WOW!!!  It has probably been two years since I first stumbled across BMM.  I remember the excitement I felt over this relatively new site with SO MUCH potential.  I remember reading BMM’s stated objectives:

Mrs. Fields To Focus on Cookies, Not Pretzels

NexCen Brands, Inc., franchisor of MaggieMoos and Marble Slab Creamery, has acquired Pretzel Time and PretzelMaker from Mrs. Fields Famous Brands for a combined purchase price of $29.4 million ($22.1 million cash + NexCen Common stock valued at approximately $7.3 million).  As of June 30, 2007 Pretzel Time had 327 franchised or licensed locations in the U.S. and 49 international locations.  

Commenting on the Acquisition:

NexCen President and CEO Robert W. D'Loren said:
"Pretzel Time and Pretzelmaker are representative of the types of acquisition opportunities that NexCen has targeted to grow our QSR vertical and to increase sales in our existing ice cream concepts. Our business model is based upon leveraging synergistic relationships between our brands to deliver value to our stakeholders. The addition of these companies to our QSR portfolio provides NexCen with an additional 376 doors for the delivery of quality branded products, and broadens our franchise offering for interested franchise investors".

Billionaire Peltz Considering $3.6 Billion Deal

NEW YORK (Blue MauMau) - Wendy's stock closed Monday at $33.69 per share, and SHOT UP $3.25 or 9.6% overnight as Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, and his company Triarc takes AIM AT the 3rd largest hamburger chain in the U.S. --- WENDY'S! Peltz said he was ready to offer $37 to $41 per share for the company founded by Dave Thomas (links to flash presentation about Thomas) which would make the deal worth somewhere between $3.2 and $3.6 billion.

Triarc Companies, Inc. is a holding company and, through its subsidiaries, the franchisor of the Arby's and the owner and operator of over 1,000 Arby's restaurants located in the United States. With approximately 3,600 restaurants primarily in the United States, Arby's is the largest restaurant chain specializing in the roast beef sandwich segment and the 12th largest QSR chain overall.

Allied Capital Buys Comfort Keepers for $44.3 Million

DAYTON, Ohio (Blue MauMau) - Allied Capital Corp. has agreed to provide the private equity firm of Webster Capital with up to $44.3 million to acquire CK Franchising, Inc., d/b/a Comfort Keepers. Allied Capital's investment will take the form of senior and subordinated debt, a revolving credit facility and a minority equity investment.

"Both companies have long histories of identifying strong comanies with significant growth potential and providing guidance and resources for growth," said Jim Both, president and CEO of CK Franchising. "This is an ideal marriage for CKFI and our franchise Owners."

Sunshine Restaurant Partners LLC, an affiliate of Atlanta-based Argonne Capital Group LLC, has acquired 148 IHOP restaurants in Florida and southern Georgia from FMS Management Systems, Inc. 

With this acquisition the distinction of being IHOP’s largest U.S. area licensee and operator, will pass from FMS to Argonne.  In August 2004 another Argonne affiliate ACG Texas LP acquired 35 IHOP restaurants in Texas along with the rights to develop an additional 31 locations in the state.  Since the Texas acquisition ACG has opened or acquired 16 addtional locations and have 4 under development which will bring their total to 55.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however it was reported that FMS sales in 2006 were $189 million and that Argonne will retain FMS’s existing management team.  FMS opened its first IHOP restaurant in N. Miami Beach in 1961.

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