Group 1 - The core focus of the article is the acquisition of Starbucks' China business, with private equity firms Carlyle Group and Boyu Capital leading the bidding process [3] - Starbucks initiated the sale process in May 2025 to attract strategic partners due to slowing growth and intense competition from local brands like Luckin Coffee and Koolearn [3] - Five private equity firms submitted binding offers, with a decision expected by the end of the month; other bidders include Sequoia Capital, Primavera Capital, and FountainVest Partners [3] Group 2 - The estimated valuation of Starbucks' China business is around $4 billion, excluding franchise fees; including retained shares and future franchise income, the total value could exceed $10 billion [3] - Starbucks may retain up to 49% of the business and is considering the possibility of a joint bid [3] - Despite experiencing three consecutive quarters of revenue decline in 2024, Starbucks' business has rebounded in 2025, achieving year-on-year growth for three consecutive quarters [4] - CEO Brian Niccol emphasized the importance of finding a partner aligned with Starbucks' mission and values to ensure the brand's future positioning in China [4]

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks is in the final stages of selling a majority stake in its China business, with Carlyle and Boyu Capital as the main bidders, valuing the business at approximately $4 billion [3] Group 1: Acquisition Details - Carlyle and Boyu Capital are seen as preferred partners for acquiring the majority stake in Starbucks China, with five private equity firms having submitted binding offers [3] - The total value created by this transaction for Starbucks is expected to exceed $10 billion, including partner investments and future royalties [3] - Starbucks is likely to retain up to 49% of its stake in the China business, indicating its commitment to maintaining operational control and cultural integrity in the market [4][3] Group 2: Market Performance - Starbucks China reported a revenue increase of 8% year-on-year to $790 million (approximately 5.625 billion yuan) for the latest fiscal quarter, marking three consecutive quarters of growth [5] - In contrast, Luckin Coffee's revenue grew by 47.1% year-on-year to 12.36 billion yuan, significantly outpacing Starbucks [5] - The company has become more flexible in its operations in China, as evidenced by its recent partnership with Xiaohongshu and price reductions on key products [5]

Group 1 - Starbucks is in the final stages of selling a majority stake in its China business, with Carlyle and Boyu Capital as the main bidders, valuing the business at approximately $4 billion [1] - Five private equity firms have submitted binding bids, and Starbucks may retain up to 49% of the stake, indicating its commitment to the Chinese market [1][2] - The total value created by this transaction for Starbucks is expected to exceed $10 billion, including partner investments and future royalties [1] Group 2 - Starbucks has seen an 8% year-on-year revenue growth in China, reaching $790 million for the latest fiscal quarter, marking three consecutive quarters of growth [3] - In comparison, Luckin Coffee reported a 47.1% year-on-year revenue growth to 12.36 billion yuan, significantly outpacing Starbucks [3] - The company is focusing on enhancing its operations in China, indicating potential for further improvement [3]

Core Viewpoint - The private equity firms Carlyle Group and Boyu Capital are leading a bid to acquire Starbucks' business in China, with a potential valuation of approximately $4 billion, excluding franchise fees [1] Group 1 - Carlyle Group and Boyu Capital are the main players in the acquisition bid for Starbucks' China operations [1] - The estimated valuation for the deal is around $4 billion, which does not include any franchise fees [1]

花旗：将星巴克(SBUX.US)目标价从99美元下调至84美元。 ...

2025年10月13日，星巴克企业管理(中国)有限公司在优质运营、创新突破、社会贡献等指标中表现优 异，根据经观受尊敬企业组委会初步评估，入围《经济观察报》2024—2025年度受尊敬企业。 ...

TD Cowen将星巴克的目标价从88美元下调至84美元，维持"持有"评级。(格隆汇) ...

Core Insights - Starbucks' flagship Reserve store in Shenzhen's MixC will close on October 12 due to contract expiration and adjustments in the business district [1][3] - Since its entry into Shenzhen in 2002, Starbucks has played a crucial role in shaping the local coffee culture, with a total of 368 stores expected by September 2025 [3] - The company is continuously adapting its store formats, locations, and designs to meet evolving consumer demands and market conditions [3] Company Strategy - Starbucks emphasizes the importance of both new and old store transitions, indicating a strategy of renovation and upgrade in response to changes in consumer preferences and surrounding business environments [3] - The closure of the flagship store is part of a broader strategy to maintain relevance and competitiveness in the market, with other nearby stores still providing service [3]

格隆汇10月3日｜TD Cowen：将星巴克(SBUX.US)目标股价从95美元下调至88美元。 ...

Core Insights - Starbucks is facing significant challenges in both North America and China, leading to strategic restructuring and layoffs as part of a $1 billion plan to close hundreds of stores and cut approximately 900 jobs [1][4][13] - The North American market has seen a decline in sales for six consecutive quarters, with a 2% year-over-year drop reported as of June 29 [1][4] - In China, Starbucks is struggling against local competitors, with its market share plummeting from 42% in 2017 to 14% in 2024, while local brands like Luckin Coffee have surpassed Starbucks in revenue [5][9] Group 1: North America Operations - Starbucks announced a second round of layoffs, following the previous cut of 1,100 employees earlier in the year [1] - The company plans to reduce the number of North American stores from 18,743 to 18,300 by the end of the fiscal year [1] - The CEO acknowledged that some stores do not meet customer expectations or profitability standards, leading to closures [1][4] Group 2: China Market Challenges - Despite not being directly included in the layoffs, the Chinese market is undergoing significant strategic adjustments, including potential sale of equity to attract external investment [4] - Starbucks has initiated a price reduction strategy in China, lowering prices on popular items by an average of 5 yuan, but this has not effectively reversed the declining trend [7][9] - The competition from local brands has intensified, with new tea and coffee brands rapidly gaining market share and offering lower prices [5][9] Group 3: Brand Perception and Employee Relations - The company has faced backlash over its mooncake sales strategy, with employees reportedly being pressured to meet sales targets, leading to negative public perception [10][12][13] - Starbucks is attempting to reposition itself by transforming stores into community spaces, but the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain [9] - The brand's historical identity as a premium coffee provider is being challenged as consumer preferences shift towards more affordable options [5][9]