Dunkin’ Brands has confirmed that it is in negotiations for a sale to Inspire Brands in a potential $8.8 billion deal, according to a report on Sunday in The New York Times.
“Dunkin’ Brands confirms that it has held preliminary discussions to be acquired by Inspire Brands. There is no certainty that any agreement will be reached. Neither group will comment further unless and until a transaction is agreed,” Karen Raskopf, chief communications officer of Dunkin’ Brands, told the Times in a statement.
The potential deal under discussion would sell the company at $106.5 per share, or at a valuation of around $8.8 billion, according to the Times.
Atlanta-based Inspire Brands, backed by private equity firm Roark Capital, owns multiple national restaurant chains, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Sonic and Jimmy John’s. The brands collectively generate over $14.6 billion in annual revenue, according to the company’s website.
Dunkin’ Brands emcompasses both brands Dunkin’, formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts, and Baskin Robbins, which together have 21,000 franchise outlets globally. The company reported $1.4 billion in revenue last year and over $240 million in profit, the Times reported.
Within the ready-to-drink segment, Dunkin’ markets a variety of iced coffee and cold brew coffee products through a licensing deal with The Coca-Cola Company.