Long-Term Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt 

At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, long-term debt consisted of the following components:

	March 31, 2024		December 31, 2023
	(In millions)
Series 2019-1 4.723% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-II	$	594.0	$	594.0
Series 2022-1 Variable Funding Senior Secured Notes, Class A-1, variable interest rate of 7.94% and 7.95% at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively	100.0		100.0
Series 2023-1 7.824% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2	500.0		500.0
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(9.0)		(9.5)
Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs	1,185.0		1,184.5
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(100.0)		(100.0)
Long-term debt	$	1,085.0	$	1,084.5

On June 5, 2019, Applebee’s Funding LLC and IHOP Funding LLC (the “Co-Issuers”), each a special purpose, wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, issued two tranches of fixed rate senior secured notes, the Series 2019-1 4.194% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-I (“2019 Class A-2-I Notes”) in an initial aggregate principal amount of $700 million and the Series 2019-1 4.723% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-II in an initial aggregate principal amount of $600 million (the “2019 Class A-2-II Notes” and, together with the 2019 Class A-2-I Notes, the “2019 Class A-2 Notes”). The 2019 Class A-2 Notes were issued pursuant to an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

On August 12, 2022, the Co-Issuers established a new revolving financing facility, the 2022-1 Variable Funding Senior Secured Notes, Class A-1 (the “Credit Facility”), that allows for drawings up to $325 million of variable funding notes on a revolving basis and the issuance of letters of credit. In connection with this transaction, the Co-Issuers terminated their $225 million revolving financing facility, the 2019-1 Variable Funding Senior Secured Notes, Class A-1.

On April 17, 2023, the Co-Issuers completed a refinancing transaction and issued $500 million of Series 2023-1 7.824% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2 (the “2023 Class A-2 Notes”). The 2023 Class A-2 Notes were issued pursuant to

an offering exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company used the net proceeds of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes to repay the entire outstanding balance of approximately $585.1 million of the 2019 Class A-2-I Notes and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes. The remaining 2019 Class A-2-II Notes and the Credit Facility, together with the 2023 Class A-2 Notes are referred to collectively herein as the “Notes.” The Notes were issued in securitization transactions pursuant to which substantially all the domestic revenue-generating assets and domestic intellectual property held by the Co-Issuers and certain other special-purpose, wholly-owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company (the “Guarantors”) were pledged as collateral to secure the Notes.

The Notes were issued under a Base Indenture, dated as of September 30, 2014, amended and restated as of June 5, 2019 and further amended and restated as of April 17, 2023 (the “Base Indenture”). In addition, the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes were issued under the related Series 2019-1 Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated June 5, 2019 (the “Series 2019-1 Supplement”), among the Co-Issuers and Citibank, N.A., as the trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”) and securities intermediary, the Credit Facility was issued under the related Series 2022-1 Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated August 12, 2022 (“Series 2022-1 Supplement”), among the Co-Issuers and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee and securities intermediary, and the 2023 Class A-2 Notes were issued under the related Series 2023-1 Supplement to the Base Indenture, dated April 17, 2023 (the “Series 2023-1 Supplement”), among the Co-Issuers and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee and securities intermediary. The Base Indenture, Series 2019-1 Supplement, Series 2022-1 Supplement, and Series 2023-1 Supplement (collectively, the “Indenture”) will allow the Co-Issuers to issue additional series of notes in the future subject to certain conditions set forth therein.

2019 Class A-2 Notes

The 2019 Class A-2-I Notes were voluntarily repaid in full on April 17, 2023, while the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes remain outstanding as of March 31, 2024. For a description of the 2019 Class A-2-I Notes, refer to Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. The legal final maturity of the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes is June 2049, but rapid amortization will apply if the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes are not repaid by June 2026 (the “2019 Class A-2-II Anticipated Repayment Date”). If the Co-Issuers have not repaid or refinanced the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes by the 2019 Class A-2-II Anticipated Repayment Date, then additional interest will accrue on the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes, as applicable, at the greater of: (A) 5.0% and (B) the amount, if any, by which the sum of the following exceeds the applicable 2019 Class A-2-II Note interest rate: (x) the yield to maturity (adjusted to a quarterly bond-equivalent basis) on the 2019 Class A-2-II Anticipated Repayment Date of the United States Treasury Security having a term closest to 10 years plus (y) 7.64% for the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes.

