Yucaipa Gets OK to Take Over Fresh & Easy

Private equity investment company Yucaipa Cos. last week won court approval to buy 150 Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets from U.K.-based Tesco.

According to published reports, Judge Kevin Carey signed off on the deal, which is being financed by Tesco with a $120 million loan.

An attorney for Yucaipa told the judge during the bankruptcy hearing that he expects the relaunched Fresh & Easy will achieve positive EBITDA of tens of millions of dollars.

Yucaipa hired James Keyes, 7-Eleven Inc.’s former CEO, to design a successful strategy for Fresh & Easy and negotiate the deal with Tesco. 

Yucaipa has a proven track record in turning around troubled grocery stores, and industry experts expect him to accomplish what Tesco couldn’t on American soil, despite its success overseas -- delivering a Fresh & Easy concept that is tailored to American consumers.