SURMOUNT, one of the nation’s leading commercial real estate advisory and investment platforms, today announced that its Institutional Coverage Group (which oversees the firm’s lease advisory, restructuring, and bankruptcy efforts) recently represented the buyer in a significant restaurant industry Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, guiding its client through the acquisition of a sizeable leasehold portfolio. The engagement marks the second restaurant franchise bankruptcy restructuring project SURMOUNT has led in recent months.

SURMOUNT represented Pulse Restaurant Group, the largest buyer in the Chapter 11 case of Sailormen Inc., a Popeyes franchisee, on the acquisition of leasehold interests across 50 locations throughout Florida. SURMOUNT served as the buyer’s strategic real estate advisor for the full length of the transaction.

“As more restaurant operators face financial challenges, we expect to see continued opportunity for well-capitalized buyers who have the right advisory partner,” said Matthew Anuszkiewicz, Managing Director and Head of SURMOUNT’s Institutional Coverage Group which led the restructuring efforts. “These two engagements are strong example of where our firm’s expertise can generate value by reducing occupancy costs, preserving site control, and offsetting capital investment needs.”

David Damato, Chief Executive Officer of Pulse Restaurant Group added, “We had three weeks before the sale closing date to tackle the real estate strategy for 50 locations, a process that normally would have taken months, and SURMOUNT delivered. They helped us strike the right balance between rent reductions, abatements and TI dollars for future capital needs, while tailoring their negotiation strategy to each landlord and situation. Their team was incredibly hands-on, managing communications, dividing and conquering the portfolio, and working around my schedule at all hours to get it done. They understand restaurant real estate, they know how to negotiate, and they operated as a true extension of our team.”

The engagement reflects SURMOUNT’s continued focus on distressed retail and restaurant real estate, and its ability to guide operators and property owners through complex lease assumptions, rejections, and sale dynamics in bankruptcy processes, further cementing SURMOUNT as the advisor of choice for franchise business lease restructuring needs.

About SURMOUNT

SURMOUNT is a full-service commercial real estate advisory and investment platform specializing in net lease properties, sale-leasebacks, lease advisory, development, capital markets, principal investments, and structured investment solutions. The firm provides institutional-quality advisory services to private investors, corporations, developers, family offices, and institutional clients nationwide. Since its founding more than 25 years ago, SURMOUNT has completed more than $50 billion in transaction volume across thousands of transactions throughout the United States. https://www.surmount.com/

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