View Filing Data

Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 13, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Dine Brands Global, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000049754
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,997,911
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 750,186

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 117,010	$ 140,535
Receivables, net	150,174	141,389
Restricted cash	31,436	30,256
Prepaid gift card costs	40,725	47,115
Prepaid income taxes	43,654	2,483
Other current assets	12,615	4,370
Total current assets	395,614	366,148
Long-term receivables, net	131,212	141,152
Other intangible assets, net	582,787	763,431
Goodwill	339,236	697,470
Property and equipment, net	199,585	205,055
Deferred rent receivable	82,971	86,981
Other non-current assets, net	18,835	18,346
Total assets	1,750,240	2,278,583
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	12,965	0
Accounts payable	55,028	50,503
Gift card liability	164,441	170,812
Dividends payable	17,748	17,465
Current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations	14,193	13,144
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	13,547	14,609
Other accrued expenses	17,780	19,779
Total current liabilities	295,702	286,312
Long-term debt, net, less current maturities	1,269,849	1,282,691
Capital lease obligations, less current maturities	61,895	74,665
Financing obligations, less current maturities	39,200	39,499
Deferred income taxes, net	138,177	253,898
Deferred rent payable	69,112	69,572
Other non-current liabilities	23,003	19,174
Total liabilities	1,896,938	2,025,811
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' (deficit) equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; shares: 40,000,000 authorized; 2017 - 25,022,312 issued, 17,993,124 outstanding; 2016 - 25,134,223 issued, 17,969,636 outstanding	250	251
Additional paid-in-capital	276,408	292,809
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(1,098)	382,082
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(105)	(107)
Treasury stock, at cost; shares: 2017 - 7,029,188; 2016 - 7,164,587	(422,153)	(422,263)
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity	(146,698)	252,772
Total liabilities and stockholders' (deficit) equity	$ 1,750,240	$ 2,278,583

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Common stock, par value per share (USD per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	40,000,000	40,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (shares)	25,022,312	25,134,223
Common stock, shares outstanding (shares)	17,993,124	17,969,636
Treasury stock, shares outstanding (shares)	7,029,188	7,164,587

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues:
Franchise and restaurant revenues	$ 475,030	$ 501,745	$ 542,606
Rental revenues	121,437	123,037	127,650
Financing revenues	8,352	9,191	10,844
Total revenues	604,819	633,973	681,100
Cost of revenues:
Franchise and restaurant expenses	171,983	162,860	186,986
Rental expenses	90,592	91,540	94,588
Financing expenses	598	155	520
Total cost of revenues	263,173	254,555	282,094
Gross profit	341,646	379,418	399,006
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	531,634	0	0
General and administrative expenses	165,679	148,935	155,428
Interest expense	61,979	61,479	63,254
Amortization of intangible assets	10,009	9,981	10,000
Closure and other impairment charges	3,968	5,092	2,576
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(6,249)	809	(901)
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (provision)	(425,374)	153,122	168,649
Income tax benefit (provision)	94,835	(55,130)	(63,726)
Net (loss) income	(330,539)	97,992	104,923
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2	0	(34)
Total comprehensive (loss) income	(330,537)	97,992	104,889
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders:
Net (loss) income	(330,539)	97,992	104,923
Less: net loss (income) allocated to unvested participating restricted stock	6,519	(1,387)	(1,400)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ (324,020)	$ 96,605	$ 103,523
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders per share:
Basic (USD per share)	$ (18.28)	$ 5.36	$ 5.55
Diluted (USD per share)	$ (18.28)	$ 5.33	$ 5.52
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	17,725	18,030	18,637
Diluted (shares)	17,740	18,125	18,768
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)	$ 3.88	$ 3.73	$ 3.545
Dividends paid per common share (USD per share)	$ 3.88	$ 3.68	$ 3.5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock
Common stock, shares, outstanding, beginning (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		18,954,000
Stockholders' Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 279,073	$ 252	$ 279,946	$ 313,644	$ (73)	$ (314,696)
Treasury stock, shares, beginning (shares) at Dec. 31, 2014						6,286,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	104,923			104,923
Other comprehensive loss	$ (34)				(34)
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	(721,463.000)	(722,000)				(722,000)
Purchase of Company common stock	$ (70,014)					$ (70,014)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		357,000				357,000
Reissuance of treasury stock	9,536		(3,377)			$ 12,913
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(21,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ 0	0
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(33,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(3,499)		(3,499)
Stock-based compensation	8,892		8,892
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	4,862		4,862
Dividends on common stock	(66,516)		128	(66,644)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		18,535,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	267,223	$ 252	286,952	351,923	(107)	$ (371,797)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2015						6,651,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	$ 97,992			97,992
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	(650,384)	(650,000)				(650,000)
Purchase of Company common stock	$ (55,343)					$ (55,343)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		137,000				137,000
Reissuance of treasury stock	1,409		(3,468)			$ 4,877
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(19,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ (1)	1
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(33,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(2,859)		(2,859)
Stock-based compensation	10,926		10,926
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	1,132		1,132
Dividends on common stock	$ (67,708)		125	(67,833)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	17,969,636	17,970,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 252,772	$ 251	292,809	382,082	(107)	$ (422,263)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	7,164,587					7,165,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	$ (330,539)			(330,539)
Other comprehensive loss	$ 2				2
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)	(145,786)	(146,000)				(146,000)
Purchase of Company common stock	$ (10,003)					$ (10,003)
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)		281,000				281,000
Reissuance of treasury stock	2,635		(7,478)			$ 10,113
Net issuance of shares for stock plans (shares)		(71,000)
Net issuance of shares for stock plans	0	$ (1)	1
Repurchase of restricted shares (shares)		(41,000)
Repurchase of restricted shares for taxes	(2,396)		(2,396)
Stock-based compensation	10,783		10,783
Dividends on common stock	(52,234)		407	(52,641)
Dividends declared from additional paid-in capital	$ (17,718)		(17,718)
Common stock, shares, outstanding, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	17,993,124	17,993,000
Stockholders' Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2017	$ (146,698)	$ 250	$ 276,408	$ (1,098)	$ (105)	$ (422,153)
Treasury stock, shares, ending (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	7,029,188					7,029,000

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net (loss) income	$ (330,539)	$ 97,992	$ 104,923
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash flows provided by operating activities:
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	531,634	0	0
Deferred income taxes	(145,402)	(14,434)	(13,987)
Depreciation and amortization	30,648	30,606	32,840
Non-cash interest expense	3,364	3,218	3,074
Closure and other impairment charges	3,834	2,621	2,576
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense	10,783	10,926	8,892
Tax benefit from stock-based compensation	0	1,132	4,862
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	0	(1,019)	(4,794)
(Gain) loss on disposition of assets	(6,249)	809	(901)
Other	(4,796)	(1,302)	(6,323)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(8,908)	3,178	(5,239)
Current income tax receivables and payables	(8,491)	(909)	2,073
Gift card receivables and payables	(3,322)	(4,288)	21,735
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(8,247)	(156)	(1,995)
Accounts payable	7,208	89	4,546
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	(1,126)	(10,476)	(594)
Accrued interest payable	717	51	(9,869)
Other current liabilities	(5,375)	72	(6,310)
Cash flows provided by operating activities	65,733	118,110	135,509
Cash flows from investing activities
Principal receipts from notes, equipment contracts and other long-term receivables	20,486	18,689	21,328
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,100	0	10,782
Additions to property and equipment	(13,370)	(5,637)	(6,642)
Other	(541)	(503)	(267)
Cash flows provided by investing activities	7,675	12,549	25,201
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of long-term debt	(3,250)	0	0
Dividends paid on common stock	(69,790)	(67,429)	(66,164)
Repurchase of Dine Brands Global common stock	(10,003)	(55,343)	(70,014)
Principal payments on capital lease and financing obligations	(12,949)	(13,978)	(14,226)
Proceeds from stock options exercised	2,635	1,409	9,536
Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting	(2,396)	(2,859)	(3,499)
Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised	0	1,019	4,794
Other	0	0	(89)
Cash flows used in financing activities	(95,753)	(137,181)	(139,662)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(22,345)	(6,522)	21,048
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year	185,491	192,013	170,965
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	163,146	185,491	192,013
Supplemental disclosures
Interest paid	67,522	69,051	81,809
Income taxes paid	$ 59,528	$ 69,812	$ 70,694

The Company	12 Months Ended
The Company	Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company	The Company The first International House of Pancakes^® (“IHOP”) restaurant opened in 1958 in Toluca Lake, California. Shortly thereafter, the Company began developing and franchising additional restaurants. The Company was incorporated as IHOP Corp. under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1976. In November 2007, the Company acquired Applebee's International, Inc., which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Effective June 2, 2008, the name of the Company was changed to DineEquity, Inc. and on February 20, 2018, the name of the Company was changed to Dine Brands Global, Inc.^SM (“Dine Brands Global”). The Company owns and franchises two restaurant concepts: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar^® (“Applebee's”), in the bar and grill segment within the casual dining category of the restaurant industry, and IHOP in the family dining category of the restaurant industry. As of December 31, 2017, there were 1,786 IHOP^® restaurants, of which 1,622 were subject to franchise agreements and 164 were subject to area license agreements. These IHOP restaurants were located in all 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia, three United States territories and 13 countries outside of the United States. As of December 31, 2017, there were 1,936 Applebee's^® restaurants, all of which were subject to franchise agreements. These Applebee's restaurants were located in all 50 states of the United States, two United States territories and 15 countries outside of the United States. References herein to Applebee's and IHOP restaurants are to these restaurant concepts, whether operated by franchisees, area licensees or the Company. Retail sales at restaurants that are owned by franchisees and area licensees are not attributable to the Company.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Dine Brands Global, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Periods

The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday nearest to December 31 of each year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each fiscal quarter contains 13 weeks, comprised of two, four-week fiscal months followed by a five-week fiscal month. In a 53-week fiscal year, the last month of the fourth fiscal quarter contains six weeks. For convenience, the Company refers to its fiscal years as ending on December 31 and its fiscal quarters as ending on March 31, June 30 and September 30. The 2017 fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and contained 52 weeks. The 2016 fiscal year ended January 1, 2017 and contained 52 weeks; the 2015 fiscal year began on December 29, 2014, ended January 3, 2016 and contained 53 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, if any, at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are made in the calculation and assessment of the following: impairment of tangible and intangible assets; income taxes; allowance for doubtful accounts and notes receivables; lease accounting estimates; contingencies; and stock-based compensation. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates based on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company's cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable are potentially subject to concentration of credit risk. Cash and cash equivalents are placed with financial institutions that management believes are creditworthy. The Company does not believe that it is exposed to any significant credit risk on cash and cash equivalents. At times, cash and cash equivalent balances may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits.

Accounts receivable are derived from revenues earned from franchisees and area licensees located primarily in the United States. Financing receivables arise from the financing of restaurant equipment, leases or franchise fees with the Company by IHOP franchisees. The Company is subject to a concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables from franchisees that own a large number of Applebee's or IHOP restaurants. As of December 31, 2017, there were two franchisees that owned 400 or more restaurants each (one Applebee's franchisee and one franchisee with cross-brand ownership). These franchisees operated 892 Applebee's and IHOP restaurants in the United States, which comprised 26% of the total Applebee's and IHOP franchise and area license restaurants in the United States. Revenues from these franchisees represented 15.8%, 15.6%, and 15.1% of total consolidated revenue for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, with no single franchisee representing more than 10% of total consolidated revenue in any year. Receivables from these franchisees totaled $24.0 million and $20.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investment securities with remaining maturities at the date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These cash equivalents are stated at cost which approximates market value. Cash held related to IHOP advertising funds and the Company's gift card programs is not considered to be restricted cash as there are no restrictions on the use of these funds. Total cash balances related to the IHOP advertising funds and the Company's gift card programs were $57.1 million and $63.3 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Restricted Cash

Current

Current restricted cash of $31.4 million at December 31, 2017 consisted of $29.3 million of funds required to be held in trust in connection with the Company's securitized debt and $2.1 million of funds from Applebee's franchisees pursuant to franchise agreements, usage of which was restricted to advertising activities. Current restricted cash of $30.3 million at December 31, 2016 primarily consisted of $25.7 million of funds required to be held in trust in connection with the Company's securitized debt and $4.3 million of funds from Applebee's franchisees pursuant to franchise agreements, usage of which was restricted to advertising activities.

Non-current

Non-current restricted cash of $14.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 represents interest reserves required to be set aside for the duration of the securitized debt and is included in other non-current assets, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Properties under capital leases are stated at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or remaining useful lives. Leasehold improvements and properties under capital leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives or the lease term, if less. The Company has capitalized certain costs incurred in connection with the development of internal-use software which are included in equipment and fixtures in Note 4 - Property and Equipment, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and are amortized over the expected useful life of the asset. The general ranges of depreciable and amortizable lives are as follows:



Category		Depreciable Life
Buildings and improvements		25 - 40 years
Leaseholds and improvements		Shorter of primary lease term or between three to 40 years
Equipment and fixtures		Three to five years
Internal-use software		Three to 10 years
Properties under capital leases		Primary lease term or remaining primary lease term

Long-Lived Assets

On a regular basis, the Company assesses whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred that potentially indicate the carrying value of long-lived assets (primarily assets related to property and equipment leased or subleased to franchisees) may not be recoverable. The Company tests impairment using historical cash flows and other relevant facts and circumstances as the primary basis for estimates of future cash flows. The Company considers factors such as the number of years the franchisee's restaurant has been in operation, sales trends, cash flow trends, remaining lease life and other factors which apply on a case-by-case basis. The analysis is performed at the individual restaurant level for indicators of permanent impairment.

Recoverability of the Company's assets is measured by comparing the assets' carrying value to the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated over the assets' remaining useful life or remaining lease term, whichever is less. If the total expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the assets, this may be an indicator of impairment. If it is decided that there has been an impairment, the carrying amount of the asset is written down to the estimated fair value as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP governing fair value measurements. The primary method of estimating fair value is based on a discounted cash flow analysis. Any loss resulting from impairment is recognized as a charge against operations.

See Note 12 - Closure and Other Impairment Charges, of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill is recorded when the aggregate purchase price of an acquisition exceeds the estimated fair value of the net identified tangible and intangible assets acquired. Intangible assets resulting from an acquisition are accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and are estimated by management based on the fair value of the assets received. The Company's identifiable intangible assets are comprised primarily of the Applebee's tradename and Applebee's franchise agreements. Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives (franchise agreements) are amortized over the period of estimated benefit using the straight-line method and estimated useful lives. Goodwill and intangible assets considered to have an indefinite life (primarily the Applebee's tradename) are not subject to amortization. The determination of indefinite life is subject to reassessment if changes in facts and circumstances indicate the period of benefit has become finite.

Goodwill has been allocated to two reporting units, the Applebee's franchised restaurants unit (“Applebee's franchise unit”) and the IHOP franchised restaurants unit (“IHOP franchise unit”), in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The significant majority of the Company's goodwill resulted from the November 29, 2007 acquisition of Applebee's.

The Company evaluates the goodwill of the Applebee's franchise unit and the indefinite-lived Applebee's tradename for impairment as of October 31 of each year. The Company evaluates the goodwill of the IHOP franchise unit for impairment as of December 31 of each year. In addition to the annual evaluation for impairment, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are evaluated more frequently if the Company believes indicators of impairment exist.

When evaluating goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, under U.S. GAAP, the Company may first perform an assessment of qualitative factors to determine if the fair value of the reporting unit or the intangible asset is more-likely-than-not greater than the carrying amount. Such qualitative factors include, but are not limited to, macro-economic conditions, market and industry conditions, cost considerations, the competitive environment, share price fluctuations, overall financial performance and results of past impairment tests. If, based on a review of the qualitative factors, the Company determines it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value is greater than the carrying value, the Company may bypass a quantitative test for impairment.

In performing the quantitative test for impairment of goodwill, the Company primarily uses the income approach method of valuation that includes the discounted cash flow method and the market approach that includes the guideline public company method. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the discounted cash flow method include expected future trends in sales, operating expenses, overhead expenses, capital expenditures and changes in working capital, along with an appropriate discount rate based on the Company's estimated cost of equity capital and after-tax cost of debt. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the guideline public company method include the selection of guideline companies and the valuation multiples applied. The Company has adopted the guidance in Accounting Standards Update 2017-04 effective January 1, 2017; accordingly, the Company measures impairment as the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value as determined by the quantitative test described above.

In the process of performing its impairment review of intangible assets considered to have an indefinite life, the Company primarily uses the relief of royalty method under the income approach method of valuation. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the relief of royalty method include future trends in sales, a royalty rate and an appropriate discount rate based on the Company's estimated cost of equity capital and after-tax cost of debt to be applied to the forecast revenue stream.

Revenue Recognition

The Company's revenues are recorded in four categories: franchise operations, rental operations, financing operations and company restaurant operations.

Franchise operations revenue consists primarily of royalty revenues, sales of proprietary IHOP products, IHOP advertising fees and franchise fees. Rental operations revenue includes revenue from operating leases and interest income from direct financing leases. Financing operations revenue consists primarily of interest income from the financing of franchise fees and equipment leases, as well as sales of equipment associated with refranchised IHOP restaurants. Company restaurant sales are retail sales at company-operated restaurants.

