St. Louis-based Private Equity Groups Announce Purchase of Lion's Choice Restaurant Chain

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Local businessman and former Lion's Choice executive Mark Disper, in partnership with the principals of St. Louis-based Millstone Capital Advisors, recently announced the purchase of assets from Red Lion Beef Corp., owner of the Lion's Choice restaurant chain.  While the new operating company will be named LC Corporate, LLC, the company will continue to operate under the name Lion's Choice.  Details of the purchase were not disclosed.

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The agreement officially transitions the chain's ownership from founder Dr. Marvin Gibbs to his hand-picked successor and a St. Louis-based private equity team poised to take Lion's Choice into the next 46 years and beyond.

Mark Disper, through his investment fund Black Rock Holdings, LLC, will retain partial ownership of LC Corporate, LLC and serve as president and CEO of Lion's Choice.  Millstone Capital Advisors (through its investment fund FSM Fund I) will own the remaining share of LC Corporate, LLC.  Two of the fund's principals, Bob Millstone and Fred Flegel, will serve with Disper on the new company's Board of Managers.  In addition, Gibbs has agreed to serve as an advisor to the new company.

In 2000, Disper developed and built the first Lion's Choice franchise and later joined the company as Vice President of Sales & Marketing and President of Franchise Operations.  Tapped as the chain's potential heir apparent by Gibbs, Disper reached out to the St. Louis investment community, eventually partnering with Flegel and Millstone in the new venture.

"What attracted me to Lion's Choice as a franchise is what excites me most about my new ownership role in the company: the chain has earned a loyal following and fiercely loyal employees by adhering to solid business principles based on quality, nutritious food and great customer service," said Disper.  "Our team will preserve these core principles while utilizing our strength in the areas of operations, real estate, marketing research and finance to help make a beloved St. Louis brand more available to people in St. Louis and beyond."

"After 46 years of ownership of Lion's Choice, I'm thrilled to be leaving it in capable, caring hands," said Gibbs.  "Mark and the new ownership team have a passion for the Lion's Choice brand and vision to take the business to a much higher level, and I have always admired the Millstone Family's reputation in St. Louis."

About Lion's Choice:
Founded in 1967 as Red Lion Beef House by St. Louisans Marvin Gibbs, Art Morey and Clint Tobias, Lion's Choice started with a vision to serve the best roast beef sandwich in the Midwest and a commitment to serving the community a quality product in a clean, quick and courteous manner.  Famous for serving very lean, butcher-shop-quality top-round whole muscle roast beef, slow-roasted daily on-site and cut razor thin, Lion's Choice has earned a loyal customer base across its 15 company-owned and 8 franchised Lion's Choice restaurants throughout the metro St. Louis area. For more information, visit www.lionschoice.com.

About Black Rock Holdings, LLC
Black Rock Holdings, LLC was formed as an investment vehicle to purchase the assets of Red Lion Beef Corp.  Black Rock's principals include St. Louis business executive and current Lion's Choice President and CEO Mark Disper and St. Louis businessman Chuck Kirberg.

About Millstone Capital Advisors
Millstone Capital Advisors is a private equity management company dedicated to helping small to mid-sized companies grow through direct investments and strategic assistance. Millstone Capital Advisors is the manager for FSM Fund I, the entity which will be the majority owner of Lion's Choice.  The company has extensive experience working with companies in a broad range of industries, including consumer products and services, information technology, real estate, health care, financial services, marketing, manufacturing, energy, notes and insurance.  Based in St. Louis, the founder and principals of Millstone Capital Advisors have a long history of philanthropy and volunteer support in the region.  Their collective mission includes enhancing quality of life and economic development for the people in the companies in which they invest as well as in the communities they serve.

http://www.millstoneca.com/

For further information, contact:
Paul Byrne (314) 737-1847
[email protected]
Twitter: @Byrnepr

SOURCE Lion’s Choice