To ensure timely reporting, the Company consolidates the results of its Brazil operations on a one-month calendar lag. There were no intervening events that would materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows as of and for the year ended December 26, 2021.

COVID-19 Pandemic - In March 2020, the Company temporarily closed all restaurant dining rooms to comply with state and local regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID-19”). In early May 2020, the Company began to reopen its restaurant dining rooms with limited seating capacity in compliance with state and local regulations. The temporary closure of the Company’s dining rooms and the limitations on seating capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significantly reduced traffic in its restaurants which negatively impacted its operating results during 2020. See Note 3 - 2020 COVID-19 Charges for details regarding certain charges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

During 2021, the recovery of in-restaurant dining continued as COVID-19 capacity restrictions were eased or eliminated. Concerns over the variants of COVID-19 impacted this recovery, however, the Company continued to retain a significant portion of the incremental off-premises volume achieved while its dining rooms were closed last year.

The Company consolidates variable interest entities where it has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of those entities’ operations. The Company is a franchisor of 329 full-service restaurants and off-premises kitchens as of December 26, 2021, but does not possess any ownership interests in its franchisees and does not provide material direct financial support to its franchisees. These franchise relationships are not deemed variable interest entities and are not consolidated.

Fiscal Year - The Company utilizes a 52-53-week year ending on the last Sunday in December. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarterly period is comprised of 13 weeks. The additional week in a 53-week fiscal year is added to the fourth quarter. All periods presented consisted of 52 weeks.

Cash and Cash Equivalents - Cash equivalents consist of investments that are readily convertible to cash with an original maturity date of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents include $41.3 million and $37.1 million, as of December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020, respectively, for amounts in transit from credit card companies since settlement is reasonably assured.

Concentrations of Credit and Counterparty Risk - Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk and credit losses are through credit card and trade receivables consisting primarily of amounts due for gift card, vendor, franchise and other receivables. Gift card, vendor and other receivables consist primarily of amounts due from gift card resellers and vendor rebates. The Company considers the concentration of credit risk for gift card, vendor and other receivables to be minimal due to the payment histories and general financial condition of its gift card resellers and vendors. Amounts due from franchisees consist of initial franchise fees, royalty income and advertising fees. See Note 8 - Other Current Assets, Net for disclosure of trade receivables by category as of December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020.

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of counterparty risk are cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and derivatives. The Company attempts to limit its counterparty risk by investing in certificates of deposit, money market funds, noninterest-bearing accounts and other highly rated investments. Whenever possible, the Company selects investment grade counterparties and rated money market funds in order to mitigate its counterparty risk. At times, cash balances may be in excess of FDIC insurance limits. See Note 17 - Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities for a discussion of the Company’s use of derivative instruments and management of credit risk inherent in derivative instruments.

Allowance for Expected Credit Losses - The Company evaluates the collectability of credit card and trade receivables based on historical loss experience by risk pool and records periodic adjustments for factors such as deterioration of economic conditions, specific customer circumstances and changes in the aging of accounts receivable balances. Losses are charged off in the period in which they are determined to be uncollectible. See Note 20 - Allowance for Expected Credit Losses for a discussion of the Company’s allowance for expected credit losses.

The Company assigned its interest, and is contingently liable, under certain real estate leases, primarily related to divested restaurant properties. Contingent lease liabilities related to these guarantees are calculated based on management’s estimate of exposure to losses which includes historical analysis of credit losses, including known instances of default, and existing economic conditions. See Note 22 - Commitments and Contingencies for a discussion of the Company’s contingent lease liabilities.

Fair Value - Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or the exit price, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Fair value is categorized into one of the following three levels based on the lowest level of significant input:

Property, Fixtures and Equipment - Property, fixtures and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the assets. Estimated useful lives by major asset category are generally as follows:

Repair and maintenance costs that maintain the appearance and functionality of the restaurant, but do not extend the useful life of any restaurant asset are expensed as incurred. The Company suspends depreciation and amortization for assets held for sale. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of assets sold or disposed of are removed from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, and any resulting gain or loss is generally recognized in Other restaurant operating expense in its Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

The Company capitalizes direct and indirect internal costs associated with the acquisition, development, design and construction of Company-owned restaurant locations as these costs have a future benefit to the Company. Upon restaurant opening, these costs are depreciated and charged to depreciation and amortization expense. Internal costs of $3.7 million, $2.7 million and $6.4 million were capitalized during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

For 2021 and 2020, computer equipment and software costs of $3.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, were capitalized. As of December 26, 2021 and December 27, 2020, there was $6.4 million and $8.8 million, respectively, of unamortized computer equipment and software included in Property, fixtures and equipment, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets acquired in business combinations and is assigned to the reporting unit in which the acquired business will operate. The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of trade names and are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually, as of the first day of the second fiscal quarter, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

The Company may elect to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit is impaired. If the qualitative assessment is not performed or if the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, the fair value of the reporting unit is calculated. The carrying value of the reporting unit is compared to its estimated fair value, with any excess of carrying value over fair value deemed to be an indicator of impairment.