While the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes are outstanding, payment of principal and interest is required to be made on the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes on a quarterly basis. The quarterly principal payment of $1.5 million on the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes may be suspended when the leverage ratio for the Company and its subsidiaries is less than or equal to 5.25x. Exceeding the leverage ratio of 5.25x does not violate any covenant related to the Notes. In general, the leverage ratio is the Company's indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) divided by adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Indenture) for the four preceding quarterly periods. The complete definitions of all calculation elements of the leverage ratio are contained in the Indenture.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company's leverage ratio was approximately 4.3x. As a result, quarterly principal payments on the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes of $1.5 million currently are not required.

The Company may voluntarily repay the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes at any time without any associated make-whole premium.

2022 Class A-1 Notes

In August 2022, the Co-Issuers entered into the Credit Facility that allows for drawings up to $325 million of variable funding notes on a revolving basis and the issuance of letters of credit. The applicable interest rate under the Credit Facility depends on the type of borrowing by the Co-Issuers. The applicable interest rate for advances is generally calculated at a per annum rate equal to the commercial paper funding rate or one-, two-, three- or six-month Term SOFR Rate, in either case, plus 2.50%. The applicable interest rate for swingline advances and unreimbursed draws on outstanding letters of credit is a per annum base rate equal to the sum of (a) the greatest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect from time to time; (ii) the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time plus 0.50%; and (iii) Term SOFR for a one-month tenor in effect at such time plus 0.50% plus (b) 2.00%.

The legal final maturity of the Credit Facility is June 2052, but rapid amortization will apply if there are outstanding amounts under the Credit Facility after June 2027 (the “Class A-1 Renewal Date”). The Class A-1 Renewal Date may be extended at the Co-Issuers’ election for up to two successive one-year periods if certain conditions are met. If the Co-Issuers have not repaid or refinanced the Credit Facility by the Class A-1 Renewal Date (after giving effect to any extensions), then

interest will accrue on the Credit Facility at a rate equal to 5.00% in addition to the regular interest rate applicable to the Credit Facility.

As of March 31, 2024, the outstanding balance of the Credit Facility was $100 million. The amount of $3.4 million was pledged against the Credit Facility for outstanding letters of credit, leaving $221.6 million of the Credit Facility available for borrowing at March 31, 2024. It is anticipated that any principal and interest on the Credit Facility outstanding will be repaid in full on or prior to the quarterly payment date in June 2027, subject to two additional one-year extensions at the option of the Company upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The letters of credit are used primarily to satisfy insurance-related collateral requirements. The weighted average interest rate for the period outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2024 was 7.95%.

2023 Class A-2 Notes

The legal final maturity of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes is in March 2053, but it is anticipated that, unless repaid earlier to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the 2023 Class A-2 Notes will be repaid in June 2029 (the “2023 Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date”). If the Co-Issuers have not repaid or refinanced the 2023 Class A-2 Notes by the 2023 Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date, then additional interest will accrue on the 2023 Class A-2 Notes, as applicable, at the greater of: (A) 5.0% and (B) the amount, if any, by which the sum of the following exceeds the Series 2023-1 Class A-2 Note interest rate: (x) the yield to maturity (adjusted to a quarterly bond-equivalent basis) on the 2023 Class A-2 Anticipated Repayment Date of the United States Treasury Security having a term closest to 10 years plus (y) 9.24% for the 2023 Class A-2 Notes.

While the 2023 Class A-2 Notes are outstanding, payment of principal and interest is required to be made on the 2023 Class A-2 Notes on a quarterly basis. The quarterly principal payment of $1.25 million on the 2023 Class A-2 Notes may be suspended when the leverage ratio for the Company and its subsidiaries is less than or equal to 5.25x.

As of March 31, 2024, the Company's leverage ratio was approximately 4.3x. As a result, quarterly principal payments on the 2023 Class A-2 Notes of $1.25 million currently are not required.

The Company may voluntarily repay the 2023 Class A-2 Notes at any time; however, if the 2023 Class A-2 Notes are repaid prior to certain dates, the Company would be required to pay make-whole premiums. As of March 31, 2024, the make-whole premium associated with voluntary prepayment of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes was approximately $35.5 million. The Company also would be subject to a make-whole premium in the event of a mandatory prepayment required following a Rapid Amortization Event or certain asset dispositions. The mandatory make-whole premium requirements are considered derivatives embedded in the Notes that must be bifurcated for separate valuation. The Company estimated the fair value of these derivatives to be immaterial as of March 31, 2024, based on the probability-weighted discounted cash flows associated with either event.

Repurchase Program

On February 16, 2023, our Company's Board of Directors authorized a debt repurchase program of up to $100 million. Repurchases of the Company’s debt, if any, are expected to reduce future cash interest payments, as well as future amounts due at maturity or upon redemption. Under the authorization, the Company may make repurchases of the Company's debt from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions upon such terms and at such prices as management may determine.

