NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Bain

Capital is in talks to acquire Sizzling Platter, which operates

restaurant franchises such as Little Caesars and Jersey Mike's,

for more than $1 billion, including debt, people familiar with

the matter said on Tuesday.

The Salt Lake City, Utah-based company, which also operates

franchises including doughnut chain Dunkin', chicken wings chain

Wingstop and juice bar chain Jamba, has been working with

investment bankers at UBS and Deutsche Bank

on a sale process for several months, the sources said.

Sizzling Platter expects to generate earnings before

interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of about $175

million this year, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the

discussions are confidential.

Bain, UBS and Deutsche Bank declined to comment. Investment

firm CapitalSpring, which currently owns Sizzling Platter, did

not immediately respond.

Sizzling Platter operates more than 750 locations in the

U.S. and Mexico for franchises such as Red Robin, Cinnabon and

Sizzler. It launched in 1963 with one Sizzler location in Utah.

It operates about 450 locations in the U.S. and Mexico for

Little Caesars.

Private equity firms have traditionally been prolific

acquirers of restaurant franchises, because such businesses

generate steady royalty fees and are less expensive to operate.

In November, Blackstone acquired sandwich chain Jersey

Mike's for $8 billion. Reuters reported in February that Flynn

Group, the world's largest franchisee operator of restaurants

and fitness clubs, was exploring a sale.