Stockholders' Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

9 Months Ended

Sep. 27, 2022

Stockholders' Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

Stockholders' Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

9.  Stockholders’ Equity and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

Common Stock Issuance

On June 15, 2021, we issued 3.125 million shares of our common stock for $175.0 million. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $8.0 million.

Common Stock – Dividends and Share Repurchases

On July 21, 2022, our Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share that was paid on August 23, 2022 to the stockholders of record of each share of our common stock at the close of business on August 10, 2022. Future decisions to pay or to increase or decrease dividends are at the discretion of the Board and will be dependent on our operating performance, financial condition, capital expenditure requirements, limitations on cash distributions pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 13 below) and applicable law, and such other factors that the Board considers relevant. (See Notes 5 and 13 for further discussion of our long-term debt and dividends declared subsequent to September 27, 2022, respectively.)

Under authorization by our Board to repurchase up to 56.0 million shares of our common stock, we have cumulatively repurchased 54.5 million shares at a total cost of $1,744.0 million through September 27, 2022, with 889,309 shares and 1,346,696 shares repurchased at a cost of $26.7 million and $41.5 million during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2022, respectively. Our objectives with regard to share repurchases have been to offset the dilution to our shares outstanding that results from equity compensation grants and to supplement our earnings per share growth.

Our share repurchase program does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Share repurchases may be made from time to time in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase programs, issuer self-tender offers or otherwise. Future decisions to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and are based on several factors, including current and forecasted operating cash flows, capital needs associated with new restaurant development and maintenance of existing locations, dividend payments, debt levels and cost of borrowing, obligations associated with the FRC acquisition agreement, our share price and current market conditions. The timing and number of shares repurchased are also subject to legal constraints and covenants under the Fourth Amended Credit Agreement that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Notes 5 and 13 for further discussion of our long-term debt and increased authorized amount under our share repurchase program, respectively.)

Series A Convertible Preferred Stock

On April 20, 2020, we issued 200,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200 million, or $1,000 per share. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $10.3 million, including financial advisory fees, closing costs, legal expenses, a commitment fee and other offering-related expenses. These direct and incremental costs reduced the Series A preferred stock balance at the issuance date and were recognized through retained earnings on June 30, 2020, the first measurement date. Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06 in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we recorded a $4.8 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to reverse beneficial conversion features recorded during fiscal 2020.

On June 15, 2021, we paid $443.8 million in connection with the cash-settled conversion of 150,000 shares of our outstanding Series A preferred stock (effected through a repurchase agreement), which was recognized through additional paid in capital. We also share-settled the conversion of the remaining 50,000 shares of our outstanding Series A convertible preferred stock into 2,400,864 shares of our common stock. These are both based on the then current Liquidation Preference per share of $1,067.42 and conversion price of $22.23.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we declared a cash dividend of $5.1 million, or $25.35 per share, on the Series A preferred stock. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, $13.6 million in payments were made in connection with the conversion of the preferred stock, consisting of $3.9 million, or $19.72 per share of accrued dividends and $9.7 million of an inducement, which was also deemed to be a dividend.