UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2008

 

DineEquity, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-15283

 

95-3038279

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

450 North Brand, Glendale, California

 

91203

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(818) 240-6055

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

IHOP Corp.

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

ITEM 8.01             OTHER EVENTS

 

On December 11, 2008, DineEquity, Inc. issued a press release announcing the suspension of its quarterly cash dividend to common stockholders.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press release of Registrant dated December 11, 2008, re Suspension of Common Dividend.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: December 16, 2008

 

DineEquity, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ GREGGORY KALVIN

 

 

 

Name: Greggory Kalvin

 

 

 

Title: Acting Chief Financial Officer and
          Vice President, Corporate Controller
          (Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Press release of Registrant dated December 11, 2008, re Suspension of Common Dividend.

 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investor Contact

News Release

 

Stacy Roughan

 

 

Director, Investor Relations

 

 

DineEquity, Inc.

 

 

818-637-3632

 

 

 

 

 

Media Contact

 

 

Lucy Neugart

 

 

Sard Verbinen

 

 

415-618-8750

 

DineEquity, Inc. Announces Suspension of Common Dividend

 

Cash to be Used to Retire Company’s Consolidated Funded Debt

 

GLENDALE, Calif., December 11, 2008 — DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), franchisor and operator of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP Restaurants, today announced that its Board of Directors suspended the payment of its quarterly cash dividend to common shareholders for the foreseeable future.  This reflects ongoing proactive steps DineEquity is taking to maximize its financial flexibility as the Company plans to reallocate the approximately $17 million in cash it has been paying out in annual dividends on common stock to opportunistically retire outstanding debt.

 

Julia A. Stewart, DineEquity’s chairman and chief executive officer, said, “Today’s financial market environment presents a unique opportunity for us to retire debt.  With this action, we expect to further accelerate the reduction of our consolidated funded debt.  Additionally, the Company expects to utilize proceeds generated by our asset disposition strategy for Applebee’s as well as excess free cash flow from operations to reduce overall debt levels.  We believe this is a prudent step that is expected to create value for shareholders over the long-term.”

 

About DineEquity, Inc.

 

Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc. franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands.  With nearly 3,400 restaurants combined, DineEquity is the largest full-service restaurant company in the world.  For more information on DineEquity, visit the Company’s Web site located at www.dineequity.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

There are forward-looking statements contained in this news release. They use such words as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” or other similar terminology, and include statements regarding the strategic and financial benefits of the acquisition of Applebee’s International, Inc., expectations regarding integration and cost savings, and other financial guidance. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results to be materially different than those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the implementation of the Company’s strategic growth plan; the availability of suitable locations and terms for the sites designated for development; the ability of franchise developers to fulfill their commitments to build new

 

DineEquity, Inc.

450 North Brand Blvd., 7th floor

Glendale, California 91203-4415

866.995.DINE

 



 

restaurants in the numbers and time frames covered by their development agreements; legislation and government regulation including the ability to obtain satisfactory regulatory approvals; risks associated with executing the Company’s strategic plan for Applebee’s; risks associated with the Company’s incurrence of significant indebtedness to finance the acquisition of Applebee’s; the failure to realize the synergies and other perceived advantages resulting from the acquisition; costs and potential litigation associated with the acquisition; the ability to retain key personnel after the acquisition; conditions beyond the Company’s control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting the Company’s customers or food supplies; or acts of war or terrorism; availability and cost of materials and labor; cost and availability of capital; competition; continuing acceptance of the IHOP, International House of Pancakes and Applebee’s brands and concepts by guests and franchisees; the Company’s overall marketing, operational and financial performance; economic and political conditions; adoption of new, or changes in, accounting policies and practices; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s news releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, especially the “Risk Factors” sections of Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Forward-looking information is provided by the Company pursuant to the safe harbor established under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and should be evaluated in the context of these factors. In addition, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

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