Miami ? Diageo PLC, the largest liquor company, has finalized the $1.5 billion sale of Burger King to an equity sponsor group, it announced Friday.

Earlier this year, venture capital firms Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners agreed to purchase the Miami-based fast-food chain for $2.26 billion.

But in November, the group insisted on negotiating more favorable terms, resulting in the $1.5 billion price tag.

London-based Diageo has been seeking since June 2000 to sell Burger King so that it could focus on its drinks business.

Texas Pacific is based in Fort Worth, Tex. Bain Capital, headquartered in Boston, owns 95 percent of the Domino’s Pizza chain. Goldman Sachs Capital Partners is the private equity arm of U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs.

“This ownership group is outstanding,” Burger King CEO John Dasburg said Friday. “They fully understand and support our strategy, our programs and our people.”