Revenues from franchised and area licensed restaurants include royalties, continuing rent and service fees and initial franchise fees. Royalties are recognized in the period in which the sales are reported to have been earned, which occurs at the franchisees' point of sale. Continuing rent and fees are recognized in the period earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized upon the opening of a restaurant, which is when the Company has performed substantially all initial services required by the franchise agreement. Fees from development agreements are deferred and recorded into income as restaurants under the development agreement are opened. Sales by company-operated restaurants are recognized when food and beverage items are sold. Company restaurant sales are reported net of sales taxes collected from guests that are remitted to the appropriate taxing authorities.

The Company administers gift card programs for Applebee's and IHOP. The Company records a liability in the period in which a gift card is sold and recognizes costs associated with its administration of the gift card programs as prepaid assets when the costs are incurred. The liability and prepaid asset recorded on the Company's books are relieved when gift cards are redeemed at a franchisee-operated restaurant and the gift card revenue, net of costs, is remitted to the franchisee. The Company's gift card breakage revenue from gift cards redeemed at company-operated restaurants for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was not material.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Company's best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in existing receivables; however, changes in circumstances relating to receivables may result in changes to the allowance in the future. The Company determines the allowance based on historical experience, current payment patterns, future obligations and the Company's assessment of the franchisee's or area licensee's ability to pay outstanding balances. The primary indicator of credit quality is delinquency, which is considered to be a receivable balance greater than 90 days past due. The Company continually reviews the allowance for doubtful accounts. Past due balances and future obligations are reviewed individually for collectability. Account balances are charged against the allowance after all collection efforts have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Credit losses historically have been within management's estimates.

Leases

The Company is the lessor or sub-lessor of the properties on which 693 IHOP restaurants and two Applebee's restaurants are located. The restaurants are subleased to franchisees or, in a few instances, were operated by the Company. The Company's IHOP leases generally provide for an initial term of 20 to 25 years, with most having one or more five-year renewal options at the Company's option. The rental payments or receipts on leases that meet the operating lease criteria are recorded as rental expense or rental income, respectively. Rental expense and rental income for these operating leases are recognized on the straight-line basis over the original terms of the leases. Any difference between straight-line rent expense or income and actual amounts paid or received represents deferred rent and is included in the consolidated balance sheets as other assets or other liabilities, as appropriate.

The rental payments or receipts on those property leases that meet the capital lease criteria result in the recognition of interest expense or interest income and a reduction of capital lease obligation or financing lease receivable, respectively. Capital lease obligations are amortized based on the Company's incremental borrowing rate and direct financing leases are amortized using the implicit interest rate.

The lease term used for straight-line rent expense is calculated from the date the Company obtains possession of the leased premises through the lease termination date. The Company records rent from the possession date through restaurant open date as expense. Once a restaurant opens for business, the Company records straight-line rent over the lease term plus contingent rent to the extent it exceeded the minimum rent obligation per the lease agreement. The Company uses a consistent lease term when calculating depreciation of leasehold improvements, when determining straight-line rent expense and when determining classification of its leases as either operating or capital. For leases that contain rent escalations, the Company records the total rent payable during the lease term, as determined above, on the straight-line basis over the term of the lease (including the rent holiday period beginning upon our possession of the premises), and records the difference between the minimum rents paid and the straight-line rent as a lease obligation. Certain leases contain provisions that require additional rental payments based upon restaurant sales volume (“contingent rent”). Contingent rentals are accrued each period as the liabilities are incurred, in addition to the straight-line rent expense noted above.

There is potential for variability in the rent holiday period, which begins on the possession date and ends on the restaurant open date, during which no cash rent payments are typically due under the terms of the lease. Factors that may affect the length of the rent holiday period generally relate to construction related delays. Extension of the rent holiday period due to delays in restaurant openings will result in greater preopening rent expense recognized during the rent holiday period and lesser occupancy expense during the rest of the lease term (post-opening).

For leases that contain rent escalations, we record the total rent payable or receivable during the lease term, as determined above, on the straight-line basis over the term of the lease (including the rent holiday period beginning upon our possession of the premises, if applicable), and record the difference between the minimum rent paid or received and the straight-line rent as a lease obligation or receivable, respectively. Certain leases contain provisions that require additional rental payments or receipts based upon restaurant sales volume (“contingent rent”). Contingent rentals are accrued each period as the liabilities are incurred or receivables are earned, in addition to the straight-line rent expense or revenue, respectively, noted above.

Certain lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances, rent holidays and lease premiums, which are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or lease term. For tenant improvement allowances, the Company also records a deferred rent liability or an obligation in non-current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred rent over the term of the lease as a reduction to company restaurant expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Pre-opening Expenses

Expenditures related to the opening of new or relocated restaurants are charged to expense when incurred.

Advertising

Franchise fees designated for IHOP's national advertising fund and local marketing and advertising cooperatives, as well as advertising contributions from international franchise restaurants of both IHOP and Applebee's, are recognized as revenue as the fees are earned and become receivables from the franchisee in accordance with U.S. GAAP governing the accounting for franchise fee revenue. In accordance with U.S. GAAP governing advertising costs, related advertising obligations are accrued and the costs expensed at the same time the related revenue is recognized. Due to different contractual terms in Applebee's marketing agreements, franchise fees designated for Applebee's national advertising fund and local advertising cooperatives constitute agency transactions and are not recognized as revenues and expenses. Applebee's advertising fees are recorded as a liability against which specific costs are charged. Advertising fees included as franchise revenue and expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $113.2 million, $111.3 million and $108.1 million, respectively. See “Newly Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted.”

Advertising expense reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income includes local marketing advertising costs incurred by company-operated restaurants, contributions to the national advertising fund made by Applebee's and IHOP and certain advertising costs incurred by the Company to benefit future franchise operations. Costs of advertising are expensed either as incurred or the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising expense included in company restaurant operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $0.3 million, $0.8 million, and $1.9 million, respectively.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company determines the fair market values of its financial assets and liabilities, as well as non-financial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis, based on the fair value hierarchy established in U.S. GAAP. As necessary, the Company measures its financial assets and liabilities using inputs from the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy:


•	Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities.


•	Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions.

The Company does not have a material amount of financial assets or liabilities that are required under U.S. GAAP to be measured at fair value on either a recurring or non-recurring basis. None of the Company's non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities is required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The Company has not elected to use fair value measurement for any assets or liabilities for which fair value measurement is not presently required.

The Company believes the fair values of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts due to their short duration.

The fair values of non-current financial instruments, determined based on Level 2 inputs, are shown in the following table:



	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In millions)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs	$	1,282.8	$	1,265.5	$	1,282.7	$	1,286.2

Income Taxes

The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is recorded when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company also determines its tax contingencies in accordance with U.S. GAAP governing the accounting for contingencies. The Company records estimated tax liabilities to the extent the contingencies are probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognizable tax benefits and penalties as a component of the income tax provision recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities including all appeals or litigation processes, based on its technical merits. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution. For each reporting period, management applies a consistent methodology to measure and adjust all uncertain tax positions based on the available information.

Stock-Based Compensation

Members of the Board of Directors and certain employees are eligible to receive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units pursuant to the DineEquity, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan. Shares of unvested restricted stock are subject to restrictions on transfer and forfeiture under certain circumstances. The holder of unvested restricted stock has the right to vote and receive regular cash dividends with respect to the shares of unvested restricted stock.

The Company accounts for all stock-based payments to employees and non-employee directors, including grants of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units to be recognized in the financial statements, based on their respective grant date fair values. The value of the portion of the award that is ultimately expected to vest is recognized as expense ratably over the requisite service periods. The Company reports the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost as a financing cash flow.

The grant date fair value of restricted stock and stock-settled restricted stock units is determined based on the Company's stock price on the grant date. The Company estimates the grant date fair value of stock option awards using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which considers, among other factors, a risk-free interest rate, the expected life of the award and the historical volatility of the Company's stock price. Cash-settled awards are classified as liabilities with the liability and compensation expense related to cash-settled awards adjusted to fair value at each balance sheet date.

Net (Loss) Income Per Share

Net (loss) income per share is calculated using the two-class method prescribed in U.S. GAAP. Basic net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing the net income available to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net (loss) income per share is computed by dividing the net income available to common stockholders for the period by the weighted average number of common shares and potential shares of common stock outstanding during the period if their effect is dilutive. The Company uses the treasury stock method to calculate the weighted average shares used in the diluted earnings per share calculation. Potentially dilutive common shares include the assumed exercise of stock options and assumed vesting of restricted stock.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the income tax benefit or provision allocated to items of other comprehensive income (loss) was not significant.

Treasury Stock

The Company may from time to time utilize treasury stock when vested stock options are exercised, when restricted stock awards are granted and when restricted stock units settle in stock upon vesting. The cost of treasury stock re-issued is determined using the first-in, first-out method.

Dividends

Dividends declared on common stock are recorded as a reduction of retained earnings to the extent retained earnings are available at the close of the period prior to the date of the declared dividend. Dividends in excess of retained earnings are recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

Reporting Segments

The Company identifies its reporting segments based on the organizational units used by management to monitor performance and make operating decisions. The Company has five operating segments: Applebee's franchise operations, IHOP franchise operations, rental operations, financing operations and company-operated restaurant operations. The Company has four reportable segments: franchise operations, (an aggregation of Applebee's and IHOP franchise operations), rental operations, financing operations and company-operated restaurant operations. The Company considers these to be its reportable segments, regardless of whether any segment exceeds 10% of consolidated revenues, income before income tax provision or total assets.

Franchise Segment

As of December 31, 2017, the franchise operations reportable segment consisted of 1,936 restaurants operated by Applebee's franchisees in the United States, two United States territories and 15 countries outside of the United States and 1,786 restaurants operated by IHOP franchisees and area licensees in the United States, three United States territories and 13 countries outside of the United States. Franchise operations revenue consists primarily of franchise royalty revenues, sales of proprietary products (primarily IHOP pancake and waffle dry-mixes) and franchise fees. Additionally, franchise fees designated for IHOP's national advertising fund and local marketing and advertising cooperatives are recognized as revenue and expense of franchise operations; however, due to different contractual terms in Applebee's marketing agreements, Applebee's national advertising fund activity constitutes agency transactions and therefore is not recognized as franchise revenue and expense.

Franchise operations expenses include IHOP advertising expense, the cost of proprietary products, pre-opening training expenses and other franchise-related costs.

Rental Segment

Rental operations revenue includes revenue from operating leases and interest income from direct financing leases. Rental operations expenses are costs of operating leases and interest expense of capital leases on franchisee-operated restaurants. The rental operations revenue and expenses are primarily generated by IHOP. Applebee's has an insignificant amount of rental activity related to one property that was retained after refranchising a company-operated restaurant.

Financing Segment

Financing operations revenue primarily consists of interest income from the financing of IHOP franchise fees and equipment leases, as well as sales of equipment associated with refranchised IHOP restaurants. Financing expenses are the cost of restaurant equipment.

Company Segment

As of December 31, 2017, the Company did not operate any restaurants. The company restaurant operations segment presented in these financial statements consisted of 10 IHOP restaurants operated until June 2017 and 23 Applebee's restaurants operated until July 2015. All company-operated restaurants were located in the United States. Company restaurant sales are retail sales at company-operated restaurants. Company restaurant expenses are operating expenses at company-operated restaurants and include food, beverage, labor, benefits, utilities, rent and other operating costs.

Accounting Standards Adopted Effective January 2, 2017

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance that addresses accounting for certain aspects of share-based payments, including excess tax benefits or deficiencies, forfeiture estimates, statutory tax withholding and cash flow classification of certain share-based payment activity. The Company applied the prospective transition method in adopting the new guidance and prior period amounts have not been restated. Because of the adoption, the Company recognized an excess tax deficiency from stock-based compensation as a discrete item, increasing the income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2017 by $2.0 million, or $0.11 per share. Historically, excess tax benefits or deficiencies were recorded as additional paid-in capital. The Company applied the prospective transition method with respect to the cash flow classification of certain share-based payment activity; accordingly, the cash flows for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 have not been restated. The Company has elected to maintain its practice of estimating forfeitures when recognizing expense for share-based payment awards. Amendments to the accounting for minimum statutory withholding requirements had no impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued new guidance to reduce diversity in practice in the classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance requires amounts generally described as restricted cash should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period total amounts to the end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. Calendar year public entities will be required to adopt the new guidance beginning with the first fiscal quarter of 2018. The Company elected to adopt the new guidance retrospectively effective January 2, 2017 and the cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 were restated. Adoption of the new guidance did not impact the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets or Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance simplifying the test of goodwill for impairment. The new guidance requires a single-step quantitative test to measure potential impairment based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. Calendar year public entities will be required to adopt the new guidance beginning with the first fiscal quarter of 2020. The Company has elected early adoption of the new guidance, as is permitted for interim or annual tests of goodwill performed after January 1, 2017.

Newly Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In August 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The Company will be required to adopt the new guidance beginning with its first fiscal quarter of 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company believes adoption of the new guidance will have no significant impact on its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new guidance will replace the incurred loss methodology of recognizing credit losses on financial instruments that is currently required with a methodology that estimates the expected credit loss on financial instruments and reflects the net amount expected to be collected on the financial instrument. Application of the new guidance may result in the earlier recognition of credit losses as the new methodology will require entities to consider forward-looking information in addition to historical and current information used in assessing incurred losses. The Company will be required to adopt the new guidance on a modified retrospective basis beginning with its first fiscal quarter of 2020, with early adoption permitted in its first fiscal quarter of 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures and whether early adoption will be elected.

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance with respect to the accounting for leases. The new guidance will require lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for virtually all leases, other than leases with a term of 12 months or less, and to provide additional disclosures about leasing arrangements. Accounting by lessors is largely unchanged from existing accounting guidance. The Company will be required to adopt the new guidance beginning with its first fiscal quarter of 2019. Early adoption is permitted. Currently, the new guidance is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis.

While the Company is still in the process of evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures, the Company expects adoption of the new guidance will have a material impact on its Consolidated Balance Sheets due to recognition of the right-of-use asset and lease liability related to its operating leases. While the new guidance is also expected to impact the measurement and presentation of elements of expenses and cash flows related to leasing arrangements, the Company does not presently believe there will be a material impact on its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Recognition of a lease liability related to operating leases will not impact any covenants related to the Company's long-term debt because the debt agreements specify that covenant ratios be calculated using U.S. GAAP in effect at the time the debt agreements were entered into.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance on the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The guidance modifies how entities measure certain equity investments and present changes in the fair value of those investments, as well as changes how fair value of financial instruments is measured for disclosure purposes. The amendment is effective commencing with the Company's first fiscal quarter of 2018. The Company does not believe adoption of the new guidance will have a significant impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements and disclosures.

In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single, five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. In August 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of the new revenue guidance by one year such that the Company will be required to adopt the new guidance beginning with its first fiscal quarter of 2018. During 2016, the FASB issued four clarifications on specific topics within the new revenue recognition guidance that did not change the core principles of the guidance originally issued in May 2014.

This new revenue guidance supersedes nearly all of the existing general revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP as well as most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance, including guidance with respect to revenue recognition by franchisors. The Company believes the recognition of the majority of its revenues, including franchise royalty revenues, sales of IHOP pancake and waffle dry mix and retail sales at company-operated restaurants will not be affected by the new guidance. Additionally, lease rental revenues are not within the scope of the new guidance.

The Company has determined the new revenue guidance will impact the timing of recognition of franchise and development fees. Under existing guidance, these fees are typically recognized upon the opening of restaurants. Under the new guidance, the Company has determined the fees will have to be deferred and recognized as revenue over the term of the individual franchise agreements. However, the effect of the required deferral of fees received in a given year will be mitigated by the recognition of revenue from fees retrospectively deferred from prior years. The Company presently expects to use the retrospective method of adoption when the new guidance is adopted in the first fiscal quarter of 2018. Upon adoption, the Company will recognize the deferral on its balance sheet of approximately $85 million in revenue from franchise and development fees and will reduce its receivables by approximately $7 million. As a result of adoption, the Company's accumulated deficit will increase by $60 million, net of deferred taxes of $32 million.

The Company also has determined the new revenue guidance will impact the accounting for transactions related to the Applebee's National Advertising Fund (the “Applebee's NAF”). Currently, domestic franchisee contributions to and expenditures of the Applebee's NAF are not included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income. Under the new guidance, the Company will include contributions to and expenditures from the domestic Applebee's advertising fund within the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income as is currently done with contributions to and expenditures from the IHOP national advertising fund and with international restaurants of both brands. While this change will materially impact the gross amount of reported franchise revenues and expenses, the impact will be an increase to both revenue and expense that, for the most part will offset, such that the impact on gross profit and net income, if any, would not be material.

The Company reviewed all other newly issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they either are not applicable to the Company's operations or that no material effect is expected on the Company's financial statements as a result of future adoption.

Receivables

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Receivables [Abstract]

Receivables



3. Receivables	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Accounts receivable	$	94.2		$	69.3
Gift card receivables	51.6			51.2
Notes receivable	11.3			1.8
Financing receivables:
Equipment leases receivable	79.3			87.2
Direct financing leases receivable	55.7			65.6
Franchise fee notes receivable	0.3			0.4
Other	11.2			10.2
	303.6			285.7
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(22.2		)	(3.1		)
	281.4			282.6
Less: current portion	(150.2		)	(141.4		)
Long-term receivables	$	131.2		$	141.2

Accounts receivable primarily includes receivables due from franchisees and distributors. Gift card receivables consist primarily of amounts due from third-party vendors. Interest is not charged on gift card receivables.

