-=Dunkin' Brands (DNKN) in talks to be acquired by Inspire Brands

• Dunkin' Brands is in talks to be acquired by Inspire Brands, a private equity-based restaurant company, Dunkin' said in a statement on Sunday. According to the New York Times, which first reported the talks, the deal could take Dunkin' Brands private at $106.50 a share.

Dunkin’ (ticker: DNKN) said late Sunday that it was in preliminary negotiations with Inspire Brands, and would provide no further comment unless the parties reached a deal or called off talks. Although the company didn’t discuss financial details, reports have put an potential per-share price for the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins owner at $106.50, about a 20% premium to Friday’s closing price.

Dunkin’ hasn’t been talked about as a takeover candidate much lately, but it is no stranger to rumors. There was speculation three years ago that it could be bought by JAB Holdings—to the point that the stock fell after the firm purchased Panera Bread instead. Dunkin’ has since grown, and with a market value of $7 billion, the field of potential buyers has narrowed.

Inspire Brands is a familiar name to restaurant investors. The consortium, owned by the private-equity firm Roark Capital, includes Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sonic, among other brands. Its most recent big purchase was Jimmy John’s. Dunkin’ itself was privately owned before its 2011 initial public offering.

Jimmy John’s acquired by Arby’s owner Inspire Brands

Jimmy John's Sandwiches, which has grown to more than 2,800 shops since its founding in Charleston, Ill., 36 years ago, is getting sold to the owner of Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In and Rusty Taco.
The company stated franchising in 1993 and grew quickly.

• Inspire Brands, which owns Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Sonic, is buying Jimmy John’s.
• The sandwich chain reached $2.1 billion in sales in 2018.
• The deal will make Inspire the fourth-largest restaurant company in the U.S., with more than 11,200 restaurants in 16 countries and more than $14 billion in annual system sales.

Inspire Brands, backed by private equity firm Roark Capital Group, announced Wednesday it will acquire Jimmy John’s for an undisclosed amount. The chain has more than 2,800 locations, which will comprise a quarter of Inspire’s total count.

Roark Capital first took a stake in the chain in 2016.

Jimmy John’s president, James North, will remain at the company, but founder Jimmy John Liautaud will step down as board chairman and become an adviser to the chain.

“Jimmy John’s has found the ideal home at Inspire,” Liautaud said in a statement. “Inspire’s long-term approach, culture of innovation and commitment to helping brands grow sets it apart from the rest.”

Inspire, which also owns Arby’s, Sonic Drive-In, Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco, said that upon the deal’s expected late October closing, it will become the fourth-largest restaurant company in the United States with more than $14 billion in annual system sales and more than 11,200 restaurants. Jimmy John’s reached $2.1 billion in sales last year.

Roark formed Inspire when it merged Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings in 2018. It announced the $2.3 billion acquisition of Sonic in September of that year.

The acquisition comes as Jimmy John’s faces increasing competition from Potbelly, Jersey Mike’s Subs and Firehouse Subs. Subway, which remains the largest U.S. restaurant chain by number of stores, is trying to stage a comeback after a massive expansion across the U.S. and an unprofitable sandwich deal hurt its business.

As delivery services like GrubHub and UberEats have grown popular, Jimmy John’s has been trying to appeal to customers through its in-house delivery program, touting its ability to drop off sandwiches in five minutes.

=Sonic (SONC) to be acquired by Inspire Brands in $2.3 billion

The parent company of Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings will now own the Sonic burger chain.
The deal, which assumes all debt, is valued at $2.3 billion.
Sonic shareholders will receive $43.50 a share in cash.
Inspire Brands is owned by private equity firm Roark Capital.
Sonic joins Inspire's portfolio, which includes more than 4,700 Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings and Rusty Taco restaurants.



www.focusbrands.com
https://inspirebrands.com/
https://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio#s2_Resturant_and_Food
https://www.roarkcapital.com/portfolio
FOCUS Brands is the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Moe's Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky's and the franchisor of Seattle's Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets.


The parent company of Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings is acquiring burger chain Sonic in a deal valued at $2.3 billion, the companies announced on Tuesday.

The deal, which will pay Sonic shareholders $43.50 per share in cash, represents a 19 percent premium on Sonic’s Monday close. Trading was halted Tuesday morning.

This acquisition adds to Inspire Brand’s portfolio of restaurants that also includes Rusty Taco. Inspire Brands is owned by private equity firm Roark. As part of the deal, Sonic will become a private company.

=Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) to be acquired by Roark Capital for $157/share

Arby's Restaurant Group

• Founded: July 23, 1964, Youngstown, OH
• Parent organizations: Roark Capital Group

Buffalo Wild Wings agrees to be acquired by Arby's Restaurant Group for $157/share in cash, or approx. $2.9 bln

• The agreement, which has been unanimously approved by both companies' Boards of Directors, represents a premium of approximately 38% to BWW's 30-day volume-weighted average stock price as of November 13, 2017, the latest trading day prior to news reports speculating about a potential transaction.
• The transaction is not subject to a financing condition and is expected to close during the first quarter of 2018, subject to the approval of BWW shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.

=Buffalo Wild Wings (BWLD) : takeover offer from Roark Capital

• Roark Capital has made an offer to buy Buffalo Wild Wings.
• Roark made an offer of more than $150 per share.  The Wall Street Journal initially reported the offer.
• Shares of the restaurant chain have shed 24 percent this year.

Last month, the company surprised the Street and beat its third quarter earnings expectations while raising full-year guidance. The company had slashed its forecast for the year in July after a sizable second-quarter miss.