(15) Multiemployer Pension Plan

6 Months Ended

Jul. 01, 2012

Multiemployer Pension Plan [Abstract]

Multiemployer Pension Plan

Multiemployer Pension Plan

As further described in the Form 10-K, the unionized employees at The New Bakery Co. of Ohio, Inc. (the “Bakery”), a 100% owned subsidiary of Wendy’s, are covered by the Bakery and Confectionery Union and Industry International Pension Fund (the “Union Pension Fund”), a multiemployer pension plan with a plan year end of December 31 that provides defined benefits to certain employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement (the “CBA”) which expires on March 31, 2013. The cost of this pension plan is determined in accordance with the provisions of the CBA. As of January 1, 2012, the Union Pension Fund was in Green Zone Status, as defined in the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (the “PPA”) and had been operating under a Rehabilitation Plan.

In April 2012, we received a Notice of Critical Status from the Union Pension Fund which sets forth that the plan was considered to be in Red Zone Status for the 2012 Plan Year due to funding problems. As the fund is in critical status, all contributing employers, including Wendy’s, will be required to pay a 5% surcharge on contributions for all hours worked from June 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 and a 10% surcharge on contributions for all hours worked on and after January 1, 2013 until a contribution rate is negotiated at the expiration of the CBA that will be consistent with a revised Rehabilitation Plan which must be adopted by the Union Pension Fund in accordance with the provisions of the PPA.

The surcharges and the possible effect of the revised Rehabilitation Plan to be adopted by the Union Pension Fund as described above are not anticipated to have a material effect on the Company's results of operations.