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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 1-8116

 


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Ohio   31-0785108

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

P.O. Box 256, 4288 West Dublin-Granville Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017-0256

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 614-764-3100

 


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   ¨ .

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

Large Accelerated filer   x     Accelerated filer   ¨     Non-accelerated filer   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x .

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at November 5, 2007

Common shares, $.10 stated value

Exhibit index on page 29.

  87,394,000 shares

 



Table of Contents

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX

 

         Pages
PART I: Financial Information   

Item 1.

  Financial Statements (Unaudited):   

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006

   3 - 4

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

   5 - 6

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and
October 1, 2006

   7

Notes to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

   8 - 16

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17 -27

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    27

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    27
PART II: Other Information   

Item 1A.

  Risk Factors    27

Item 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    27

Item 6.

  Exhibits    27

Signatures

   28

Index to Exhibits

   29

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

     (In thousands, except per share data)  
    

Quarter Ended

September 30, 2007

   

Quarter Ended

October 1, 2006

 

Revenues

    

Sales

   $ 554,808     $ 556,681  

Franchise revenues

     76,339       73,427  
                
     631,147       630,108  
                

Costs and expenses

    

Cost of sales

     334,929       345,751  

Company restaurant operating costs

     148,577       155,251  

Operating costs

     6,323       8,323  

Depreciation of property and equipment

     27,989       31,515  

General and administrative expenses

     49,253       62,427  

Restructuring and Special Committee related charges

     15,862       2,002  

Other (income) expense, net

     (2,864 )     (1,616 )
                

Total costs and expenses

     580,069       603,653  
                

Operating income

     51,078       26,455  

Interest expense

     (10,355 )     (8,872 )

Interest income

     2,891       14,632  
                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     43,614       32,215  

Income tax expense

     14,818       8,523  
                

Income from continuing operations

     28,796       23,692  

Income from discontinued operations

     1,114       45,476  
                

Net income

   $ 29,910     $ 69,168  
                

Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ .33     $ .20  
                

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ .33     $ .20  
                

Basic earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ .01     $ .39  
                

Diluted earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ .01     $ .38  
                

Basic earnings per common share

   $ .34     $ .59  
                

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ .34     $ .58  
                

Dividends declared and paid per common share

   $ 0.125     $ .17  
                

Basic shares

     87,362       117,715  
                

Diluted shares

     88,407       118,290  
                

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

     (In thousands, except per share data)  
    

Year-to-Date Ended

September 30, 2007

   

Year-to-Date Ended

October 1, 2006

 

Revenues

    

Sales

   $ 1,636,064     $ 1,627,887  

Franchise revenues

     218,159       215,012  
                
     1,854,223       1,842,899  
                

Costs and expenses

    

Cost of sales

     996,167       1,021,278  

Company restaurant operating costs

     453,370       452,781  

Operating costs

     15,110       42,497  

Depreciation of property and equipment

     84,790       94,199  

General and administrative expenses

     151,466       170,162  

Restructuring and Special Committee related charges

     27,498       31,000  

Other (income) expense, net

     (9,557 )     (7,516 )
                

Total costs and expenses

     1,718,844       1,804,401  
                

Operating income

     135,379       38,498  

Interest expense

     (33,460 )     (26,753 )

Interest income

     10,858       27,654  
                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     112,777       39,399  

Income tax expense

     40,218       12,302  
                

Income from continuing operations

     72,559       27,097  

Income from discontinued operations

     1,271       64,188  
                

Net income

   $ 73,830     $ 91,285  
                

Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ .81     $ .23  
                

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ .80     $ .23  
                

Basic earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ .01     $ .55  
                

Diluted earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ .01     $ .55  
                

Basic earnings per common share

   $ .82     $ .78  
                

Diluted earnings per common share

   $ .81     $ .78  
                

Dividends declared and paid per common share

   $ .335     $ .51  
                

Basic shares

     89,728       116,432  
                

Diluted shares

     90,809       117,485  
                

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     (Dollars in thousands)  
   September 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  

ASSETS

    

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 240,175     $ 457,614  

Accounts receivable, net

     88,376       84,841  

Deferred income taxes

     13,229       29,651  

Inventories and other

     26,904       30,252  

Advertising fund restricted assets

     45,446       36,207  

Assets held for disposition

     11,635       15,455  

Current assets of discontinued operations

     0       2,712  
                
     425,765       656,732  
                

Property and equipment

     2,088,064       2,024,715  

Accumulated depreciation

     (860,245 )     (798,387 )
                
     1,227,819       1,226,328  
                

Goodwill

     85,863       85,353  

Deferred income taxes

     5,786       4,316  

Intangible assets, net

     3,172       3,855  

Other assets

     85,959       82,738  

Non current assets of discontinued operations

     0       1,025  
                
   $ 1,834,364     $ 2,060,347  
                

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

     (Dollars in thousands)  
   September 30, 2007     December 31, 2006  

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities

    

Accounts payable

   $ 89,502     $ 93,465  

Accrued expenses:

    

Salaries and wages

     34,288       47,329  

Taxes

     41,063       46,138  

Insurance

     60,509       57,353  

Other

     54,027       32,199  

Advertising fund restricted liabilities

     45,446       28,568  

Current portion of long-term obligations

     43,216       87,396  

Current liabilities of discontinued operations

     0       2,218  
                
     368,051       394,666  
                

Long-term obligations

    

Term debt

     521,302       537,139  

Capital leases

     18,799       18,963  
                
     540,101       556,102  
                

Deferred income taxes

     50,514       30,220  

Other long-term liabilities

     77,439       66,163  

Non current liabilities of discontinued operations

     0       1,519  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Shareholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, Authorized: 250,000 shares

     0       0  

Common stock, $.10 stated value per share, Authorized: 200,000,000 shares, Issued: 130,220,000 and 129,548,000 shares, respectively

     13,022       12,955  

Capital in excess of stated value

     1,106,826       1,089,825  

Retained earnings

     1,285,114       1,241,489  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

    

Cumulative translation adjustments and other

     27,572       9,100  

Pension liability

     (17,097 )     (22,546 )
                
     2,415,437       2,330,823  

Treasury stock at cost:

    

42,844,000 and 33,844,000 shares, respectively

     (1,617,178 )     (1,319,146 )
                
     798,259       1,011,677  
                
   $ 1,834,364     $ 2,060,347  
                

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     (In thousands)  
  

Year-to-Date Ended

September 30, 2007

   

Year-to-Date Ended

October 1, 2006

 

Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations

   $ 212,317     $ 124,355  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from discontinued operations

     (1,710 )     131,285  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     210,607       255,640  
                

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Proceeds from property dispositions

     20,254       57,576  

Proceeds from insurance settlements

     8,389       0  

Capital expenditures

     (88,749 )     (90,718 )

Acquisitions of franchisees

     (2,506 )     (5,585 )

Other investing activities

     (297 )     (1,777 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations

     (62,909 )     (40,504 )

Net cash used in investing activities from discontinued operations

     (174 )     (111,337 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (63,083 )     (151,841 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of issuance costs

     0       34,996  

Excess stock-based compensation tax benefits

     5,062       27,720  

Proceeds from employee stock options exercised

     6,418       119,014  

Repurchase of common stock

     (298,032 )     (220,548 )

Principal payments on debt obligations

     (54,701 )     (36,832 )

Dividends paid on common shares

     (29,962 )     (59,637 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations

     (371,215 )     (135,287 )

Net cash provided by financing activities from discontinued operations

     0       796,808  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (371,215 )     661,521  
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash from continuing operations

     3,979       501  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash from discontinued operations

     0       4,412  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (219,712 )     770,223  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     457,614       230,560  

Add: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at beginning of period

     2,273       162,681  

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (219,712 )     770,223  

Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at end of period

     0       (529 )
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 240,175     $ 1,162,935  
                

Supplemental disclosures:

    

Interest paid from continuing operations

   $ 21,713     $ 18,311  

Interest paid from discontinued operations

     0       16,893  

Income taxes (refunded) paid

     (4,157 )     110,902  

Capitalized lease obligations incurred from continuing operations

     543       1,432  

Capitalized lease obligations incurred from discontinued operations

     0       3,854  

Dividend of THI net assets in conjunction with THI spin-off, including cash of $166.0 million

     0       640,137  

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 MANAGEMENT’S STATEMENT

In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contain all adjustments (all of which are normal and recurring in nature) necessary for a fair statement of the consolidated condensed financial position of Wendy’s International, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “ Company ”) as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and the consolidated condensed results of operations and comprehensive income (see Note 7) for the quarters and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006 and consolidated condensed cash flows for the year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006. All of these financial statements are unaudited. These Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2006 Form 10-K. The December 31, 2006 Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from the audited Consolidated Financial Statements contained in the Company’s 2006 Form 10-K, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

On September 29, 2006, the Company completed the spin-off of its remaining 82.75% ownership in Tim Hortons Inc. (“ THI ”), the parent company of the business previously reported as the Hortons segment. Accordingly, the results of operations of THI are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented. In addition, on November 28, 2006 and July 29, 2007, the Company completed the sale of Baja Fresh and Cafe Express, respectively, and accordingly, the results of operations for these two businesses are also reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented (see Note 6). Baja Fresh and Cafe Express were previously reported as the Developing Brands segment.

NOTE 2 NET INCOME PER SHARE

Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted computations are based on the treasury stock method and include assumed conversions of stock options and restricted stock and restricted stock units (together “ restricted shares ”), when outstanding and dilutive. For the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007, 0.9 million and 0.3 million options, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share because the exercise prices of the options were greater than the average market price of the common shares in the period, and therefore, they are antidilutive. There were no options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per common share for the third quarter and year-to-date periods of 2006 as they were all dilutive.

The computations of basic and diluted earnings per common share are shown below:

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

   Quarter Ended    Year-to-Date Ended
   September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006    September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006

Income from continuing operations for computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share

   $ 28,796    $ 23,692    $ 72,559    $ 27,097

Income from discontinued operations for computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share

     1,114      45,476      1,271      64,188
                           

Net income for computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share

   $ 29,910    $ 69,168    $ 73,830    $ 91,285
                           

Weighted average shares for computation of basic earnings per common share

     87,362      117,715      89,728      116,432

Effect of dilutive stock options & restricted shares

     1,045      575      1,081      1,053
                           

Weighted average shares for computation of diluted earnings per common share

     88,407      118,290      90,809      117,485
                           

Basic earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.33    $ 0.20    $ 0.81    $ 0.23

Basic earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.01    $ 0.39    $ 0.01    $ 0.55
                           

Total basic earnings per common share

   $ 0.34    $ 0.59    $ 0.82    $ 0.78
                           

Diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations

   $ 0.33    $ 0.20    $ 0.80    $ 0.23

Diluted earnings per common share from discontinued operations

   $ 0.01    $ 0.38    $ 0.01    $ 0.55
                           

Total diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.34    $ 0.58    $ 0.81    $ 0.78
                           

 

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NOTE 3 STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company recorded the following stock compensation expense:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended    Year-to-Date Ended
   September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006    September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006

Continuing operations:

           

Before-tax

   $ 2,097    $ 2,270    $ 8,712    $ 6,244

After-tax

   $ 1,402    $ 1,407    $ 5,742    $ 3,870

Discontinued operations:

           

Before-tax

   $ 63    $ 6,490    $ 254    $ 9,794

After-tax

   $ 40    $ 4,023    $ 161    $ 6,071

Total:

           

Before-tax

   $ 2,160    $ 8,760    $ 8,966    $ 16,038

After-tax

   $ 1,442    $ 5,430    $ 5,903    $ 9,941

The decrease in stock compensation expense recognized in continuing operations in the third quarter 2007 compared to the third quarter 2006 includes a pretax adjustment recorded in the third quarter of 2007 of $1.4 million ($0.9 million net of tax) to correct cumulative compensation expense. The adjustment was not material to the current or prior periods. Compared to third quarter 2006, the adjustment was partially offset by 2007 grants representing the fourth layer of equity award grants being expensed. The Company began expensing equity awards in 2004 and prior to the 2007 award, equity award grants vested over four years. The decrease in stock compensation expense recognized in discontinued operations in the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 compared to the quarter and year-to-date periods ended October 1, 2006 is primarily due to the absence of expense related to THI and Baja Fresh which were disposed of in 2006.