Covenants and Restrictions

The Notes are subject to a series of covenants and restrictions customary for transactions of this type, including: (i) that the Co-Issuers maintain specified reserve accounts to be used to make required payments in respect of the Notes, (ii) provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments, and the related payment of specified amounts, including specified call redemption premiums in the case of Class A-2 Notes under certain circumstances; (iii) certain indemnification payments in the event, among other things, the transfers of the assets pledged as collateral for the Notes are in stated ways defective or ineffective and (iv) covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information and similar matters. The Notes are subject to customary rapid amortization events provided for in the Indenture, including events tied to failure of the Securitization Entities (as defined in the Indenture) to maintain the stated debt service coverage ratio (“DSCR”), the sum of domestic retail sales for all restaurants being below certain levels on certain measurement dates, certain manager termination events, certain events of default and the failure to repay or refinance the Class A-2 Notes on the anticipated repayment dates. The Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal or other amounts due on or with respect to the Notes, failure of the Securitization Entities to maintain the stated DSCR, failure to comply with

covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties and certain judgments.

In general, the DSCR ratio is Net Cash Flow (as defined in the Indenture) for the four quarters preceding the calculation date divided by the total debt service payments (as defined in the Indenture) of the preceding four quarters. The complete definitions of the DSCR and all calculation elements are contained in the Indenture. Failure to maintain a prescribed DSCR can trigger a Cash Flow Sweeping Event, A Rapid Amortization Event, a Manager Termination Event or a Default Event (each as defined in the Indenture) as described below. In a Cash Flow Sweeping Event, the Trustee is required to retain 50% of excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Indenture) in a restricted account. In a Rapid Amortization Event, all excess Cash Flow is retained and used to retire principal amounts of debt. In a Manager Termination Event, the Company may be replaced as manager of the assets securitized under the Indenture. In a Default Event, the outstanding principal amount and any accrued but unpaid interest can be called to become immediately due and payable. Key DSCRs are as follows:

•DSCR less than 1.75x - Cash Flow Sweeping Event

•DSCR less than 1.20x - Rapid Amortization Event

•Interest-only DSCR less than 1.20x - Manager Termination Event

•Interest-only DSCR less than 1.10x - Default Event

The Company's DSCR for the reporting period ended March 31, 2024 was approximately 3.5x.

Debt Issuance Costs

2023 Class A-2 Notes

The Company incurred costs of approximately $8.0 million in connection with the issuance of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes. These debt issuance costs are being amortized using the effective interest method over the estimated life of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes. Amortization costs of $0.3 million were included in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, unamortized debt issuance costs of $7.0 million are reported as a direct reduction of the 2023 Series Class A-2 Notes in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2022 Class A-1 Notes

In August 2022, the Company incurred costs of approximately $6.3 million in connection with the issuance of the Credit Facility. These debt issuance costs are being amortized over the estimated life of the Credit Facility. Amortization costs of $0.3 million and $0.3 million of these costs were included in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of March 31, 2024, unamortized debt issuance costs of $4.4 million related to the Credit Facility are classified as other non-current assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

2019 Class A-2 Notes

The Company incurred costs of approximately $12.9 million in connection with the issuance of the 2019 Class A-2 Notes. These debt issuance costs are being amortized using the effective interest method over estimated life of each tranche of the 2019 Class A-2 Notes. Amortization costs of $0.2 million and $0.9 million were included in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company repaid the entire outstanding balance of approximately $585.1 million of its 2019 Class A-2-I Notes during the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 and wrote off the related remaining issuance costs of $1.7 million. As of March 31, 2024, unamortized debt issuance costs of $2.0 million are reported as a direct reduction of the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Gain on Extinguishment of Debt

The Company purchased $67.9 million of its 2019 Class A-2-I Notes under par and recognized a $1.7 million gain on extinguishment of debt during the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Maturities of Long-term Debt

•The final maturity of the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes is in June 2049, but it is anticipated that, unless repaid earlier, the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes will be repaid in June 2026.

•The final maturity of the 2023 Class A-2 Notes is in March 2053, but it is anticipated that, unless repaid earlier, to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the 2023 Class A-2 Notes will be repaid in June 2029.

•The renewal date of the Credit Facility is June 2027, subject to two additional one-year extensions at the option of the Company upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

•Quarterly principal payments on the 2019 Class A-2-II Notes totaling $1.5 million ($6.0 million per annum) are required if the Company's leverage ratio is greater than 5.25x.

•Quarterly principal payments on the 2023 Class A-2 Notes totaling $1.25 million ($5.0 million per annum) are required if the Company's leverage ratio is greater than 5.25x.