http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/08/AR2005120802033.htmlCarlyle Bidding On Food Chains
Deal Would Be A First for FirmBy Terence O'Hara
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 9, 2005; Page D01
The Carlyle Group is among the final bidders for the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurant chains, in what would be the first U.S. consumer retail investment for a company built around its expertise in defense, aerospace and telecommunications.
Carlyle has been eyeing Dunkin' Brands Inc. since this summer and has joined with Thomas H. Lee Partners LP and Bain Capital LLC, both of Boston, to submit a bid for the French-owned food chains, according to two sources familiar with the bid who spoke on condition of anonymity because the bidding process is supposed to remain private.
Dunkin' Donuts' parent company is trying to sell the chain and its corporate siblings, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's, for about $2 billion, sources say.
Groups headed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and by J.P. Morgan Partners have also made bids for the company, which is expected to draw a price of about $2 billion, the sources said.If the Carlyle Group take over Dunkin' Donuts you can be rest assured I'll never eat another donut from them again!!