{
  "id": 9527372,
  "title": "Highlands Coffee founder repurchases controlling stake in deal valuing company at $800M",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/highlands-coffee-founder-repurchases-controlling-stake-in-deal",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-24T08:33:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "VnExpress Business",
    "slug": "vnexpress-business",
    "url": "https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/highlands-coffee-founder-repurchases-controlling-stake-in-deal-valuing-company-at-800m-5124157.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Philippine-owned Jollibee Foods Corporation announced on Wednesday that its subsidiary JSF Investments has agreed to sell its stake in SF Vung Tau Jsc, the operator of the Highlands Coffee chain in Vietnam, to Viet Thai International Jsc. The Thai-controlled company will become the controlling shareholder, increasing its stake from 40% to 51%. The transaction is part of Jollibee's portfolio management strategy to build businesses, expand their scale, and optimize ownership stakes once they are mature enough to attract outside capital. Jollibee expects to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce debt, reinvest in growth businesses, or return money to shareholders. After the deal, Jollibee will retain a 49% stake in Highlands Coffee. The valuation of Highlands Coffee at around $800 million, significantly higher than the $25 million Jollibee paid for a 49% stake in 2012, reflects the company's strong performance. Highlands Coffee has expanded rapidly, becoming Vietnam's largest cafe chain with 1,062 outlets as of June. The brand generates over 8.6% of Jollibee's profits, making it a crucial asset for the corporation. Jollibee's capital has played a significant role in Highlands Coffee's growth, and the company is now considering an initial public offering, expected in the first quarter of 2027.",
  "summary": "David Thai, founder and CEO of Vietnam's largest coffeehouse chain, Highlands Coffee, will buy back an 11% stake in the company from Jollibee for VND2.3 trillion (US$88.4 million), regaining control of the company he founded almost three decades ago.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Vietnam Investment Review",
        "title": "Jollibee sells 11 per cent stake in Highlands Coffee for 88 million",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/jollibee-sells-11-per-cent-stake-in-highlands-coffee-for-88-million",
        "published": "2026-09-24T10:57:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}