Financing receivables primarily relate to IHOP franchise development activity prior to 2003 when IHOP typically leased or purchased the restaurant site, built and equipped the restaurant then franchised the restaurant to a franchisee. IHOP provided the financing for the franchise fee, leasing of the equipment and the leasing or subleasing of the site. Equipment lease contracts are due in equal weekly installments, primarily bear interest averaging 9.7% and 9.8% per annum at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are collateralized by the equipment. The term of an equipment lease contract coincides with the term of the corresponding restaurant building lease. The IHOP franchise fee notes have a term of five to eight years and are due in equal weekly installments, primarily bear interest averaging 5.9% and 6.1% per annum at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are collateralized by the franchise. Where applicable, franchise fee notes, equipment contracts and building leases contain cross-default provisions wherein a default under one constitutes a default under all. There is not a disproportionate concentration of credit risk in any geographic area.

The primary indicator of the credit quality of financing receivables is delinquency. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of financing receivables were delinquent more than 90 days.

The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts:



Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	2.9
Provision	0.6
Charge-offs	(2.4		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	1.2
Provision	2.8
Charge-offs	(0.9		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	3.1
Provision	20.3
Charge-offs	(1.2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	22.2

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of the allowance for doubtful accounts related to financing receivables.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for claims held for amounts due a entity, excluding financing receivables. Examples include, but are not limited to, trade accounts receivables, notes receivables, loans receivables. Includes disclosure for allowance for credit losses.

+ References + Details

Property and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment by category is as follows:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Leaseholds and improvements	$	252.2		$	255.4
Equipment and fixtures	90.1			83.4
Properties under capital lease	61.4			59.8
Buildings and improvements	57.9			57.9
Land	56.4			56.4
Construction in progress	1.8			2.2
Property and equipment, gross	519.8			515.1
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(320.2		)	(310.0		)
Property and equipment, net	$	199.6		$	205.1

The Company recorded depreciation expense on property and equipment of $20.6 million, $20.6 million and $22.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Accumulated depreciation and amortization includes accumulated amortization for properties under capital lease in the amount of $43.2 million and $41.0 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Goodwill

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Goodwill

The significant majority of the Company's goodwill arose from the November 29, 2007 acquisition of Applebee's. Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:



	Applebee's Franchise Unit			IHOP Franchise Unit		Total
	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2015:
Goodwill, gross	$	686.7		$	10.8	$	697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	—			—		—
Goodwill	686.7			10.8		697.5
2016 impairment loss	—			—		—
Balance at December 31, 2016:
Goodwill, gross	$	686.7		$	10.8	$	697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	—			—		—
Goodwill	686.7			10.8		697.5
2017 impairment loss	(358.2		)	—		(358.2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	686.7			10.8		697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	(358.2		)	—		(358.2		)
Goodwill	$	328.5		$	10.8	$	339.2

The Company assessed goodwill for impairment in accordance with its policy described in Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. In the third quarter of 2017, the Company noted that the decline in the market price of the Company's common stock since December 31, 2016, which the Company had believed to be temporary, persisted throughout the first eight months of 2017 and that the favorable trend in Applebee's domestic same-restaurant sales experienced in the second quarter of 2017 did not continue into the first two months of the third quarter of 2017. The Company also noted a continuing increase in Applebee's bad debt expense and in royalties not recognized in income until paid in cash. Additionally, the Company also determined an increasing shortfall in franchisee contributions to the Applebee's national advertising fund could require a larger amount of future subsidization in the form of additional franchisor contributions to the fund than previously estimated. Based on these unfavorable developments, the Company determined that indicators of impairment existed and that an interim test of goodwill for impairment should be performed in the third quarter of 2017.

In performing the quantitative test of goodwill, the Company primarily used the income approach method of valuation that included the discounted cash flow method and the market approach that included the guideline public company method to determine the fair value of goodwill and intangible assets. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the discounted cash flow model included expected future trends in sales, operating expenses, overhead expenses, capital expenditures and changes in working capital, along with an appropriate discount rate based on the Company's estimated cost of equity capital and after-tax cost of debt.

As a result of performing the quantitative test of impairment, the Company recognized an impairment of Applebee's goodwill of $358.2 million. The Company adopted the guidance in FASB Accounting Standards Update 2017-04 on January 1, 2017; accordingly, the amount of the goodwill impairment was determined as the amount by which the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeded the fair value of the Applebee's franchise reporting unit as estimated in the impairment test. The impairment of goodwill is not deductible for federal income tax purposes and therefore had no associated tax benefit.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company performed a qualitative assessment of the goodwill of the Applebee's franchise unit and the IHOP franchise unit and concluded it was more-likely-than-not that the fair values exceeded the respective carrying amounts.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company performed a quantitative test of the goodwill of the Applebee's franchise reporting unit and a qualitative test of the goodwill of the IHOP franchise unit. The Company considers a reporting unit at risk when its fair value is not higher than its carrying amount by more than 10%. Since the fair value of the Applebee's Franchise Reporting Unit exceeded the carrying value of the unit by 9%, the goodwill of the Applebee's Franchise Reporting Unit was considered at risk as of December 31, 2016.

Other Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]

Other Intangible Assets

The significant majority of the Company's other intangible assets arose from the November 29, 2007 acquisition of Applebee's. Changes in the carrying amount of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:



	Not Subject to Amortization					Subject to Amortization
	Tradename			Other		Franchising Rights			Leaseholds⁽¹⁾			Total
	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	652.4		$	0.9	$	129.0		$	—		$	782.3
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	—			(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.6		—			—			0.6
Balance at December 31, 2015	652.4			1.5		119.0			—			772.9
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	—			(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.5		—			—			0.5
Balance at December 31, 2016	652.4			2.0		109.0			—			763.4
Impairment	(173.4		)	—		—			—			(173.4		)
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	(0.0		)	(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.5		—			2.3			2.8
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	479.0		$	2.5	$	99.0		$	2.3		$	582.8

____________________________________

⁽¹⁾ See Note 19 - Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Annual amortization expense for the next five fiscal years is estimated to be approximately $10.0 million per year. The weighted average life of the intangible assets subject to amortization was 20 years at December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Gross and net carrying amounts of intangible assets subject to amortization at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:



	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
	(In millions)
Franchising rights	$	200.0	$	(101.0	)	$	99.0	$	200.0	$	(91.0	)	$	109.0
Leaseholds	2.3		(0.0		)	2.3		—		—			—
Total	$	202.3	$	(101.0	)	$	101.3	$	200.0	$	(91.0	)	$	109.0

The Company assessed the Applebee's tradename for impairment in accordance with its policy described in Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. As discussed in Note 5 - Goodwill, the Company determined that indicators of impairment existed prior to the annual test for impairment and performed an interim quantitative test for impairment of Applebee's tradename in the third quarter of 2017. In performing the impairment test of the tradename, the Company used the relief of royalty method under the income approach method of valuation. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the relief of royalty method include future trends in sales, a royalty rate and a discount rate applied to the forecast revenue stream.

As a result of performing this quantitative test, the Company recognized an impairment of Applebee's tradename of $173.4 million. The Company recognized a tax benefit of $65.1 million related to the impairment.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company performed a quantitative assessment of the Applebee's tradename and concluded the fair value exceeded the carrying amount. The Company considers an intangible asset at risk when its fair value is not higher than its carrying amount by more than 10%. The Applebee's tradename was not considered at risk as of December 31, 2016.

Long-Term Debt

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following components:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Series 2014-1 Class A-2, 4.277% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes	$	1,296.8		$	1,300.0
Debt issuance costs	(13.9		)	(17.3		)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs	1,282.8			1,282.7
Current portion of long-term debt	(13.0		)	—
Long-term debt	$	1,269.8		$	1,282.7

On September 30, 2014, Applebee’s Funding LLC and IHOP Funding LLC (each a “Co-Issuer”), each a special purpose, wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company issued $1.3 billion of Series 2014-1 4.277% Fixed Rate Senior Notes, Class A-2 (the “Class A-2 Notes”) in an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Co-Issuers also entered into a revolving financing facility of Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 (the “Variable Funding Notes”), which allows for drawings of up to $100 million of Variable Funding Notes and the issuance of letters of credit. The Class A-2 Notes and the Variable Funding Notes are referred to collectively as the “Notes.” The Notes were issued in a securitization transaction pursuant to which substantially all of our domestic revenue-generating assets and our domestic intellectual property, are held by the Co-Issuers and certain other special-purpose, wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”) that act as guarantors of the Notes and that have pledged substantially all of their assets to secure the Notes.

Class A-2 Notes

The Notes were issued under a Base Indenture, dated September 30, 2014 (the “Base Indenture”) and the related Series 2014-1 Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated September 30, 2014 (the “Series 2014-1 Supplement”), among the Co-Issuers and Citibank, N.A., as the trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and securities intermediary. The Base Indenture and the Series 2014-1 Supplement (collectively, the “Indenture”) will allow the Co-Issuers to issue additional series of notes in the future subject to certain conditions set forth therein.

While the Notes are outstanding, payment of principal and interest is required to be made on the Class A-2 Notes on a quarterly basis. The quarterly principal payment of $3.25 million on the Class A-2 Notes may be suspended when the leverage ratio for the Company and its subsidiaries is less than or equal to 5.25x. In general, the leverage ratio is our indebtedness divided by adjusted EBITDA for the four preceding quarterly periods. As of December 31, 2017, the Company's leverage ratio was 5.70x; accordingly, quarterly principal payments on the Class A-2 Notes are required until such time that the leverage ratio is less than or equal to 5.25x. The Company made one principal payment of $3.25 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The Company may voluntarily repay the Class A-2 Notes at any time; however, if the Company voluntarily repays the Class A-2 Notes prior to September 2018 it would be required to pay a make-whole premium. As of December 31, 2018, the make-whole payment for voluntary repayment was approximately $18 million; this amount declines ratably to zero in September 2018. The Company would also be subject to a make-whole premium in the event of a mandatory prepayment occurring prior to September 2018 following a Rapid Amortization Event or certain asset dispositions. The make-whole premium requirements are considered derivatives embedded in the Class A-2 Notes that must be bifurcated for separate valuation. The Company estimated the fair value of these derivatives to be insignificant of December 31, 2017, based on the probability-weighted discounted cash flows associated with either event.

The legal final maturity of the Class A-2 Notes is in September 2044, but it is anticipated that, unless earlier prepaid to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Class A-2 Notes will be repaid in September 2021 (the “Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date”). If the Co-Issuers have not repaid or refinanced the Class A-2 Notes prior to the Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date, additional interest will accrue on the Class A-2 Notes equal to the greater of (i) 5.00% per annum and (ii) a per annum interest rate equal to the amount, if any, by which the sum of the following exceeds the Class A-2 Note interest rate: (A) the yield to maturity (adjusted to a quarterly bond-equivalent basis) on the Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date of the United States Treasury Security having a term closest to 10 years plus (B) 5.00% plus (C) 2.150%. Additionally, the Company's cash flow would become subject to a rapid amortization event as described below under “Covenants and Restrictions.”

The Notes are secured by the collateral described below under “Guarantees and Collateral.”

Variable Funding Notes

In connection with the issuance of the Class A-2 Notes, the Co-Issuers also entered into a revolving financing facility that allows for the drawings of up to $100 million of Variable Funding Notes and the issuance of letters of credit. The Variable Funding Notes were issued under the Indenture and allow for drawings on a revolving basis. Drawings and certain additional terms related to the Variable Funding Notes are governed by the Class A-1 Note Purchase Agreement dated as of September 30, 2014 (the “Variable Funding Note Purchase Agreement”), among the Co-Issuers, the Guarantors, certain conduit investors, financial institutions and funding agents, and Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank, B.A. (“Rabobank Nederdland”), New York Branch, as provider of letters of credit, as swingline lender and as administrative agent.

The Variable Funding Notes will be governed, in part, by the Variable Funding Note Purchase Agreement and by certain generally applicable terms contained in the Indenture. Depending on the type of borrowing by the Co-Issuers, the applicable interest rate under the Variable Funding Notes is calculated at a per annum rate equal to (a) LIBOR plus 2.50%, (b) (i) the greatest of (x) the prime rate, (y) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% or (z) a daily rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 0.5% plus (ii) 2.00% or (c) the lenders’ commercial paper funding rate plus 2.50%. There is a scaled commitment fee based on the unused portion of the Variable Funding Notes facility of between 50 to 100 basis points. It is anticipated that the principal and interest on the Variable Funding Notes will be repaid in full on or prior to September 2019 (the “VFN Anticipated Repayment Date”), subject to two additional one-year extensions at the option of the Company, which acts as the manager (as described below), upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. Following the VFN Anticipated Repayment Date (and any extensions thereof), additional interest will accrue on the Variable Funding Notes equal to 5.00% per annum. The Variable Funding Notes and other credit instruments issued under the Variable Funding Note Purchase Agreement are secured by the collateral described below under “Guarantees and Collateral.”

The Company has not drawn on the Variable Funding Notes since their issuance. As of December 31, 2017, there were no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility; however, available borrowing capacity under the Variable Funding Notes was reduced by $3.1 million of letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2017.

Guarantees and Collateral

Under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated September 30, 2014 (the “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement”), among the Guarantors in favor of the Trustee, the Guarantors guarantee the obligations of the Co-Issuers under the Indenture and related documents and secure the guarantee by granting a security interest in substantially all of their assets.

The Notes are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Co-Issuers and the Guarantors (collectively, the “Securitization Entities”). On September 30, 2014, these assets (the “Securitized Assets”) generally included substantially all of the domestic revenue-generating assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, which principally consist of franchise agreements, area license agreements, development agreements, franchisee fee notes, equipment leases, agreements related to the production and sale of pancake and waffle dry-mixes, owned and leased real property and intellectual property.

The Notes are obligations only of the Co-Issuers pursuant to the Indenture and are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Guarantors pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement. Except as described below, neither we nor any of our subsidiaries, other than the Securitization Entities, will guarantee or in any way be liable for the obligations of the Co-Issuers under the Indenture or the Notes.

Covenants and Restrictions

The Notes are subject to a series of covenants and restrictions customary for transactions of this type, including (i) that the Co-Issuers maintain specified reserve accounts to be used to make required payments in respect of the Notes, (ii) provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments, and the related payment of specified amounts, including specified make-whole payments in the case of the Class A-2 Notes under certain circumstances, (iii) certain indemnification payments in the event, among other things, the transfers of the assets pledged as collateral for the Notes are in stated ways defective or ineffective and (iv) covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information and similar matters. The Notes are also subject to customary rapid amortization events provided for in the Indenture, including events tied to failure of the Securitization Entities to maintain the stated debt service coverage (“DSCR”) ratio, the sum of domestic retail sales during the trailing twelve months for all restaurants being below $3.5 billion on quarterly measurement dates, certain manager termination events, certain events of default and the failure to repay or refinance the Notes on the Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date. The Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal or other amounts due on or with respect to the Notes, failure of the Securitization Entities to maintain the stated debt service coverage ratio, failure to comply with covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties and certain judgments.

The DSCR ratio is Net Cash Flow for the four quarters preceding the calculation date divided by the total debt service payments of the preceding four quarters. Failure to maintain a prescribed DSCR ratio can trigger a Cash Trapping Event, A Rapid Amortization Event, a Manager Termination Event or a Default Event as described below. In a Cash Trapping Event, the Trustee is required to retain a certain percentage of cash flow in a restricted account. In a Rapid Amortization Event, all excess Cash Flow is retained and used to retire principal amounts of debt. Key DSCR ratios are as follows:

•DSCR less than 1.75x but equal to or greater than 1.50x - Cash Trapping Event, 50% of Net Cash Flow

•DSCR less than 1.50x - Cash Trapping Event, 100% of Net Cash Flow

•DSCR less than 1.30x - Rapid Amortization Event

•DSCR less than 1.20x - Manager Termination Event

•DSCR less than 1.10x - Default Event

The DSCR for the reporting period ended December 31, 2017 was 4.01x.

Debt Issuance Costs

The Company incurred costs of approximately $24.3 million in connection with the issuance of the Notes. These debt issuance costs are being amortized using the effective interest method over estimated life of the Notes. Amortization of $3.4 million, $3.2 million and $3.1 million was included in interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 respectively. Unamortized debt issuance costs are reported as a direct reduction of the Class A-2 Notes in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Maturities of Long-term Debt

The Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date is September 2021. Face-value maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years, assuming the Company's leverage ratio remains greater than 5.25x, are as follows:



	(In millions)
2018	$	13.0
2019	13.0
2020	13.0
2021	1,257.8
2022	—
Total	$	1,296.8

Financing Obligations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Financing Obligations

On May 19, 2008, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement relating to the sale and leaseback of 181 parcels of real property (the “Sale-Leaseback Transaction”), each of which is improved with a restaurant operating as an Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar (the “Properties”). On June 13, 2008, the closing date of the Sale-Leaseback Transaction, the Company entered into a Master Land and Building Lease (“Master Lease”) for the Properties. The proceeds received from the transaction were $337.2 million. The Master Lease calls for an initial term of twenty years and four, five-year options to extend the term.