On April 26, 2007, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ 2007 Plan ”), which provides for equity compensation awards in the form of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares, performance units and share awards (collectively, “ Awards ”) to eligible employees and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The 2007 Plan authorizes up to 6 million common shares for grants of Awards. The common shares offered under the 2007 Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or any combination thereof. The Company intends to use the 2007 Plan to issue annual stock option grants and long-term performance unit awards beginning in 2007. The Company expects that approximately 50% of the value of Awards made in 2007 and subsequent years will be comprised of stock options, with the remaining 50% of the value comprised of performance awards. In calculating the fair value of the 0.9 million options granted in the second quarter of 2007, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model were expected lives of 4.3 years, expected volatility of 25%, dividend yield of 1.33% and risk free interest rate of 4.55%. The stock options and the performance shares granted in 2007 vest over three years compared to the four year vesting period for awards granted in 2004 through 2006.

NOTE 4 OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET

The following represents the components of other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for each of the periods presented:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
   September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

Store closure costs

   $ 1,409     $ 5,481     $ 5,724     $ 8,884  

Equity investment income

     (3,089 )     (176 )     (8,144 )     (545 )

Rent revenue

     0       (4,885 )     0       (14,020 )

Net gain from the sale of property

     (2,856 )     (829 )     (4,245 )     (5,712 )

Gain from insurance proceeds

     (2,260 )     0       (6,786 )     0  

Other, net

     3,932       (1,207 )     3,894       3,877  
                                

Other (income) expense, net

   $ (2,864 )   $ (1,616 )   $ (9,557 )   $ (7,516 )
                                

Rent revenues for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended October 1, 2006 represent rent paid by THI to a 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture between Wendy’s and THI. After the spin-off of THI and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, this joint venture and, as a result, rent revenues paid by THI, are no longer consolidated in the Company’s financial statements and Wendy’s 50% share of the joint venture income is included in other (income) expense, net as equity investment income for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007. See Note 10 for discussion of store closure costs. The gain from insurance proceeds represents reimbursements related to property damaged during Hurricane Katrina. The increase in expense in other, net for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 versus

 

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October 1, 2006 primarily includes payment of a loan guarantee related to a franchisee terminated by the Company in 2007 and the absence of favorable legal reserve settlements of $2.9 million which occurred in the third quarter of 2006, partially offset by lower 2007 severance costs.

NOTE 5 INCOME TAXES

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“ FASB ”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes- an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes” (“ FIN 48 ”) . The interpretation addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under FIN 48, the Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures.

The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. There was no material effect on the financial statements or a cumulative effect to retained earnings related to the adoption of FIN 48. However, certain amounts have been reclassified in the statement of financial position in order to comply with the requirements of the interpretation. The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007 was approximately $23.1 million, all of which would impact the Company’s effective tax rate, if recognized.

The Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) is conducting an examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the years 2006 and 2007 as part of the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Process program. The Company is before the U.S. Competent Authority for the years 1999 through 2001 as it relates to transfer pricing on royalties and fees between U.S. and Canada. The Company settled its 2005 IRS examination in the third quarter of 2007, and expects to settle the Competent Authority matter by the end of 2007 and the 2006 IRS examination by the end of the first quarter, 2008. Amounts related to IRS examinations of federal income tax returns for 2005 and prior years have been settled and paid.

The Company was before the IRS Appeals Division for the years 1998 through 2004 as it relates to a refund claim for the work-opportunity tax credit. The Company was notified during the second quarter of 2007 that its refund claim had been denied by the IRS Appeals Division. The Company is currently evaluating how to proceed with this issue.

State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of 3-5 years after filing of the respective return. The Company has various state income tax returns in the process of examination, administrative appeals or litigation.

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the income tax provision. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had accrued approximately $7.1 million of interest and penalties.

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 30, 2007 was approximately $21.7 million. The Company expects that approximately $14.1 million of its liability for unrecognized tax benefits will be settled in the next 12 months. It is expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change in the next 12 months; however the change is not expected to have a material impact on the results of operations or the financial position of the Company.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 was 34.0%, and 35.7%, respectively, compared to 26.5% and 31.2% for the respective comparative periods ended October 1, 2006. Income tax expense in the third quarter 2007 and the third quarter 2006 was impacted by favorable IRS exam settlements and several individually immaterial discrete items that impacted the effective rate. The year-to-date 2006 tax expense was also impacted by several discrete items which had a proportionately larger percentage impact due to the significantly lower income from continuing operations before income taxes.

NOTE 6 DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

THI

On September 29, 2006, the Company completed the distribution of its remaining 82.75% ownership in THI. The distribution took place in the form of a pro rata common stock dividend to Wendy’s shareholders whereby each shareholder received 1.3542759 shares of THI common stock for each share of Wendy’s common stock held.

The table below presents the significant components of THI operating results included in income from discontinued operations for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended October 1, 2006. THI represented the Hortons segment prior to the spin-off.

 

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(In thousands)

  

Quarter Ended

October 1, 2006

  

Year-to-Date Ended

October 1, 2006

Revenues

   $ 361,552    $ 1,040,945
             

Income before income taxes

     75,075      232,693

Income tax expense

     22,405      49,260

Minority interest expense

     10,317      23,604
             

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 42,353    $ 159,829
             

Income tax expense for THI for the year-to-date period ended October 1, 2006 reflects the resolution of certain THI tax audits which resulted in a benefit of $11.1 million, a $7.0 million release of deferred Canadian withholding taxes and state income taxes on unremitted foreign earnings, and $3.8 million due to permanent differences for fair value losses on certain foreign currency contracts that were deductible for tax purposes but not for book purposes.

Developing Brands

On November 28, 2006, the Company completed the sale of Baja Fresh, and on July 29, 2007, the Company completed the sale of Cafe Express. The income statement impact of the sale of Cafe Express was not material. Both of these businesses historically comprised the Developing Brands segment. Accordingly, the results of operations of Baja Fresh and Cafe Express are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented. The assets and liabilities of Cafe Express were held for sale at December 31, 2006 and were presented as current and non-current assets and liabilities from discontinued operations. On February 28, 2007, in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement, Wendy’s acquired, at no cost, the remaining 30% of equity of Cafe Express. The Company owned 100% of Cafe Express until it was sold on July 29, 2007. According to the terms of the sale agreements, the dispositions of Baja Fresh and Cafe Express were subject to certain working capital and other adjustments, which have not been finalized. The impact of any such adjustments is not expected to have a material impact on the results of operations of the Company.

The table below presents the significant components of Baja Fresh and Cafe Express operating results included in income from discontinued operations for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006.

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended
September 30, 2007
    Quarter Ended
October 1, 2006
    Year-to-Date Ended
September 30, 2007
    Year-to-Date Ended
October 1, 2006
 

Revenues

   $ 2,502     $ 49,762     $ 19,687     $ 148,947  
                                

Loss before income taxes

     (632 )     (18,247 )     (379 )     (150,176 )

Income tax benefit

     (1,746 )     (21,370 )     (1,650 )     (54,535 )
                                

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 1,114     $ 3,123     $ 1,271     $ (95,641 )
                                

The assets and liabilities of Cafe Express are reflected as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2006 and are comprised of the following:

 

(In thousands)

  

Year-to-Date Ended

December 31, 2006

Cash

   $ 2,273

Accounts receivable, net

     124

Inventories and other

     315
      

Total current assets

   $ 2,712
      

Property and equipment, net

   $ 350

Intangible assets, net

     180

Other non-current assets

     495
      

Total non-current assets

   $ 1,025
      

Accounts payable

   $ 1,476

Accrued liabilities

     742
      

Total current liabilities

   $ 2,218
      

Other non-current liabilities

   $ 1,519
      

Total non-current liabilities

   $ 1,519
      

 

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NOTE 7 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The components of other comprehensive income and total comprehensive income are shown below:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
   September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006  

Net income

   $ 29,910    $ 69,168     $ 73,830    $ 91,285  
                              

Other comprehensive income:

          

Translation adjustments, net of tax

     8,799      (3,996 )     18,472      9,483  

Cash flow hedges:

          

Net change in fair value of derivatives, net of tax

     0      (1,433 )     0      (7,705 )

Amounts realized in earnings during the period, net of tax

     0      385       0      7,758  
                              

Total cash flow hedges

     0      (1,048 )     0      53  
                              

Pension liability (net of tax of $697 for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and $3,367 for the year-to-date period ended September 30, 2007)

     1,054      0       5,449      0  
                              

Total other comprehensive income

     9,853      (5,044 )     23,921      9,536  
                              

Total comprehensive income

   $ 39,763    $ 64,124     $ 97,751    $ 100,821  
                              

Other comprehensive income is primarily comprised of translation adjustments related to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar and changes in the Company’s pension liability. In the first three quarters of 2006, other comprehensive income also included activity related to the Company’s cash flow hedges. There was a strengthening in the Canadian dollar during the third quarter and year-to-date periods of 2007 and during the year-to-date period ended October 1, 2006. Partially offsetting the 2006 year-to-date strengthening of the Canadian dollar was a $4.4 million loss, net of taxes of $2.5 million, related to the settlement of the Company’s hedge of certain net investment positions. This after-tax loss is included in the 2006 year-to-date translation adjustments component of other comprehensive income. At the end of the third quarter 2007, the Canadian exchange rate was $0.99 versus $1.07 at July 1, 2007 and $1.17 at December 31, 2006. At the end of the third quarter 2006, the Canadian exchange rate was $1.12 versus $1.12 at July 2, 2006 and $1.16 at January 1, 2006.

NOTE 8 CASH FLOWS

In order to maintain comparability between periods, intercompany cash flows have been eliminated from the appropriate cash flow lines in the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, intercompany cash flows included net cash payments of $0.4 million from Wendy’s to Cafe Express for intercompany trade payables and taxes. These payments have been eliminated as a cash outflow from continuing operations’ operating activities and as a cash inflow from discontinued operations’ operating activities, respectively.

During the nine month period ended October 1, 2006, intercompany cash flows included $960.0 million in net cash payments made by THI to Wendy’s for payment of an intercompany note from Wendy’s. The $960.0 million payment has been eliminated as a cash outflow from discontinued operations’ financing activities and as a cash inflow from continuing operations’ financing activities, respectively. Intercompany cash flows also included payments made by THI to Wendy’s totaling $25.6 million in intercompany interest and intercompany trade payables. These payments have been eliminated as a cash outflow from discontinued operations’ operating activities and as a cash inflow from continuing operations’ operating activities, respectively.

Intercompany cash flows for the nine month period ended October 1, 2006 also included net cash payments from Baja Fresh to Wendy’s for $0.4 million for intercompany trade payables. These payments have been eliminated as a cash inflow from continuing operations’ operating activities and as a cash outflow from discontinued operations’ operating activities, respectively. Additionally, during the nine-month period ended October 1, 2006, Cafe Express made net cash payments of $0.7 million to Wendy’s for intercompany trade payables. These payments have been eliminated as a cash inflow from continuing operations’ operating activities and as a cash outflow from discontinued operations’ operating activities, respectively.

