Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

YUM! Brands, Inc. and its Subsidiaries (collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” “YUM,” “we,” “us” or “our”) franchises or operates a system of over 48,000 quick service restaurants in more than 140 countries and territories. At December 31, 2018, 98% of these restaurants were owned and operated by franchisees. The company’s KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands (collectively the “Concepts”) are global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories.

Through our widely-recognized Concepts, we develop, operate or franchise a system of both traditional and non-traditional quick service restaurants. The terms "franchise" or "franchisee" within these Consolidated Financial Statements are meant to describe third parties that operate units under either franchise or license agreements. Our traditional restaurants feature dine-in, carryout and, in some instances, drive-thru or delivery service. Non-traditional units include express units and kiosks which have a more limited menu and operate in non-traditional locations like malls, airports, gasoline service stations, train stations, subways, convenience stores, stadiums, amusement parks and colleges, where a full-scale traditional outlet would not be practical or efficient. We also operate or franchise multibrand units, where two or more of our Concepts are operated in a single unit.

As of December 31, 2018, YUM consisted of three operating segments:


•	The KFC Division which includes our worldwide operations of the KFC concept


•	The Pizza Hut Division which includes our worldwide operations of the Pizza Hut concept


•	The Taco Bell Division which includes our worldwide operations of the Taco Bell concept

On October 31, 2016 (the “Distribution Date”), we completed the spin-off of our China business (the "Separation") into an independent, publicly-traded company under the name of Yum China Holdings, Inc. (“Yum China”). On the Distribution Date, we distributed to each of our shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 19, 2016 (the “Record Date”) one share of Yum China common stock for each share of our Common Stock held as of the Record Date. The distribution was structured to be a tax free distribution to our U.S. shareholders for federal income tax purposes in the U.S. Yum China’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “YUMC.” After the distribution, we do not beneficially own any shares of Yum China common stock.

Concurrent with the Separation, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a Master License Agreement with a subsidiary of Yum China for the exclusive right to use and sublicense the use of intellectual property owned by YUM and its affiliates for the development and operation of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in China. Prior to the Separation, our operations in mainland China were reported in our former China Division segment results. As a result of the Separation, the results of operations and cash flows of the separated business are presented as discontinued operations in our Consolidated Statements of Income and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for all periods presented. See additional information related to the impact of the Separation in Note 4.