paid about $50 million (Dh183m) for a 40 per cent stake, Reuters reported last week citing sources.
The private equity firm made the investment in the franchise through its Gateway Fund I in February 2020, according to its website, in which it describes the franchise as "the leading Tim Hortons franchise outside of North America with 141 stores" by the end of 2019 across the Middle East.
Gateway's investment will help Apparel Group expand the coffee chain in Egypt and India as well as in the Gulf markets, Mr Ved told Reuters.
The Apparel Group has more than 1750 stores and 75 brands across all platforms employing 17,000 people, according to its website. It operates fashion and lifestyle brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Charles & Keith, Juicy Couture, Skechers, Nautica, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale, Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot and Rituals.
The conglomerate has a presence in markets including UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia and has "clear strategies" in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines, according to its website.
The Covid-19 outbreak has resulted in cafes and restaurants in Gulf countries shutting down for dine-in, as part of efforts to contain the virus, but many still operate delivery services.
Mr Ved told Reuters that six or seven Tim Hortons outlets remain open for deliveries to customers in Dubai and 15 are doing business in Saudi Arabia, through the use of third party delivery apps.
The%20Roundup
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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