The Company has an ongoing obligation related to the Properties until such time as the lease related to each of the Properties is assigned to a qualified franchisee in a transaction meeting certain parameters set forth in the Master Lease. Due to this continuing involvement, the Sale-Leaseback Transaction was recorded under the financing method in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the value of the land and leasehold improvements will remain on the Company's books and the leasehold improvements will continue to be depreciated over their remaining useful lives. The net proceeds received were recorded as a financing obligation. A portion of the lease payments is recorded as a decrease to the financing obligation and a portion is recognized as interest expense. In the event the lease obligation of any individual property or group of properties is assumed by a qualified franchisee, the Company's continuing involvement will cease. At that time, that portion of the transaction related to that property or group of properties is recorded as a sale in accordance with U.S. GAAP and the net book value of those properties will be removed from the Company's books, along with a ratable portion of the remaining financing obligation.

As of December 31, 2017, the Company's continuing involvement with 155 of the 181 Properties ended by assignment of the lease obligation to a qualified franchisee or a release from the lessor. In accordance with the accounting described above, the transactions related to these properties have been recorded as a sale with property and equipment and financing obligations each cumulatively reduced by approximately $280.0 million.

As of December 31, 2017, future minimum lease payments under financing obligations during the initial terms of the leases related to the sale-leaseback transactions are as follows:



Fiscal Years	(In millions)
2018	$	4.9
2019	5.1
2020⁽¹⁾	5.6
2021	5.1
2022	5.2
Thereafter	55.4
Total minimum lease payments	81.3
Less: interest	(41.8		)
Total financing obligations	39.5
Less: current portion⁽²⁾	(0.3		)
Long-term financing obligations	$	39.2

____________________________________________________________________________________


⁽¹⁾	Due to the varying closing date of the Company's fiscal year, 13 monthly payments will be made in 2020.


⁽²⁾	Included in current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

Leases

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Leases

The Company is the lessor or sub-lessor of approximately half of all domestic IHOP franchise restaurants. The restaurants are subleased to IHOP franchisees or in a few instances were operated by the Company or an Applebee's franchisee. These noncancelable leases and subleases consist primarily of land, buildings and improvements.

The following is the Company's net investment in direct financing lease receivables:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Total minimum rents receivable	$	74.5		$	92.1
Less: unearned income	(18.8		)	(26.5		)
Net investment in direct financing leases receivable	55.7			65.6
Less: current portion	(10.8		)	(9.9		)
Long-term direct financing leases receivable	$	44.9		$	55.7

Contingent rental income, which is the amount above and beyond base rent, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $14.0 million, $15.4 million and $16.7 million, respectively.

The following is the Company's net investment in equipment leases receivable:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Total minimum leases receivable	$	106.4		$	122.5
Less: unearned income	(27.1		)	(35.3		)
Net investment in equipment leases receivable	79.3			87.2
Less: current portion	(8.2		)	(7.9		)
Long-term equipment leases receivable	$	71.1		$	79.3

The following are minimum future lease payments on noncancelable leases as lessee at December 31, 2017:



	Capital Leases			Operating Leases
	(In millions)
2018	$	20.7		$	80.3
2019	17.6			76.7
2020⁽¹⁾	15.6			75.0
2021	12.6			58.8
2022	10.6			50.6
Thereafter	25.5			173.9
Total minimum lease payments	102.6			$	515.3
Less: interest	(26.8		)
Capital lease obligations	75.8
Less: current portion⁽²⁾	(13.9		)
Long-term capital lease obligations	$	61.9

______________________________________________________

⁽¹⁾Due to the varying closing date of the Company's fiscal year, 13 monthly payments will be made in fiscal 2020.

⁽²⁾Included in current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

The asset cost and carrying amount on company-owned property leased at December 31, 2017 was $89.0 million and $60.0 million, respectively. The asset cost and carrying amount on company-owned property leased at December 31, 2016, was $89.0 million and $61.3 million, respectively. The asset cost and carrying amounts represent the land and building asset values and net book values on sites leased to franchisees.

The minimum future lease payments shown above have not been reduced by the following future minimum rents to be received on noncancelable subleases and leases of owned property at December 31, 2017:



	Direct Financing Leases		Operating Leases
	(In millions)
2018	$	17.2	$	105.0
2019	16.2		103.4
2020	14.8		103.7
2021	11.7		97.6
2022	8.2		93.7
Thereafter	6.4		356.0
Total minimum rents receivable	$	74.5	$	859.4

The Company has noncancelable leases, expiring at various dates through 2036, which require payment of contingent rents based upon a percentage of sales of the related restaurant as well as property taxes, insurance and other charges. Subleases to franchisees of properties under such leases are generally for the full term of the lease obligation at rents that include the Company's obligations for property taxes, insurance, contingent rents and other charges. Generally, the noncancelable leases include renewal options. Contingent rent expense for all noncancelable leases for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $2.6 million, $3.0 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Minimum rent expense for all noncancelable operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $73.0 million, $76.5 million and $80.9 million, respectively.

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2017
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Purchase Commitments In some instances, the Company enters into commitments to purchase advertising and other items. Most of these agreements are fixed price purchase commitments. At December 31, 2017, the outstanding purchase commitments were $115.9 million, the majority of which related to advertising. Lease Guarantees In connection with the sale of Applebee's restaurants to franchisees and other parties, the Company has, in certain cases, guaranteed or had potential continuing liability for lease payments. The Company had outstanding lease guarantees or was contingently liable for approximately $313.9 million and $366.8 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 respectively. These amounts represent the maximum potential liability of future payments under these leases. Excluding unexercised option periods, the Company's potential liability for future payments under these leases as of December 31, 2017 was $55.6 million. These leases have been assigned to the buyers and expire at the end of the respective lease terms, which range from 2018 through 2048. In the event of default, the indemnity and default clauses in our sale or assignment agreements govern our ability to pursue and recover damages incurred. No material liabilities for these guarantees have been recorded as of December 31, 2017. Litigation, Claims and Disputes The Company is subject to various lawsuits, governmental inspections, administrative proceedings, audits, and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Some of these lawsuits purport to be class actions and/or seek substantial damages. The Company is required to record an accrual for litigation loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. Legal fees and expenses associated with the defense of all of the Company's litigation are expensed as such fees and expenses are incurred. In the opinion of management, these matters are adequately covered by insurance or, if not so covered, are without merit or are of such a nature or involve amounts that would not have a material adverse impact on the Company's business or consolidated financial statements. Management regularly assesses the Company's insurance deductibles, analyzes litigation information with the Company's attorneys and evaluates its loss experience in connection with pending legal proceedings. While the Company does not presently believe that any of the legal proceedings to which the Company is currently a party will ultimately have a material adverse impact on the Company, there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in all the proceedings the Company is party to, or that the Company will not incur material losses from them. Letters of Credit The Company provides letters of credit, primarily to various insurance carriers to collateralize obligations for outstanding claims. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately $3.1 million of unused letters of credit outstanding that reduce the Company's available borrowing under its Variable Funding Notes. These letters of credit expire on various dates in 2018 and are automatically renewed for an additional year if no cancellation notice is submitted.

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity

Stock Repurchase Programs

On October 1, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $150 million of its common stock (the “2015 Repurchase Program”) on an opportunistic basis from time to time in open market transactions and in privately negotiated transactions based on business, market, applicable legal requirements and other considerations. The Company has repurchased 1,000,657 shares of stock for $72.9 million under the 2015 Repurchase Program. The Company may repurchase up to an additional $67.1 million of common stock under the 2015 Repurchase Program.

In October 2014, the Company's Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $100 million of its common stock (the “2014 Repurchase Program”). The 2014 Repurchase Program was terminated upon approval of the 2015 Repurchase Program. The Company repurchased 537,311 shares of stock for $54.5 million under the 2014 Repurchase Program prior to its termination.

Shares repurchased under the Company's stock repurchase programs during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are summarized as follows:



	2017 repurchases			2016 repurchases			2015 repurchases			Remaining Value that may be Repurchased
Repurchase Program	Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$		Remaining Value that may be Repurchased
	(Dollars in millions)
2015 Repurchase Program	145,786	$	10.0	650,384	$	55.3	204,487	$	17.5	$	67.1
2014 Repurchase Program	—	—		—	—		516,976	52.5		n/a
Total	145,786	$	10.0	650,384	$	55.3	721,463	$	70.0	$	67.1

Dividends

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends on common stock as follows:



Year ended December 31, 2017	Declaration Date	Payment Date	Dividends declared per share		Dividends paid per share		Total dividends paid⁽¹⁾
							(In millions)
Payment of prior year declaration	(3)	January 6, 2017	—		$	0.97	$	17.5
First quarter	February 22, 2017	April 7, 2017	$	0.97	0.97		17.5
Second quarter	May 15, 2017	July 7, 2017	0.97		0.97		17.5
Third quarter	August 10, 2017	October 6, 2017	0.97		0.97		17.8
Fourth quarter	October 6, 2017	(2)	0.97		—		—
Total			$	3.88	$	3.88	$	70.3



Year ended December 31, 2016
Payment of prior year declaration	(4)	January 8, 2016	—		$	0.920	$	17.1
First quarter	February 23, 2016	April 8, 2016	$	0.92	0.920		17.0
Second quarter	May 16, 2016	July 8, 2016	0.92		0.920		16.8
Third quarter	July 28, 2016	October 7, 2016	0.92		0.920		16.7
Fourth quarter	October 31, 2016	(3)	0.97		—		—
Total			$	3.73	$	3.68	$	67.6



Year ended December 31, 2015
Payment of prior year declaration	(5)	January 9, 2015			$	0.875	$	16.6
First quarter	February 24, 2015	April 10, 2015	$	0.875	0.875		16.7
Second quarter	May 19, 2015	July 10, 2015	0.875		0.875		16.6
Third quarter	July 30, 2015	October 9, 2015	0.875		0.875		16.4
Fourth quarter	October 1, 2015	(4)	0.920		—		—
Total			$	3.545	$	3.50	$	66.3

^{(1) Includes dividend equivalents paid on restricted stock units}

^{(2) The fourth quarter 2017 dividend of}^{$17.7 million}^{was paid on January 5, 2018.}

^{(3) The fourth quarter 2016 dividend of}^{$17.5 million}^{was paid on January 6, 2017.}

^{(4) The fourth quarter 2015 dividend of}^{$17.1 million}^{was paid on January 8, 2016.}

^{(5) The fourth quarter 2014 dividend of}^{$16.6 million}^{was paid on January 9, 2015.}



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Dividends declared from retained earnings	(52.6	)	(67.8	)	(66.6	)
Dividends declared from additional paid-in capital	(17.7	)	—		—

On February 14, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors approved payment of a cash dividend of $0.63 per share of common stock, payable at the close of business on April 6, 2018 to the stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 19, 2018.

Treasury Stock

Repurchases of the Company's common stock are included in treasury stock at the cost of shares repurchased plus any transaction costs. Treasury stock may be re-issued when vested stock options are exercised, when restricted stock awards are granted and when restricted stock units settle in stock upon vesting. The cost of treasury stock re-issued is determined on the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. The Company re-issued 281,185 shares, 136,818 shares and 356,930 shares, respectively, during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 at a total FIFO cost of $10.1 million $4.9 million and $12.9 million, respectively.

Closure and Other Impairment Charges

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Restructuring Charges [Abstract]

Closure and Other Impairment Charges

Closure and other impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Closure charges	$	3.9	$	1.2	$	1.4
Kansas City lease exit costs	—		2.9		—
Long-lived tangible asset impairment	0.1		1.0		1.2
Total closure and impairment charges	$	4.0	$	5.1	$	2.6

Closure Charges

Approximately $2.2 million of closure charges for the year ended December 31, 2017 related to one IHOP company-operated restaurant closed during 2017, with the remainder primarily related to adjustments to the estimated reserve for IHOP and Applebee's restaurants closed prior to 2017. Approximately $0.7 million of closure charges for the year ended December 31, 2016 related to one IHOP franchise restaurant closed during 2016, with the rest of the charges related to adjustments to the estimated reserve for IHOP and Applebee's restaurants closed prior to 2016. Approximately $1.4 million of closure charges for the year ended December 31, 2015 related to two IHOP franchise restaurants closed during 2015, partially offset by minor adjustments to the estimated reserve for IHOP and Applebee's restaurants closed prior to 2015.

Kansas City Lease Exit Costs

The Company incurred costs of $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to exit a facility in connection with the consolidation action discussed in Note 17 - Facility Exit Costs. Approximately $2.5 million related to the outright termination of a lease covering two floors of the facility and $0.4 million represents the present value of future lease payments, net of assumed sublease rentals, of one floor of the facility.

Long-lived Tangible Asset Impairment

Long-lived tangible asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2017 were not significant. Long-lived tangible asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2016 comprised a charge of $0.6 million for one IHOP company-operated restaurant and charges totaling $0.4 million of individually insignificant charges at eight IHOP company-operated restaurants. Long-lived tangible asset impairment charges for the year ended December 31, 2015 primarily related to $1.1 million of individually insignificant charges at eight IHOP company-operated restaurants and four Applebee's company-operated restaurants.

Stock-Based Incentive Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock-Based Incentive Plans

General Description

Currently, the Company is authorized to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, cash-settled and stock-settled restricted stock units and performance units to officers, other employees and non-employee directors under the DineEquity, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”). The 2016 Plan was approved by stockholders on May 17, 2016 and permits the issuance of up to 3,750,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for incentive stock awards. The 2016 Plan will expire in May 2026.

The DineEquity, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) was adopted in 2011 to permit the issuance of up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for incentive stock awards. The 2011 Plan was terminated upon adoption of the 2016 Plan, but there are stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units issued under the 2011 Plan that are outstanding as of December 31, 2017.

The IHOP Corp. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2001 Plan”) was adopted in 2001 and amended and restated in 2005 and 2008 to authorize the issuance of up to 4,200,000 shares of common stock. The 2001 Plan has expired but there are stock options issued under the 2001 Plan outstanding as of December 31, 2017.

The 2016 Plan, the 2011 Plan and the 2001 Plan are collectively referred to as the “Plans.”

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

From time to time, the Company has granted nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, cash-settled and stock-settled restricted stock units and performance units to officers, other employees and non-employee directors of the Company under the Plans. The nonqualified stock options generally vest ratably over a three-year period in one-third increments and have a maturity of ten years from the grant date. Options vest immediately upon a change in control of the Company, as defined in the Plans. Option exercise prices equal the closing price of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant. Restricted stock and restricted stock units are issued at no cost to the holder and vest over terms determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors, generally three years from the date of grant or immediately upon a change in control of the Company, as defined in the Plans. The Company either utilizes treasury stock or issues new shares from its authorized but unissued share pool when vested stock options are exercised, when restricted stock awards are granted and when restricted stock units settle in stock upon vesting.

The following table summarizes the Company's stock-based compensation expense included as a component of general and administrative expenses in the consolidated financial statements:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Total stock-based compensation expense:
Equity classified awards expense	$	10.9		$	11.0		$	9.0
Liability classified awards (credit)	(1.0		)	(0.5		)	(0.4		)
Total pretax stock-based compensation expense	9.9			10.5			8.6
Book income tax benefit	(3.8		)	(3.9		)	(3.3		)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$	6.1		$	6.6		$	5.3

As of December 31, 2017, total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock and restricted stock units of $15.7 million and $2.9 million related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.0 years for restricted stock and restricted stock units and 1.8 years for stock options.

Equity Classified Awards - Stock Options

The per share fair values of the stock options granted have been estimated as of the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes model considers, among other factors, the expected life of the option and the historical volatility of the Company's stock price. The Black-Scholes model meets the requirements of U.S. GAAP, but the fair values generated by the model may not be indicative of the actual fair values of the Company's stock-based awards. The following table summarizes the assumptions used to value options granted in the respective periods:

The Company granted 537,030 stock options during the year ended December 31, 2017 for which the fair value was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The following summarizes the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model:



	2017			2016			2015
Risk free interest rate	1.9		%	1.1		%	1.5		%
Weighted average historical volatility	22.9		%	27.1		%	36.8		%
Dividend yield	7.3		%	4.0		%	3.2		%
Expected years until exercise	4.5			4.5			4.5
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	4.31		$	13.55		$	27.20

The Company granted 350,000 performance-based stock options and 175,000 performance-based restricted stock units during the year ended December 31, 2017 for which the fair value was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation method. The following summarizes the assumptions used in estimating the fair values:



	2017
Risk free interest rate	1.6		%
Weighted average historical volatility	30.0		%
Dividend yield	9.6		%
Expected years until exercise	3.4
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	3.07
Weighted average fair value of restricted stock units granted	$	10.19

Stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is summarized as follows:



	Number of Shares Under Option		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in Millions)
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	618,115		$	53.10
Granted	133,814		111.54
Exercised	(218,412	)	43.66
Forfeited	(29,055	)	99.97
Outstanding at December 31, 2015	504,462		69.99
Granted	255,825		90.90
Exercised	(48,021	)	29.33
Forfeited	(7,924	)	94.30
Expired	(3,208	)	89.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	701,134		80.04
Granted	887,030		48.35
Exercised	(64,916	)	40.59
Forfeited	(171,847	)	65.82
Expired	(79,353	)	87.02
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	1,272,048		$	61.44	7.2	$	3.6
Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2017	1,109,793		$	63.69	6.9	$	2.5
Exercisable at December 31, 2017	435,172		$	80.72	3.2	$	0.1

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $1.4 million, $2.7 million and $12.6 million, respectively.

