[서화목] Arby will acquire Dunkin Brands Group

Inspire Brands, which runs the U.S. hamburger franchise Arby, will acquire Dunkin Brands Group, the operator of Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins, for $8.8 billion (about 9.983 trillion won).

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 31st, Inspire Brands will buy Dunkin Brands Group for $8.8 billion, citing both companies. The debt-to-equity acquisition is worth $11.3 billion and is expected to close by the end of the year.

When the contract is completed, Inspire Brands will become the second-largest restaurant franchise in the U.S. by sales after McDonald's. The combined number of restaurants and employees is 32,000 and 600,000 respectively. Its annual sales amount to $27 billion.

Inspire explained that the acquisition negotiations between the two companies began before the outbreak of Corona 19, and was attracted to Dunkin Brands' drive-through store.

The WSJ said 42% of the 21,100 Dunkin stores are outside the U.S., adding that Inspire Brands' influence will expand around the world.

According to investment data provider Deloix, the deal is the second largest in North American restaurant franchise trading in the past decade.

The biggest deal was in 2014 when restaurant Brands International acquired Tim Hortons for $13.3 billion (about 15 trillion won)