Sonic Corp. (SONIC Drive-In) acquired by Inspire Brands, Inc.
Inspire Brands, Inc. acquired Sonic Corp. (SONIC Drive-In), a US quick service restaurants; drive in operator and franchisor brand, on Dec 7, 2018.
Transaction summary
- Target
- Sonic Corp. (SONIC Drive-In)
- Acquirer
- Inspire Brands, Inc.
- Seller
- -
- Announced
- 2018-09-25
- Geography
- United States
- Type
- Take Private
- Deal type
- Control
- Stake acquired
- -
- First added
- 2026-10-04
- Latest update
- 2026-10-04
Value and multiples
100% enterprise value
USD 2.3B
100% enterprise value | USD
Basis: Estimated
Reported price is assumed to be 100% EV unless stated otherwise. Partial-stake estimates are qualified in the basis notes.
EV / revenue
5.43x
Period: FY Ended 2018 08 31
Basis: Derived from source data
EV / EBITDA
15.3x
EBITDA basis not stated
Basis: Public source
Amounts paid and other reported values
Original reported amounts and bases; a stake payment is distinct from the estimated whole-company valuation.
Consideration: USD PER SHARE 44
Merger agreement consideration was $43.50 per share in cash; aggregate cash consideration is not stated here.
Basis
- Reported transaction value is approximately $2.3 billion including assumed Sonic debt; it is treated as estimated whole-company enterprise value, not as aggregate cash consideration. The agreement provided $43.50 per share in cash. FY2018 total corporate revenue of $423.590 million is for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. FY2018 EBITDA of $144.8 million is reported by Sonic; its basis is not specified in that statement. The proxy separately reports 15.3x EV/EBITDA based on FY2018E Sonic management estimates; this forecast multiple is not calculated from the reported actual EBITDA. Derived EV/revenue is approximately 5.43x. Systemwide sales are excluded from company revenue. EV/revenue derived: approximately $2.3 billion divided by $423.590 million = approximately 5.43x. The 15.3x EV/EBITDA is reported for FY2018E Sonic management estimates, not derived from actual FY2018 EBITDA. Actual FY2018 revenue from Sonic Form 10-K; reported FY2018 EBITDA from the earnings release; proxy-reported 15.3x multiple refers to FY2018E management estimates.
Source summary
Sonic Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2018 Results
ConfirmedOn September 25, 2018, Sonic and Inspire Brands, Inc.
Open sourceInspire Brands announcement: Sonic to be acquired in $2.3 billion transaction
Confirmedtransaction valued at approximately $2.3 billion including the assumption of Sonic’s net debt
Open sourceInspire Brands Completes Acquisition of SONIC Corp.
Confirmedannounced the completion of its $2.3 billion acquisition of Sonic Corp.
Open sourceSonic Corp. Form 10-K for fiscal year ended August 31, 2018
ConfirmedTotal revenues 423,590
Open sourceSonic Corp. Preliminary Proxy Statement
ConfirmedFY 2018E — Sonic Management Estimates 15.3 x
Open sourceContinue your research
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