Macquarie agrees to buy Roadchef

Macquarie Asset Management has agreed a deal to acquire motorway services giant Roadchef from Antin Infrastructure Partners. The business, which has 30 locations in the UK, is set to sell for a reported £900m. The deal is expected to close in Q1 this year. Macquarie said it intends to support Roadchef in rolling out fast-charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across its estate. Roadchef will also use the investment to invest further in its sites, facilities, and partnerships with brands including McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and Leon. Gordon Parsons, a senior managing director at Macquarie Asset Management, said: “As a key part of the UK’s motorway infrastructure, we believe Roadchef has a major role to play in facilitating the transition to net zero. “Its extensive network of locations across the country make it well positioned to support the fast-charging infrastructure that is key to the adoption of electric and low carbon vehicles. We look forward to working closely with the management team to develop Roadchef’s energy transition strategy and its offering for motorists.” Mark Crosbie, managing partner at Antin, said: “We are proud of the substantial development and strategic transformation Roadchef accomplished during Antin’s ownership. We are also grateful for the strong performance of Roadchef’s experienced management team and dedicated employees, and are confident they will continue to be successful under their new owner.” Mark Fox, chief executive at Roadchef, said: “We thank Antin for its significant support over the past years, which enabled us to implement our growth strategy and strengthen our position as a leading UK MSA operator. “We are delighted to continue our growth journey with Macquarie Asset Management, which recognises our potential and will continue to invest, grow and build Roadchef.” To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@eg.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @EGPropertyNews