Cash received from options exercised under all stock-based payment arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $2.6 million, $1.4 million and $9.5 million, respectively. The actual tax benefit realized for the tax deduction from option exercises under the stock-based payment arrangements totaled $0.5 million, $1.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Equity Classified Awards - Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

Activity in equity classified awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:



	Shares of Restricted Stock		Weighted Average Grant-Date Per Share Fair Value		Restricted Stock Units		Weighted Average Grant-Date Per Share Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	233,818		$	70.14	41,622		$	66.92
Granted	138,518		102.78		10,630		111.72
Released	(77,042	)	54.89		(16,567	)	52.19
Forfeited	(37,700	)	86.77		(569	)	101.55
Outstanding at December 31, 2015	257,594		89.99		35,116		86.30
Granted	88,797		88.90		13,053		90.90
Released	(77,712	)	78.70		(14,027	)	72.01
Forfeited	(33,207	)	92.82		(84	)	101.25
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	235,472		92.91		34,058		93.95
Granted	216,269		51.89		281,973		22.37
Released	(92,968	)	88.62		(12,683	)	81.63
Forfeited	(83,582	)	79.52		—		—
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	275,191		$	66.10	303,348		$	28.39

Liability Classified Awards

The Company has granted cash long-term incentive awards to certain employees (“LTIP awards”). Annual LTIP awards vest over a three-year period and are determined using a multiplier from 0% to 200% of the target award based on the total shareholder return of the Company's common stock compared to the total shareholder returns of a peer group of companies. Though LTIP awards are only paid in cash, since the multiplier is based on the price of the Company's common stock, the awards are considered stock-based compensation in accordance with U.S. GAAP and are classified as liabilities. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, credits of $1.0 million, $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, were included in stock-based compensation expense related to the LTIP awards. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, liabilities of $0.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively, were included as accrued employee compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans	Dec. 31, 2017
Defined Contribution Plan [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan Effective January 1, 2013, the Company amended the DineEquity, Inc. 401(k) Plan to (i) modify the Company matching formula and (ii) eliminate the one-year completed service requirement that previously had to be met to become eligible for Company matching contributions. As amended, the Company matches 100% of the first four percent of the employee's eligible compensation deferral and 50% of the next two percent of the employee's eligible compensation deferral. All contributions under this plan vest immediately. Company common stock is not an investment option for employees in the 401(k) Plan, other than shares transferred from a prior employee stock ownership plan. Substantially all of the administrative cost of the 401(k) plan is borne by the Company. The Company's matching contribution expense was $2.3 million, $2.2 million and $2.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Income Taxes

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
(Benefit) provision for income taxes:	(In millions)
Current
Federal	$	42.6		$	60.8		$	67.3
State	5.1			6.4			8.0
Foreign	2.9			2.3			2.4
	50.6			69.5			77.7
Deferred
Federal	(140.7		)	(10.6		)	(13.6		)
State	(4.7		)	(3.8		)	(0.4		)
	(145.4		)	(14.4		)	(14.0		)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	$	(94.8	)	$	55.1		$	63.7

The provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the expected federal income tax rates as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Non-deductibility of goodwill impairment	(29.5	)	—		—
Change in federal tax rate	18.2		—		—
State and other taxes, net of federal tax benefit	0.4		2.7		2.8
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	(0.7	)	0.5		0.8
Change in valuation allowance	0.3		—		—
Domestic production activity deduction	0.3		(0.6	)	(0.7	)
Changes in tax rates and state tax laws	(0.4	)	(1.9	)	—
Change in accounting for excess tax deficiencies/benefits	(0.5	)	—		—
Other	(0.8	)	0.3		(0.1	)
Effective tax rate	22.3	%	36.0	%	37.8	%

The Company recognized a $358.2 million impairment of goodwill during the third quarter of 2017 that was not deductible for federal income tax purposes and therefore had no associated tax benefit. The impairment of goodwill lowered the 2017 effective tax rate by 29.5%. Additionally, the Company was required to revalue its deferred taxes at the federal tax rate of 21% in accordance with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) enacted in December 2017. The change in the federal tax rate applied to the deferred tax balances increased the 2017 effective tax rate by 18.2%. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidance that allows entities to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date of the Tax Act. Where the Company has been able to make reasonable estimates of the effects of the Tax Act for which its analysis is not yet complete, the Company has recorded provisional amounts in accordance with the guidance. Where the Company has not yet been able to make reasonable estimates of the impact of certain elements of the Tax Act, the Company has not recorded any amounts related to those elements and has continued accounting for them in accordance with the tax laws in effect immediately prior to the enactment of the Tax Act.

The Company applied a lower state tax rate to the deferred tax balances during second quarter of 2016, a result of the consolidating action discussed under Note 17 - Facility Exit Costs. The change in the state tax rates applied to the deferred tax balances lowered the 2016 effective tax rate by 1.9%.

The Company files federal income tax returns and the Company or one of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in various state and international jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to federal, state or non-United States tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2011. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company resolved its appeal regarding tax years 2008 to 2010. No additional deficiencies resulted. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) commenced examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for the tax years 2011 to 2013 in fiscal year 2016. Based on recent IRS examination developments, during the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company assessed its available positive evidence and reclassified certain net deferred tax assets in the amount of $30.4 million to a prepaid income tax. The examination is anticipated to conclude during fiscal year 2018. The Company continues to believe that adequate reserves have been provided relating to all matters contained in the tax periods open to examination.

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following components:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation and amortization of reacquired franchises and equipment	$	—		$	4.7
Differences in acquisition financing costs	0.1			0.3
Employee compensation	7.6			12.6
Deferred gain on sale of assets	0.7			5.5
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	14.2			45.8
Other	21.8			35.4
Deferred tax assets	44.4			104.3
Valuation allowance	—			(1.1		)
Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	44.4			103.2
Differences between financial and tax accounting in the recognition of franchise and equipment sales	(20.7		)	(39.1		)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation ⁽¹⁾	(147.5		)	(281.3		)
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	(2.4		)	(7.8		)
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment	(8.5		)	(14.6		)
Other	(3.5		)	(14.3		)
Deferred tax liabilities	(182.6		)	(357.1		)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(138.2	)	$	(253.9	)

____________________________


⁽¹⁾	Primarily related to the Applebee's acquisition.

The valuation allowance of $1.1 million as of December 31, 2016 related to the Massachusetts enacted legislation requiring unitary businesses to file combined reports. As of each reporting date, the Company’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regards to future realization of deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2017, management determined that sufficient positive evidence exists as of the reporting date to conclude that it is more likely than not that additional deferred taxes of $1.1 million are realizable, and therefore, reduced the valuation allowance accordingly.

The Company had gross operating loss carryforwards for state tax purposes of $0.6 million and $10.7 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The net operating loss carryforwards may begin to expire between 2018 and 2034 for state tax purposes.

The total gross unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $5.9 million and $3.9 million, respectively, excluding interest, penalties and related income tax benefits. If recognized, these amounts would affect the Company's effective income tax rates. The Company estimates the unrecognized tax benefits may decrease over the upcoming 12 months by an amount up to $2.9 million related to settlements with taxing authorities and the lapse of statutes of limitations. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Unrecognized tax benefit as of January 1	$	3.9		$	3.9		$	3.4
Changes for tax positions of prior years	2.8			0.6			1.0
Increases for tax positions related to the current year	0.6			0.1			0.1
Decreases relating to settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations	(1.4		)	(0.7		)	(0.6		)
Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31	$	5.9		$	3.9		$	3.9

As of December 31, 2017, the accrued interest was $1.1 million and accrued penalties were less than $0.1 million, excluding any related income tax benefits. As of December 31, 2016, the accrued interest and penalties were $1.0 million and less than $0.1 million, respectively, excluding any related income tax benefits. The increase of $0.1 million of accrued interest primarily related to an increase in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of recent audits, and offset with a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits due to resolution of recent audits by taxing authorities.

The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as a component of the income tax provision recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

Net Income Per Share

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Net Income Per Share

Net (Loss) Income Per Share

The computation of the Company's basic and diluted net (loss) income per share is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
Net (loss) income	$	(330,539	)	$	97,992		$	104,923
Less: Net loss (income) allocated to unvested participating restricted stock	6,519			(1,387		)	(1,400		)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders - basic	(324,020		)	96,605			103,523
Effect of unvested participating restricted stock	—			2			4
Numerator - net (loss) income available to common shareholders - diluted	$	(324,020	)	$	96,607		$	103,527

Denominator:
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - basic	17,725			18,030			18,637
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options	15			95			131
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - diluted	17,740			18,125			18,768
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic	$	(18.28	)	$	5.36		$	5.55
Diluted	$	(18.28	)	$	5.33		$	5.52

Facility Consolidation Costs

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Facility Exit Costs

In September 2015, the Company approved a plan to consolidate many core restaurant and franchisee support functions at its headquarters in Glendale, California and communicated the plan to employees. In conjunction with this action, the Company has exited a significant portion of the Applebee's restaurant support facility in Kansas City, Missouri.

During the year ended December 31, 2016 the Company incurred $1.6 million of employee termination costs, primarily relocation costs associated with the consolidation. These charges were included in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The Company also incurred $2.9 million of facility costs, of which $2.5 million related to the termination of the Company's involvement in a lease covering two floors of the facility; the remaining $0.4 million represents the present value of future lease payments, net of assumed sublease rentals, of one floor of the facility. These costs were included as closure and other impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred $4.6 million of employee termination costs, primarily severance and relocation costs associated with the consolidation. These charges were included in general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income.



	Employee Termination Costs			Facility Costs			Total Exit Costs
	(In millions )
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2014	$	—		$	—		$	—
Charges	4.6			—			4.6
Payments	(1.1		)	—			(1.1		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2015	3.5			—			3.5
Charges	1.6			2.9			4.5
Payments	(4.9		)	(2.5		)	(7.4		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2016	0.2			0.4			0.6
Charges	—			—			—
Payments	(0.2		)	—			(0.2		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2017	$	—		$	0.4		$	0.4

At December 31, 2017, the $0.4 million of facility costs was included in other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. At December 31, 2016, the $0.2 million of employee termination costs was included in accrued employee compensation and benefits and the $0.4 million of facility costs was included in other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Segments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Information on segments and a reconciliation of gross profit to income before income tax provision is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Revenues				(In millions)
Franchise operations	$	467.5		$	484.4		$	494.7
Rental operations	121.4			123.0			127.7
Company restaurants	7.5			17.4			47.9
Financing operations	8.4			9.2			10.8
Total	$	604.8		$	634.0		$	681.1

Gross profit (loss), by segment
Franchise operations	$	303.4		$	339.7		$	355.7
Rental operations	30.8			31.5			33.1
Company restaurants	(0.3		)	(0.8		)	(0.1		)
Financing operations	7.7			9.0			10.3
Total gross profit	341.6			379.4			399.0
Corporate and unallocated expenses, net	(767.0		)	(226.3		)	(230.4		)
(Loss) income before income taxes	$	(425.4	)	$	153.1		$	168.6

Interest expense
Rental operations	$	10.5		$	11.8		$	13.5
Company restaurants	0.2			0.4			0.4
Corporate	62.0			61.5			63.3
Total	$	72.7		$	73.7		$	77.2

Depreciation and amortization
Franchise operations	$	10.8		$	10.6		$	10.4
Rental operations	12.0			12.4			12.8
Company restaurants	0.1			0.4			0.6
Corporate	7.7			7.2			9.0
Total	$	30.6		$	30.6		$	32.8

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, closure and other impairment charges
Franchise operations	$	531.6		$	—		$	—
Company restaurants	4.0			2.2			2.6
Corporate	—			2.9			—
Total	$	535.6		$	5.1		$	2.6

Capital expenditures
Company restaurants	$	0.1		$	0.3		$	1.6
Corporate	13.3			5.3			5.0
Total	$	13.4		$	5.6		$	6.6

Goodwill (franchise segment)	$	339.2		$	697.5		$	697.5

Total assets
Franchise operations	$	1,202.6		$	1,608.7		$	1,643.9
Rental operations	278.8			339.5			324.5
Company restaurants	—			126.8			166.1
Financing operations	87.5			88.2			97.4
Corporate	181.3			115.4			100.0
Total	$	1,750.2		$	2,278.6		$	2,331.9

Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants (Notes)	12 Months Ended
Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants (Notes)	Dec. 31, 2017
Leases [Abstract]
Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants	Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants In June 2017, the Company completed the refranchising and sale of related restaurant assets of nine company-operated IHOP restaurants in the Cincinnati, Ohio market area. As part of the transaction, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement, nine franchise agreements and nine sublease agreements for land and buildings. The Company compared the stated rent under the sublease agreements with comparable market rents and recorded net favorable lease assets of $2.3 million in connection with the transaction. The Company also received cash of $1.1 million and a note receivable for $4.8 million. After allocating a portion of the consideration to franchise fees and derecognizing the assets sold, the Company recognized a gain of $6.2 million on the refranchising and sale of related restaurant assets during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)



	Revenues		Gross Profit		Net Income (Loss)			Net Income (Loss) Per Share— Basic⁽²⁾			Net Income (Loss) Per Share— Diluted⁽²⁾
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2017
1st Quarter	$	156,174	$	92,501	$	14,363		$	0.80		$	0.79
2nd Quarter	155,199		91,849		21,280			1.18			1.18
3rd Quarter⁽¹⁾	144,671		80,104		(451,718		)	(24.98		)	(24.98		)
4th Quarter	148,775		77,192		85,536			4.68			4.67
2016
1st Quarter	$	163,524	$	99,424	$	25,543		$	1.38		$	1.37
2nd Quarter	160,258		97,375		26,829			1.46			1.45
3rd Quarter	156,017		91,684		24,273			1.33			1.33
4th Quarter	154,174		90,935		21,347			1.18			1.18

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

⁽¹⁾The Company recognized a pretax charge of $531.6 million for impairment of goodwill and intangible assets in the third quarter of 2017. See Note 5 - Goodwill and Note 6 - Other Intangible Assets, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

⁽²⁾The quarterly amounts may not add to the full year amount as each quarterly calculation is discrete from the full-year calculation.

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Principles of Consolidation

Fiscal Periods

Use of Estimates

Concentration of Credit Risk

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Restricted Cash

Current

Non-current

Property and Equipment



Category		Depreciable Life
Buildings and improvements		25 - 40 years
Leaseholds and improvements		Shorter of primary lease term or between three to 40 years
Equipment and fixtures		Three to five years
Internal-use software		Three to 10 years
Properties under capital leases		Primary lease term or remaining primary lease term

Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Revenue Recognition

The Company's revenues are recorded in four categories: franchise operations, rental operations, financing operations and company restaurant operations.

Allowance for Credit Losses

Leases

Pre-opening Expenses

Expenditures related to the opening of new or relocated restaurants are charged to expense when incurred.

Advertising

Fair Value Measurements


•	Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level 2 inputs are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities.


•	Level 3 inputs are unobservable and reflect the Company's own assumptions.

The Company believes the fair values of cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts due to their short duration.

Income Taxes

Stock-Based Compensation

Net Income Per Share

Net (Loss) Income Per Share

Treasury Stock

Dividends

Reporting Segments

Franchise Segment

Franchise operations expenses include IHOP advertising expense, the cost of proprietary products, pre-opening training expenses and other franchise-related costs.

Rental Segment

Financing Segment

Company Segment

Accounting Standards Adopted in the Current Fiscal Year and Newly Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Adopted Effective January 2, 2017

Newly Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Property and Equipment Depreciable Lives

The general ranges of depreciable and amortizable lives are as follows:



Category		Depreciable Life
Buildings and improvements		25 - 40 years
Leaseholds and improvements		Shorter of primary lease term or between three to 40 years
Equipment and fixtures		Three to five years
Internal-use software		Three to 10 years
Properties under capital leases		Primary lease term or remaining primary lease term

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair values of non-current financial instruments, determined based on Level 2 inputs, are shown in the following table:



	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In millions)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs	$	1,282.8	$	1,265.5	$	1,282.7	$	1,286.2

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of financial instruments measured at fair value, including those classified in shareholders' equity measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. Disclosures include, but are not limited to, fair value measurements recorded and the reasons for the measurements, level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements are categorized and transfers between levels 1 and 2. Nonrecurring fair value measurements are those that are required or permitted in the statement of financial position in particular circumstances.

