db Group opens London office, eyes international investment

db Group has opened an office in London to identify new international opportunities for partnerships and investments.

“We have always welcomed collaboration, joint ventures and projects that bring different expertise to the table. So, it is a natural step for us to open up to the rest of the world in search of new opportunities,” CEO Robert Debono said.

db Group is the Maltese holder of the Starbucks and Hard Rock Cafe franchises. It also owns the Seabank and San Antonio hotels, as well as various upmarket restaurants including Loa, Aki, and Amami.

The group’s international family office in Mayfair, London is called SDH Capital, with Nicholas Portelli as Managing Director.

Mr Portelli has over 25 years’ experience in finance and investment. He served as CEO of a financial services group of companies in Malta and later as Senior Vice President of an international group based in London and operating in East Africa. In 2012, he founded and managed a real estate firm in Central London, a position he relinquished prior to joining db Group.

“db Group has been incredibly successful with its hotels, restaurants, franchises and industrial catering businesses in Malta. I believe we can put this expertise to good use in new markets, thereby diversifying our portfolio,” he said.

Mr Portelli added that the group has already identified a key investment in London that will be launched in 2024. Internationalising the group’s hotel and restaurant proposition will be a key focus.

For more information about SDH Capital, click here, and for more details about db Group’s initiatives, click here.