Yum! Inks Deals To Sell Long John Silver’s, A&W

Yum! Brands has signed definitive agreements to sell Long John Silver’s and A&W Restaurants to two separate groups of franchisees. Terms of the deals, announced Sept. 22, were not disclosed. Both sales are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter, Yum! said.

The Louisville, Ky.-based foodservice giant, which also franchises KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, said the 1,000-unit Long John Silver’s would be sold to LJS Partners, a consortium of franchisees and other investors. A&W, which has more than 600 units, will be sold to A Great American Brand, described by Yum! as a “franchisee leader with substantial interest in A&W restaurants.”

In 2002, Yum!—then called Tricon Global Restaurants—bought Long John Silver’s and A&W from Yorkshire Global Restaurants for $320 million.

Last January, Yum! announced plans to sell those brands to focus on its larger concepts and international expansion; the company said then that Long John Silver’s and A&W do not fit into its long-term strategy, as they have a minimal presence outside the U.S. and no outlets in China, one of Yum!’s biggest growth markets. Yum! operates 38,000 restaurants worldwide.