Smart & Final Enters Into Agreement to Be Sold

<p><strong>Los Angeles, CA</strong><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Smart &amp; Final Holdings Corp. has announced that Ares Management has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in the company. Smart &amp; Final is majority-owned and controlled by investment funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC. The value of the transaction is $975 million, according to a press release.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> Smart &amp; Final is a smaller store, warehouse-style, "no membership fee," multi-format retailer that operates 235 stores under three distinct formats: Smart &amp; Final, Smart &amp; Final Extra!, and Cash &amp; Carry. The stores operate in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington with an additional 13 joint-venture stores in northwest Mexico.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> "We are delighted to join Smart &amp; Final's senior management team as long-term investors in the company," said David Kaplan , Senior Partner and Founding Member of Ares Management. "Smart &amp; Final occupies an attractive position in the marketplace by delivering compelling value and merchandise to its loyal customers. We share management's vision for the company and believe it is well positioned for future growth."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"> "We are looking forward to our partnership with Ares Management, whose strong, committed financial sponsorship and great track record in the retail sector speak for itself," said Dave Hirz , Smart &amp; Final's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The entire senior management team of Smart &amp; Final is very excited about having Ares' support in further building Smart &amp; Final into a world-class organization."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.agm.com/Home.aspx" target="_new"> Smart &amp; Final Holdings Corp. </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.aresmgmt.com/Public/About/About.aspx" target="_new"> Ares Management </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">