News

Corlex Capital launches, invests in casual Ivan Ramen brand

October 31, 2018

Corlex Capital, LLC has launched as an independent financial sponsor focused on control and minority equity investments in the lower middle market for the franchise, restaurant, retail and service sectors, a news release said.  

Led by private equity and franchise industry veterans Jason Bedasse, Jake LaJoie, Dan Lonergan, Chad Magee and Jeffrey Kolton, Corlex Capital is seeking control and minority equity investment opportunities in North American companies with EBITDA between $5 million and $25 million. The firm will also leverage its extensive investment and credit underwriting experience to provide debt capital raise consulting by developing lender marketing materials and an optimal capital structure to maximize the likelihood of success.

"While traditional financial sponsors are solely focused on making principal investments, at Corlex Capital we combine intellectual capital with financial capital to deliver higher risk-adjusted returns for investors," Colex Capital Partner Jake LaJoie, said in the company's press release. "Our team's decades of experience working together in our target industries, coupled with the information advantage from our consulting practice, highlights Corlex's unique approach to deliver an unmatched level of service while offering proprietary investment opportunities to investors."

Although Corlex Capital is fundamentally a principal equity investor, the company said it's different because it offers a complementary consulting practice, through which it says it has access to intimate knowledge about businesses and their internal operations. Through this service, the firm gains a comprehensive understanding of its client's business, which allows it to develop value enhancement plans that are then funded through its principal investing business. 

The company said as a result, business owners get improved revenue and profits, while allowing Corlex to de-risk principal investments and drive higher risk-adjusted returns for all stakeholders. Corlex Capital is open to a range of investment types including growth/acquisition capital, recapitalizations, family-owned business transfers, management/corporate buyouts and corporate divestitures.

On the heels of its launch, Corlex Capital has signed a letter of intent to invest in the Ivan Ramen brand, created by world-renowned ramen chef Ivan Orkin, to develop an American Urban Casual prototype of his award-winning ramen restaurants. Ramen's portfolio includes New York City restaurants, Tokyo operations, a Chef's Table episode, ramen cookbook, as well as a second book in development. 

Corlex Capital intends to finance and assist with the development of the prototype with future plans to franchise and expand the Ivan Ramen brand. Beyond the creation of a global franchise chain of restaurants, Corlex will also assist with the development of Ivan Ramen-branded consumer packaged goods and use the chef's renown for media opportunities.