+ References + Details

Receivables (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Receivables [Abstract]

Schedule of Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts



3. Receivables	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Accounts receivable	$	94.2		$	69.3
Gift card receivables	51.6			51.2
Notes receivable	11.3			1.8
Financing receivables:
Equipment leases receivable	79.3			87.2
Direct financing leases receivable	55.7			65.6
Franchise fee notes receivable	0.3			0.4
Other	11.2			10.2
	303.6			285.7
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	(22.2		)	(3.1		)
	281.4			282.6
Less: current portion	(150.2		)	(141.4		)
Long-term receivables	$	131.2		$	141.2

The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts:



Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	2.9
Provision	0.6
Charge-offs	(2.4		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	1.2
Provision	2.8
Charge-offs	(0.9		)
Balance at December 31, 2016	3.1
Provision	20.3
Charge-offs	(1.2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	22.2

Property and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Schedule of Property and Equipment

Property and equipment by category is as follows:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Leaseholds and improvements	$	252.2		$	255.4
Equipment and fixtures	90.1			83.4
Properties under capital lease	61.4			59.8
Buildings and improvements	57.9			57.9
Land	56.4			56.4
Construction in progress	1.8			2.2
Property and equipment, gross	519.8			515.1
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(320.2		)	(310.0		)
Property and equipment, net	$	199.6		$	205.1

Goodwill - (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill



	Applebee's Franchise Unit			IHOP Franchise Unit		Total
	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2015:
Goodwill, gross	$	686.7		$	10.8	$	697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	—			—		—
Goodwill	686.7			10.8		697.5
2016 impairment loss	—			—		—
Balance at December 31, 2016:
Goodwill, gross	$	686.7		$	10.8	$	697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	—			—		—
Goodwill	686.7			10.8		697.5
2017 impairment loss	(358.2		)	—		(358.2		)
Balance at December 31, 2017:
Goodwill, gross	686.7			10.8		697.5
Accumulated impairment loss	(358.2		)	—		(358.2		)
Goodwill	$	328.5		$	10.8	$	339.2

Other Intangible Assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]

Other Intangible Assets Roll Forward

Changes in the carrying amount of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:



	Not Subject to Amortization					Subject to Amortization
	Tradename			Other		Franchising Rights			Leaseholds⁽¹⁾			Total
	(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	652.4		$	0.9	$	129.0		$	—		$	782.3
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	—			(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.6		—			—			0.6
Balance at December 31, 2015	652.4			1.5		119.0			—			772.9
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	—			(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.5		—			—			0.5
Balance at December 31, 2016	652.4			2.0		109.0			—			763.4
Impairment	(173.4		)	—		—			—			(173.4		)
Amortization expense	—			—		(10.0		)	(0.0		)	(10.0		)
Additions	—			0.5		—			2.3			2.8
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	479.0		$	2.5	$	99.0		$	2.3		$	582.8

____________________________________

⁽¹⁾ See Note 19 - Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants, of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

Gross and net carrying amounts of intangible assets subject to amortization at December 31, 2017 and 2016 are as follows:



	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Net
	(In millions)
Franchising rights	$	200.0	$	(101.0	)	$	99.0	$	200.0	$	(91.0	)	$	109.0
Leaseholds	2.3		(0.0		)	2.3		—		—			—
Total	$	202.3	$	(101.0	)	$	101.3	$	200.0	$	(91.0	)	$	109.0

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Long-Term Debt Components

Long-term debt consists of the following components:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Series 2014-1 Class A-2, 4.277% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes	$	1,296.8		$	1,300.0
Debt issuance costs	(13.9		)	(17.3		)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs	1,282.8			1,282.7
Current portion of long-term debt	(13.0		)	—
Long-term debt	$	1,269.8		$	1,282.7

Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt

Face-value maturities of long-term debt for each of the next five years, assuming the Company's leverage ratio remains greater than 5.25x, are as follows:



	(In millions)
2018	$	13.0
2019	13.0
2020	13.0
2021	1,257.8
2022	—
Total	$	1,296.8

Financing Obligations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Leases [Abstract]

Schedule of Sale Leaseback Transactions

As of December 31, 2017, future minimum lease payments under financing obligations during the initial terms of the leases related to the sale-leaseback transactions are as follows:



Fiscal Years	(In millions)
2018	$	4.9
2019	5.1
2020⁽¹⁾	5.6
2021	5.1
2022	5.2
Thereafter	55.4
Total minimum lease payments	81.3
Less: interest	(41.8		)
Total financing obligations	39.5
Less: current portion⁽²⁾	(0.3		)
Long-term financing obligations	$	39.2

____________________________________________________________________________________


⁽¹⁾	Due to the varying closing date of the Company's fiscal year, 13 monthly payments will be made in 2020.


⁽²⁾	Included in current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

Leases (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]

Schedule of Future Minimum Payments for Capital and Operating Leases

The following are minimum future lease payments on noncancelable leases as lessee at December 31, 2017:



	Capital Leases			Operating Leases
	(In millions)
2018	$	20.7		$	80.3
2019	17.6			76.7
2020⁽¹⁾	15.6			75.0
2021	12.6			58.8
2022	10.6			50.6
Thereafter	25.5			173.9
Total minimum lease payments	102.6			$	515.3
Less: interest	(26.8		)
Capital lease obligations	75.8
Less: current portion⁽²⁾	(13.9		)
Long-term capital lease obligations	$	61.9

______________________________________________________

⁽¹⁾Due to the varying closing date of the Company's fiscal year, 13 monthly payments will be made in fiscal 2020.

⁽²⁾Included in current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

Schedule of Future Minimum Rents to Be Received on Capital and Operating Leases

The minimum future lease payments shown above have not been reduced by the following future minimum rents to be received on noncancelable subleases and leases of owned property at December 31, 2017:



	Direct Financing Leases		Operating Leases
	(In millions)
2018	$	17.2	$	105.0
2019	16.2		103.4
2020	14.8		103.7
2021	11.7		97.6
2022	8.2		93.7
Thereafter	6.4		356.0
Total minimum rents receivable	$	74.5	$	859.4

Direct financing leases receivable

Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]

Leases Receivable

The following is the Company's net investment in direct financing lease receivables:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Total minimum rents receivable	$	74.5		$	92.1
Less: unearned income	(18.8		)	(26.5		)
Net investment in direct financing leases receivable	55.7			65.6
Less: current portion	(10.8		)	(9.9		)
Long-term direct financing leases receivable	$	44.9		$	55.7

Net investment equipment lease

Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]

Leases Receivable

The following is the Company's net investment in equipment leases receivable:



	December 31,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Total minimum leases receivable	$	106.4		$	122.5
Less: unearned income	(27.1		)	(35.3		)
Net investment in equipment leases receivable	79.3			87.2
Less: current portion	(8.2		)	(7.9		)
Long-term equipment leases receivable	$	71.1		$	79.3

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity Preferred (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Repurchase Agreements

Shares repurchased under the Company's stock repurchase programs during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are summarized as follows:



	2017 repurchases			2016 repurchases			2015 repurchases			Remaining Value that may be Repurchased
Repurchase Program	Shares	$		Shares	$		Shares	$		Remaining Value that may be Repurchased
	(Dollars in millions)
2015 Repurchase Program	145,786	$	10.0	650,384	$	55.3	204,487	$	17.5	$	67.1
2014 Repurchase Program	—	—		—	—		516,976	52.5		n/a
Total	145,786	$	10.0	650,384	$	55.3	721,463	$	70.0	$	67.1

Dividends Declared

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends on common stock as follows:



Year ended December 31, 2017	Declaration Date	Payment Date	Dividends declared per share		Dividends paid per share		Total dividends paid⁽¹⁾
							(In millions)
Payment of prior year declaration	(3)	January 6, 2017	—		$	0.97	$	17.5
First quarter	February 22, 2017	April 7, 2017	$	0.97	0.97		17.5
Second quarter	May 15, 2017	July 7, 2017	0.97		0.97		17.5
Third quarter	August 10, 2017	October 6, 2017	0.97		0.97		17.8
Fourth quarter	October 6, 2017	(2)	0.97		—		—
Total			$	3.88	$	3.88	$	70.3



Year ended December 31, 2016
Payment of prior year declaration	(4)	January 8, 2016	—		$	0.920	$	17.1
First quarter	February 23, 2016	April 8, 2016	$	0.92	0.920		17.0
Second quarter	May 16, 2016	July 8, 2016	0.92		0.920		16.8
Third quarter	July 28, 2016	October 7, 2016	0.92		0.920		16.7
Fourth quarter	October 31, 2016	(3)	0.97		—		—
Total			$	3.73	$	3.68	$	67.6



Year ended December 31, 2015
Payment of prior year declaration	(5)	January 9, 2015			$	0.875	$	16.6
First quarter	February 24, 2015	April 10, 2015	$	0.875	0.875		16.7
Second quarter	May 19, 2015	July 10, 2015	0.875		0.875		16.6
Third quarter	July 30, 2015	October 9, 2015	0.875		0.875		16.4
Fourth quarter	October 1, 2015	(4)	0.920		—		—
Total			$	3.545	$	3.50	$	66.3

^{(1) Includes dividend equivalents paid on restricted stock units}

^{(2) The fourth quarter 2017 dividend of}^{$17.7 million}^{was paid on January 5, 2018.}

^{(3) The fourth quarter 2016 dividend of}^{$17.5 million}^{was paid on January 6, 2017.}

^{(4) The fourth quarter 2015 dividend of}^{$17.1 million}^{was paid on January 8, 2016.}

^{(5) The fourth quarter 2014 dividend of}^{$16.6 million}^{was paid on January 9, 2015.}

Dividends recorded during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Dividends declared from retained earnings	(52.6	)	(67.8	)	(66.6	)
Dividends declared from additional paid-in capital	(17.7	)	—		—

Closure and Other Impairment Charges (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Restructuring Charges [Abstract]

Schedule of Impairment and Closure Charges

Closure and other impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Closure charges	$	3.9	$	1.2	$	1.4
Kansas City lease exit costs	—		2.9		—
Long-lived tangible asset impairment	0.1		1.0		1.2
Total closure and impairment charges	$	4.0	$	5.1	$	2.6

Stock-Based Incentive Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs

The following table summarizes the Company's stock-based compensation expense included as a component of general and administrative expenses in the consolidated financial statements:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Total stock-based compensation expense:
Equity classified awards expense	$	10.9		$	11.0		$	9.0
Liability classified awards (credit)	(1.0		)	(0.5		)	(0.4		)
Total pretax stock-based compensation expense	9.9			10.5			8.6
Book income tax benefit	(3.8		)	(3.9		)	(3.3		)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$	6.1		$	6.6		$	5.3

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions

The following summarizes the assumptions used in estimating the fair values:



	2017
Risk free interest rate	1.6		%
Weighted average historical volatility	30.0		%
Dividend yield	9.6		%
Expected years until exercise	3.4
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	3.07
Weighted average fair value of restricted stock units granted	$	10.19



	2017			2016			2015
Risk free interest rate	1.9		%	1.1		%	1.5		%
Weighted average historical volatility	22.9		%	27.1		%	36.8		%
Dividend yield	7.3		%	4.0		%	3.2		%
Expected years until exercise	4.5			4.5			4.5
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$	4.31		$	13.55		$	27.20

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity

Stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is summarized as follows:



	Number of Shares Under Option		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in Millions)
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	618,115		$	53.10
Granted	133,814		111.54
Exercised	(218,412	)	43.66
Forfeited	(29,055	)	99.97
Outstanding at December 31, 2015	504,462		69.99
Granted	255,825		90.90
Exercised	(48,021	)	29.33
Forfeited	(7,924	)	94.30
Expired	(3,208	)	89.17
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	701,134		80.04
Granted	887,030		48.35
Exercised	(64,916	)	40.59
Forfeited	(171,847	)	65.82
Expired	(79,353	)	87.02
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	1,272,048		$	61.44	7.2	$	3.6
Vested and Expected to Vest at December 31, 2017	1,109,793		$	63.69	6.9	$	2.5
Exercisable at December 31, 2017	435,172		$	80.72	3.2	$	0.1

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity

Activity in equity classified awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is as follows:



	Shares of Restricted Stock		Weighted Average Grant-Date Per Share Fair Value		Restricted Stock Units		Weighted Average Grant-Date Per Share Fair Value
Outstanding at December 31, 2014	233,818		$	70.14	41,622		$	66.92
Granted	138,518		102.78		10,630		111.72
Released	(77,042	)	54.89		(16,567	)	52.19
Forfeited	(37,700	)	86.77		(569	)	101.55
Outstanding at December 31, 2015	257,594		89.99		35,116		86.30
Granted	88,797		88.90		13,053		90.90
Released	(77,712	)	78.70		(14,027	)	72.01
Forfeited	(33,207	)	92.82		(84	)	101.25
Outstanding at December 31, 2016	235,472		92.91		34,058		93.95
Granted	216,269		51.89		281,973		22.37
Released	(92,968	)	88.62		(12,683	)	81.63
Forfeited	(83,582	)	79.52		—		—
Outstanding at December 31, 2017	275,191		$	66.10	303,348		$	28.39

Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit)

The provision (benefit) for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
(Benefit) provision for income taxes:	(In millions)
Current
Federal	$	42.6		$	60.8		$	67.3
State	5.1			6.4			8.0
Foreign	2.9			2.3			2.4
	50.6			69.5			77.7
Deferred
Federal	(140.7		)	(10.6		)	(13.6		)
State	(4.7		)	(3.8		)	(0.4		)
	(145.4		)	(14.4		)	(14.0		)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	$	(94.8	)	$	55.1		$	63.7

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

The provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the expected federal income tax rates as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Non-deductibility of goodwill impairment	(29.5	)	—		—
Change in federal tax rate	18.2		—		—
State and other taxes, net of federal tax benefit	0.4		2.7		2.8
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	(0.7	)	0.5		0.8
Change in valuation allowance	0.3		—		—
Domestic production activity deduction	0.3		(0.6	)	(0.7	)
Changes in tax rates and state tax laws	(0.4	)	(1.9	)	—
Change in accounting for excess tax deficiencies/benefits	(0.5	)	—		—
Other	(0.8	)	0.3		(0.1	)
Effective tax rate	22.3	%	36.0	%	37.8	%

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consisted of the following components:



	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation and amortization of reacquired franchises and equipment	$	—		$	4.7
Differences in acquisition financing costs	0.1			0.3
Employee compensation	7.6			12.6
Deferred gain on sale of assets	0.7			5.5
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	14.2			45.8
Other	21.8			35.4
Deferred tax assets	44.4			104.3
Valuation allowance	—			(1.1		)
Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	44.4			103.2
Differences between financial and tax accounting in the recognition of franchise and equipment sales	(20.7		)	(39.1		)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation ⁽¹⁾	(147.5		)	(281.3		)
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	(2.4		)	(7.8		)
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment	(8.5		)	(14.6		)
Other	(3.5		)	(14.3		)
Deferred tax liabilities	(182.6		)	(357.1		)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$	(138.2	)	$	(253.9	)

____________________________


⁽¹⁾	Primarily related to the Applebee's acquisition.

Summary of Income Tax Contingencies

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Unrecognized tax benefit as of January 1	$	3.9		$	3.9		$	3.4
Changes for tax positions of prior years	2.8			0.6			1.0
Increases for tax positions related to the current year	0.6			0.1			0.1
Decreases relating to settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations	(1.4		)	(0.7		)	(0.6		)
Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31	$	5.9		$	3.9		$	3.9

Net Income Per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The computation of the Company's basic and diluted net (loss) income per share is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
Net (loss) income	$	(330,539	)	$	97,992		$	104,923
Less: Net loss (income) allocated to unvested participating restricted stock	6,519			(1,387		)	(1,400		)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders - basic	(324,020		)	96,605			103,523
Effect of unvested participating restricted stock	—			2			4
Numerator - net (loss) income available to common shareholders - diluted	$	(324,020	)	$	96,607		$	103,527

Denominator:
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - basic	17,725			18,030			18,637
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options	15			95			131
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - diluted	17,740			18,125			18,768
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic	$	(18.28	)	$	5.36		$	5.55
Diluted	$	(18.28	)	$	5.33		$	5.52

Facility Consolidation Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs



	Employee Termination Costs			Facility Costs			Total Exit Costs
	(In millions )
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2014	$	—		$	—		$	—
Charges	4.6			—			4.6
Payments	(1.1		)	—			(1.1		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2015	3.5			—			3.5
Charges	1.6			2.9			4.5
Payments	(4.9		)	(2.5		)	(7.4		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2016	0.2			0.4			0.6
Charges	—			—			—
Payments	(0.2		)	—			(0.2		)
Accrued exit costs at December 31, 2017	$	—		$	0.4		$	0.4

Segment Reporting (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

Information on segments and a reconciliation of gross profit to income before income tax provision is as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Revenues				(In millions)
Franchise operations	$	467.5		$	484.4		$	494.7
Rental operations	121.4			123.0			127.7
Company restaurants	7.5			17.4			47.9
Financing operations	8.4			9.2			10.8
Total	$	604.8		$	634.0		$	681.1

Gross profit (loss), by segment
Franchise operations	$	303.4		$	339.7		$	355.7
Rental operations	30.8			31.5			33.1
Company restaurants	(0.3		)	(0.8		)	(0.1		)
Financing operations	7.7			9.0			10.3
Total gross profit	341.6			379.4			399.0
Corporate and unallocated expenses, net	(767.0		)	(226.3		)	(230.4		)
(Loss) income before income taxes	$	(425.4	)	$	153.1		$	168.6

Interest expense
Rental operations	$	10.5		$	11.8		$	13.5
Company restaurants	0.2			0.4			0.4
Corporate	62.0			61.5			63.3
Total	$	72.7		$	73.7		$	77.2

Depreciation and amortization
Franchise operations	$	10.8		$	10.6		$	10.4
Rental operations	12.0			12.4			12.8
Company restaurants	0.1			0.4			0.6
Corporate	7.7			7.2			9.0
Total	$	30.6		$	30.6		$	32.8

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, closure and other impairment charges
Franchise operations	$	531.6		$	—		$	—
Company restaurants	4.0			2.2			2.6
Corporate	—			2.9			—
Total	$	535.6		$	5.1		$	2.6

Capital expenditures
Company restaurants	$	0.1		$	0.3		$	1.6
Corporate	13.3			5.3			5.0
Total	$	13.4		$	5.6		$	6.6

Goodwill (franchise segment)	$	339.2		$	697.5		$	697.5

Total assets
Franchise operations	$	1,202.6		$	1,608.7		$	1,643.9
Rental operations	278.8			339.5			324.5
Company restaurants	—			126.8			166.1
Financing operations	87.5			88.2			97.4
Corporate	181.3			115.4			100.0
Total	$	1,750.2		$	2,278.6		$	2,331.9

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information



	Revenues		Gross Profit		Net Income (Loss)			Net Income (Loss) Per Share— Basic⁽²⁾			Net Income (Loss) Per Share— Diluted⁽²⁾
	(In thousands, except per share amounts)
2017
1st Quarter	$	156,174	$	92,501	$	14,363		$	0.80		$	0.79
2nd Quarter	155,199		91,849		21,280			1.18			1.18
3rd Quarter⁽¹⁾	144,671		80,104		(451,718		)	(24.98		)	(24.98		)
4th Quarter	148,775		77,192		85,536			4.68			4.67
2016
1st Quarter	$	163,524	$	99,424	$	25,543		$	1.38		$	1.37
2nd Quarter	160,258		97,375		26,829			1.46			1.45
3rd Quarter	156,017		91,684		24,273			1.33			1.33
4th Quarter	154,174		90,935		21,347			1.18			1.18

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

⁽²⁾The quarterly amounts may not add to the full year amount as each quarterly calculation is discrete from the full-year calculation.

