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Shareholders' Equity
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2021
Equity [Abstract]  
Shareholders' Equity Shareholders’ Equity
Share Repurchases

Our New Credit Facility permits the repurchase of Denny’s stock and the payment of cash dividends subject to certain limitations. Our Board of Directors approves share repurchases of our common stock. Under these authorizations, we may, from time to time, purchase shares in the open market (including pre-arranged stock trading plans in accordance with the guidelines specified in Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to market and business conditions. Currently, we are operating under a $250 million share repurchase authorization approved by the Board of Directors in December 2019. During 2019, 2017 and 2016, the Board approved share repurchase programs for $250 million, $200 million and $100 million of our common stock, respectively.

During the quarter ended March 25, 2020, we suspended share repurchases as of February 27, 2020 and terminated our previously approved Rule 10b5-1 Repurchase Plan effective March 16, 2020 in light of uncertain market conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the refinancing of our New Credit Facility in the third quarter of 2021, share repurchase restrictions were in place under our Old Credit Facility. As a result of refinancing of our credit facility in the third quarter of 2021, we resumed our share repurchase program.

During 2021, we repurchased a total of 2.0 million shares of our common stock for approximately $30.6 million. During 2020, we repurchased a total of 1.7 million shares of our common stock for approximately $34.2 million, thus completing the 2017 repurchase program. During 2019, including the settlement of the 2018 accelerated share repurchase (“ASR”) agreement, we repurchased a total of 5.3 million shares of our common stock for approximately $103.0 million. As of December 29, 2021, there was approximately $217.4 million remaining under the 2019 repurchase program.

In recent years, as part of our previously authorized share repurchase programs, we have entered into variable term, capped ASR agreements to repurchase our common stock. Pursuant to the terms of these ASR agreements, we pay cash, receive an initial delivery of shares of our common stock (which represents the minimum shares to be delivered based on the cap price) and record treasury stock related to these shares. The remaining balance is recorded as an equity forward contract. When settled, the final delivery of shares is received and treasury stock is recorded related to the additional shares. The total number of shares repurchased is based on a combined discounted volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) per share, which is determined based on the average of the daily VWAP of our common stock, less a fixed discount, over the term of the ASR agreement.

In November 2018, we entered into a $25 million ASR agreement with MUFG Securities EMEA plc (the “2018 ASR”). We paid $25 million in cash and received approximately 1.1 million shares of our common stock (which represents the minimum shares to be delivered based on the cap price) and recorded $18.2 million of treasury stock related to these shares. The remaining balance of $6.8 million was recorded as additional paid-in capital in shareholders’ deficit as of December 26, 2018 as an equity forward contract. During 2019, we settled the 2018 ASR agreement, recording $6.8 million of treasury stock related to the final delivery of an additional 0.4 million shares of our common stock based on a combined discounted VWAP of $17.04 per share.

Repurchased shares as of December 29, 2021, are included as treasury stock in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and our Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit.

Retirement of Treasury Stock

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Board approved the retirement of 54.0 million shares of Treasury stock at a weighted average share price of $10.26. As of year end December 30, 2020, no shares remained in treasury.

Issuance and Sale of Common Stock

On July 1, 2020, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein, for the issuance and sale by the Company of 8,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share, in an underwritten public offering at a price to the public of $9.15 per share. On July 6, 2020, the Company received net proceeds of $69.6 million from the sale of shares, after deducting the underwriters' discounts and commissions and offering expenses.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The components of the change in accumulated other comprehensive loss were as follows:
PensionsDerivativesAccumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
(In thousands)
Balance as of December 26, 2018$(827)$(3,319)$(4,146)
Benefit obligation actuarial loss(25)— (25)
Amortization of net loss (1)
86 — 86 
Changes in the fair value of cash flow derivatives— (40,486)(40,486)
Reclassification of cash flow derivatives to interest expense, net (2)
— 291 291 
Income tax (expense) benefit(15)10,335 10,320 
Balance as of December 25, 2019$(781)$(33,179)$(33,960)
Benefit obligation actuarial loss(448)— (448)
Amortization of net loss (1)
89 — 89 
Settlement loss recognized95 — 95 
Changes in the fair value of cash flow derivatives— (46,910)(46,910)
Reclassification of cash flow derivatives to interest expense, net (2)
— 3,160 3,160 
Reclassification of loss related to dedesignation of derivatives to other nonoperating expense (income)(3)
— 7,354 7,354 
Amortization of unrealized losses related to dedesignated derivatives to interest expense, net (3)
— 783 783 
Income tax benefit67 9,365 9,432 
Balance as of December 30, 2020$(978)$(59,427)$(60,405)
Benefit obligation actuarial loss(46)— (46)
Amortization of net loss (1)
159 — 159 
Changes in the fair value of cash flow derivatives— 4,275 4,275 
Reclassification of cash flow derivatives to interest expense, net (2)
— 4,023 4,023 
Amortization of unrealized losses related to dedesignated derivatives to interest expense, net (3)
— 166 166 
Income tax expense(35)(2,607)(2,642)
Balance as of December 29, 2021$(900)$(53,570)$(54,470)

(1)    Before-tax amount that was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included as a component of pension expense within general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 11 for additional details.
(2)    Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into income represent payments made to the counterparty for the effective portions of the interest rate swaps. These amounts are included as a component of interest expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We expect to reclassify approximately $4.0 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our interest rate swaps during the next twelve months. See Note 9 for additional details.
(3)     During the quarter ended June 24, 2020, we dedesignated the cash flow relationship and discontinued hedge accounting treatment for the 2018 Swaps. As a result, we reclassified approximately $7.4 million of losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net to other nonoperating expense (income), net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations related to the portion of forecasted transaction no longer considered probable of occurring. The remaining losses related to the 2018 Swaps will continue to be included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net and will be amortized as a component of interest expense, net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations over the remaining term of the 2018 Swaps. For the years ended December 29, 2021 and December 30, 2020, we amortized approximately $0.2 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of losses to interest expense, net related to the 2018 Swaps. We expect to amortize less than $0.1 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our interest rate swaps during the next twelve months. See Note 9 for additional details.