 

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NOTE 9 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The table below presents amortizable intangible assets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:

 

(In thousands)

   September 30, 2007    December 31, 2006
  

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net

Carrying

Amount

  

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net

Carrying

Amount

Amortizable intangible assets:

               

Patents and trademarks

   $ 452    $ (452 )   $ 0    $ 452    $ (424 )   $ 28

Purchase options

     2,500      (2,112 )     388      7,500      (6,680 )     820

Other

     4,982      (2,198 )     2,784      4,956      (1,949 )     3,007
                                           
   $ 7,934    $ (4,762 )   $ 3,172    $ 12,908    $ (9,053 )   $ 3,855
                                           

The $5.0 million change in the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of purchase options reflects the expiration of an option to purchase properties in Utah.

Included in other above is $2.6 million and $2.9 million as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $2.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively, related to the use of the name and likeness of Dave Thomas, the late founder of Wendy’s.

Total intangibles amortization expense was $0.1 million and $0.7 million for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.8 million for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended October 1, 2006, respectively. The estimated annual intangibles amortization expense for the years 2008 through 2012 is less than $0.5 million.

Goodwill was $85,863 and $85,353 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The change in goodwill represents translation adjustments on Canadian dollar denominated goodwill.

NOTE 10 FIXED ASSET DISPOSITIONS AND IMPAIRMENTS

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ( “SFAS” ) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”, the Company has classified assets with a net book value of $11.6 million and $15.5 million as assets held for disposition on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The assets are sites that are no longer being depreciated and are classified as held for disposition based on the Company’s intention to sell these assets within the next 12 months. At September 30, 2007, the net book value of assets held for disposition includes $7.0 million of land and $4.6 million of buildings and leasehold improvements.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold seven sites previously classified as held for disposition, with a net book value of $3.3 million, for a net gain of $1.2 million, which is classified as other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. During the third quarter of 2007, four additional sites with a net book value of $2.7 million were designated as held for disposition. The Company recognized impairment charges of $1.0 million in the third quarter of 2007 related to these sites, which were recorded in other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

Additionally, during the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold 14 sites not classified as held for disposition with a net book value of $3.1 million. The Company recognized a gain of $2.8 million from these sales, of which $1.7 million is classified as other (income) expense, net and $1.0 million is classified in franchise revenues on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for sites sold to franchisees.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold 19 sites classified as held for disposition at December 31, 2006, with a net book value of $7.7 million, for a net gain of $2.8 million, of which $2.5 million is classified as other (income) expense, net and $0.3 million is classified in franchise revenues on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for sites sold to franchisees. Also during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold 26 sites not classified as held for disposition with a net book value of $5.5 million. The Company recognized a gain of $4.1 million from these sites, of which $1.8 million is classified as other (income) expense, net and $2.3 million is classified as franchise revenues on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. Year-to-date 2007, seven sites with a net book value of $4.2 million were designated as held for disposition. The Company recognized impairment charges of $1.3 million in the first nine months of 2007 related to Wendy’s sites expected to be sold which were recorded in other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

 

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During the third quarter and year-to-date of 2007, the Company incurred $1.4 million and $5.7 million, respectively, of store closing and asset impairment charges, compared to $5.5 million and $8.9 million in 2006 which are included in other (income) expense, net on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income. These amounts include the impairment charges referred to above as well as lease termination costs and other asset write-offs.

NOTE 11 RESTRUCTURING RESERVES

In 2006, the Company accrued restructuring costs related to its voluntary enhanced retirement plan and reduction in force and accrued professional fees and other costs as part of a cost reduction plan. Most of these costs were paid in 2006. Additional costs have also been recorded in 2007.

The table below presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending restructuring liabilities (included in accrued expenses – other) at January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, respectively:

 

(In thousands)

  

Enhanced

Retirement

   

Reduction

in Force

   

Professional

Fees

    Total  

Balance at January 1, 2007

   $ 18     $ 6,498     $ 141     $ 6,657  

Expensed during the period

     0       2,508       573       3,081  

Paid during the period

     0       (7,652 )     (673 )     (8,325 )

Adjustments

     (18 )     1,166       (31 )     1,117  
                                

Balance at September 30, 2007

   $ 0     $ 2,520     $ 10     $ 2,530  
                                

In addition to the restructuring liabilities recorded in 2006 and 2007, in the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007, the Company recognized pretax pension settlement charges of $1.0 million and $6.4 million, respectively (see also Note 14). In the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007, the Company also accrued severance and related benefit costs of $1.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, and year-to-date 2007 accrued professional fees of $0.6 million, primarily related to relocation costs and outplacement services. The adjustments in the table above primarily reflect the reclassification of certain severance liabilities from long-term to current liabilities. As of September 30, 2007, all amounts related to this cost reduction plan are classified as current liabilities.

The 2007 and 2006 restructuring costs are presented in the Restructuring and Special Committee related charges line on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

The Restructuring and Special Committee related charges line on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 also includes $13.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively, of primarily financial and legal advisory fees related to the activities of the Special Committee formed by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Special Committee was formed to investigate strategic options including, among other things, revisions to the Company’s strategic plan, changes to its capital structure, or a possible sale, merger or other business combination. No Special Committee costs were recorded in 2006.

NOTE 12 CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

In March 2007, 9.0 million common shares were repurchased under an accelerated share repurchase ( ASR ) transaction for an initial value of $282.5 million. The initial price paid as part of the ASR transaction was $31.33 per share plus certain other costs. The repurchased shares were also subject to a purchase price adjustment based upon the weighted average price during the period from the repurchase date until settlement, which occurred in May 2007. The price adjustment was $15.5 million and was paid by the Company. The ASR agreement included the option to settle the contract in cash or shares of the Company’s common stock and, accordingly, the contract was treated as an equity transaction. The total purchase price of $298.0 million was reflected in the treasury stock component of shareholders’ equity.

NOTE 13 GUARANTEES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS

The Company has guaranteed certain lease and debt payments primarily related to franchisees, amounting to $163.8 million for the continuing Wendy’s business. In the event of default by a franchise owner, the Company generally retains the right to acquire possession of the related restaurants. The Company is contingently liable for certain leases amounting to $20.4 million. These leases have been assigned to unrelated third parties, who have agreed to indemnify the Company against future liabilities arising under the leases. These leases expire on various dates through 2022. The Company is also the guarantor on $6.6 million in letters of credit with various parties; however, management does not expect any material loss to result from these instruments because it does not believe performance will be required. The length of the lease, loan and other arrangements guaranteed by the Company or for which the Company is contingently liable varies, but generally does not exceed 20 years.

 

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In addition to the guarantees described above, the Company is party to many agreements executed in the ordinary course of business that provide for indemnification of third parties under specified circumstances, such as lessors of real property leased by the Company, distributors, service providers for various types of services (including commercial banking, investment banking, tax, actuarial and other services), software licensors, marketing and advertising firms, securities underwriters and others. Generally, these agreements obligate the Company to indemnify the third parties only if certain events occur or claims are made, as these contingent events or claims are defined in each of these agreements. The Company believes that the resolution of any claims that might arise in the future, either individually or in the aggregate, would not materially affect the earnings or financial condition of the Company.

NOTE 14 RETIREMENT PLANS

The Company has two domestic defined benefit plans, the account balance defined benefit pension plan (the “ ABP Plan ”) and the Crew defined benefit plan (the “ Crew Plan ”), together referred to as the “ Plans ”, covering all eligible employees of the Company.

The Crew Plan discontinued employee participation and accruing additional employee benefits in 2001. In February 2006, the Company announced that it would freeze the ABP Plan as of December 31, 2006. Beginning January 1, 2007, no new participants entered the ABP Plan, although participant account balances continue to receive interest credits of approximately 6% in 2007 on existing account balances. Beginning January 1, 2007, Company benefits credited to ABP Plan participant accounts which were historically made based on a percentage of participant salary and years of service are no longer made. Freezing of the ABP Plan was accounted for as a curtailment in the first quarter of 2006 under SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits”, and during the first quarter 2006, the Company recorded a $0.1 million curtailment charge related to service cost unrecognized prior to freezing the ABP Plan. In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company decided to terminate the Plans. The Company has requested termination determination letters on the Plans from the IRS and has received approval of the termination by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Once approved by the IRS, the Company intends to distribute individual account balances or purchase annuities to settle the account balances. The Company makes contributions to the Plans in amounts sufficient, on an actuarial basis, to fund at a minimum, the Plans’ normal cost on a current basis, and to fund the actuarial liability for past service costs in accordance with Department of Treasury regulations. The Company does not expect to make contributions to its pension plans in 2007.

The Company had previously disclosed it expected to recognize settlement charges of $50 to $60 million when the Plans are terminated. Of this, $6.6 million in non-cash pension settlement charges has been recognized in 2007 (of which, $6.4 million was reflected in restructuring charges), which reflected approximately $17 million of cash distributions made to participants from the Plans during the nine month period ended September 30, 2007. These distributions reduced both Plan assets and the accumulated benefit obligation. Based upon updated information, the Company now expects to recognize future pretax settlement charges up to $35 million, including up to $10 million in cash contributions to fund the Plans’ obligations when the Plans are terminated.

Net periodic pension cost for the Plans for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006 consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
   September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

Service cost

   $ 0     $ 1,467     $ 0     $ 4,567  

Interest cost

     935       1,528       3,603       4,239  

Expected return on plan assets

     (847 )     (1,964 )     (3,335 )     (6,042 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     0       (119 )     0       (319 )

Amortization of net loss

     564       860       1,990       2,740  
                                

Net periodic pension cost

   $ 652     $ 1,772     $ 2,258     $ 5,185  
                                

 

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NOTE 15 REVENUES

Revenues consisted of the following:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended    Year-to-Date Ended
   September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006    September 30, 2007    October 1, 2006

Retail sales:

           

Sales from company operated restaurants

   $ 531,006    $ 530,404    $ 1,563,842    $ 1,553,847

Product sales to franchises

     23,802      26,277      72,222      74,040
                           
     554,808      556,681      1,636,064      1,627,887

Franchise revenues:

           

Rents and royalties

     74,698      72,844      213,861      211,072

Franchise fees

     646      533      1,681      1,555

Net gains on sales of properties to franchisees

     995      50      2,617      2,385
                           
     76,339      73,427      218,159      215,012
                           

Total revenues

   $ 631,147    $ 630,108    $ 1,854,223    $ 1,842,899
                           

NOTE 16 RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements”. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 creates consistency and comparability in fair value measurements among the many accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements but does not require any new fair value measurements. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of SFAS No. 115”. This statement allows entities to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized in earnings. The statement’s objective is to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently, without applying complex hedge accounting provisions. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 159.

NOTE 17 SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On November 7, 2007, the Company executed an amendment to the Tax Sharing Agreement with THI which will reduce the Company’s liability to THI by approximately $5 million.

