---
title: "Inspire Brands Acquires Sonic"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/bfbc28d1-4c6e-4a5f-8e5c-88b748ca3ea4
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/inspire-brands-acquires-sonic-2707951
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["Finance & M&A"]
published: 2018-09-25T16:11:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T04:08:20.132Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/9d4d292889c9a35b75aca5f2d2ed64153087.jpg
---

# Inspire Brands Acquires Sonic

**TL;DR:** Inspire Brands has acquired Sonic for $2.3 billion, with Sonic continuing to operate as an independent brand. The deal values Sonic at $43.50 per share in cash, a 19% premium to its closing stock price on Monday.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-09-25. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/inspire-brands-acquires-sonic-2707951).*

## Story

Inspire Brands announced on Tuesday that it has closed a deal with Sonic Corp. to acquire the franchise brand for $2.3 billion.

According to *QSR Magazine*, the deal works out to $43.50 per share in cash, representing a premium of roughly 19 percent compared to the brand’s closing stock price on Monday.

Inspire Brands, which was formed just this year to accommodate Arby’s $2.9 acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings, owns both those brands as well as fast-casual franchise Rusty Taco. Under the new ownership, Inspire Brands says Sonic will continue to operate as an independent brand with the same management team.

“Sonic is a highly differentiated brand and is an ideal fit for the Inspire family,” said Paul Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Brands, in a statement. “We have tremendous respect for Sonic’s exceptional team of employees and franchise owners, who have built one of the industry’s most distinctive restaurant brands.”

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- franchise expansion (topic)
- private equity (topic)
- Arby's (company)
- Inspire Brands (company)
- Buffalo Wild Wings (company)
- Sonic (company)
- brand acquisition (topic)
- Rusty Taco (company)
- Paul Brown (person)
- Inspire Brands acquisition of Sonic (deal)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/inspire-brands-acquires-sonic-2707951). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/bfbc28d1-4c6e-4a5f-8e5c-88b748ca3ea4).