Sponsored By

Burger King-parent RBI completes Carrols acquisitionBurger King-parent RBI completes Carrols acquisition

Company buys largest U.S. franchisee and plans $500M investment in reimaging 600 restaurants

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

May 16, 2024

1 Min Read
carrols acquires burger king popeyes units
Burger King-parent Restaurant Brands International Inc. completes its acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, it's largest U.S. franchisee.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. has completed its acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group Inc., its largest Burger King franchisee in the United States, for about $1 billion and plans to invest an additional $500 million to reimage 600 Carrols restaurants, the company said Thursday.

Toronto, Canada-based Restaurant Brands International, which offered $9.55 a share in the all-cash transaction that was announced in January, said the $500 million reimaging was part of its “Reclaim the Flame” plan, announced in fall 2022. It will accelerate the reimaging before the company refranchises the majority of the acquired portfolio to new or existing smaller franchise operators over the next seven years.

On May 16, RBI subsidiaries also amended to their existing credit agreement, increasing the existing term loan B facility with $5.2 billion outstanding to a $5.9 billion term loan B facility under the same terms as the existing facility. The proceeds were used along with cash on hand to complete the acquisition of Carrols, including the payoff of its credit agreement and the redemption and discharge of its outstanding 5.875% senior notes due in 2029.

Carrols operated 1,023 Burger King restaurants in 23 states and 59 Popeyes restaurants in six states. Carrols had operated Burger King restaurants since 1976 and Popeyes restaurants since 2019.

Related:RBI adds $300M to Burger King remodeling program

Burger King, founded in 1954, operates and franchises more than 19,000 restaurants in more than 120 countries and territories.

Parent RBI also owns the Tim Hortons, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Firehouse Subs brands.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on X/Twitter: @RonRuggless

 

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.

You May Also Like