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW

Wendy’s International, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “ Company” ) completed the spin-off of Tim Hortons Inc. (“ THI” ) on September 29, 2006, the sale of Baja Fresh on November 28, 2006 and the sale of Cafe Express on July 29, 2007. Accordingly, the after-tax operating results of THI, Baja Fresh and Cafe Express now appear in the income from discontinued operations line on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

Income from continuing operations improved 21.5% in the third quarter 2007, from $23.7 million in 2006 to $28.8 million in 2007. Year-to-date 2007 income from continuing operations improved 167.8%, from $27.1 million in 2006 to $72.6 million in 2007. The year over year improvements were driven by stronger operating income, which improved 93.1% in the third quarter 2007 over the third quarter 2006 and improved 251.7% year-to-date 2007 over 2006. Both 2007 and 2006 third quarter and year-to-date results were impacted by restructuring charges and 2007 results were impacted by costs associated with the Board of Director’s Special Committee which was formed to investigate strategic options for the Company (see “Management’s Outlook” section below). Without the restructuring and Special Committee related charges as shown on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, third quarter 2007 adjusted operating income was higher than 2006 by $38.5 million, or 135.2%, and year-to-date 2007 adjusted operating income was higher than 2006 by $93.4 million, or 134.4%. The Company uses adjusted operating income as an internal measure of operating performance. Management believes adjusted operating income provides a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of the business.

The improved operating income results from continuing operations for the third quarter 2007 were driven by higher company operated restaurant margins (see below), reduced general and administrative costs of $13.2 million, resulting primarily from the Company’s 2006 cost reduction efforts and lower insurance costs, and $3.5 million in lower depreciation reflecting reduced new store construction and asset dispositions. Company operated restaurant margins in the third quarter 2007 improved by 270 basis points over the third quarter 2006 primarily reflecting positive sales, including menu price increases tied to the Company’s market based pricing strategy, and labor efficiencies. Third quarter 2007 U.S. company operated restaurant margins improved by 330 basis points over third quarter 2006. The reported company operated restaurant margin basis point improvement would have been higher without the impact of rising commodity prices which negatively impacted U.S. company operated store margins 140 basis points in the third quarter 2007 compared to the third quarter 2006.

The improved operating income results from continuing operations year-to-date 2007 were driven primarily by the same factors described above for the third quarter improvements. Year-to-date 2007 company operated restaurant margins (see below) were higher than 2006 by 190 basis points, general and administrative costs were $18.7 million below 2006, resulting primarily from the Company’s 2006 cost reduction efforts and lower insurance costs, and $9.4 million in lower depreciation reflecting reduced new store construction and asset dispositions. Also impacting 2006 results were incremental advertising contributions of $25.0 million to the Wendy’s National Advertising Program (“ WNAP ”) that did not recur in 2007.

Other factors that impacted the comparability of results included 2007 gains on the sale of properties and from insurance proceeds totaling $5.1 million and $11.0 million in the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, compared to 2006 gains on the sale of properties of $0.8 million and $5.7 million in the quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Also, the 2007 results included $1.4 million and $5.7 million in store closure charges in the quarter and year-to-date, respectively, compared to 2006 store closure charges of $5.5 million and $8.8 million in the quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Third quarter 2007 results also reflected less favorable legal reserve settlements compared to 2006 of $2.9 million. In addition, operating income was $2.1 million and $6.0 million lower in the 2007 third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, because the Company’s 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI is no longer consolidated since the spin-off of THI in September 2006.

Average same-store sales results for U.S. company and franchised restaurants as a percentage change for the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 versus prior year are listed in the table below and show improvement in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007. One of the key indicators in the restaurant industry that management monitors to assess the health of the Company is average same-store sales. Franchisee operations are not included in the Company’s financial statements; however, franchisee sales result in royalties and rental income, which are included in the Company’s franchise revenues.

 

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     Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
   September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

U.S. company

   0.2 %   4.1 %   1.5 %   (0.0 )%

U.S. franchise

   1.3 %   3.9 %   1.8 %   (0.1 )%

A summary of systemwide restaurants is included on page 26.

The Company’s reported net income was $29.9 million for third quarter 2007 compared to $69.2 million for third quarter 2006. Year-to-date 2007, the Company’s net income was $73.8 million compared to $91.3 million in the first nine months of 2006. The 2007 reported net income declined because THI results were included in the Company’s 2006 results as part of income from discontinued operations but are not included in the Company’s 2007 results. The 2006 discontinued operations results also included after tax impairment charges of $5.5 million and $98.5 million for Baja Fresh in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, which are not included in the Company’s reported 2007 third quarter and year-to-date results.

Company Operated Restaurant Margins

The Company’s restaurant margins are computed as sales from company operated restaurants less cost of sales from company operated restaurants and company restaurant operating costs, divided by sales from company operated restaurants. Depreciation is not included in the calculation of company operated restaurant margins. Company operated restaurant margins improved to 12.4% in the quarter and 11.0% year-to-date 2007, compared to 9.7% in the quarter and 9.1% year-to-date in 2006, primarily reflecting positive sales, including menu price increases tied to the Company’s market based pricing strategy, and labor efficiencies.

Sales

The Company’s sales are comprised of sales from company operated restaurants, sales of kids’ meal toys to franchisees and sales of sandwich buns from the Company’s bun baking facilities to franchisees. Franchisee sales are not included in reported sales. Of total sales, sales from U.S. company operated restaurants comprised approximately 85% in each period presented, while the remainder primarily represented sales from Canadian company operated restaurants.

The $1.9 million decrease in sales in 2007 versus 2006 for the quarter is attributable to a decline in the number of company operated restaurants, partially offset by higher sales in Canada, a stronger Canadian dollar and the impact of additional sales from the Company’s new breakfast program. The $8.2 million increase in year-to-date sales in 2007 versus 2006 reflects the impact of positive average same-store sales at company operated U.S. and Canada restaurants, including the impact of the Company’s market-based pricing approach and the impact of additional sales from the Company’s new breakfast program, and a stronger Canadian dollar partially offset by 42 fewer company operated restaurants, a 2.9% decline. Total company operated restaurants open at September 30, 2007 were 1,431 versus 1,473 at October 1, 2006.

The following table presents information for U.S. company operated restaurants for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006, respectively:

 

    Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
  September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

U.S. average same-store sales increase (decrease)

  0.2 %   4.1 %   1.5 %   (0.0 )%

U.S. company operated restaurants open

  1,288     1,320     1,288     1,320  

Franchise Revenues

The Company’s franchise revenues include royalty income from franchisees, rental income from properties leased to franchisees, gains from the sales of properties to franchisees and franchise fees. Franchise fees cover charges for various costs and expenses related to establishing a franchisee’s business.

The $2.9 million increase in franchise revenues in 2007 versus 2006 for the quarter includes the impact of positive franchisee average same-store sales, higher gains on the sales of stores to franchisees of $0.9 million and lower reserve allowances. Partially offsetting these improvements, franchise rent revenues related to the Company’s 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI declined $1.6 million from the third quarter 2006. This 50/50 joint venture is no longer consolidated since the spin-off of THI. As a result, rental income received by the joint venture is no longer reflected on the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and the Company’s 50% share of the joint venture’s income is recorded under the equity method of accounting in other (income) expense, net.

 

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The $3.1 million increase in year-to-date franchise revenues in 2007 versus 2006 primarily reflects higher royalties due to higher U.S. franchisee average same-store sales more than offsetting a decline in the number of franchise restaurants. Higher year-to-date royalties more than offset the year-to-date $4.2 million rent revenue decline related to the Company’s 50/50 joint venture with THI described above. Total franchise restaurants open at September 30, 2007 were 5,202 versus 5,268 at October 1, 2006.

The following table presents information for U.S. franchised restaurants for the quarters and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007 and October 1, 2006, respectively:

 

    Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
  September 30, 2007     October 30, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

U.S. average same-store sales increase (decrease)

  1.3 %   3.9 %   1.8 %   (0.1 )%

U.S. franchise restaurants open

  4,644     4,692     4,644     4,692  

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes food, paper and labor costs for company operated restaurants, and the cost of goods sold to franchisees related to kids’ meal toys and from the Company’s bun baking facilities. Of the total cost of sales, U.S. company operated restaurant cost of sales comprised approximately 83% in each period presented, while the remainder primarily represented Canadian company operated restaurants. Overall, cost of sales as a percent of sales improved 170 basis points in the third quarter and 180 basis points year-to-date 2007, from 62.1% in 2006 to 60.4% in 2007 in the quarter and from 62.7% to 60.9% year-to-date 2006 and 2007, respectively.

U.S. company operated restaurant 2007 cost of sales as a percent of U.S. company operated restaurant gross sales were 58.8% for the quarter and 59.2% year-to-date, compared with 60.6% for the third quarter and 61.2% year-to-date in 2006. U.S. food and paper costs in 2007 were 32.2% for the quarter and 32.2% for the year-to-date of U.S. company operated restaurant gross sales, compared with 33.3% and 33.6% in 2006. The improvement in 2007 versus 2006 primarily reflects menu price increases and an improved mix of products sold, partially offset by higher commodity costs. Rising commodity prices negatively impacted U.S. company operated store margins 140 basis points in the third quarter 2007 compared to the third quarter 2006.

U.S. 2007 labor costs were 26.6% and 27.0% in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, of U.S. company operated restaurant gross sales, compared with 27.3% and 27.6% in 2006. The improvement in 2007 versus 2006 primarily reflects menu price increases and labor cost-saving initiatives, offset by an average wage increase of approximately 4%.

Company Restaurant Operating Costs

Company restaurant operating costs include costs necessary to manage and operate company restaurants, except cost of sales and depreciation. Of the total company restaurant operating costs, U.S. company stores comprised approximately 90% in each period presented, while the remainder primarily represented Canadian company stores. As a percent of sales, company restaurant operating costs decreased to 26.8% and 27.7% in third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively, from 27.9% and 27.8% in 2006. The third quarter 2007 decrease primarily reflects lower expenses as a result of the Company’s 2006 cost savings initiatives and other lower store operating expenses, including lower utility, bonus and insurance costs. The 2007 year-to-date improvement as a percent of sales over 2006 also reflects lower expenses as a result of the Company’s 2006 cost savings initiatives and better leverage of these costs on higher sales.

In addition to the above, prior to the spin-off of THI, the Company consolidated its 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, at the time of the THI spin-off the Company began accounting for this investment under the equity method of accounting. As a result of this change in accounting, 2007 third quarter and year-to-date company restaurant operating costs included rental expense paid to the joint venture by the Company which prior to the spin-off of THI eliminated in consolidation. This resulted in higher third quarter and year-to-date 2007 rent expense in company restaurant operating costs of $1.7 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

Operating Costs

Operating costs include rent expense and other costs related to properties subleased to franchisees, other franchisee related costs and costs related to operating and maintaining the Company’s bun baking facilities.

The $2.0 million decrease in operating costs in the third quarter 2007 compared to the third quarter 2006 reflects the absence of $2.0 million in rent expense of the 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI. The 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture is no longer consolidated since the spin-off of THI. The $27.4 million year-to-date 2007 decline in operating expense compared to 2006 includes the absence of rents from the 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI that is no longer consolidated and $25.0 million in 2006 special advertising expense that did not recur in 2007. These advertising amounts were in the form of contributions to WNAP in the first half of 2006.

 

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Depreciation of Property and Equipment

The reduction in depreciation of property and equipment in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 versus 2006 of $3.5 million and $9.4 million, respectively, reflects lower depreciation related to reduced new store construction, asset dispositions and the absence of depreciation related to the 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI, which is no longer consolidated since the spin-off of THI.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses decreased $13.2 million, or 21.1%, to $49.3 million in the third quarter 2007 versus 2006 and decreased $18.7 million, or 11.0%, versus 2006 year-to-date. As a percent of revenues, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter 2007 were lower compared to prior year at 7.8% versus 9.9% for the third quarter 2006 and 8.2% in 2007 versus 9.2% in 2006 for the year-to-date. The dollar and percent decrease in the third quarter 2007 primarily reflects lower salaries and benefits of $3.3 million as the result of the elimination of positions in 2006, lower insurance costs reflecting better claim experience and supplemental directors and officers coverage incurred in 2006 related to the spin-off of THI and generally lower costs. The dollar and percent decrease year-to-date 2007 primarily reflects the factors described for the third quarter comparison, partially offset by higher marketing expenses for new products and breakfast of $3.3 million and higher stock compensation expense of $2.7 million.

