Dunkin’ Brands Group, the parent of Dunkin’ — formerly Dunkin’ Donuts — and Baskin-Robbins, has stated on its website that it is negotiating to be acquired by Inspire Brands, a private equity-backed company whose other properties include Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings and Sonic, The New York Times reported.
“Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., the parent company of two of the world’s most recognized brands, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, confirms that it has held preliminary discussions to be acquired by Inspire Brands,” the company said in a statement. “There is no certainty that any agreement will be reached. The company will not comment further unless and until a transaction is agreed or discussions are terminated.”
According to the Times, Inspire Brands refused to comment on the discussions, but key aspects would include a price of $106.50 per share. That price, a 20 percent premium over the company’s closing price Friday, would value the company at $8.8 billion.
In a July 30 earnings call, then-incoming Dunkin’ Chief Digital and Strategy Officer Philip Auerbach said the company was working to rev up its digital operation.
“We have scaled back our national media spend and paused on launching new potentially complex limited-time offers,” he said on the call. “We have thoughtfully started to return to media with appropriate messaging, thanking our first responders and our crew members through our raise-a-cup campaign. You’ll see a rotating suite of content on our social channels and increasingly in traditional media as well.”
Dunkin’s possible sale follows contraction, including the closing of some freestanding locations.
In June, however, as authorities began to wind back some first-round COVID-19 restrictions, the company said its stores would hire as many as 25,000 employees.
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