Definite-lived intangible assets, which consist primarily of trademarks and reacquired franchise rights, are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition, amortized over their estimated useful lives and tested for impairment, using the relief from royalty method, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. If the derivative qualifies for hedge accounting treatment, any gain or loss on the derivative instrument is recognized in equity as a change to Accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and are used to manage the Company’s exposure to interest rate movements, foreign currency exchange rate movements, changes in energy prices and other identified risks. Changes in the fair value of derivatives not designated in hedging relationships are recorded directly in earnings. The Company has elected not to offset derivative positions in the balance sheet with the same counterparty under the same agreement.

Deferred Debt Issuance Costs - For its revolving credit facility, the Company records deferred debt issuance costs related to the issuance of debt obligations in Other assets, net on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. For fees associated with all other debt obligations, the Company records deferred debt issuance costs as a reduction of Long-term debt, net.

The Company amortizes deferred debt issuance costs to interest expense over the term of the respective financing arrangement, primarily using the effective interest method. The Company amortized deferred debt issuance costs of $4.5 million, $3.9 million and $2.5 million to Interest expense, net for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Liquor Licenses - The fees from obtaining non-transferable liquor licenses directly issued by local government agencies for nominal fees are expensed as incurred. The costs of purchasing transferable liquor licenses through open markets in jurisdictions with a limited number of authorized liquor licenses are capitalized as indefinite-lived intangible assets and included in Other assets, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Insurance Reserves - The Company carries insurance programs with specific retention levels or high per-claim deductibles for a significant portion of expected losses under its workers’ compensation, general or liquor liability, health, property and management liability insurance programs. The Company records a liability for all unresolved claims and for an estimate of incurred but not reported claims at the anticipated cost that falls below its specified retention levels or per-claim deductible amounts. In establishing reserves, the Company considers actuarial assumptions and judgments regarding economic conditions, and the frequency and severity of claims. Reserves recorded for workers’ compensation and general liability claims are discounted using the average of the one-year and five-year risk-free rate of monetary assets that have comparable maturities.

Revenue Recognition - The Company records food and beverage revenues, net of discounts and taxes, upon delivery to the customer. Franchise-related revenues are included in Franchise and other revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Royalties, which are a percentage of net sales of the franchisee, are recognized as revenue in the period which the sales are reported to have occurred provided collectability is reasonably assured.

expedient to account for gift card contracts and performance obligations. Gift card breakage, the amount of gift cards which will not be redeemed, is recognized using estimates based on historical redemption patterns. If actual redemptions vary from assumptions used to estimate breakage, gift card breakage income may differ from the amount recorded. The Company periodically updates its estimates used for breakage. Breakage revenue is recorded as a component of Restaurant sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Approximately 84% of deferred gift card revenue is expected to be recognized within 12 months of inception.

Gift card sales commissions paid to third-party providers are capitalized and subsequently amortized to Other restaurant operating expense based on historical gift card redemption patterns. See Note 4 - Revenue Recognition for rollforwards of deferred gift card sales commissions and unearned gift card revenue.

Advertising fees charged to franchisees are recognized in Franchise and other revenues in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) provided collectability is reasonably assured. Initial franchise and renewal fees are recognized over the term of the franchise agreement and renewal period, respectively. The weighted average remaining term of franchise agreements and renewal periods was approximately 12 years as of December 26, 2021.

The Company maintains a customer loyalty program, Dine Rewards, in the U.S., where customers earn a reward after attaining qualified spend amounts. The Company’s estimate of the value of the reward is recorded as deferred revenue. Each reward must be redeemed within specified time limits of earning such reward. The revenue associated with the fair value of the reward is recognized upon the earlier of redemption or expiration of the reward. The Company applies the practical expedient to exclude disclosures regarding loyalty program remaining performance obligations, which have original expected durations of less than one year.