Restructuring and Special Committee Related Charges

For the 2006 third quarter and year-to-date, the Company accrued restructuring costs of $2.0 million and $31.0 million, respectively, related to its voluntary enhanced retirement plan, reduction in force and professional fees as part of a cost reduction plan. In addition to the restructuring liabilities accrued in 2006, in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 the Company recorded $2.4 million and $9.4 million, respectively, in restructuring charges. The 2007 restructuring charge amounts were primarily comprised of $1.0 million and $6.4 million in non-cash pension settlement charges recorded in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively. Based on pension settlement charges recorded through the third quarter 2007, current interest rates and current estimates, the Company expects to recognize additional future pretax settlement charges of up to $35.0 million, including up to $10.0 million in cash contributions to settle the pension plans’ obligations. The timing of future pension settlement charges depends primarily on obtaining regulatory approval to terminate the Company’s pension plans.

The 2007 third quarter and year-to-date amounts reflected in this line also include $13.4 million and $18.1 million, respectively, in primarily financial and legal advisory fees related to the activities of the Special Committee formed by the Company’s Board of Directors (see Management’s Outlook section for a further description). No Special Committee costs were recorded in 2006.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net includes amounts that are not directly related to the Company’s primary business. These include expenses related to store closures, sales of properties to non-franchisees, joint venture income and reserves for legal issues.

The following is a summary of other (income) expense, net for the periods indicated:

 

(In thousands)

   Quarter Ended     Year-to-Date Ended  
   September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006     September 30, 2007     October 1, 2006  

Store closure costs

   $ 1,409     $ 5,481     $ 5,724     $ 8,884  

Equity investment income

     (3,089 )     (176 )     (8,144 )     (545 )

Rent revenue

     0       (4,885 )     0       (14,020 )

Net gain from the sale of property

     (2,856 )     (829 )     (4,245 )     (5,712 )

Gain from insurance proceeds

     (2,260 )     0       (6,786 )     0  

Other, net

     3,932       (1,207 )     3,894       3,877  
                                

Other (income) expense, net

   $ (2,864 )   $ (1,616 )   $ (9,557 )   $ (7,516 )
                                

Store closure costs

Store closure costs included above for the quarter and year-to-date 2007 and 2006 include asset impairments and write-offs and lease termination costs associated with store closures.

Equity investment income

Equity investment income in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 primarily includes equity income recorded from the Company’s 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture with THI. Prior to the spin-off of THI on September 29, 2006, this joint venture was consolidated. Only the Company’s 50% share of the joint venture income is included in other (income) expense, net, under the equity method of accounting after the spin-off of THI.

 

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Rent revenue

Rent revenue in the third quarter and year-to-date 2006 represents rent paid by THI to the 50/50 Canadian restaurant real estate joint venture which was consolidated and included in continuing operations prior to the spin-off of THI in September 2006. After the spin-off of THI, this joint venture is no longer consolidated in the Company’s financial statements and, as a result, the rent revenues are no longer recognized.

Net gain from property dispositions

Third quarter 2007 net gains from the sale of property exceeded third quarter 2006 by $2.0 million while year-to-date 2006 net gains from the sale of property were higher than 2007 due primarily to the Company’s sale in the first quarter 2006 of properties previously leased to franchisees.

Other

The primary differences for the other increase in net expense of $5.1 million in the third quarter 2007 compared to the third quarter 2006 are $2.9 million due to less favorable legal reserve settlements which occurred in the third quarter 2006 which did not recur in 2007, $0.9 million due to a satisfaction of a loan guarantee for a franchisee terminated by the Company in 2007 and higher 2007 asset write-offs.

Interest Expense

The increase of $1.5 million and $6.7 million in interest expense in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 versus 2006, respectively, primarily reflects interest on debt that was incurred in the fourth quarter 2006 through the sale of a portion of the Company’s 2007 royalty stream. (For further information on this transaction, see the Liquidity and Capital Resources section below.)

Interest Income

The decrease of $11.7 million and $16.8 million in interest income in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 versus 2006, respectively, primarily reflects a reduction in cash balances as a result of the completion of a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer in the fourth quarter of 2006, using approximately $800 million of cash, and the completion of an accelerated share repurchase using approximately $280 million of cash in the first quarter 2007.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 34.0%, and 35.7% for the quarter and year-to-date periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 26.5% and 31.2% for the respective comparative periods ended October 1, 2006. Income tax expense in the third quarter 2007 and the third quarter 2006 was impacted by favorable Internal Revenue Service exam settlements and several individually immaterial discrete items that impacted the effective rate. The year-to-date 2006 tax expense was also impacted by several discrete items which had a proportionately larger percentage impact due to the significantly lower income from continuing operations before income taxes.

Income from Discontinued Operations

The Company completed its spin-off of THI on September 29, 2006 and completed its sale of Baja Fresh and Cafe Express on November 28, 2006 and July 29, 2007, respectively. Accordingly, the after-tax operating results of THI, Baja Fresh and Cafe Express now appear in the “Discontinued Operations” line on the income statement. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $1.1 million and $45.5 million for third quarters of 2007 and 2006, respectively. Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $1.3 million and $64.2 million for year-to-date 2007 and 2006, respectively. The decline from 2006 income from discontinued operations was because THI results were included in the 2006 results but are not included in the Company’s 2007 results. The 2006 income from discontinued operations also included after tax impairment charges of $5.5 million and $98.5 million for Baja Fresh in the third quarter and year-to-date, respectively, which are not included in the Company’s reported 2007 third quarter and year-to-date results.

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income was higher than net income by $9.9 million and $23.9 million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2007, respectively. Comprehensive income was lower than net income by $5.0 million for the third quarter 2006 and higher by $9.5 million for year-to-date 2006. The increases in comprehensive income in the third quarter and year-to-date 2007 were comprised of $8.8 million and $18.5 million, respectively, in favorable Canadian foreign translation adjustments, and $1.1 million and $5.4 million, respectively, related to the Company’s pension liability. The third quarter 2006 decrease in comprehensive income included a $4.0 million translation adjustment loss and a $1.0 million loss related to the Company’s cash flow hedges. As of the end of the third quarter 2006, comprehensive income included a $9.5 million translation adjustment gain. At the end of the third quarter 2007, the Canadian exchange rate was $0.99 versus $1.17 at December 31, 2006. At the end of the third quarter 2006, the Canadian exchange rate was $1.12 versus $1.16 at January 1, 2006.

 

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FINANCIAL POSITION

Overview

The Company generates considerable cash flow each year from operating income excluding depreciation and amortization. The sale of properties has also provided significant cash to continuing operations over the last three years. The main recurring requirement for cash is capital expenditures. The Company generally generates cash from continuing operating activities in excess of capital expenditure spending.

Share repurchases are part of the ongoing financial strategy utilized by the Company, and normally these repurchases come from cash on hand and the cash provided by option exercises. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company also used a portion of the funds received from THI after its initial public offering (“ IPO ”) to repurchase 9.0 million shares for a total purchase price of $298.0 million, including a $15.5 million price adjustment in the second quarter of 2007 (see Note 12 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements). In the short term, the Company expects cash provided by stock option exercises to decrease as the Company did not grant stock options over the prior two years. The Company granted 0.9 million stock options in the second quarter of 2007 under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ 2007 Plan ”) that was approved at its shareholders’ meeting on April 26, 2007. Approximately 2 million options were outstanding as of September 30, 2007.

In February 2007, the Company announced its intention to increase its annual cash dividend from $0.34 per share to $0.50 per share beginning with the quarterly dividend paid in May 2007. Since then the Company’s Board of Directors has approved a $0.125 quarterly dividend in the second and third quarter and most recently approved a $0.125 quarterly dividend to be paid to shareholders of record on November 5, 2007.

The Company currently has a $500 million shelf registration and $200 million line of credit, both of which were unused as of September 30, 2007.

The Company maintains a strong balance sheet. Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s rate the Company’s senior unsecured debt BB- and Ba3, respectively. Standard & Poor’s has stated that the Company’s debt ratings remain on credit watch with negative implications. Moody’s has stated that it has placed the Company’s debt ratings on review for possible downgrade (see discussion under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below).

Comparative Cash Flows

Cash flows from operations provided by continuing operations were $212.3 million compared to $124.4 million for the prior year. The 2007 increase was primarily due to higher income from continuing operations in 2007 versus 2006 and $4.2 million net tax refunds year-to-date 2007 versus tax payments in 2006, partially offset by decreases in working capital related to the timing of receipts and disbursements.

Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations totaled $62.9 million year-to-date 2007 compared to $40.5 million in 2006. The $22.4 million increase in net cash used in 2007 reflects a decrease in proceeds from property dispositions of $37.3 million. Partially offsetting the decrease in property disposition proceeds was a $2.0 million decrease in capital expenditures in 2007 due to lower Wendy’s store development, partially offset by a $12.4 million purchase of 18 properties pursuant to a previously granted put option that was exercised by the landlord on properties previously leased by the Company. Other differences between years include the receipt in 2007 of $8.4 million of insurance proceeds related to property losses incurred as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Wilma and lower 2007 expenditures for franchisee acquisitions.

Financing activities from continuing operations used cash of $371.2 million year-to-date 2007 compared to $135.3 million in 2006. The $235.9 million increase in 2007 net financing outflows includes $112.6 million less in 2007 proceeds from employee stock option exercises, $77.5 million in higher 2007 share repurchases due to the repurchase of 9.0 million shares of the Company’s common stock in 2007 compared to 3.75 million shares repurchased in 2006, a 2007 $22.6 million decrease in excess stock-based compensation tax benefits compared to 2006 due to lower 2007 stock option exercises and $54.7 million in 2007 debt repayments compared to net debt repayments, net of debt borrowings, of $1.8 million in 2006. These resulting 2007 net higher outflows were partially offset by lower 2007 dividend payments of $29.7 million. The Company adjusted its annual dividend rate subsequent to the spin-off of THI to reflect the reduced earnings of the Company excluding THI.

Discontinued operations cash flows for operating, investing and financing activities included THI, Baja Fresh and Cafe Express for 2006, while for 2007, discontinued operations cash flows include only Cafe Express. Cash provided by financing activities from discontinued operations of $796.8 million in year-to-date 2006 included proceeds of $716.9 million related to the THI IPO and THI proceeds from the issuance of debt. Partially offsetting these inflows was THI’s repayment of its $200 million Canadian bridge facility in May 2006.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash flow from operations, cash and investments on hand, possible asset sales, cash available through existing revolving credit agreements and the possible issuance of securities should provide for the Company’s projected short-term and long-term cash requirements, including cash for capital expenditures, authorized share repurchases, dividends, repayment of debt, future acquisitions of restaurants from franchisees and other corporate purposes. As of September 30, 2007, the Company had $240.2 million of cash on its balance sheet.

