Dubens's firm Oakley hungry for Ed's Easy Diner - part 2

It would appear a takeover is Ed's Easy Diner (I'm not going to describe the chain as "tired" and "old" as last time the company spokesperson rang me to whinge so I will leave it the reader to decide what they think of the concept) is moving closer to completion.

According to well-placed sources, the Ed's Easy Diner sale process is entering the final stages and a £100 million deal could be announced in the next few weeks.

Dubens's firm Oakley hungry for Ed's Easy Diner

Hip, high-end burgers - think Honest Burger, Dirty Burger and, possibly even, Byron Burger - are all the rage with British trendy, metropolitan types but it seems like the City's private equity firms are more interested in tired, old burger chain brands.

Indeed, I hear Oakley Capital, the private equity firm set up by entrepreneur Peter Dubens, has been participating in the £100 million auction for Ed's Easy Diner, which I used to visit in my teens.

The Great Escape

The chaps over at McQueen, an advisory boutique set up by a bunch of former HSBC bankers, have been bought by American rivals Houlihan Lokey.

I always worry when I see one of the City's boutique corporate finance firms sell to a US predator Why? Because it could be a sign that a bull market is somewhere near its peak.