Leases - The Company’s determination of whether an arrangement contains a lease is based on an evaluation of whether the arrangement conveys the right to use and control specific property or equipment. The Company leases restaurant and office facilities and certain equipment under operating leases primarily having initial terms between one and 20 years. Restaurant facility leases generally have renewal periods totaling five to 30 years, exercisable at the option of the Company. Contingent rentals represent payment of variable lease obligations based on a percentage of gross revenues, as defined by the terms of the applicable lease agreement for certain restaurant facility leases. The Company also has certain leases, which reset periodically based on a specified index. Such leases are recorded using the index that existed at lease commencement. Subsequent changes in the index are recorded as variable rental payments. Variable rental payments are expensed as incurred in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and future variable rent obligations are not included within the lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The depreciable life of lease assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term. None of the Company’s leases contain any material residual value guarantees or restrictive covenants.

The Company accounts for fixed lease and non-lease components of a restaurant facility lease as a single lease component. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, the Company applies a portfolio approach to account for the lease assets and liabilities. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on its Consolidated Balance Sheets and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term within Other restaurant operating expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Rent expense for the Company’s operating leases, which generally have escalating rentals over the term of the lease and may include rent holidays, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and those renewal periods that are reasonably certain. Rent expense is recorded in Other restaurant operating in the Company’s

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). Payments received from landlords as incentives for leasehold improvements are recorded as a reduction of the right-of-use asset and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease as a reduction of rent expense.

In April 2020, the FASB issued a question-and-answer document focused on the application of lease accounting guidance to lease concessions provided as a result of COVID-19 (the “Lease Modification Q&A”). The Lease Modification Q&A provides entities with the option to elect to account for lease concessions as though the enforceable rights and obligations existed in the original lease when the total cash flows resulting from the modified lease are substantially similar to the cash flows in the original lease. The Company elected this practical expedient for COVID-19-related rent concessions, primarily rent deferrals or rent abatements, and has elected not to remeasure the related lease liability and right-of-use asset for those leases. Rent deferrals are accrued with no impact to straight-line rent expense. Rent abatements are recognized as a reduction of variable rent expense in the month they occur. This election will continue while these concessions are in effect.

Consideration Received from Vendors - The Company receives consideration for a variety of vendor-sponsored programs, such as volume rebates, promotions and advertising allowances. Advertising allowances are intended to offset the Company’s costs of promoting and selling menu items in its restaurants. Vendor consideration is recorded as a reduction of Food and beverage costs or Other restaurant operating expense when recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Costs Associated with Exit Activities - Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. The evaluation is performed at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows independent of other assets. For long-lived assets deployed at its restaurants, the Company reviews for impairment at the individual restaurant level. When evaluating for impairment, the total future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset are compared to the carrying amount. If the total future undiscounted cash flows of the asset are less than its carrying amount, recoverability is measured by comparing the fair value of the assets to the carrying amount. An impairment loss is recognized in earnings when the asset’s carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. Fair value is generally estimated using a discounted cash flow model.

Restaurant closure costs, including lease termination fees, are expensed as incurred. When the Company ceases using the property rights under a non-cancelable operating lease, it records a liability for the net present value of any remaining non-rent lease-related obligations, less the estimated subtenant cost recovery that can reasonably be obtained for the property. Any subsequent adjustment to that liability as a result of lease termination or changes in estimates of cost recovery is recorded in the period incurred. The associated expense is recorded in Provision for impaired assets and restaurant closings in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Advertising Costs - Advertising production costs are expensed in the period when the advertising first occurs. All other advertising costs are expensed in the period in which the costs are incurred. Advertising expense of $59.7 million, $67.3 million and $146.1 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, was recorded in Other restaurant operating expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Legal Costs - Settlement costs are accrued when they are deemed probable and reasonably estimable. Legal fees are recognized as incurred and are reported in General and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Research and Development Expenses (“R&D”) - R&D is expensed as incurred in General and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). R&D primarily consists of payroll and benefit costs. R&D was $2.6 million, $2.4 million and $3.4 million for 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Partner Compensation - In addition to base salary, Area Operating Partners, Restaurant Managing Partners and Chef Partners generally receive performance-based bonuses for providing management and supervisory services to their restaurants, certain of which may be based on a percentage of their restaurants’ monthly operating results or cash flows and/or total controllable income (“Monthly Payments”).

Certain Restaurant Managing Partners and Chef Partners in the U.S. (“U.S. Partners”) may also participate in deferred compensation programs and other performance-based compensation programs. The Company may invest in corporate-owned life insurance policies, which are held within an irrevocable grantor or “rabbi” trust account for settlement of certain of the Company’s obligations under the deferred compensation plans.

