Intelligentsia Coffee is for sale (or just raising money)

#1: Post by **Marshall** » October 1st, 2015, 5:01 pm

[EDITED] There was a press report that Intelli is "for sale," and hoping to go for around $100m. Story here: http://la.eater.com/2015/10/1/9435171/i ... o-new-york. But, a very reliable source tells me they are just raising money for growth, and the reporting is off base.

#2: Post by **Marcelnl** » October 1st, 2015, 6:29 pm

Shouldn't this be put in the sell/buy forum?

#3: Post by **SlowRain** » October 2nd, 2015, 12:35 am

This should surprise no one.

October 2nd, 2015, 1:16 am

Well, enlighten us then because I'm surprised. I don't follow these things. People sell their businesses for good and bad reasons.. Which one is it?

Intelligentsia has produced top talent in the industry and has a good rep. The industry seems to be booming as far as I can tell, and I think they've got firm footing for immense growth. So, that's one good reason..

#5: Post by **SlowRain** » October 2nd, 2015, 1:38 am

People have been expecting something like this since they took on the co-CEO a few years ago.

#6: Post by **another_jim** » October 2nd, 2015, 2:38 am

I remember being told in 1995 that they were way better than SBX, and checking out their Broadway store. In 2002, they hosted the first big get together between us on-line coffee posters and a real roaster. Ellie Matuscek was pulling the shots for us.

100 million seems like chicken feed compared to Stumptown or Green Mountain; their influence on coffee has arguably been greater than either.

October 2nd, 2015, 3:24 am

stumptown beat them on marketing. maybe the "intelligentsia" concept has maxed out on its appealed audience.

#8: Post by **Marcelnl** » October 2nd, 2015, 8:13 am

I don't know this company but $100M is a lot of change in my wallet, I find nothing about their sales or their NPV...not arguing about the price, it's just that it surprised me and I am unable to find anything on yearly sales or stuff that would mean anything to a buyer justifying 100M...'the purchase price could reach 100 million, one of the spokespersons said' is all I found. And that sounds like a salesperson having a wet dream....

#9: Post by **bluesman** » October 2nd, 2015, 8:54 am

We'd have to see their balance sheet, income statements, and cash flow history to make intelligent observations on valuation. But for comparison, Blue Bottle raised about $70 million this summer in one round, and that kind of capitalization usually means a valuation in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

#10: Post by **Marcelnl** » October 2nd, 2015, 9:40 am

True, but there is nothing on intelligentsia and that is up for sale...well I'm not investing, not even at a fraction of that amount...it just surprised me that anyone publishing figures would not double check.