On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Roark Capital, a major backer of Dunkin’ parent company Inspire Brands, has been in talks with potential advisors to possibly take the brand public in late 2024 or 2025.
The anonymous source for Bloomberg said the company could be valued at $20 billion.
Bloomberg reports that deliberations are ongoing, and no decisions have been made regarding the company’s IPO.
“We remain focused on growing our business and creating long-term value for all stakeholders,” a spokesperson for Inspire Brands said in an e-mail to NRN. “We have no comment on potential future changes to our capital structure.”
Inspire Brands also owns Sonic Drive-In, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, and Jimmy John’s.
Roark owns privately held Focus Brands, and has a stake in The Cheesecake Factory. It said last year it intended to add Subway in a $9.6 billion move.
Inspire Brands acquired Dunkin’ Brands in late 2020 for $11.3 billion and subsequently took the brand private.
The company was formed in 2018 when Arby’s acquired Buffalo Wild Wings, which itself owned Rusty Taco. Inspire bought Sonic in December of that year, and Jimmy John’s, which already was owned by another Roark affiliate, in the fall of 2019. Inspire then sold Rusty Taco to Gala Capital Partners in 2022.
The Dunkin’ purchase made Inspire Brands the second-largest restaurant company in the country, following Yum Brands, which is a publicly traded company.