The Company estimates future bonuses and deferred compensation obligations to U.S. Partners and Area Operating Partners, using current and historical information on restaurant performance and records the long-term portion of partner obligations in Other long-term liabilities, net on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. Monthly Payments and deferred compensation expenses for U.S. Partners are included in Labor and other related expenses and Monthly Payments and bonus expense for Area Operating Partners are included in General and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Stock-based Compensation - Stock-based compensation awards are measured at fair value at the date of grant and expensed over their vesting or service periods. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized only for those awards expected to vest. The expense, net of forfeitures, is recognized using the straight-line method. Forfeitures of share-based compensation awards are recognized as they occur.

During 2021, the Company issued performance-based share units (“PSUs”) that included a relative total shareholder return (“Relative TSR”) modifier to the final payout outcome, which can adjust the payout percentage based on the achieved performance metric. The Relative TSR is measured by comparing the Company’s Relative TSR to that of the constituents of the S&P 1500 Restaurants index.

Basic and Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share - The Company computes basic earnings (loss) per share based on the weighted average number of common shares that were outstanding during the period. Except where the result would be antidilutive, diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents, consisting of stock options, restricted stock units and performance-based share units, measured using the treasury stock method, and the Company’s convertible senior notes and related warrants, measured using the if-converted method. Performance-based share units are considered dilutive when the related performance criterion has been met.

The Company has provided the trustee of the 2025 Notes notice of its irrevocable election under the 2025 Notes indenture to settle the principal portion of the 2025 Notes upon conversion in cash and any excess in shares. As a result, only the amounts in excess of the principal amount, if applicable, are considered in diluted earnings per share.

Foreign Currency Translation and Transactions - For non-U.S. operations, the functional currency is the local currency. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date with the translation adjustments recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity. Results of operations are translated using the average exchange rates for the reporting period. Foreign currency exchange transaction losses are recorded in General and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Income Taxes - Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in the tax rate is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date of the rate change. A valuation allowance may reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company records a tax benefit for an uncertain tax position using the highest cumulative tax benefit that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company adjusts its liability for unrecognized tax benefits in the period in which it determines the issue is effectively settled, the statute of limitations expires or when more information becomes available. Liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits, including penalties and interest, are recorded in Accrued and other current liabilities and Other long-term liabilities, net on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Recently Adopted Financial Accounting Standards - On December 28, 2020, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity,” (“ASU No. 2020-06”) which removes the separation models for convertible debt with a cash conversion feature or convertible instruments with a beneficial conversion feature. ASU No. 2020-06 also requires the application of the if-converted method for calculating diluted earnings per share and the treasury stock method is no longer available. The Company adopted ASU No. 2020-06 using the modified retrospective approach which resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment that increased (decreased) the following Consolidated Balance Sheet accounts during the first quarter of 2021:


ADJUSTMENT	CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET CLASSIFICATION	AMOUNT (in millions)
Deferred tax impact of cumulative-effect adjustment	Deferred income tax assets, net	$	14.9
Debt discount reclassification	Long-term debt, net	$	59.9
Equity issuance costs reclassification	Long-term debt, net	$	(2.1)
Debt discount amortization reclassification, net of tax	Accumulated deficit	$	4.4
Reversal of separated equity component, net of tax	Additional paid-in capital	$	(47.3)

After adopting ASU No. 2020-06, the Company’s convertible senior notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”) are reflected entirely as a liability since the embedded conversion feature is no longer separately presented within stockholders’ equity. During 2020, the Company recognized debt discount amortization of $6.3 million within Interest expense, net related to its 2025 Notes.

On December 31, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02: Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU No. 2016-02”), ASU No. 2018-01, “Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transitioning to Topic 842,” (“ASU No. 2018-01”) and ASU No. 2018-11: Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU No. 2018-11”). ASU No. 2016-02 requires the lease rights and obligations arising from lease contracts, including existing and new arrangements, to be recognized as assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. ASU No. 2018-01 allows an entity to elect an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate land easements that exist or expired before the

Company’s adoption of ASU No. 2016-02. ASU No. 2018-11 allows for an additional transition method, which permits use of the effective date of adoption as the date of initial application of ASU No. 2016-02 without restating comparative period financial statements and provides entities with a practical expedient that allows entities to elect not to separate lease and non-lease components when certain conditions are met.

The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 using December 31, 2018 as the date of initial application and recorded a reduction in Accumulated deficit of $141.3 million primarily related to the derecognition of deferred gains on sale-leaseback transactions, net of related deferred tax assets. Consequently, financial information and the disclosures required under the new standard were not provided for dates and periods before December 31, 2018. The Company also elected a transition package including practical expedients that permitted it not to reassess the classification and initial direct costs of expired or existing contracts and leases, to not separate lease and non-lease components of restaurant facility leases executed subsequent to adoption, and to not evaluate land easements that exist or expired before the adoption. In preparation for adoption, the Company implemented a new lease accounting system.