The Company (Details)	Dec. 31, 2017 Restaurant Country restaurant_concept state Territory
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurant concepts \| restaurant_concept	2
IHOP
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,786
Number of states in which entity operates \| state	50
Number of territories in which entity operates \| Territory	3
Number of countries in which entity operates \| Country	13
IHOP \| Franchised
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,622
IHOP \| Licensing Agreements
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	164
Applebee's
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,936
Number of states in which entity operates \| state	50
Number of territories in which entity operates \| Territory	2
Number of countries in which entity operates \| Country	15
Applebee's \| Franchised
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Number of restaurants	1,936

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) property Restaurant Franchisee Country segment revenue_category Territory $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant Franchisee	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Restaurant Franchisee
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of weeks in fiscal year	364 days	364 days	371 days
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 117,010	$ 140,535
Restricted cash included in other current assets	31,436	30,256
Restricted cash included in other noncurrent assets	$ 14,700	14,700
Number of reporting units \| segment	2
Category of revenue categories \| revenue_category	4
Advertising expense	$ 300	800	$ 1,900
Number of operating segments \| segment	5
Number of reporting segments \| segment	4
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	$ 1,098	(382,082)
Deferred tax liabilities, deferred benefit	$ 145,402	14,434	13,987
Building improvements \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	25 years
Building improvements \| Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Leaseholds and improvements \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	3 years
Leaseholds and improvements \| Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	40 years
Equipment and fixtures \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	3 years
Equipment and fixtures \| Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	5 years
Internal Use Software \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	3 years
Internal Use Software \| Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Useful life of property and equipment	10 years
Prepaid Advertising and Gift Cards
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 57,100	63,300
Held in Trust Deposits
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Restricted cash included in other current assets	29,300	25,700
Held for Advertising Activity Deposits
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,100
Restricted cash included in other current assets		4,300
Applebee's
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	1,936
Property subject to or available for operating lease, number of units \| property	2
Number of territories in which entity operates \| Territory	2
Number of countries in which entity operates \| Country	15
IHOP
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	1,786
Property subject to or available for operating lease, number of units \| property	693
Operating lease, renewal term	5 years
Advertising expense included in franchise revenue and expense	$ 113,200	$ 111,300	$ 108,100
Number of territories in which entity operates \| Territory	3
Number of countries in which entity operates \| Country	13
IHOP \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Operating lease, term of contract	20 years
IHOP \| Maximum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Operating lease, term of contract	25 years
Franchised \| Applebee's
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	1,936
Franchised \| IHOP
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	1,622
Company Operated Excluding Restaurants Reacquired to be Refranchised \| Applebee's
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant		23	23
Company Operated Excluding Restaurants Reacquired to be Refranchised \| IHOP
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	10
Franchised Units or Licensing Agreements \| IHOP
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	1,786
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Largest Franchisees
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk by percentage	26.00%
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of franchisees \| Franchisee	0	0	0
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Sales Revenue, Net \| Largest Franchisees
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk by percentage	15.80%	15.60%	15.10%
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Accounts Receivable \| Largest Franchisees
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of franchisees \| Franchisee	2
Number of restaurants \| Restaurant	892
Net accounts receivable	$ 24,000	$ 20,100
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Accounts Receivable \| Largest Franchisees \| Minimum
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of restaurants per franchisee \| Restaurant	400
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Accounts Receivable \| Largest Franchisees \| Applebee's
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of franchisees \| Franchisee	1
Revenue from Rights Concentration Risk \| Accounts Receivable \| Largest Franchisees \| IHOP
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Number of franchisees \| Franchisee	1
Accounting Standards Update 2016-09
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Increase in income tax, amount	$ 2,000
Increase in income tax (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.11
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Deferred revenue	$ 85,000
Increase (decrease) in accounts and other receivables	7,000
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)	60,000
Deferred tax liabilities, deferred benefit	$ 32,000

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$ 1,269,849	$ 1,282,691
Long-term Debt	1,282,800	1,282,700
Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt, less current maturities at fair value	$ 1,265,500	$ 1,286,200

Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Classified [Abstract]
Accounts receivable				$ 94,200	$ 69,300
Gift card receivables				51,600	51,200
Notes receivable				11,300	1,800
Other				11,200	10,200
Receivables				303,600	285,700
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts	$ (3,100)	$ (1,200)	$ (2,900)	(22,200)	(3,100)
Receivables, net				281,400	282,600
Less: current portion				(150,174)	(141,389)
Long-term receivables, net				131,212	141,152
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Beginning of Period	3,100	1,200	2,900
Provision	20,300	2,800	600
Charge-offs	(1,200)	(900)	(2,400)
Ending of Period	$ 22,200	$ 3,100	$ 1,200
Delinquent financing receivables				100	100
Financing receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts				$ 100	$ 100
Minimum
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Franchise fee note lease term	5 years
Maximum
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Franchise fee note lease term	8 years
IHOP
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Average interest rate				9.70%	9.80%
Franchise fee note average interest rate				5.90%	6.10%
Equipment leases receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Classified [Abstract]
Financing receivable				$ 79,300	$ 87,200
Direct financing leases receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Classified [Abstract]
Financing receivable				55,700	65,600
Franchise fee notes receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Classified [Abstract]
Financing receivable				$ 300	$ 400

Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Property and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 519,800	$ 515,100
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(320,200)	(310,000)
Property and equipment, net	199,585	205,055
Depreciation expense on property equipment	20,600	20,600	$ 22,800
Leaseholds and improvements
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	252,200	255,400
Equipment and fixtures
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	90,100	83,400
Properties under capital lease
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	61,400	59,800
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(43,200)	(41,000)
Buildings and improvements
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	57,900	57,900
Land
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	56,400	56,400
Construction in progress
Property and Equipment [Line Items]
Property and equipment, gross	$ 1,800	$ 2,200

Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 358.2
Applebee's
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss		$ 358.2
Reporting unit, percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount			9.00%

Goodwill Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 339,236	$ 697,470	$ 697,500
Franchised
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross	697,500	697,500	697,500
Accumulated impairment loss	(358,200)	0	0
Goodwill		697,500	697,500
Applebee's
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	328,500
Applebee's \| Franchised
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross	686,700	686,700	686,700
Accumulated impairment loss	(358,200)	0	0
Goodwill		686,700	686,700
IHOP
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	10,800
IHOP \| Franchised
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, gross	10,800	10,800	10,800
Accumulated impairment loss	$ 0	0	0
Goodwill		$ 10,800	$ 10,800

Other Intangible Assets - Other Intangible Assets Roll Forward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Finite lived, beginning of period	$ 109,000
Total other intangible assets, beginning of period	763,431	$ 772,900	$ 782,300
Amortization expense	(10,000)	(10,000)	(10,000)
Impairment	(173,400)
Other	2,800	500	600
Finite lived, end of period	101,300	109,000
Total other intangible assets, end of period	582,787	763,431	772,900
Tradename \| Not Subject to Amortization
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Indefinite lived, beginning of period	652,400	652,400	652,400
Impairment	(173,400)
Indefinite lived, end of period	479,000	652,400	652,400
Other \| Not Subject to Amortization
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Indefinite lived, beginning of period	2,000	1,500	900
Additions	500	500	600
Indefinite lived, end of period	2,500	2,000	1,500
Franchising Rights \| Subject to Amortization
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Finite lived, beginning of period	109,000	119,000	129,000
Amortization expense	10,000	10,000	10,000
Finite lived, end of period	99,000	109,000	119,000
Leaseholds \| Subject to Amortization
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Finite lived, beginning of period	0	0	0
Amortization expense	0
Additions	2,300
Finite lived, end of period	$ 2,300	$ 0	$ 0

Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Finite-lived Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization Expense 2018	$ 10,000
Amortization Expense 2019	10,000
Amortization Expense 2020	10,000
Amortization Expense 2021	10,000
Amortization Expense 2022	$ 10,000
Weighted average life of intangible assets subject to amortization	20 years	20 years
Gross	$ 202,300	$ 200,000
Accumulated Amortization	(101,000)	(91,000)
Net	101,300	109,000
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)	173,400
Income tax benefit	(94,835)	55,130	$ 63,726
Franchising rights
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	200,000	200,000
Accumulated Amortization	(101,000)	(91,000)
Net	99,000	109,000
Leaseholds
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	2,300	0
Accumulated Amortization	0	0
Net	2,300	$ 0
Not Subject to Amortization \| Tradename
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets, indefinite-lived (excluding goodwill)	173,400
Income tax benefit	$ 65,100

Long-Term Debt - Schedule of Debt Components (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs	$ (13,900)	$ (17,300)
Long-term Debt	1,282,800	1,282,700
Current portion of long-term debt	(12,965)	0
Long-term debt, net, less current maturities	1,269,849	1,282,691
Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 1,296,800	$ 1,300,000

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Details)			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) quarter	Sep. 30, 2021	Oct. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 1,300,000,000	$ 1,300,000,000
Senior note interest rate	4.277%	4.277%			4.227%
Quarterly principal payment					$ 3,250,000
Number of quarters used in leverage ratio calculation \| quarter		4
Deferred finance costs	$ 24,300,000	$ 24,300,000
Amortization of financing costs					$ 3,400,000	$ 3,200,000	$ 3,100,000
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital					5.70
Debt service coverage ratio					4.01
Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital					5.25
Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes \| Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional interest on fixed rate			5.00%
Debt instrument, term			10 years
Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes \| Forecast \| Ten Year United States Treasury Bill Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.15%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity	$ 100,000,000	$ 100,000,000
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding					$ 0
Line of credit facility, increase (decrease) in borrowing capacity					$ 3,100,000
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					1.00%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility, commitment fee percentage					0.50%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread component of base rate	0.50%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| One Month LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread component of base rate	0.50%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.00%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Commercial Paper Funding Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1 \| Forecast
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional interest on variable rate				5.00%
First Trigger \| Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio, event trigger threshold					1.75
Debt instrument, restrictive covenant, restriction on net cash flow					50.00%
Second Trigger \| Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio, event trigger threshold					1.5
Debt instrument, restrictive covenant, restriction on net cash flow					100.00%
Third Trigger \| Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio, event trigger threshold					1.3
Debt instrument, covenant violation description					Rapid Amortization
Fourth Trigger \| Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio, event trigger threshold					1.2
Debt instrument, covenant violation description					Manager Termination
Fifth Trigger \| Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt service coverage ratio, event trigger threshold					1.1
Debt instrument, covenant violation description					Default

Long-Term Debt - Maturities of Long-term Debt (Details) - Series 2014-1 Class A-2 4.227% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
2018	$ 13.0
2019	13.0
2020	13.0
2021	1,257.8
2022	0.0
Senior Notes	$ 1,296.8	$ 1,300.0

Financing Obligations (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Financing Obligations (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2008 USD ($) term_extension_option	Dec. 31, 2020 monthly_payment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) real_property	May 19, 2008 real_property
Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2018			$ 4.9
2019			5.1
2020			5.6
2021			5.1
2022			5.2
Thereafter			55.4
Total minimum lease payments			81.3
Less: interest			(41.8)
Total financing obligations			39.5
Less: current portion			(0.3)
Long-term financing obligations			$ 39.2
Sale Leaseback Transaction Agreement for Properties
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Parcels of real property under sale leaseback transaction \| real_property				181
Master Lease Agreement
Sale Leaseback Transaction [Line Items]
Parcels of real property under sale leaseback transaction \| real_property			181
Gross proceeds of sale leaseback transaction	$ 337.2
Sale leaseback initial term	20 years
Number of options to extend initial leaseback term \| term_extension_option	4
Extension period for options to extend sale leaseback initial term (in years)	5 years
Properties assigned to franchisee or released from lessor \| real_property			155
Reduction in property and equipment and financing obligations as a result of sales transactions			$ 280.0
Forecast
Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Number of monthly obligation payments in fiscal year \| monthly_payment		13

Leases - Lease Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Direct financing leases receivable
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Total minimum rents receivable	$ 74.5	$ 92.1
Less: unearned income	(18.8)	(26.5)
Net investment in direct financing leases receivable	55.7	65.6
Less: current portion	(10.8)	(9.9)
Long-term direct financing lease receivable	44.9	55.7
Contingent rental income	14.0	15.4	$ 16.7
Net investment equipment lease
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Less: current portion	(8.2)	(7.9)
Long-term direct financing lease receivable	71.1	79.3
Total minimum leases receivable	106.4	122.5
Less: unearned income	(27.1)	(35.3)
Net investment in equipment leases receivables	$ 79.3	$ 87.2

Leases - Future Minimum Lease Payments (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 monthly_payment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2018		$ 20.7
2019		17.6
2020		15.6
2021		12.6
2022		10.6
Thereafter		25.5
Total minimum lease payments		102.6
Less: interest		(26.8)
Capital lease obligations		75.8
Less: current portion		(13.9)
Long-term capital lease obligations		61.9
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2018		80.3
2019		76.7
2020		75.0
2021		58.8
2022		50.6
Thereafter		173.9
Total minimum lease payments		$ 515.3
Forecast
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Number of monthly obligation payments in fiscal year \| monthly_payment	13

Leases - Future Minimum Lease Rents (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Future Minimum Lease Rents Due [Abstract]
Asset cost of leased property	$ 89.0	$ 89.0
Carrying amount on leased property	60.0	61.3
Contingent rent expense on leases	2.6	3.0	$ 3.3
Minimum rent expense on leases	73.0	$ 76.5	$ 80.9
Direct Financing Lease, 2018	17.2
Direct Financing Lease, 2019	16.2
Direct Financing Lease, 2020	14.8
Direct Financing Lease, 2021	11.7
Direct Financing Lease, 2022	8.2
Thereafter	6.4
Total minimum rents receivable	74.5
Operating Lease, 2018	105.0
Operating Lease, 2019	103.4
Operating Lease, 2020	103.7
Operating Lease, 2021	97.6
Operating Lease, 2022	93.7
Thereafter	356.0
Total minimum rents receivable	$ 859.4

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding purchase commitments	$ 115.9
Lease guarantees, future minimum payments due	55.6
Series 2014-1 Variable Funding Senior Notes Class A-1
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding	3.1
Applebee's \| Property Lease Guarantee
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding lease guarantees	$ 313.9	$ 366.8

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity (Details) - USD ($)								3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended	39 Months Ended
Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity (Details) - USD ($)	Feb. 14, 2018	Oct. 06, 2017	Jul. 07, 2017	Apr. 07, 2017	Jan. 07, 2017	Jan. 08, 2016	Jan. 09, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Oct. 01, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)														145,786	650,384	721,463.000
Repurchase of Dine Brands Global common stock														$ (10,003,000)	$ (55,343,000)	$ (70,014,000)
Remaining authorized repurchase amount														$ 67,100,000			$ 67,100,000	$ 67,100,000
Dividends paid per common share (USD per share)		$ 0.97	$ 0.97	$ 0.97	$ 0.97	$ 0.920	$ 0.875	$ 0.920	$ 0.920	$ 0.920	$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 3.88	$ 3.68	$ 3.5
Reissuance of treasury stock														$ 2,635,000	$ 1,409,000	$ 9,536,000
Treasury Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)														146,000	650,000	722,000
Reissuance of treasury stock (shares)														(281,000)	(137,000)	(357,000)
Reissuance of treasury stock														$ 10,113,000	$ 4,877,000	$ 12,913,000
2014 Authorization
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount																				$ 100,000,000
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)														0	0	516,976		537,311
Repurchase of Dine Brands Global common stock														$ 0	$ 0	$ (52,500,000)		$ (54,500,000)
2015 Authorization
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Authorized amount														$ 67,100,000			$ 67,100,000	$ 67,100,000	$ 150,000,000
Purchase of DineEquity common stock (shares)														145,786	650,384	204,487	1,000,657
Repurchase of Dine Brands Global common stock														$ (10,000,000)	$ (55,300,000)	$ (17,500,000)	$ (72,878,284.85)
Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends paid per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.63

