McDonald's Acquisitions

Between 1998 and 2000 McDonald's acquired Donato's Pizza, invested in a Chipotle Mexican Grill, and acquired Boston Market.  It acquired Boston Market after its' parent company, Boston Chicken, Inc. filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and began a restructuring process.  The Boston Market acquistion was in 2000 and cost McDonald's Corporation approximately $174 million.  Of the 751 Boston Market restaurants acquired in the purchsase, some would continue as Boston Markets, while others would be converted to McDonald's, Chipotle Mexican Grills or Donatos Pizza restaurants.  This acquistion was part of McDonald's Corporation's domestic growth plan. 

 http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/food-beverage-stores/385486-1.html

In 2006, McDonald's Corp. fully divested its investment in Chipotle Mexican Grill. 

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=194775&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=916004&highlight

McDonald's may be wishing they had waited to divest those shares of stock as Chipotle is currently trading on the NYSE for $181.87.

http://www.google.com/finance?q=NYSE%3ACMG

The acquisition of Donato's Pizza in 1999 cost McDonald's Corp. $150 million.  However, it divested that company as well by selling it back to the original owners, the Grote family, in 2003.  The amount of the sale was undisclosed.

http://www.buyerzone.com/professional_services/franchises/rbic-second-act.html

And, finally, McDonald's sold the Boston Market chain to Sun Capital for an undisclosed sum in 2007.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-08-06-boston-market_N.htm

With the sale of Boston Market, McDonald's had divested all its' other ventures by 2007 and decided to get back to the basics and focus on its' primary hamburger chain.  As MCD appears to be doing quite well these days, it seems that divesting all other interests and focusing on its' core competencies has proven to be a successful strategy for MCD.