8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) 

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): April 16, 2020

Dine Brands Global, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-15283	95-3038279
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

450 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, California	91203-2306
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(818) 240-6055

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 Par Value	DIN	New York Stock Exchange

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Item 8.01. Other Events.

COVID-19 Update

Dine Brands Global, Inc. (the “Corporation”), the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar^® and IHOP^® restaurants, began to experience significant impacts from COVID-19 in March 2020, as federal, state and local governments began to react to the public health crisis by requiring, in varying degrees, mandatory restaurant dine-in restrictions, capacity limitations or other restrictions that mostly limited business to off-premise (take-out and delivery). While this off-premise business has experienced growth, the Corporation has taken the precautionary actions described below in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

In order to maintain its financial flexibility, the Corporation has reduced discretionary costs, eliminated travel, frozen new hiring and suspended contractors. In addition, the Corporation determined it would implement a temporary furlough of certain team members across various functional groups in its restaurant support centers and company-operated restaurants. The Corporation will continue to provide medical, dental and vision benefits for furloughed team members and is temporarily waiving the obligation of such team members to pay a portion of the premium for such benefits. The Corporation also terminated all outstanding orders for repurchases of its common stock in the open market, and the Board of Directors is evaluating its dividend policy.

Domestically, approximately 62 company-operated Applebee’s restaurants, 1,339 franchisee-operated Applebee’s restaurants and 1,372 franchisee-operated IHOP restaurants remain open for off-premise business as of April 13, 2020. To assist its franchisees impacted by COVID-19, the Corporation has offered financial support by deferring royalty, advertising and other fees, lease payments and remodel obligations on a case-by-case basis. In addition, the Corporation is offering sick pay for hourly employees in its company-operated restaurants who are impacted by COVID-19.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this Form 8-K may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal” and other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainty regarding the duration and severity of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate impact on the Corporation; the effectiveness of related containment measures; general economic conditions; our level of indebtedness; compliance with the terms of our securitized debt; our ability to refinance our current indebtedness or obtain additional financing; our dependence on information technology; potential cyber incidents; the implementation of restaurant development plans; our dependence on our franchisees; the concentration of our Applebee’s franchised restaurants in a limited number of franchisees; the financial health of our franchisees; our franchisees’ and other licensees’ compliance with our quality standards and trademark usage; general risks associated with the restaurant industry; potential harm to our brands’ reputation; possible future impairment charges; the effects of tax reform; trading volatility and fluctuations in the price of our stock; our ability to achieve the financial guidance we provide to investors; successful implementation of our business strategy; the availability of suitable locations for new restaurants; shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of products from third parties or availability of utilities; the management and forecasting of appropriate inventory levels; development and implementation of innovative marketing and use of social media; changing health or dietary preference of consumers; risks associated with doing business in international markets; the results of litigation and other legal proceedings; third-party claims with respect to intellectual property assets; our ability to attract and retain management and other key employees; compliance with federal, state and local governmental regulations; risks associated with our self-insurance; natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics, or other serious incidents; our success with development initiatives outside of our core business; the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting and future changes in accounting standards; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Corporation’s Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in the Corporation’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this Form 8-K are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation does not intend to, nor does it assume any obligation to, update or supplement any forward-looking statements after the date hereof to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 16, 2020	DINE BRANDS GLOBAL, INC.
	By:	/s/ Thomas H. Song
		Thomas H. Song Chief Financial Officer

XML

Document and Entity Information	Apr. 16, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000049754
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Apr. 16, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	Dine Brands Global, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-15283
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-3038279
Entity Address, Address Line One	450 North Brand Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Glendale
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	91203-2306
City Area Code	(818)
Local Phone Number	240-6055
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, $.01 Par Value
Trading Symbol	DIN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false