Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 29, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies	16. Commitments and Contingencies Purchase obligations, which include inventory purchases, equipment purchases, information technology and other miscellaneous commitments, were $91.6 million and $118.2 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. These purchase obligations are primarily due within three years and recorded as liabilities when goods are received or services rendered. Real estate obligations, which include construction commitments, net of up-front landlord construction contributions, and legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced, were $130.5 million and $176.1 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The Acquisition purchase price included a $12 million indemnity escrow amount specifically related to North Italia due ratably over two years, $6.0 million of which was paid in fiscal 2020; and $45 million of deferred consideration due ratably over four years (including a $13 million indemnity escrow amount specifically related to the remaining FRC businesses), $11.3 million of which was paid in fiscal 2020. The acquisition agreement also included a contingent consideration provision which is payable on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and is based on achievement of revenue and profitability targets for the FRC brands other than North Italia and Flower Child with considerations made in the event we undergo a change in control or divest any FRC brand (other than North Italia and Flower Child) during the five years after Closing. We are also required to provide financing to FRC in an amount sufficient to support achievement of these targets during the five years after Closing. (See Note 2 for further discussion of the Acquisition.) As credit guarantees to insurers, we had $23.4 million and $19.4 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, in standby letters of credit related to our self-insurance liabilities. All standby letters of credit are renewable annually. We retain the financial responsibility for a significant portion of our risks and associated liabilities with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability, staff member health benefits, employment practices and other insurable risks. The accrued liabilities associated with these programs are based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims, as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”) as of the balance sheet date. The total accrued liability for our self-insured plans was $62.6 million and $68.4 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. On June 7, 2018, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a $4.2 million wage citation jointly against the Company and our vendor that provides janitorial services to eight of our Southern California restaurants, alleging that the janitorial vendor or its subcontractor failed to comply with various provisions of the California Labor Code (Wage Citation Case No. 35-CM-188798-16). The wage citation seeks to recover penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the employees that worked for this vendor or its subcontractor. On June 28, 2018, we filed an appeal of the wage citation. On June 11, 2020, the DLSE postponed the hearing on the Company’s appeal due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible at this time to reasonably estimate the outcome of or any potential liability from this matter and, accordingly, we have not reserved for any potential future payments. On June 22, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service issued a Notice of Deficiency in which they disallowed $8.0 million of our §199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction for tax years 2010, 2011 and 2012. On September 11, 2018 we petitioned the United States Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. The tax court has assigned docket number 18150-18 to our case. We intend to vigorously defend our position in litigation and based on our analysis of the law, regulations and relevant facts, we have not reserved for any potential future payments. Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits and investigations, administrative proceedings and other claims. These matters typically involve claims from customers, staff members and others related to operational and employment issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad. We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether they are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable. At this time, we believe that the amount of reasonably possible losses resulting from final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, investigations, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred. We have employment agreements with certain of our executive officers that provide for payments to those officers in the event of an actual or constructive termination of their employment, including in the event of a termination without cause, an acquirer failure to assume or continue equity awards following a change in control of the Company or, otherwise, in the event of death or disability as defined in those agreements. Aggregate payments totaling approximately $3.1 million, excluding accrued potential bonuses of $0.9 million, which are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, would have been required by those agreements had all such officers terminated their employment for reasons requiring such payments as of December 29, 2020. In addition, the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer specifies an annual founder’s retirement benefit of $650,000 for ten years, commencing six months after termination of his full-time employment.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 29, 2020

16. Commitments and Contingencies

Purchase obligations, which include inventory purchases, equipment purchases, information technology and other miscellaneous commitments, were $91.6 million and $118.2 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. These purchase obligations are primarily due within three years and recorded as liabilities when goods are received or services rendered. Real estate obligations, which include construction commitments, net of up-front landlord construction contributions, and legally binding minimum lease payments for leases signed but not yet commenced, were $130.5 million and $176.1 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

