Will Dunkin' change hands?

Dunkin’ Brands, owner of Dunkin’ donut shops and Baskin Robbins ice cream shops, is negotiating a possible takeover with Inspire Brands.

Preparatory talks

According to The New York Times, Dunkin’ Brands is valued at around 8.8 billion dollar (7.45 billion euro) in the impending deal. Inspire Brands would take the company off the stock exchange for 106.5 dollars (90.1 euros) per share, which represents a 20% premium over last Friday’s closing price.
 

The transaction would add Dunkin’ Brands to Inspire Brands’ portfolio, which already includes Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic and Jimmy John’s. Inspire Brands is in turn part of investment company Roark Capital.
 

In a statement last Sunday, Dunkin ‘Brands confirmed that it had ‘preliminary discussions’ to be acquired by Inspire Brands, but that there is no certainty that agreement will be reached. “None of the parties will react further unless and until a transaction has been agreed”, the statement continued.