In what could be a sign of its intention to expand its portfolio of convenience-store holdings globally, Brookwood Financial Partners LLC, the private equity real estate investment firm behind the Yesway and Allsup’s c-store chains in the United Stated, is opening a new office in London through its wholly owned subsidiary, Brookwood Financial Ltd.
“This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in Brookwood’s long-term vision to grow its international footprint and deepen relationships with global institutional investors,” the company said in announcing the news.
“With a permanent presence in London, we are pleased to deepen our connections with institutional investors across Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” said Thomas Trkla, chairman and CEO of Beverly, Massachusetts-based Brookwood. “This expansion reflects our ongoing growth and our commitment to our global investor base.”
Brookwood said its new London office will strengthen its presence in Europe and the Middle East, providing “closer proximity” to its expanding base of international capital partners.
Since its founding in 1993, Brookwood has invested more than $1.8 billion in equity on behalf of global investors, including sovereign wealth funds, global banks, endowments, pension plans and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The firm’s portfolio spans more than $4.9 billion in total assets, including commercial real estate, operating businesses and a national, U.S. convenience store network via its Yesway affiliate.
Brookwood’s investment in the Yesway c-store chain “exemplifies its differentiated, hands-on approach to private equity,” it said. What began as a 10-store acquisition has evolved into a regional platform grown through a strategy of acquisition and new-to-industry (NTI) stores, Brookwood said.
“This success reflects Brookwood’s core capabilities: identifying overlooked assets, applying operational expertise and executing strategic rollups to unlock long-term value, the company said. “Unlike firms that rely primarily on financial engineering, Brookwood takes a thesis-driven approach rooted in deep sector insight and active operational involvement.”
Brookwood Financial Ltd. launches with a team of three managing directors:
- Yousif Banayoti, a veteran of more than 25 years in the private and public financial markets, has held senior roles at Merrill Lynch, UBS and Credit Suisse and most recently advised institutional clients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region through AITI Global.
- Ciaran Henry, formerly a partner at Sagard and head of distribution for Europe and Asia, has led capital raising and distribution efforts across private equity, infrastructure and credit at firms including Fiera Capital.
- Derek Williams, with 20 years of global market experience, has led capital formation teams in the United Kingdom; United States; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific. He previously worked as a chartered surveyor at Land Securities.
Representatives of Brookwood did not respond to a CSP request for comment.
Established in 2015, Fort Worth, Texas-based Yesway is owned by BW Gas & Convenience Holdings. In 2019, it acquired Clovis, New Mexico-based Allsup’s and its 304 stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. It now operates 444 stores in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Nebraska under the Yesway and Allsup’s brands, with the chains' geographic footprints consisting of stores located in rural and suburban markets across the Midwest and Southwest.
Yesway continues an aggressive campaign to grow its store count and financial performance through the completion of new stores and raze-and-rebuild projects across its portfolio and geographic footprint.
- Yesway is No. 19 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of largest U.S. convenience-store chains.
Founded in 1993, Brookwood Financial Partners is a nationally recognized private equity firm specializing in real estate and operating business investments. Its historical portfolio includes more than 200 commercial properties, seven operating companies and a controlling interest in Yesway.
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