Stock Markets February 10, 2026

European Wax Center Agrees to $330M Buyout by General Atlantic; Shares Jump on Cash Offer

Private equity owner to acquire remaining Class A stock for $5.80 per share, transaction expected to close mid-2026 pending approvals

By Hana Yamamoto EWCZ
European Wax Center Agrees to $330M Buyout by General Atlantic; Shares Jump on Cash Offer
EWCZ

European Wax Center Inc.'s stock climbed sharply after the company disclosed a definitive agreement for General Atlantic to acquire all remaining Class A shares in an all-cash transaction valued at about $330 million. The offer of $5.80 per share represents notable premiums to recent trading levels and must clear a vote of unaffiliated shareholders and regulatory review before the deal closes, expected in mid-2026.

Key Points

  • General Atlantic will acquire all outstanding Class A shares it does not already own for $5.80 per share, valuing the deal at approximately $330 million.
  • The $5.80 cash offer represents a 45% premium to the February 9, 2026 closing price and a 51% premium to the 90-day volume-weighted average share price.
  • The transaction, unanimously approved by an independent Special Committee, is expected to close in mid-2026 pending approval by unaffiliated shareholders and regulatory clearances.

European Wax Center Inc. saw its shares surge following the announcement that General Atlantic has entered into a definitive agreement to take the company private in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $330 million.

Under the terms set forth in the agreement, General Atlantic will purchase all outstanding shares of Class A common stock that it does not already hold. Shareholders will receive $5.80 in cash for each Class A share, equal to a 45% premium to the company's closing price on February 9, 2026, and a 51% premium to the 90-day volume-weighted average price of its shares.

General Atlantic currently owns roughly 42% of European Wax Center's outstanding common stock and has been a partner to the company since its initial investment in 2018, according to the terms disclosed. The proposed transaction was unanimously recommended by a Special Committee of the company's Board of Directors, a panel composed solely of independent directors.

The agreement remains subject to customary closing conditions. Specifically, the deal requires approval by a majority of votes cast by shareholders who are not affiliated with General Atlantic, as well as any necessary regulatory consents. If those conditions are satisfied, the transaction is expected to close in mid-2026.

Once completed, European Wax Center will convert from a publicly traded company to a privately-held company and its Class A common stock will no longer be listed on public exchanges.

European Wax Center positions itself as a leading franchisor and operator of out-of-home waxing services in the United States. The company's locations perform more than 23 million services annually, a figure cited in the transaction disclosure.


Contextual notes:

  • The deal price of $5.80 per share and the related premium calculations were provided by the parties in the announcement.
  • The timeline projects a mid-2026 close, contingent on shareholder and regulatory approvals.
  • The Special Committee's unanimous approval indicates the board-level recommendation in favor of the transaction.

This coverage reports the terms and conditions disclosed by the company and the acquiring investor. Any change to those terms or to the required approvals could affect the timing or completion of the transaction.

Risks

  • Shareholder approval risk - the deal requires a majority vote from shareholders not affiliated with General Atlantic, which could prevent completion if approval is not obtained.
  • Regulatory approval risk - the transaction is subject to regulatory consents that could delay or block closing.
  • Delisting and liquidity risk - upon closing, Class A common stock will no longer be publicly listed, eliminating public market liquidity for those shares.

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