On 2 April 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the between Bridgepoint and Pret a Manger. The EC also declare it
compatible with the common market.

Bridgepoint is a leading European provider of private equity with a 25-year track record of buying established businesses and working with management to create and release value within companies across Europe.

Pret opened in London in 1986. College friends, Sinclair and Julian, made proper sandwiches using natural, preservative-free ingredients. The two of them had woefully little experience in the world of business. They created the sort of food they craved but couldn’t find anywhere else. Because Pret is private we don’t face the same pressure to grow that a public company does. We will develop slowly, one shop at a time. There are about 150 Pret shops at the moment. Most of them are in the UK. We turn over roughly 150 million pounds a year and would like to make 9% profit but haven’t yet. One day we will.