Soho House goes private in $2.7 billion deal as Ashton Kutcher joins the board of the swanky members’ club

Soho House, the global private members’ club brand renowned for cultivating creative communities in stylish spaces worldwide, is set to return to private ownership in a landmark $2.7 billion deal. The acquisition—led by New York–based MCR Hotels, one of America’s largest independent hotel owner-operators—will end Soho House’s four-year stint as a publicly traded company, and mark the start of a new chapter for the not-once-profitable members’ club.

Under the deal, announced Aug. 18, MCR will acquire all outstanding Soho House shares at $9 per share in cash, an 83% premium to the unaffected stock price at the time of bid. The transaction is supported by financial heavyweights Apollo Global Management and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, alongside a consortium of existing and new investors. Among the notable names joining the board post-acquisition are Ashton Kutcher, the prominent actor and tech investor; and MCR CEO Tyler Morse, who is set to become vice chairman.

Long-standing shareholders including Yucaipa Cos. executive chairman Ron Burkle; Soho House founder Nick Jones; and investor Richard Caring will retain their controlling equity interests, signaling continuity at the club’s leadership level. Goldman Sachs Alternatives, a backer since Soho House’s IPO, is also committing further capital to the venture.

Pending shareholder and regulatory approval, the deal is expected to be completed by year-end. Upon closure, Soho House shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, turning the business into a privately held enterprise.

Soho House: From cool London origins to global influence

Founded on London’s Greek Street in 1995, Soho House rapidly became a byword for luxury, exclusivity, and a vibrant creative scene. The clubs, which combine restaurants, hotels, gyms, spas, and workspaces, now span 46 locations in 18 countries, alongside brands like The Ned and Scorpios Beach Club. Membership is coveted, with club fees running into the thousands per year and a curated application process. As of June, Soho House had more than 270,000 members and reported $329.8 million in total revenue for the second quarter—an 8.9% increase year over year.

Still, Soho House’s journey on the public markets has faced consistent headwinds. Its July 2021 IPO priced shares at $14, but by mid-2025, shares had sagged to below $9, reflecting more than a 30% drop as profitability concerns and market volatility dogged the brand. Investors and analysts cited business model pressures, high operational costs, and slower-than-hoped expansion as reasons for the lackluster performance.

Fortune reported in May 2024 the company had lost money for every year since its founding, and its rapid global expansion had left it with a substantial debt load. Short-sellers, notably GlassHouse Research, had called out long-standing problems and compared it to WeWork. More recently, Soho House came under pressure from activist investor Dan Loeb and his fund, Third Point, which were pushing for a sale process for the chain.

CEO Andrew Carnie told Fortune at the time that he saw a three- to five-year plan ahead, although a company spokesperson later clarified Carnie wasn’t putting a time frame on Soho House’s path to profitability, but rather on “holistically reorientating the business against our strategic priorities of growing and enhancing membership and operating efficiently to grow profitably.”

Carnie described the transaction as a vote of confidence: “This reflects the strong belief our existing and incoming shareholders have in the future of Soho House & Co., and the transformation we’ve led since becoming a public company.”

In addition to retaining existing leadership, the acquisition is expected to bring fresh capital, hospitality know-how, and tech acumen into the fold. MCR, which owns more than 150 hotels globally—including the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport and the High Line Hotel in New York—brings operational expertise and a track record of innovation. Investors hope this backing will support Soho House’s plans to open four new clubs and improve its tech platforms for members.

For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. 

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com