The bidding is about to begin for Dunkin' Brands, parent to Baskin Robbins and the Togo's sandwich shops, as well as Dunkin' Donuts, with $1.8 billion the starting point.(Last Licks)

Ice Cream Reporter, September, 2005

The bidding is about to begin for Dunkin' Brands, parent to Baskin Robbins and the Togo's sandwich shops, as well as Dunkin' Donuts, with $1.8 billion the starting point. Reuters is reporting that Hicks, Muse, Tate, & Furst, Bain Capital LLC, Thomas H. Lee Partners LP, and The Carlyle Group are in pursuit and bids from buyers such as KFC and Taco Bell parent Yum Brands are anticipated.

The French drinks group Pernod is expected to put the food unit up fro sale, as the follow up to its $14.2 billion purchase of parent company Allied Domecq.