Brands, one of the largest restaurant companies in the world.

"I made a mistake making the brewery and the restaurant one company," he said.

"To watch a restaurant company grow and grow is exciting."

A receiver was appointed for the restaurant company on January 8, 1932.

Does 75 times earnings sound like too much to pay for a restaurant company?

"If Ruth had been running a public restaurant company, she would have done exactly what we did."

His Dallas-based restaurant company has 30,000 employees and annual sales of $780 million.

Executives at several restaurant companies acknowledge that they face some risks.

A more likely buyer is another of the restaurant company's many large food suppliers, he said.

Shares of restaurant companies have held their own after a banner 1991.