In the first quarter of 2007, the Company completed an accelerated share repurchase (“ ASR ”) of 9.0 million shares for $282.5 million at an initial price of $31.33 plus certain other costs. The repurchased shares were also subject to a purchase price adjustment based upon the weighted average price during the period from the repurchase date until settlement, which occurred in May 2007. The price adjustment increased the per share cost at settlement date to $33.05, resulting in an additional cost of $15.5 million. Since 1998 and through September 30, 2007, the Company has repurchased 77.6 million common and other shares exchangeable into common shares for $2.4 billion.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company entered into an agreement to sell approximately 40% of the Company’s U.S. royalty stream for a 14-month period to a third party in return for a cash payment in 2006 of $94.0 million. Royalties subject to the agreement relate to royalties payable to a subsidiary of the Company for both company operated and franchised stores. The cash received in 2006 was classified as debt and as of September 30, 2007, the recorded debt was $42.2 million. This recorded debt amount is expected to be repaid through May 2008 as royalties are received. The agreement related to this transaction will conclude in May 2008, unless terminated earlier by agreement of the parties.

In February 2007, the Company announced that based on its strong cash position and strategic direction, it intended to increase its annual common stock dividend by 47%, from the $0.34 rate established in the fourth quarter of 2006 to $0.50, beginning with the May 2007 payment. The $0.50 annual dividend was established with an intended dividend yield of 1.4% to 1.6%. Prior to the spin-off of THI in the third quarter of 2006, the Company’s annual dividend rate was $0.68. The Company adjusted its annual dividend rate subsequent to the spin-off of THI to reflect the reduced earnings of the Company excluding THI.

In 2006 and 2005, the Company issued only restricted stock shares, restricted stock units and performance shares (together “ restricted shares ”) under its existing equity plans. The issuance of restricted shares combined with significant option exercises over the last two years have reduced “overhang” (all approved but unexercised options and restricted shares divided by shares outstanding plus all approved but unexercised options and restricted shares). The Company obtained shareholder approval for the 2007 Plan at its shareholders’ meeting on April 26, 2007. The 2007 Plan provides for equity compensation awards in the form of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares, performance units and share awards (collectively, “ Awards ”) to eligible employees and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The Company began using the 2007 Plan to issue annual stock option grants and long-term performance unit awards in 2007. The 2007 Plan authorizes up to 6 million common shares for grants of Awards. The common shares offered under the 2007 Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares or any combination thereof. The Company expects that approximately 50% of the value of equity awards made in 2007 and subsequent years will be comprised of stock options, with the remaining 50% of the value comprised of performance awards.

In 2003, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ SEC ”) to issue up to $500 million of securities. As of September 30, 2007, the Company was in compliance with its covenants under its $200 million revolving credit facility and the limits of its Senior Notes and debentures. As of September 30, 2007, no amounts under the $200 million credit facility were drawn and all of the $500 million of securities available under the above-mentioned Form S-3 filing remained unused.

Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s rate the Company’s senior unsecured debt as BB- and Ba3, respectively. The ratings were downgraded in the second quarter of 2007 and are considered below investment grade. Following the Company’s announcement on June 18, 2007 that the Special Committee of its Board of Directors (see “Formation of Special Committee” below) had decided to explore a possible sale of the Company and is evaluating a possible securitization financing that could be used by a potential acquirer or in a recapitalization of the Company, Standard & Poor’s reduced its rating and issued a statement that the Company’s debt ratings remained on credit watch with negative implications. Moody’s also reduced its rating and issued a statement that it had placed the Company’s debt ratings on review for possible downgrade. As a result of the lower debt ratings, the Company could incur an increase in borrowing costs if it were to enter into new borrowing arrangements and can no longer access the capital markets through its commercial paper program. If the ratings should continue to decline, it is possible that the Company would not be able to borrow on acceptable terms. Factors that could be significant to the determination of the Company’s credit ratings include, among other things, sales and cost trends, the Company’s cash position, cash flow, capital expenditures and stability of earnings. The Company does not have significant term-debt maturities until 2011. The Company believes it will be able to pay or refinance its debt obligations as they become due based on its financial condition and sources of cash described above.

 

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The Company expects that approximately $14.1 million of its unrecognized tax benefits will be settled within one year and that approximately $7.6 million of its unrecognized tax benefits will be settled in periods later than one year from September 30, 2007.

MANAGEMENT’S OUTLOOK

Comprehensive Plan to Focus on the Wendy’s Brand

In October 2006, the Company announced a new plan to drive restaurant-level economic performance focused on product innovation, targeted marketing and operations excellence. Components include:

 

   

Revitalize Wendy’s Core Brand —The Company will re-focus on its brand essence, “Quality Made Fresh,” centered on Wendy’s core strength, its hamburger business.

 

   

Streamline and improve operations —Includes a new restaurant services group to improve system-wide restaurant operations performance, while driving improved store profits and operating margins.

 

   

Reclaim Innovation Leadership— Development of new products that reinforce Wendy’s “Quality Made Fresh” brand essence and drive new consumers to its restaurants. The Company believes its new product pipeline is now robust.

 

   

Investing approximately $60 million per year over the next five years into the upgrade and renovation of its company-operated restaurants.

 

   

Strengthen Franchisee Commitment —Providing up to $25 million per year of incentives to franchisees for reinvestments in their restaurants over the next five years, and require franchisees to meet store remodel standards. The Company anticipates spending significantly less than $25 million in 2007.

 

   

The Company also intends to sell up to approximately 60 of its company operated restaurants to franchisees in 2007 and up to 300 to 400 beginning in 2008, while improving store level profitability first.

 

   

Capture New Opportunities— Seeking to drive growth beyond its existing business. The Company is expanding breakfast and is following a disciplined process for product development and operations, as well as analyzing consumer feedback. With the QSR breakfast market estimated at $30 billion, breakfast is a priority for the Company that could generate significant long-term sales and profits. Also, the Company believes it has considerable opportunity to expand in the U.S. over the long-term and is making infrastructure investments to grow its international business. The Company will continue to moderate its short-term North American development until restaurant revenues and operating cash flows improve.

 

   

Embrace a Performance-Driven Culture— The Company is executing a redesigned incentive compensation plan to drive future performance to better reward individual employee performance and to better align compensation with business performance in the short and longer term.

 

   

The Company is also prioritizing its strong culture based on the values established by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas.

As part of its comprehensive plan, the Company recently announced specific initiatives which focus on driving growth, creating efficiencies and improving returns. These initiatives include:

 

   

Core Hamburger— Continuing to improve the Company’s premium hamburger market share by increasing consumer appeal and building transactions. Build on the Company’s core strength with distinctive national advertising, by leveraging the success of the Baconator and indulgent sandwiches and by emphasizing the brand’s unique competitive advantage of “fresh, never frozen” beef.

 

   

Value Menu proposition —Introducing an updated and effective value strategy to capture a growing share of the critical 18-34 year-old customer.

 

   

Beverage Plan— Establishing beverages as a “destination,” as well as a meal accompaniment. There are plans to expand several beverage programs.

 

   

Late Night / Snacking —Re-energizing the Company’s Late Night business and capturing afternoon and evening snack opportunities. Introducing innovative products that will appeal to frequent users of “snack” items.

 

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Breakfast— Continuing to leverage the Company’s brand and optimize its facilities by offering a new day-part to consumers who exhibit a demand for a better, high quality breakfast. This component meets consumer needs in the fast-growing breakfast market and is focused on improving store margins.

 

   

Customer Service —Introducing a “total customer feedback system” for improved customer service.

 

   

Reinvestment —Re-imaging restaurants by using a systematic capital reinvestment process and a disciplined approach. Reinvesting is critical to meeting consumer needs and driving long-term sales improvement.

 

   

People Quality —Elevating the customer experience by improving the hiring and retention of the Company’s employees while reducing turnover, improving training and generating savings at the store level.

 

   

Re-franchising —Improving the overall health of the Company’s system by re-franchising, as well as acquiring and re-imaging franchise restaurants with potential for future re-franchising.

 

   

Store Margins —Focusing on food, labor, paper, general and administrative and indirect costs to achieve store margin objectives.

Authorization of up to 35.4 million shares for repurchase

In October 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program of up to 35.4 million shares to be implemented over the next 18 to 24 months. The Company utilized the majority of this authorization by conducting a modified “Dutch Auction” tender offer under which in the fourth quarter of 2006 it purchased 22.4 million common shares at a purchase price per share of $35.75. The Company purchased the shares tendered in the offer using existing cash on its balance sheet. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company purchased 9.0 million common shares in an ASR transaction at a final price of $33.05 per share plus certain other costs. As a result, as of September 30, 2007, 4.0 million shares remained under the Board of Directors’ share repurchase authorization.

2007 Guidance

In June 2007, the Company announced its revised 2007 outlook of $295 to $315 million in continuing income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“ EBITDA ”) based on operating income of $186 million to $206 million and depreciation and amortization of $109 million. The outlook excludes expenses related to the Board’s Special Committee activities (see below), pension settlement costs and any potential restructuring charges. The primary reasons for the revised outlook are lower than planned sales and higher than expected commodity costs. EBITDA is used by management as a performance measure for benchmarking against its peers and competitors. The Company believes EBITDA is a useful measure because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in the restaurant industry. The Company’s 2007 projected earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.09 to $1.23 reflects the impact of the 9.0 million shares repurchased in the first quarter of 2007. In October 2007 the Company reaffirmed its June 2007 guidance, with expectations that full year 2007 results will be near the higher end of the June 2007 earnings guidance range, excluding Special Committee and restructuring charges.

New restaurant development will continue to be an important opportunity for the Company. The Company intends to grow responsibly, focusing on the markets with the best potential for sales and return on investment. A total of 122 new restaurants were opened in 2006. Current plans call for a total of 80 to 100 new company and franchise restaurant units to open in 2007. The primary focus will be on core operations of Wendy’s in North America, with the majority of units being standard sites.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

The stock ownership guidelines were revised by the Compensation Committee in April 2007, and call for officers to hold Company stock, in-the-money vested stock options and other vested equity awards in the following amounts:

 

Position

   Multiple of Annual Base Salary

Chief Executive Officer

   5X

Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice Presidents

   3X

Other Officers

   1X

Formation of Special Committee

In April 2007, the Company announced that its Board of Directors, acting unanimously, had formed a Special Committee of independent directors to investigate strategic options for Wendy’s. These options, among other things, included revisions to the Company’s strategic plan, changes to its capital structure, or a possible sale, merger or other business combination. In June 2007, the Company announced that the Special Committee had decided to explore a more thorough examination of a possible sale of the Company and that the Special Committee was also evaluating a possible securitization financing. There is no specific timeframe to complete the review and there is no assurance that the process will result in any changes to the Company’s current plans. Certain alternatives could affect the Company’s 2007 guidance.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has no “off-balance sheet” arrangements as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 as that term is described by the SEC, other than those described in Note 13 to the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

MARKET RISK

The Company’s exposure to various market risks remains substantially the same as reported as of December 31, 2006. The Company’s disclosures about market risk are incorporated herein by reference from pages 36 through 38 of the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 1, 2007.

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SYSTEMWIDE RESTAURANTS

 

     As of
September 30, 2007
   As of
July 1, 2007
   Increase/
(Decrease)
From Prior
Quarter
    As of
October 1, 2006
   Increase/
(Decrease)
From Prior
Year
 

Wendy’s

             

U.S

             

Company

   1,288    1,297    (9 )   1,320    (32 )

Franchise

   4,644    4,661    (17 )   4,692    (48 )
                           
   5,932    5,958    (26 )   6,012    (80 )
                           

Canada

             

Company

   141    145    (4 )   148    (7 )

Franchise

   235    231    4     231    4  
                           
   376    376    0     379    (3 )
                           

Other

             

International

             

Company

   2    2    0     5    (3 )

Franchise

   323    325    (2 )   345    (22 )
                           
   325    327    (2 )   350    (25 )
                           

Total Wendy’s

             

Company

   1,431    1,444    (13 )   1,473    (42 )

Franchise

   5,202    5,217    (15 )   5,268    (66 )
                           
   6,633    6,661    (28 )   6,741    (108 )
                           

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 “Fair Value Measurements”. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 creates consistency and comparability in fair value measurements among the many accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements but does not require any new fair value measurements. This Statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of SFAS No. 115”. This statement allows entities to measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value, with changes in the fair value recognized in earnings. The statement’s objective is to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently, without applying complex hedge accounting provisions. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 159.

