UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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| ITEM 7.01 | REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE |
Due to the current unprecedented global market and economic conditions caused by COVID-19 in the United States and around the world, we are withdrawing the first quarter and fiscal 2020 financial guidance provided on our fourth quarter fiscal 2019 conference call and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. We plan to provide an update on the business on our first quarter earnings call and will provide updated financial guidance to the extent we can reasonably estimate the impact of the outbreak and changing market conditions at that time. For additional information, see the press release issued on March 23, 2020, and furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
| ITEM 9.01 | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| 99.1 | Press release dated March 23, 2020 entitled “The Cheesecake Factory Provides Business Update” | |
| 104.1 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document) |
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as codified in Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, without limitation, statements related to the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and our plans to provide an update on the business and updated financial guidance on our first quarter earnings call. Such forward-looking statements include all other statements that are not historical facts, as well as statements that are preceded by, followed by or that include words or phrases such as “believe,” “plan,” “will likely result,” “expect,” “intend,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “should” and similar expressions. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in such statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. These forward-looking statements may be affected by various factors including: the rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 outbreak and related containment measures, including the potential for a complete shutdown of the Company’s restaurants, international licensee restaurants and the Company’s bakery operations; economic, public health and political conditions that impact consumer confidence and spending, including the impact of COVID-19 and other health epidemics or pandemics on the global economy; acceptance and success of The Cheesecake Factory in international markets; acceptance and success of North Italia and the Fox Restaurant Concepts restaurants; the risks of doing business abroad through Company-owned restaurants and/or licensees; foreign exchange rates, tariffs and cross border taxation; changes in unemployment rates; changes in laws impacting the Company’s business, including increases in minimum wages and benefit costs; the economic health of the Company’s landlords and other tenants in retail centers in which its restaurants are located; the economic health of suppliers, licensees, vendors and other third parties providing goods or services to the Company; adverse weather conditions in regions in which the Company’s restaurants are located; factors that are under the control of government agencies, landlords and other third parties; the risk, costs and uncertainties associated with opening new restaurants; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required to do so by law. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements and the discussion of risk factors contained in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: March 23, 2020 | THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED | |
| By: | /s/ Matthew E. Clark | |
| Matthew E. Clark | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||