OFI Private Equity buys 39.7 pct of Leon de Bruxelles

PARIS, April 25 (Reuters) - OFI Private Equity Capital acquired 39.71 percent of Belgian-themed restaurant chain Leon de Bruxelles (LEOB.PA) in a deal valuing the company at 64.9 million euros ($102.3 million).

OFI, which teamed up with the company's management for the deal whose terms were unveiled in March, will launch a public tender offer also priced at 10.90 euros per share including a planned dividend for the rest of Leon de Bruxelles shares, the firm said in a statement on Friday.

Under the offer, it will also seek to redeem convertible bonds issued by Leon de Bruxelles in 1998 at 56 euros apiece.

Leon de Bruxelles, which was listed in 1997, has 44 restaurants offering a variety of mussels-based dishes and other Belgian specialties such as beer and waffles.

For 2007 the company reported a 5.5 percent rise in sales to 76.7 million euros. It plans to open five new restaurants in France and its first international franchise, in Dubai, in 2008.

Leon de Bruxelles shares were up 2.4 percent at 10.75 euros by 0748 GMT. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by David Holmes)