FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - Burger King Corp. has bought 72 Burger King restaurants in Nebraska and Iowa from the local franchisee.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The head of Burger King's North American division, Chuck Fallon, says the acquisition will help the company expand its presence in the Midwest.

Simmonds Restaurant Management and Mike Simmonds spent more than 30 years building up the collection of restaurants in Nebraska and Iowa. Simmonds started with the first Burger King in Fremont in 1976.

Simmonds said Burger King has been good to his family, and this deal will allow him to simplify his life. But Simmonds' company still owns several Taco John's and Jimmy John's restaurants through the region.