Soho House strikes £2bn deal to go private as actor Kutcher joins board

The members' club chain Soho House has agreed a $2.7bn (£2bn) deal to take it private after a tricky four years listed on the New York stock exchange.

- Jasper Jolly

New York-based MCR Hotels will lead new equity investors in the chain of clubs as part of a deal that will involve it ditching its stock market listing. Actor turned startup investor Ashton Kutcher - who is thought to have been a longstanding member of Soho House - will also join its board of directors, while the MCR chief executive, Tyler Morse, will be vice-chair.

Soho House was founded in 1995 with a single club in central London from which it takes its name.

It was founded by the restaurateur Nick Jones, who has a 5% stake, although the biggest investor is the US retail billionaire Ron Burkle, who holds 40% of the company.

Richard Caring, the owner of the Ivy restaurant chain, has a 21% stake. All three will retain their stakes, as will the US investment bank Goldman Sachs, which has 8%.