Why Was Popeyes Stock Delisted?

It hasn’t been that long since many Americans began seeing Popeyes restaurants turn up n their towns as the popular fast-food chicken chain spread like wildfire. The company was achieved rapid success with customers who enjoyed the Cajun theme and tasty menu offerings they could eat in the restaurant or take out to eat at home. The Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was in business and thriving for 45 years before the owners decided to go public at the turn of the 21st century, according to The Fool. For many, the fast-food chain appeared to be a sound investment and it did well for a time, growing and expanding, but this is no longer the case. Popeyes has been delisted and is no longer available on the stock market, but why did this happen?

Popeyes’ stock fell on hard times

The fast-food chain went through a period of rapid expansion that began in the latter part of the 1970s and extended through the next decade. The problem with the fast growth is that it created a large amount of debt. The company had overextended its resources beyond what it had been able to pay back. Popeyes had no choice but to file for bankruptcy in 1991. The creditors of Popeyes took positive action and create a chain called America’s Favorite Chicken Company, which served as the parent company that took Popeyes under its umbrella, along with Church’s, another chicken chain. The company went public with Popeyes as a subsidiary of the parent, and kept the restaurants open and operating. The newly formed company went public with its IPO in 2001. Stocks were sold at a starting price of $17 per share with 9.4 million shares offered.

Performance

Popeyes did remarkably well after the IPO with stocks doubling by the first part of 2002. This would be the best that it would see, however, Within the next six years, the stock plummeted to under $4 per share. Investors began to lose confidence in a rebound and the recession of that time was weighing heavily on most investors. This signaled dire straights for the chicken establishment. Although Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen had a recurring clientele base, investor dismay led to a decline in the popularity of the stock.

A Rebound

When the founder of Popeyes passed away in 2008, America’s Favorite Chicken gained the name Popeyes Lousiana Kitchen. The stock rebounded and appeared to recover from the recent financial crisis it experienced. Stocks soared to $55 per share towards the end of 2014. The company shared its new expansion plans with investors and it made a bid to go international. Restaurant Brands International acquired Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in early 2015 in a $1.8 billion deal. Shareholders received $79 per stock to cash them in. This acquisition was completed in February of 2015 and by Late March, Popeyes was no longer listed on the stock exchange.

Why was Popeyes delisted?

According to Bullish Ears, The Popeyes fast-food chain was delisted and is no longer available for purchasing stock shares under its old name. It is no longer a publicly-traded company. The final selling price of the shares was $79 per share, which investors accepted to close out their accounts on the matter. Although this might make some potential investors sad, there’s good news. The parent brand of Popeyes is a publicly-traded company. Restaurant Brands International is listed on the stock exchange and it does offer you a way to at least, in part, invest in Popeyes, although it’s a diluted means of getting there. The reason that Popeyes was delisted is because of the acquisition. This was the decision of the parent company.

Is Popeyes still in operation?

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc is the official name of the Popeyes chain. It’s still alive and well and operating the fast-food franchise but under a different umbrella. Another way to invest in Popeyes is to become a member of the franchise and open up your own Louisiana style restaurant under the auspices of the brand. They still offer the same delicious Louisiana style fast food menu items that they have in the past. The only thing about Popeyes that has changed is that it’s no longer traded on the stock exchange. At least there are still a few options left for investors who are determined to invest in the restaurant in some form or fashion.

Conclusion

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is still a favorite among those who have enjoyed the Cajun-style menu items for the past several decades. You are likely to see the business continue to expand into new markets as well. Don’t be surprised if a few new restaurants open up in your area. The franchise is still alive and well and from all appearances, it is likely to be around for a long time. The delisting of Popeyes happened because of the parent company’s decision to remove it as a publicly-traded company. Although it is now a subsidiary of the large brand, Popeyes has not lost its unique identity nor has it stopped serving the same fast food in the familiar recipes that loyal customers have come to love and appreciate. It’s not likely that we’ll see the stock ever appear on the register again unless it is acquired by a new parent company with other plans for the franchise. This is something that happens when businesses are bought and sold by larger corporations. It’s a risk that investors take when making any type of investment, but by and large, most investors in Popeye stock were pleased with the payout that they received for the Popeyes stock that they held at the time it was sold. Nobody got hurt in the deal, but some were and are still disappointed that there is no more investment in Popeyes stock. So goes it with the unpredictable world of investment.