Finance & M&A — page 4

Franchisees continue to file for bankruptcy, with a 30-unit Denny's operator filing Chapter 11 this week, citing $10-50 million in liabilities.

EYM Diner, a 30-unit Denny's operator, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing $10-50 million in liabilities and less than $50,000 in assets.

Wendy's has unveiled a comprehensive revitalization plan, including a 5.9% decline in system sales and a plan to buy up to 163 restaurants from a bankrupt franchisee.

Wendy’s rejected Nelson Peltz’s $1.4 billion takeover offer and adopted a poison‑pill plan that triggers a discounted stock purchase if any party acquires 15% of shares.

Dutch Bros reports 4.4% systemwide same-store sales growth in Q3, but slows from 5.8% in Q2 and falls below Wall Street expectations.

Cheba Hut signs an eight-unit area development agreement with WGT Concepts LLC to expand into the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets.

Snap-on raises its dividend by 12.7%, marking the 17th consecutive annual increase for the company.

Dream Vacations' network reaches $1 billion in combined land and cruise sales, marking a significant milestone for the travel agency franchise network.

Aroma Joe's is offering free drinks to all veterans on November 11th at participating locations.

Wonder Group Inc. has submitted a draft registration statement to the SEC for a proposed initial public offering.

Commission Express, a veteran-founded franchise, helps ease real estate professionals’ cash flow challenges by purchasing their sales commissions at a discount prior to their closings.

Sweetgreen's same-store sales and traffic turned positive in October, following a decline in the third quarter.

Xponential's third-quarter revenue fell 21% to $62.3 million, with North America same-store sales dropping 7.5%.

Wonder has filed a draft registration statement with the SEC for a proposed initial public offering of Class A common stock.

McDonald's is testing two value menu formats in about 1,900 U.S. restaurants, aiming to choose one for a national rollout in early 2027 based on customer response and franchisee benefit.

Sandbox VR offers location-based virtual reality entertainment franchise opportunity with immersive experiences for groups.

EYM Diner, a 30-unit Denny’s operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Northern Texas bankruptcy court, citing $10 million to $50 million in liabilities.

Planet Fitness acquires Portugal’s Be-Fit, expanding international footprint to six markets and doubling presence in Spain and Portugal.

Wendy’s introduces Dave’s Way operational turnaround strategy, making breakfast optional for U.S. franchisees, to improve restaurant execution and profitability.

Wendy's to acquire up to 163 Meritage Hospitality Group locations as part of a broader effort to strengthen its U.S. restaurant portfolio.

Private equity firms One Rock Capital Partners and Paradigm Equity Partners complete M&A deals, acquiring Kraft Heinz's coffee business and STI Fabrics, respectively.

CAVA's same-store sales rose 3.1 percent in Q3, with the average restaurant now doing over $3 million in annual sales.

Wendy's has rejected a buyout offer from its former chairman and agreed to buy up to 163 restaurants from Meritage Hospitality Group.

Wendy's rejected an unsolicited $7.35-per-share cash acquisition proposal from Trian Fund Management, citing undervaluation of the company.