SWRG Smith & Wollensky Restr Grp (MM)

Partner with Bunker Hill Capital NEW YORK, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Nick Valenti, CEO and Joachim Splichal, Chef and Founder, of the Patina Restaurant Group, have joined with Bunker Hill Capital, L.P. to acquire The Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWRG). An acquisition vehicle formed by the group entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SWRG via an all-cash merger priced at $11.00 per share. Shareholders approved the deal and the transaction closed effective August 28. "This has been a monumental year of growth, and this acquisition is consistent with the positioning of the rest of our business," stated Valenti and Splichal. "Smith and Wollensky is a powerhouse brand with a premium image and track record of excellence. We are also looking forward to working with our partner, Bunker Hill Capital, to achieve our strategic plans for growing this brand." According to Theresa Nibi, a Managing Partner at Bunker Hill Capital, "We look forward to our partnership with Nick and Joachim, who have a long and successful track record of managing and growing restaurant concepts. Smith & Wollensky is one of the most widely recognized and highly regarded restaurant brands in the United States, and we are excited to expand the concept by opening new locations across the country." Valenti and the principals of Bunker Hill Capital have had a relationship dating back to 1996, and Valenti is a member of Bunker Hill Capital's Executive Council. About Patina Restaurant Group The Patina Restaurant Group (http://www.patinagroup.com/) is the nation's leading multi-concept operator in the premium segments of the restaurant and food service industry. In New York City its portfolio includes the world-famous Ice Rink and The Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center; the Brasserie; and the Grand Tier at the Metropolitan Opera House. On the West Coast the portfolio includes the renowned Patina Restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall; Nick & Stef's Steakhouse; Catal and three other restaurants in the Anaheim Disneyland Resorts Downtown Disney District(R); Leatherby's Cafe Rouge at the Orange County Performing Arts Center; Julia's Kitchen at COPIA in Napa; Pinot Brasserie in Las Vegas; and catering and food service in museums and cultural centers throughout Southern California. Press contact: Tanja Yokum 5W Public Relations (212) 584-4392 DATASOURCE: Patina Restaurant Group CONTACT: Tanja Yokum of 5W Public Relations, +1-212-584-4392, Web site: http://www.patinagroup.com/

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