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity - Schedule of Dividends Declared (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions													3 Months Ended											12 Months Ended
	Feb. 14, 2018	Jan. 05, 2018	Oct. 06, 2017	Aug. 10, 2017	Jul. 07, 2017	May 15, 2017	Apr. 07, 2017	Feb. 22, 2017	Jan. 07, 2017	Jan. 06, 2017	Jan. 08, 2016	Jan. 09, 2015	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends declared per common share (USD per share)			$ 0.97	$ 0.97		$ 0.97		$ 0.97								$ 0.97	$ 0.92	$ 0.92	$ 0.92	$ 0.920	$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 3.88	$ 3.73	$ 3.545
Dividends paid per common share (USD per share)			$ 0.97		$ 0.97		$ 0.97		$ 0.97		$ 0.920	$ 0.875					$ 0.920	$ 0.920	$ 0.920		$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 0.875	$ 3.88	$ 3.68	$ 3.5
Payments of dividends										$ 17.5	$ 17.1	$ 16.6	$ 17.8	$ 17.5	$ 17.5		$ 16.7	$ 16.8	$ 17.0		$ 16.4	$ 16.6	$ 16.7	$ 70.3	$ 67.6	$ 66.3
Subsequent Event
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Dividends paid per common share (USD per share)	$ 0.63
Payments of dividends		$ 17.7

Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity Dividends Declared on Common Stock or In Excess (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends declared from retained earnings	$ (52,234)	$ (67,708)	$ (66,516)
Dividends declared from additional paid-in capital	(17,718)
(Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends declared from retained earnings	(52,641)	(67,833)	(66,644)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends declared from retained earnings	407	$ 125	$ 128
Dividends declared from additional paid-in capital	$ (17,718)

Closure and Other Impairment Charges (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Restaurant	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Restaurant	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Restaurant
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Closure charges	$ 3,900	$ 1,200	$ 1,400
Business exit costs	0	2,900	0
Long-lived tangible asset impairment	100	1,000	1,200
Total closure and impairment charges	3,968	5,092	2,576
Facility Costs
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Business exit costs		2,900
Contract Termination
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Business exit costs		2,500
Future Lease Payments, Net
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Business exit costs		$ 400
Applebee's
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of restaurants with impairments charges \| Restaurant		4
IHOP
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Closure charges	2,200	$ 700	$ 1,400
Long-lived tangible asset impairment	$ 600	$ 1,100
Restaurants taken back and closed \| Restaurant			2
Number of restaurants with impairments charges \| Restaurant	8	8
Individually Insignificant Restaurants
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Long-lived tangible asset impairment	$ 400
Corporate
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Total closure and impairment charges	$ 0	$ 2,900	$ 0

Stock-Based Incentive Plans (Narrative) (Details) - shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	May 17, 2016	May 17, 2011	Dec. 31, 2008
Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options, grants in period	537,030
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options, grants in period	350,000
Performance based restricted stock units	175,000
Officers, Directors, and Employees \| Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Option expiration period	10 years
Officers, Directors, and Employees \| Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
DineEquity, Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized (shares)		3,750,000
DineEquity, Inc. 2011 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized (shares)			1,500,000
IHOP Corp. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized (shares)				4,200,000

Stock-Based Incentive Plans - Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Equity classified awards expense	$ 10,900	$ 11,000	$ 9,000
Liability classified awards (credit)	(1,000)	(500)	(400)
Total pretax stock-based compensation expense	9,900	10,500	8,600
Book income tax benefit	(3,800)	(3,900)	(3,300)
Total stock-based compensation expense, net of tax	$ 6,100	$ 6,600	$ 5,300
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Outstanding, beginning (shares)	701,134	504,462	618,115
Granted (shares)	887,030	255,825	133,814
Excercised (shares)	(64,916)	(48,021)	(218,412)
Forfeited (shares)	(171,847)	(7,924)	(29,055)
Expired (shares)	(79,353)	(3,208)
Outstanding, ending (shares)	1,272,048	701,134	504,462
Vested and expected to vest (shares)	1,109,793
Exercisable (shares)	435,172
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price [Roll Forward]
Weighted average share price, beginning (USD per share)	$ 80.04	$ 69.99	$ 53.10
Weighted average share price, granted (USD per share)	48.35	90.90	111.54
Weighted average share price, exercised (USD per share)	40.59	29.33	43.66
Weighted average share price, forfeited (USD per share)	65.82	94.30	99.97
Weighted average share price, expired (USD per share)	87.02	89.17
Weighted average share price, ending (USD per share)	61.44	$ 80.04	$ 69.99
Vested and expected to vest, weighted average exercise price (USD per share)	63.69
Exercisable, weighted average exercise price (USD per share)	$ 80.72
Options, outstanding, weighted average remaining contractual term	7 years 2 months 16 days
Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award, options, vested and expected to vest, exercisable, weighted average remaining contractual term	6 years 10 months 16 days
Excercisable weighted average remaining contractual term	3 years 2 months 10 days
Options, outstanding, intrinsic value	$ 3,600
Options, vested and expected to vest, outstanding, aggregate intrinsic value	2,500
Options, exercisable, intrinsic value	100
Total intrinsic value	1,400	$ 2,700	$ 12,600
Proceeds from stock options exercised	2,635	1,409	9,536
Tax benefit realized for tax deduction from option exercises	500	$ 1,000	$ 4,900
Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 2,900
Unrecognized compensation cost, recognition period	1 year 9 months 21 days
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation cost	$ 15,700
Unrecognized compensation cost, recognition period	1 year 11 months 22 days

Stock-Based Incentive Plans Performance Based Valuation Assumptions (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk free interest rate	1.90%	1.10%	1.50%
Weighted average historical volatility	22.90%	27.10%	36.80%
Dividend yield	7.30%	4.00%	3.20%
Expected years until exercise	4 years 5 months 28 days	4 years 6 months	4 years 5 months 26 days
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 4.31	$ 13.55	$ 27.20
Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk free interest rate	1.60%
Weighted average historical volatility	30.00%
Dividend yield	9.60%
Expected years until exercise	3 years 4 months 19 days
Weighted average fair value of restricted stock units granted	$ 10.19
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 3.07

Stock-Based Incentive Plans - Options Value Assumptions (Details) - $ / shares	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Risk free interest rate	1.90%	1.10%	1.50%
Weighted average historical volatility	22.90%	27.10%	36.80%
Dividend yield	7.30%	4.00%	3.20%
Expected years until exercise	4 years 5 months 28 days	4 years 6 months	4 years 5 months 26 days
Weighted average fair value of options granted	$ 4.31	$ 13.55	$ 27.20

Stock-Based Incentive Plans - Disclosure of Restricted Stock Units (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Liability classified awards (credit)	$ (1,000)	$ (500)	$ (400)
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$ 13,547	$ 14,609
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Multiplier for target award based on total shareholder return on common stock	0.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Multiplier for target award based on total shareholder return on common stock	200.00%
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]
Beginning of period (shares)	235,472	257,594	233,818
Granted (shares)	216,269	88,797	138,518
Released (shares)	(92,968)	(77,712)	(77,042)
Forfeited (shares)	(83,582)	(33,207)	(37,700)
End of period (shares)	275,191	235,472	257,594
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 92.91	$ 89.99	$ 70.14
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value	51.89	88.90	102.78
Released, weighted average grant date fair value	88.62	78.70	54.89
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value	79.52	92.82	86.77
End of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 66.10	$ 92.91	$ 89.99
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested [Roll Forward]
Beginning of period (shares)	34,058	35,116	41,622
Granted (shares)	281,973	13,053	10,630
Released (shares)	(12,683)	(14,027)	(16,567)
Forfeited (shares)	0	(84)	(569)
End of period (shares)	303,348	34,058	35,116
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Beginning of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 93.95	$ 86.30	$ 66.92
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value	22.37	90.90	111.72
Released, weighted average grant date fair value	81.63	72.01	52.19
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value	0.00	101.25	101.55
End of period, weighted average grant date fair value	$ 28.39	$ 93.95	$ 86.30
LTIP
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]
Award vesting period	3 years
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	$ 200	$ 1,200

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Contributions made to 401(k)	$ 2.3	$ 2.2	$ 2.4
First Tier of Deferral
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percent of gross pay	100.00%
Percent of eligible deferral	4.00%
Second Tier of Deferral
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Percent of gross pay	50.00%
Percent of eligible deferral	2.00%

Income Taxes - Provision (benefit) for income taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Federal	$ 42,600	$ 60,800	$ 67,300
State	5,100	6,400	8,000
Foreign	2,900	2,300	2,400
Current Income Tax Expense	50,600	69,500	77,700
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations [Abstract]
Federal	(140,700)	(10,600)	(13,600)
State	(4,700)	(3,800)	(400)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(145,402)	(14,434)	(13,987)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	$ (94,835)	$ 55,130	$ 63,726

Income Taxes - Income tax rate reconciliation (Details)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Income tax rate reconciliation (Details)	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Statutory federal income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Non-deductibility of goodwill impairment	(29.50%)	(0.00%)	(0.00%)
Change in federal tax rate	18.20%	0.00%	0.00%
State and other taxes, net of federal tax benefit	0.40%	2.70%	2.80%
Change in unrecognized tax benefits	(0.70%)	0.50%	0.80%
Change in valuation allowance	0.30%	0.00%	0.00%
Domestic production activity deduction	0.30%	(0.60%)	(0.70%)
Changes in tax rates and state tax laws	(0.40%)	(1.90%)	(0.00%)
Change in accounting for excess tax deficiencies/benefits	(0.50%)	(0.00%)	(0.00%)
Other	(0.80%)	0.30%	(0.10%)
Effective tax rate	22.30%	36.00%	37.80%

Income Taxes - Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Differences in capitalization and depreciation and amortization of reacquired franchises and equipment	$ 0.0	$ 4.7
Differences in acquisition financing costs	0.1	0.3
Employee compensation	7.6	12.6
Deferred gain on sale of assets	0.7	5.5
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	14.2	45.8
Other	21.8	35.4
Deferred tax assets	44.4	104.3
Valuation allowance	0.0	(1.1)
Total deferred tax assets after valuation allowance	44.4	103.2
Differences between financial and tax accounting in the recognition of franchise and equipment sales	(20.7)	(39.1)
Differences in capitalization and depreciation (1)	(147.5)	(281.3)
Book/tax difference in revenue recognition	(2.4)	(7.8)
Differences between book and tax basis of property and equipment	(8.5)	(14.6)
Other	(3.5)	(14.3)
Deferred tax liabilities	(182.6)	(357.1)
Net deferred tax liabilities	$ 138.2	$ 253.9

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized tax benefit as of January 1	$ 3.9	$ 3.9	$ 3.4
Changes for tax positions of prior years	2.8	0.6	1.0
Increases for tax positions related to the current year	0.6	0.1	0.1
Decreases relating to settlements and lapsing of statutes of limitations	(1.4)	(0.7)	(0.6)
Unrecognized tax benefit as of December 31	$ 5.9	$ 3.9	$ 3.9

Income Taxes - Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Goodwill, impairment loss	$ 358.2
Non-deductibility of goodwill impairment		29.50%	0.00%	0.00%
Tax cuts and jobs act of 2017, change in tax rate, income tax expense (benefit)		18.20%
Effective tax rate, decrease from change in state tax rates, percent		1.90%
Valuation allowance, noncurrent		$ 0.0	$ 1.1
Deferred tax assets, net		1.1
Operating loss carryforwards		0.6	10.7
Unrecognized tax benefits		5.9	3.9	$ 3.9	$ 3.4
Unrecognized tax benefit changes in next 12 months		2.9
Unrecognized tax benefits, interest on income taxes accrued		1.1	1.0
Unrecognized tax benefits, income tax penalties accrued		0.1	$ 0.1
Change in accrued interest related to increase in unrecognized tax benefits and penalties		0.1
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] \| Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income tax examination, increase (decrease) in deferred tax asset		$ 30.4

Net Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) income	$ 85,536	$ (451,718)	$ 21,280	$ 14,363	$ 21,347	$ 24,273	$ 26,829	$ 25,543	$ (330,539)	$ 97,992	$ 104,923
Less: net loss (income) allocated to unvested participating restricted stock									6,519	(1,387)	(1,400)
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders - basic									(324,020)	96,605	103,523
Effect of unvested participating restricted stock									0	2	4
Numerator - net (loss) income available to common shareholders - diluted									$ (324,020)	$ 96,607	$ 103,527
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - basic (shares)									17,725	18,030	18,637
Stock options (shares)									15	95	131
Weighted average outstanding shares of common stock - diluted (shares)									17,740	18,125	18,768
Basic (USD per share)	$ 4.68	$ (24.98)	$ 1.18	$ 0.80	$ 1.18	$ 1.33	$ 1.46	$ 1.38	$ (18.28)	$ 5.36	$ 5.55
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 4.67	$ (24.98)	$ 1.18	$ 0.79	$ 1.18	$ 1.33	$ 1.45	$ 1.37	$ (18.28)	$ 5.33	$ 5.52

Facility Consolidation Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	$ 0.6	$ 3.5	$ 0.0
Charges	0.0	4.5	4.6
Payments	(0.2)	(7.4)	(1.1)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	0.4	0.6	3.5
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Charges			4.6
Employee Termination Costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0.2	3.5	0.0
Charges	0.0	1.6	4.6
Payments	(0.2)	(4.9)	(1.1)
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	0.0	0.2	3.5
Facility Costs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring reserve, beginning balance	0.4	0.0	0.0
Charges	0.0	2.9	0.0
Payments	0.0	(2.5)	0.0
Restructuring reserve, ending balance	$ 0.4	$ 0.4	$ 0.0

Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 148,775	$ 144,671	$ 155,199	$ 156,174	$ 154,174	$ 156,017	$ 160,258	$ 163,524	$ 604,819	$ 633,973	$ 681,100
Gross profit (loss), by segment									(425,374)	153,122	168,649
Interest expense									61,979	61,479	63,254
Total interest expense									72,700	73,700	77,200
Depreciation and amortization									30,648	30,606	32,840
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets		$ 531,600							531,634	0	0
Closure and other impairment charges									3,968	5,092	2,576
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and closure and other impairment charges									535,600	5,100	2,600
Capital expenditures									13,370	5,637	6,642
Goodwill (franchise segment)	339,236				697,470				339,236	697,470	697,500
Total assets	1,750,240				2,278,583				1,750,240	2,278,583	2,331,900
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense									62,000	61,500	63,300
Depreciation and amortization									7,700	7,200	9,000
Closure and other impairment charges									0	2,900	0
Capital expenditures									13,300	5,300	5,000
Total assets	181,300				115,400				181,300	115,400	100,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment									341,600	379,400	399,000
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital expenditures										300	1,600
Operating Segments \| Franchise operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									467,500	484,400	494,700
Gross profit (loss), by segment									303,400	339,700	355,700
Depreciation and amortization									10,800	10,600	10,400
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets									531,600	0	0
Total assets	1,202,600				1,608,700				1,202,600	1,608,700	1,643,900
Operating Segments \| Rental operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									121,400	123,000	127,700
Gross profit (loss), by segment									30,800	31,500	33,100
Interest expense									10,500	11,800	13,500
Depreciation and amortization									12,000	12,400	12,800
Total assets	278,800				339,500				278,800	339,500	324,500
Operating Segments \| Company restaurants
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									7,500	17,400	47,900
Gross profit (loss), by segment									(300)	(800)	(100)
Interest expense									200	400	400
Depreciation and amortization									100	400	600
Closure and other impairment charges									4,000	2,200	2,600
Capital expenditures									100
Total assets	0				126,800				0	126,800	166,100
Operating Segments \| Financing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									8,400	9,200	10,800
Gross profit (loss), by segment									7,700	9,000	10,300
Total assets	$ 87,500				$ 88,200				87,500	88,200	97,400
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit (loss), by segment									$ (767,000)	$ (226,300)	$ (230,400)

Refranchising of Company-operated Restaurants (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 Restaurant	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) agreement	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		$ 1,100	$ 0	$ 10,782
Franchised \| IHOP \| Cincinnati, Ohio Market Area Restaurants [Member]
Franchisor Disclosure [Line Items]
Company operated restaurants taken back to be refranchised \| Restaurant	9
Number of franchise agreements \| agreement		9
Number of sublease agreements \| agreement		9
Favorable lease assets, net		$ 2,300
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		1,100
Amount of consideration received		4,800
Gain (loss) on sale of properties		$ 6,200

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 148,775	$ 144,671	$ 155,199	$ 156,174	$ 154,174	$ 156,017	$ 160,258	$ 163,524	$ 604,819	$ 633,973	$ 681,100
Gross Profit	77,192	80,104	91,849	92,501	90,935	91,684	97,375	99,424	341,646	379,418	399,006
Net (loss) income	$ 85,536	$ (451,718)	$ 21,280	$ 14,363	$ 21,347	$ 24,273	$ 26,829	$ 25,543	$ (330,539)	$ 97,992	$ 104,923
Basic (USD per share)	$ 4.68	$ (24.98)	$ 1.18	$ 0.80	$ 1.18	$ 1.33	$ 1.46	$ 1.38	$ (18.28)	$ 5.36	$ 5.55
Diluted (USD per share)	$ 4.67	$ (24.98)	$ 1.18	$ 0.79	$ 1.18	$ 1.33	$ 1.45	$ 1.37	$ (18.28)	$ 5.33	$ 5.52
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets		$ 531,600							$ 531,634	$ 0	$ 0