Dunkin' Brands Sale? Panera Owner A Rumored Buyer

CANTON, MA – Is a buyout ahead for Dunkin' Brands? The chain's stock rose 8 points Monday amid speculation that it could be bought by the parent company of Panera, Krispy Kreme and Peet's Coffee, according to Bloomberg. The business publication reported Tuesday that Luxembourg-based JAB Holdings, which has scooped up several big-name companies in the past year and a half, could be looking to make Dunkin' its next purchase.

Canton-based Dunkin' Brands, which includes Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins, is valued at around $8.2 billion, according to Bloomberg. It would be JAB's second-largest purchase in 19 months, behind Keurig Green Mountain. In that time, the holdings company has purchased Green Mountain, Krispy Kreme and Panera Bread for a collective $23 billion.

Buying Dunkin' would be key in JAB competing with Starbucks in the coffee market.

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(AP Photo/Alan Diaz)