WENDY’S: Triarc (Arby’s) Takeover Approved
September 16, 2008 by Sean Kelly
Filed under Business
(FranchisePick.com) Related: Wendy’s Goes Viral with Crazy Lettuce Video, Family Fights to Exhume Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas
Source: Nation’s Restaurant News
ATLANTA (Sept. 15, 2008) Triarc Cos. Inc.’s attempt to form a two-brand quick-service powerhouse moved forward today when shareholders of the Arby’s parent and Wendy’s International Inc. separately approved a $2.34 billion merger. Under the deal that was put to a simultaneous vote at the meetings here and in Wendy’s headquarters city of Dublin, Ohio, Triarc will proceed to pay 4.25 shares of Class A common stock for each Wendy’s share it does not already own. The buyout is expected to be completed in about two weeks.
Approval of the acquisition by both company’s shareholders had been expected. The deal had earlier been recommended by the board of each party.
The company formed through Triarc’s absorption of Wendy’s, operator and franchisor of the nation’s third-largest burger chain, will be known as Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. The new entity will operate 1,169 Arby’s and 1,402 Wendy’s restaurants, while franchisees will operate 2,550 Arby’s and 5,223 Wendy’s.
The new company will trade under the stock symbol “WEN” on the New York Stock Exchange. The deal, announced last April, remains subject to “customary closing conditions,” according to a statement from the parties.
Triarc had said earlier that Arby’s and Wendy’s would maintain their respective headquarters in Atlanta and Dublin, but that a consolidated support center would be opened in Georgia to oversee some shared functions. The company also has indicated that it plans to boost the sales of the combined entity by focusing on breakfast, snacks and international development… READ ON (subscription required)
WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHARE A COMMENT BELOW.
__________________________
FEATURED STORY:
TanWorld: Creating the Next-Generation Tanning Salon Franchise
OVERVIEW Interview with Tanworld V.P. Bob McQuillan
Visit FRANBEST’s: Unbiased franchise information, franchise interviews and detailed, searchable information on 400 franchise and business opportunities.
.
Franchisees, customers & experts vote for their favorite new franchises at Top New Franchise: Who’s hot. Who’s not.
You know that this Takeover will greatly impact the franchisees. Did they have any input into any of this or is this just a demonstration of how BIG Franchising operates? All of the big franchisors have gone “International” with the hope that they can still grow their gross sales of the system and keep their stock prices up.
The price wars among the QSR franchisors continue and it looks like the franchisees who are on the bottom of the financial pyramids will bear the burden of the increased competition in the QSR Sector because of the impact of the recession on gross sales of the systems.
Will this “takeover” mean lots of blood shed in the domestic economy for franchisees who bear the risk and expense of operating the physical units that wear these two famous brand names?
Or, is this good news for franchisees?