 

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Certain information contained in this Form 10-Q, particularly information regarding future economic performance and finances, plans and objectives of management, is forward looking. In some cases, information regarding certain important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such forward-looking statement appears together with such statement. In addition, the following factors, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect the Company’s actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. These factors include: competition within the quick-service restaurant industry, which remains extremely intense, both domestically and internationally, with many competitors pursuing heavy price discounting; changes in economic conditions; changes in consumer perceptions of food safety; harsh weather, particularly in the first and fourth quarters; changes in consumer tastes; labor and benefit costs; legal claims; risk inherent to international development (including currency fluctuations); the continued ability of the Company and its franchisees to obtain suitable locations and financing for new restaurant development; governmental initiatives such as minimum wage rates, taxes and possible franchise legislation; changes in applicable accounting rules; the ability of the Company to successfully complete transactions designed to improve its return on investment; or other factors set forth in Exhibit 99 attached hereto.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

This information is incorporated by reference from the section titled “Market Risk” on page 26 of this Form 10-Q.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) The Company, under the supervision, and with the participation, of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as contemplated by Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this report, that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

(b) No change was made in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. In addition to the other information set forth in this report, including information under the heading “Formation of Special Committee” in Part I, Item 2 above, the reader should carefully consider the factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect its business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

There were no repurchases of common stock in the third quarter of 2007. In March 2007, 9.0 million common shares were repurchased under an accelerated share repurchase (“ ASR ”) transaction for an initial value of $282.5 million subject to a future contingent-purchase price adjustment based upon the weighted average price during the period from the repurchase date until settlement, which occurred in May 2007. The price adjustment increased the per share cost at settlement date to $33.05, resulting in an additional cost of $15.5 million.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Index to Exhibits on Page 29.

 

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SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

  

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Registrant)

Date: November 9, 2007   

/s/ Kerrii B. Anderson

   Kerrii B. Anderson
   Chief Executive Officer and President
Date: November 9, 2007   

/s/ Joseph J. Fitzsimmons

   Joseph J. Fitzsimmons
   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Date: November 9, 2007   

/s/ Brendan P. Foley, Jr.

   Brendan P. Foley, Jr.
   Senior Vice President, General Controller and Assistant Secretary

 

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WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Description

10(a)

  Amended and Restated Wendy’s International, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan

10(b)

  Amended and Restated Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 2

10(c)

  Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 3

10(d)

  First Amendment to the Wendy’s International, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan

10(e)

  Amended and Restated Sample Performance Share Award Agreement (for March 17, 2006 award)

10(f)

  Amended and Restated Sample Stock Unit Award Agreement (for February 1, 2007 award)

10(g)

  Amended and Restated Sample Formula Restricted Unit Award Agreement (for May 1, 2007 award)

31(a)

  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31(b)

  Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer

32(a)

  Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer

32(b)

  Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

99

  Safe Harbor Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to instruments with respect to long-term debt for which securities authorized under each such instrument do not exceed ten percent of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. Copies of these instruments will be furnished to the Commission upon request.

 

29

Exhibit 10(a)

Wendy’s International, Inc.

Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan

I. Introduction and Purpose

Section 1.1 Statement of Purpose . The primary purposes of the Plan are to (a) provide certain key employees and outside directors of Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and its participating subsidiaries with recurrent opportunities to defer receipt of all or a portion of their base compensation and certain incentive awards before they are earned and to nominally invest such amounts in certain mutual funds and in the Company’s common stock on a tax-deferred basis as a means of satisfying share ownership guidelines, thereby aligning more closely key employee and director compensation with the interests of the Company and its shareholders and (b) provide for a more competitive pay program to attract and retain key employee and director talent.

Section 1.2 Top Hat Plan . The Company intends that the Plan constitute an unfunded “top hat” plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a select group of management or highly compensated employees, within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.

II. Definitions

Account means the notional account established and maintained by the Plan on behalf of each Participant to record such Participant’s interest under the Plan.

Account Balance shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

Adjustment shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

Affiliate shall have the meaning specified in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

Annual Incentive Award means, with respect to an Eligible Individual, any incentive award that may become payable to such Eligible Individual pursuant to any annual incentive compensation plan of the Company or a Participating Employer, less any applicable withholding taxes and any reductions to such incentive compensation for contributions under any tax-qualified retirement plan or any welfare plan or program sponsored by the Company or a Participating Employer.

Base Compensation means (a) in respect of an Eligible Individual who is a Covered Employee, such Eligible Individual’s regular annual base salary, less any applicable withholding taxes and any reductions to base salary for contributions under any tax-qualified retirement plan or any welfare plan or program sponsored by the Company or a Participating Employer and (b) in respect of an Eligible Individual who is an Outside Director, such Eligible Individual’s annual retainer and meeting fees.


Beneficiary has the meaning specified in Section 8.3.

Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

Cause :

(a) in the case of an Outside Director, means the commission of an act of fraud or intentional misrepresentation or an act of embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

(b) in the case of any other Participant, means the termination of a Participant’s employment by reason of the Board’s good faith determination that the Participant (1) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform his or her duties with the Company or Participating Employer (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Participant has not substantially performed his or her duties and such failure substantially to perform continues for at least fourteen (14) days, or (2) has willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or Participating Employer, monetarily or otherwise, or (3) has otherwise materially breached the terms of his or her employment agreement with the Company or Participating Employer, if applicable (each, an “ Employment Agreement ”) (including, without limitation, a voluntary termination of the Participant’s employment by the Participant during the term of such Employment Agreement). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part, shall be considered “willful” unless he or she has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that his or her action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until (x) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (1), (2) or (3) of the first sentence of this definition and specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (y) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board (with the assistance of Participant’s counsel).

Change in Control means the occurrence of:

(a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors (the “ Voting Securities ”) by any “ Person ” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)), immediately after which such Person has “ Beneficial Ownership ” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding shares of the Common Stock or the

 

2


combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however , that, in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a “Non-Control Acquisition” (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A “ Non-Control Acquisition ” shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a “Subsidiary”), (2) the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (3) any Person in connection with a “Non-Control Transaction” (as hereinafter defined);

(b) The individuals who, as of the Effective Date , are members of the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”), cease for any reason to constitute at least seventy percent (70%) of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of the Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “ Proxy Contest ”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

(c) The consummation of:

(1) A merger, consolidation or reorganization with or into the Company or in which securities of the Company are issued, unless such merger, consolidation or reorganization is a “Non-Control Transaction.” A “ Non-Control Transaction ” shall mean a merger, consolidation or reorganization with or into the Company or in which securities of the Company are issued where:

(A) the stockholders of the Company immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization own directly or indirectly immediately following such merger, consolidation or reorganization at least seventy percent (70%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger, consolidation or reorganization (the “ Surviving Company ”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such merger, consolidation or reorganization,

(B) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or reorganization constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company, or a corporation beneficially directly or indirectly owning a majority of the voting securities of the Surviving Company, and

 

3


(C) no Person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, (iii) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, was maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any Person who, immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization, had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities or Common Stock of the Company, has Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Company’s then outstanding voting securities or its common stock;

(2) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(3) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “ Subject Person ”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Common Stock or Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock or Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Common Stock or Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Stock or Voting Securities which increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Committee shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.1.

Common Stock means the common stock, without par, of the Company, or such other securities into which shares of the Company’s common stock are changed or for which shares of the Company’s common stock are exchanged.

Company means Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

Company Group means the Company and each Affiliate.

Covered Employee means:

 

4


(a) Any person employed by the Company, with the title of “Vice President” or above;

(b) Any person employed by a Participating Employer, with such titles as may be designated for that Participating Employer by the Board or a committee thereof.

Deferral Agreement means the written or electronic deferral election form prescribed from time to time by the Plan Administrator, which must be completed by each Participant pursuant to Section 5.1.

Effective Date means January 1, 2008.

Eligible Individual means (a) each Covered Employee and (b) each Outside Director. Eligible Individuals are eligible to defer certain compensation in accordance with Article V.

ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Good Reason:

(a) in the case of an employee whose employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries is subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such individual and the Company or such subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason,” shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during the period that such employment agreement remains in effect following a Change in Control, and

(b) in all other cases, means (1) a material diminution in position or responsibilities, (2) a material reduction of salary or aggregate incentive compensation opportunities or (3) a required relocation beyond fifty miles from the present work location.

Investment Options means the hypothetical investment vehicles in which a Participant’s deferrals shall be deemed invested pursuant to Article VI. Investment Options shall be limited to those offered to participants in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (other than the Company Stock Fund), a money market fund and Stock Units.

Outside Director means a member of the Board who is not employed by the Company or any of its Affiliates.

Participant means any Eligible Individual who makes an election to participate in accordance with Section 5.1. Participant shall also include any former Eligible Individual who continues to have an Account maintained under the Plan.

 

5


Participating Employer means an Affiliate that has adopted the Plan and has been authorized to participate in the Plan by the Board or a committee thereof.

Plan means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.

Plan Administrator shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.1.

Profit Sharing and Savings Plan means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, or its successor, as it may be amended from time to time.

Stock Unit means a unit representing the value of a share of Common Stock.

Termination means (a) in the case of a Participant who is an employee, such Participant’s separation from service as defined in Code section 409A, without regard to any special rules, and (b) in the case of a Participant who is an Outside Director, ceasing to be a member of the Board.

Total and Permanent Disability means a physical or mental condition which qualifies a Participant for Social Security disability benefits or which qualifies such Participant to continue to receive benefits under the Company’s disability plan after having received such benefits for twelve (12) months.

Trading Day means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

Valuation Date means the last Trading Day in each month and such other days designated by the Plan Administrator as Valuation Dates.

III. Plan Administration

Section 3.1 Plan Administrator .

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Company (the “Plan Administrator”). The Plan Administrator shall appoint a committee (the “Committee”) to act as its agent or delegate in carrying out its administrative duties.

(b) The Committee shall consist of not fewer than three (3) members who shall be appointed by the Company and may include individuals who are not Participants in the Plan. The Company may remove or replace any member at any time in its sole discretion, and any member may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Company, which resignation shall become effective at its delivery or at any later date specified therein.

 

6


Section 3.2 Powers of The Plan Administrator . The Plan Administrator shall be charged with the operation and administration of the Plan in accordance with the terms hereof and shall have all the powers necessary to carry out the provisions of the Plan. Any and all determinations, actions or decisions of the Plan Administrator and Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan, including without limitation the determination of benefit eligibility and interpretation of Plan provisions, shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties having an interest in the Plan.

Section 3.3 Committee .

(a) The Committee shall hold meetings upon such notice and at such times and places as its members may from time to time deem appropriate, and may adopt from time to time such bylaws and regulations for the conduct and transaction of its business and affairs consistent with the terms of the Plan and the delegation of duties and powers by the Company. A majority of its members at the relevant time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All action taken by the Committee shall be by vote of the majority of its members present at such meeting, except that the Committee also may act without a meeting by a written consent signed by a majority of its members. A member shall not be disqualified from acting because of any personal interest, benefit or advantage, inasmuch as a member may be a director of the Company, an employee or a Participant, but no member shall vote or act in connection with an action of the Committee relating exclusively to himself.

