January 2026 Edition

California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) the iconic restaurant brand renowned for bold, innovative flavors with a California point of view announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Consortium Brand Partners (“CBP”), a consumer brand investment platform, together with Eldridge Industries, Aurify Brands, and Convive Brands, Convive Brands, an investment and operations platform of high-quality restaurant concepts, will direct global operations and serve as master franchisor for all CPK restaurants worldwide. Jon Weber, Chief Executive Officer of Convive Brands, will serve as CEO of the CPK restaurant group, overseeing all restaurant operations globally.Bain Capital Credit is supporting the acquisition with a debt and equity investment. The transaction will close in December 2025. Under CBP’s ownership and Convive Brands’ operational leadership, CPK is poised for a new era of growth, leveraging its strong brand equity, global recognition, and recent operating momentum. The partnership will build on CPK’s recent success – including same-store sales growth in 2025 that outpaced the broader industry – by accelerating domestic and international franchise expansion, extending the CPK Consortium Brand Partners to Acquire California Pizza Kitchen® in Partnership with Eldridge Industries, Aurify Brands, and Convive Brands

Founded in 1985 in Beverly Hills, California Pizza Kitchen established itself as a category trailblazer in casual dining, introducing consumers to a distinctive, California-inspired approach to pizzas, salads, pastas, and desserts. Four decades later, the brand remains a household name with strong consumer loyalty, a standout culinary offering, and a track record of adapting thoughtfully to serve guests better. Today, CPK’s global footprint includes more than 120 restaurants in 10 countries, along with a rapidly expanding consumer packaged goods (CPG) business featuring frozen pizzas and other products available in more than 10,000 major grocery retailers nationwide and across the globe. The brand has also recently launched and successfully piloted an innovative pizza vending machine concept, bringing triple-heated freshly baked CPK pizzas to airports, campuses, and entertainment venues — a sign of its continued spirit of culinary innovation and convenience. brand into new product categories, and enhancing its presence across both restaurants and retail through strategic initiatives.