Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

12 Months Ended

Dec. 27, 2020

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

7.  Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

On February 3, 2019, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with certain funds affiliated with, or managed by, Starboard Value LP (together with its affiliates, “Starboard”) pursuant to which Starboard made a $200.0 million strategic investment in the Company’s newly designated Series B Preferred Stock, at a purchase price of $1,000 per share. In addition, on March 28, 2019, Starboard made an additional $50.0 million investment in the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to an option that was included in the Securities Purchase Agreement. The cash proceeds from the issuance of the Series B Preferred Stock to Starboard was bifurcated between the option and preferred stock at the time of issuance based on a relative fair value allocation approach.  The Company also issued $2.5 million of Series B Preferred Stock on the same terms as Starboard to certain franchisees that represented to the Company that they qualify as an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

The initial dividend rate on the Series B Preferred Stock is 3.6% per annum of the stated value of $1,000 per share (the “Stated Value”), payable quarterly in arrears. On the third anniversary of the date of issuance, each holder of Series B Preferred Stock will have the right to increase the dividend on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to 5.6%, and on the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance, each holder will have the right to increase the dividend on the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to 7.6%, subject in each case to the Company’s right to redeem some or all of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock for cash.  The Series B Preferred Stock also participates on an as-converted basis in any regular or special dividends paid to common stockholders. If at any time, the Company reduces the regular dividend paid to common stockholders, the Series B Preferred Stock dividend will remain the same as if the common stock dividend had not been reduced.

The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holders at any time into shares of common stock based on the conversion rate determined by dividing the Stated Value by $50.06.  The Series B Preferred Stock is redeemable for cash at the option of either party from and after the eight-year anniversary of issuance, subject to certain conditions.  Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock also have the right, subject to certain exceptions, to require us to repurchase all or any portion of the Series B Preferred Stock upon certain change of control events.

Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock have the right to vote with common stockholders on an as-converted basis on all matters, without regard to limitations on conversion other than the Exchange Cap, which is equal to the issuance of greater than 19.99% of the number of shares of common stock outstanding, and subject to certain limitations in the Certificate of Designation for the Series B Preferred Stock.

Upon consummation of a change of control of the Company, the holders of Series B Preferred Stock have the right to require the Company to repurchase the Series B Preferred Stock at an amount equal to the sum of (i) the greater of (A) the Stated Value of the Series B Preferred Stock being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid dividends and interest, and (B) the Change of Control As-Converted Value with respect to the Series B Preferred Shares being redeemed and (ii) the Make-Whole Amount (as each of these terms is defined in the Certificate of Designation).  

Since the holders have the option to redeem their shares of Series B Preferred Stock from and after the eight-year anniversary of issuance, which may or may not be exercised, the stock is considered contingently redeemable and, accordingly, is classified as temporary equity of $251.9 million on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 27, 2020. This amount is reported net of $7.5 million of related issuance costs.  In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company also recorded a one-time mark-to-market temporary equity adjustment of $5.9 million in 2019 for the increase in fair value for both the $50.0 million option exercised by Starboard and the shares purchased by franchisees for the period of time the option was outstanding.  The mark-to-market temporary equity adjustment was recorded in General and administrative expenses for $5.6 million (Starboard) and as a reduction to North America franchise royalties and fees of $0.3 million (Franchisees) within the Consolidated Statement of Operations in 2019 with no associated tax benefit.  Over the initial eight-year term, the $251.9 million investment will be accreted to the related redemption value of approximately $252.5 million as an adjustment to Retained Earnings.

The following summarizes changes to our Series B Preferred Stock (in thousands):

Balance at December 30, 2018	$	—
Issuance of preferred stock		252,530
One-time mark-to-market adjustment		5,914
Issuance costs		(7,527)
Accretion		216
Balance at December 29, 2019	$	251,133
Tax deduction on issuance costs		702
Accretion		66
Balance at December 27, 2020	$	251,901