Papa John's close to finding new owners, Reuters reports; shares rise

Papa Johns International

15/04/2026 17:35

Updates

** Shares of Papa John's International PZZA.O rise as much as 7% to $37.45

** Pizza giants Papa John’s and Pizza Hut, owned by Yum Brands YUM.N, are edging closer to selling to new owners as stiff competition, rising input costs and softer consumer demand weigh on performance, Reuters reports citing people familiar with the matter

** Both companies are actively negotiating separate deals, giving management teams time to rethink their strategies and business models, the report says

** It adds that Irth Capital has been in talks with Papa John's and conducting due diligence on a potential acquisition over the last month

** Stock dropped 28% over last six months through Tuesday, down ~13% YTD, including session's moves

 (Reporting by Koyena Das from Bengaluru)

 ((Koyena.das@thomsonreuters.com))