The Acquisition purchase price included a $12 million indemnity escrow amount specifically related to North Italia due ratably over two years, $6.0 million of which was paid in fiscal 2020; and $45 million of deferred consideration due ratably over four years (including a $13 million indemnity escrow amount specifically related to the remaining FRC businesses), $11.3 million of which was paid in fiscal 2020. The acquisition agreement also included a contingent consideration provision which is payable on the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and is based on achievement of revenue and profitability targets for the FRC brands other than North Italia and Flower Child with considerations made in the event we undergo a change in control or divest any FRC brand (other than North Italia and Flower Child) during the five years after Closing. We are also required to provide financing to FRC in an amount sufficient to support achievement of these targets during the five years after Closing. (See Note 2 for further discussion of the Acquisition.)

As credit guarantees to insurers, we had $23.4 million and $19.4 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, in standby letters of credit related to our self-insurance liabilities. All standby letters of credit are renewable annually.

We retain the financial responsibility for a significant portion of our risks and associated liabilities with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability, staff member health benefits, employment practices and other insurable risks. The accrued liabilities associated with these programs are based on our estimate of the ultimate costs to settle known claims, as well as claims incurred but not yet reported to us (“IBNR”) as of the balance sheet date. The total accrued liability for our self-insured plans was $62.6 million and $68.4 million at December 29, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

On June 7, 2018, the California Department of Industrial Relations issued a $4.2 million wage citation jointly against the Company and our vendor that provides janitorial services to eight of our Southern California restaurants, alleging that the janitorial vendor or its subcontractor failed to comply with various provisions of the California Labor Code (Wage Citation Case No. 35-CM-188798-16). The wage citation seeks to recover penalties and other monetary payments on behalf of the employees that worked for this vendor or its subcontractor. On June 28, 2018, we filed an appeal of the wage citation. On June 11, 2020, the DLSE postponed the hearing on the Company’s appeal due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible at this time to reasonably estimate the outcome of or any potential liability from this matter and, accordingly, we have not reserved for any potential future payments.

On June 22, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service issued a Notice of Deficiency in which they disallowed $8.0 million of our §199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction for tax years 2010, 2011 and 2012. On September 11, 2018 we petitioned the United States Tax Court for a redetermination of the deficiency. The tax court has assigned docket number 18150-18 to our case. We intend to vigorously defend our position in litigation and based on our analysis of the law, regulations and relevant facts, we have not reserved for any potential future payments.

Within the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to private lawsuits, government audits and investigations, administrative proceedings and other claims. These matters typically involve claims from customers, staff members and others related to operational and employment issues common to the foodservice industry. A number of these claims may exist at any given time, and some of the claims may be pled as class actions. From time to time, we are also involved in lawsuits with respect to infringements of, or challenges to, our registered trademarks and other intellectual property, both domestically and abroad. We could be affected by adverse publicity and litigation costs resulting from such allegations, regardless of whether they are valid or whether we are legally determined to be liable.

At this time, we believe that the amount of reasonably possible losses resulting from final disposition of any pending lawsuits, audits, investigations, proceedings and claims will not have a material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. It is possible, however, that our future results of operations for a particular quarter or fiscal year could be impacted by changes in circumstances relating to lawsuits, audits, proceedings or claims. Legal costs related to such claims are expensed as incurred.

We have employment agreements with certain of our executive officers that provide for payments to those officers in the event of an actual or constructive termination of their employment, including in the event of a termination without cause, an acquirer failure to assume or continue equity awards following a change in control of the Company or, otherwise, in the event of death or disability as defined in those agreements. Aggregate payments totaling approximately $3.1 million, excluding accrued potential bonuses of $0.9 million, which are subject to approval by the Compensation Committee, would have been required by those agreements had all such officers terminated their employment for reasons requiring such payments as of December 29, 2020. In addition, the employment agreement with our Chief Executive Officer specifies an annual founder’s retirement benefit of $650,000 for ten years, commencing six months after termination of his full-time employment.