Inspire Brands, the Atlanta-based restaurant conglomerate that owns Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby’s, Jimmy John’s, and Sonic, filed a draft registration statement with the SEC last week indicating that it’s considering an initial public offering. The diverse portfolio, which spans breakfast and coffee, casual dining and sports bars, sandwiches, traditional burger QSRs, and desserts, would make Inspire one of the most diversified publicly traded restaurant conglomerates, potentially insulating it from sectoral downturns affecting individual brands. Inspire said it would use the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its existing term loan facility and pay offering fees and expenses, though the timing, pricing, and number of shares are subject to SEC review and market conditions. The filing follows Jersey Mike’s recent S-1 filing indicating interest in an IPO and the successful IPO of Black Rock Coffee last year, suggesting public markets have an appetite for growing restaurant brands with strong unit economics.
