NEW YORK (AP) — The Fresh Market, a grocery store chain, has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Apollo for more than $1.3 billion.
The deal, which is expected to close in the second quarter, comes after Fresh Market said in October that it was seeking to possibly sell itself.
Apollo said Monday that it is paying $28.50 for each share of Fresh Market, a 24 percent premium of the stock’s closing price of $22.98 on Friday.
Fresh Market, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, has nearly 190 stores around the country. Fresh Market recently opened its first store in Fort Worth and also has area locations in Southlake and two in Dallas. Apollo’s holdings include Twinkie maker Hostess and the Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. Apollo is based in New York.
Shares of The Fresh Market Inc. soared $5.45, or almost 24 percent, to $28.43 in morning trading Monday while Apollo Global Management LLC Class A shares edged up 18 cents to $17.08.