Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation, Claims and Disputes

The Company is subject to various lawsuits, 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 under U.S. GAAP 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. Management regularly assesses the Company's insurance coverage, analyzes litigation information with the Company's attorneys and evaluates the Company's loss experience in connection with pending legal proceedings. While the Company does not presently believe that any of the legal proceedings to which it 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.

Lease Guarantees

In connection with the sale of Applebee’s restaurants or previous brands to franchisees and other parties, the Company has, in certain cases, guaranteed or has potential continuing liability for lease payments totaling $405.1 million as of March 31, 2014. This amount represents the maximum potential liability for future payments under these leases. These leases have been assigned to the buyers and expire at the end of the respective lease terms, which range from 2014 through 2048. In the event of default, the indemnity and default clauses in the sale or assignment agreements govern the Company's ability to pursue and recover damages incurred.  No material liabilities have been recorded as of March 31, 2014.

Contingencies

In February 2013, an IHOP franchisee and its affiliated entities which owned and operated 19 restaurants located in the states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri filed for bankruptcy protection. As a result of an order issued by the bankruptcy court, two of the 19 restaurants were returned to the Company in the third quarter of 2013. A non-cash charge of $0.5 million was recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income against deferred rental revenue associated with the leases for those two restaurants. During the third quarter of 2013, the Company received favorable rulings from the bankruptcy court which, if upheld, would allow the Company to transfer the remaining 17 restaurants to another franchisee. These rulings have been appealed by the current franchisee and are presently subject to a stay, pursuant to which the current franchisee is operating these restaurants only on a day-to-day basis and is continuing to make payments to the Company pursuant to the terms of the original franchise agreements.