(Reuters) -Blackstone is buying restaurant chain Tropical Smoothie Cafe for nearly $2 billion, including debt, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The deal could be announced as soon as Thursday, the report added.

Reuters had reported in December, citing sources, that Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, the private equity owner of Tropical Smoothie, was preparing to put the chain up for sale for around $2 billion.

Tropical Smoothie was launched in 1997 and serves smoothies it bills as healthy, as well as wraps and sandwiches, among other foods.

Blackstone and Tropical Smoothie did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.