(b) The Committee may allocate among its members such specific responsibilities, obligations, powers or duties as shall be deemed appropriate.

Section 3.4 Indemnification . The Company shall indemnify and defend each member of the Committee and all officers, employees or representatives of the Company to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liability arising from any action or failure to act in connection with the administration of the Plan.

IV. Eligibility

Section 4.1 Eligibility . Each Eligible Individual shall be eligible to become a Participant in this Plan on the later of the Effective Date and the first day of the month following the date on which the individual becomes an Eligible Individual (i.e., in the case of an employee, the date on which the Board or a committee thereof, or the board of directors of a Participating Employer, takes action to appoint such individual to a Covered Employee position, and in the case of an Outside Director, the date on which the individual is appointed to serve as a director of the Company). The Plan is intended to limit eligibility to a “select group of management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of ERISA.

 

7


Section 4.2 Cessation of Eligibility . An individual shall cease to be an Eligible Individual upon his or her Termination or, in the case of an Eligible Individual who is not an Outside Director, upon ceasing to be a Covered Employee.

V. Deferral Elections

Section 5.1 Time and Form of Elections . To become a Participant in the Plan an Eligible Individual must make an irrevocable election under this Section 5.1 to defer Base Compensation, an Annual Incentive Award and/or other compensation approved by the Plan Administrator. All elections made under this Section 5.1 shall be made by submitting a Deferral Agreement to the Plan Administrator or to such other individual or entity designated by the Plan Administrator.

(a) Base Compensation . An Eligible Individual may elect to defer up to one-hundred percent (100%) of his or her Base Compensation to be earned in a calendar year by submitting a Deferral Agreement in accordance with this Section 5.1 by not later than the earlier of December 31 and the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The last Deferral Agreement received on or before the earlier of December 31 and the last day of the preceding fiscal year shall become irrevocable as of that date. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if an individual becomes an Eligible Individual after January 1 of a calendar year, he or she may elect to defer up to 100% of his or her Base Compensation to be earned during such calendar year following such election by submitting a Deferral Agreement within 30 days of becoming an Eligible Individual.

(b) Annual Incentive Awards . An Eligible Individual may elect to defer up to one-hundred percent (100%) of an Annual Incentive Award to be earned in a fiscal year commencing after the date of such election by submitting a Deferral Agreement in accordance with this Section 5.1 by not later than the earlier of December 31 and the last day of the preceding fiscal year. The last Deferral Agreement received on or before the earlier of December 31 and the last day of the preceding fiscal year shall become irrevocable as of that date. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, if an individual becomes an Eligible Individual after January 1 of a calendar year and submits a Deferral Agreement no later than 30 days after becoming an Eligible Individual, he or she may elect to defer up to 100% of a pro-rated portion of his or her Annual Incentive Award. Such pro-rated portion shall be calculated by dividing (1) the number of days in the fiscal period on which such Annual Incentive Award is based following the later of (A) the date of such Deferral Agreement and (B) the date of becoming an Eligible Individual, by (2) the total number of days in the fiscal period on which such Award is based.

(c) Other Compensation . An Eligible Individual may elect to defer other compensation that has not yet been earned and that is designated by the Board or a committee thereof as approved for deferral under the Plan by submitting an irrevocable Deferral Agreement in accordance with this Section 5.1 within such period prior to the commencement of the period in which such compensation will be earned as the Plan Administrator may determine.

 

8


Section 5.2 Termination of Deferrals Due to Hardship Withdrawal . If an Eligible Individual receives a hardship distribution from any tax-qualified defined contribution plan sponsored by the Company or any of its Affiliates, then all deferrals under the Plan shall automatically cease following the date of such hardship distribution. An otherwise Eligible Individual will not be eligible to elect to defer compensation to the Plan for six months following the date of such hardship distribution and any election to defer compensation must comply with Section 5.1.

VI. Deferral Accounts

Section 6.1 Deferral Account . The Plan shall establish an Account on its books and records in the name of each Participant, which shall reflect the amount of actual deferrals pursuant to Article V plus any earnings and less any losses thereon (the “Adjustment”) as described in Section 6.5 as an unfunded liability of the Plan to such Participant (a Participant’s actual deferrals plus or minus all Adjustments thereon and less any amounts distributed to such Participant or his or her Beneficiary pursuant to Article VII are collectively referred to herein as the Participant’s “ Account Balance ”). Each Account shall be designated by the name of the Eligible Individual for whom it is established. Participants shall be fully vested in their Account Balances at all times.

Section 6.2 Investment Options . Each Participant shall elect the Investment Options in which the Participant’s deferrals shall be deemed invested. A Participant’s deferrals may be allocated in one percent increments among one or more of the Investment Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, elections regarding Stock Units shall be governed by Section 6.4. If the Participant allocates less than 100% of his or her deferrals pursuant to this Section 6.2, unallocated deferrals shall be deemed to be allocated to the default investment option established by the Plan Administrator, or if no such default has been established by the Plan Administrator, to the default investment option established under the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

Section 6.3 Changing Investment Options . Each Participant will be able to reallocate his or her future deferrals covered by a Deferral Agreement among the available Investment Options in one percent increments no less frequently than monthly by delivering to the Plan Administrator, or other person or entity designated by the Plan Administrator, a new Investment Option election form prescribed by the Plan Administrator. In addition to future deferrals, each Participant will be able to reallocate his or her then existing Account Balance among the available Investment Options in one percent increments no less frequently than monthly by delivering to the Plan Administrator, or other person or entity designated by the Plan Administrator, a new Investment Option election form prescribed by the Plan Administrator; provided, however , that any portion of a Participant’s Account Balance deemed invested in Stock

 

9


Units shall remain in Stock Units until distributed pursuant to Article VII; provided, further, that any reallocation of all or a portion of a Participant’s Account Balance into Stock Units shall be subject to Section 6.4. If a Participant changes the allocation of his or her Account Balance or future deferrals among the Investment Options (other than with respect to the portion of a Participant’s Account Balance allocated to Stock Units), such change shall supersede the previous designation effective on the next Valuation Date that is at least five business days following the date on which the Participant delivers the Investment Option election form to the Plan Administrator or other person or entity designated by the Plan Administrator. Prior to such time, a Participant’s previous designation shall control.

Section 6.4 Investment in Stock Units . Elections with regard to any investment in Stock Units may be made only in accordance with the exemptions from short-swing profit recovery provided by the regulations promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the Company’s policies applicable to the purchase of Common Stock. Any deferrals that a Participant has elected to be deemed invested in Stock Units shall be credited to the money market Investment Option until the first Trading Day following the close of the Company’s window trading period following or during which such deferral is made or such other date as may be designated by the Plan Administrator. Any reallocation of all or any portion of a Participant’s Account Balance into Stock Units shall be credited to the money market Investment Option until the first Trading Day following the close of the Company’s window trading period during which the reallocation election was made (or, if the election is permitted to be made outside of the Company’s window trading period, following the date on which the election was made). At that time, the balance in such money market fund attributable to such deferrals or reallocations, including any deemed earnings on such amounts through such date, shall be deemed invested in Stock Units.

Section 6.5 Crediting a Participant Account . The Company shall credit a Participant’s Account to reflect his or her deemed investment in the applicable Investment Options in respect of the amounts deferred by such Participant as of, or as soon as practicable after, the date on which the Base Compensation, Annual Incentive Award or other compensation would have otherwise been paid. The Company shall debit a Participant’s Account to reflect the deemed liquidation of investments credited to his or her Account as of, or as soon as practicable after, the date of each distribution made pursuant to Article VII in respect of such Account. Each Account shall be valued on each Valuation Date and shall reflect all Adjustments, additional deferrals and distributions since the previous Valuation Date. On each Valuation Date, the deemed investments reflected in a Participant’s Account shall be credited and debited, if and as applicable, to reflect any reallocation of the Investment Options in which the Account Balance is deemed invested. The Plan Administrator shall use the Participant’s Investment Option designations to calculate the Adjustment component of the Account Balance. The amount of the Adjustment shall equal the amount that the Participant’s

 

10


Account Balance would have earned (or lost) for the period since the last Adjustment had the Account actually been invested in the investment vehicles represented by the Investment Options designated by the Participant for such period. For purposes of determining the number of units or other interests in Investment Options credited or debited to a Participant’s Account and/or the value of a Participant’s Account on any date, the Plan Administrator shall value such units or other interests as follows: (a) in the case of Stock Units, the value shall be based on the mean of the high and low prices at which shares of the Common Stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange on such date, or if such date is not a Trading Day, the most recent Trading Day and (b) in the case of an interest in an Investment Option that is a mutual or collective fund, the value shall be based on the net asset value of such fund on such date.

Section 6.6 Deemed Dividends Reinvested . With respect to any dividends or other distributions that would have been paid to a Participant had his or her Account actually been invested in an investment vehicle represented by an Investment Option in which a portion of his or her Account is deemed invested, the value of such dividends or distributions shall be deemed reinvested in the applicable Investment Option. If such dividends or other distributions are in a form other than cash, the value of such amounts shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. In the event of any reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-up, reverse stock split or other corporate transaction affecting the Common Stock, the number of Stock Units allocated to a Participant’s Account shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such transaction.

Section 6.7 Unfunded Account . The Plan at all times shall be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes and for purposes of ERISA. A Participant shall have absolutely no ownership interest in any Investment Option. The Plan, the Company or any Participating Employer may, but is not required to, invest the amounts represented by the Account Balances in the Investment Options or in any other investment. The Plan, Company or Participating Employer shall be the sole owner of any funds invested by such entity, as well as all amounts accounted for in the Accounts, all of which shall at all times be subject to the claims of such entity’s creditors. A Participant shall be entitled only to payment of an amount equal to the amount in his or her Account Balance in accordance with Article VII.

VII. Distributions

Section 7.1 Form and Order of Payments . The portion of a Participant’s Account Balance allocated to Stock Units as an Investment Option shall be paid in shares of Common Stock ; provided, however, that a Participant will be paid cash in lieu of any fractional shares otherwise payable in respect of Stock Units. The portion of a Participant’s Account Balance allocated to any Investment Option other than Stock Units shall be paid in cash. The portion of a Participant’s Account Balance that is deemed invested in cash and/or money market funds shall be distributed first in time and the

 

11


balance of a Participant’s Account Balance shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis from each other Investment Option. Any amounts required to be withheld in accordance with Section 11.2 shall first reduce any amount payable to the Participant in the form of cash, and, to the extent any such withholding exceeds the amount of cash otherwise payable to the Participant, shall then reduce the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise payable to the Participant.

Section 7.2 Distribution of Benefits .

(a) Normal Form . Unless a Participant elects one of the distribution alternatives described in Section 7.2(b) in the manner set forth in Section 7.2(c), upon the Participant’s Termination (other than for death, Total and Permanent Disability or a Termination described in Section 7.3), the Participant will receive the distribution of his or her Account Balance in a single lump sum payable within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six month anniversary of the date of such Termination.

(b) Alternative Form . In the alternative, a Participant may elect to receive his or her Account Balance in quarterly installments payable over no less than two years and no more than fifteen (15) years commencing within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six-month anniversary of the date of such Termination, with the amount of each installment equal to the amount of the Account Balance on the Valuation Date immediately prior to the payment of such installment divided by the number of installments remaining to be paid.

(c) Timing and Manner of Distribution Elections . Distribution elections shall be made in such manner as may be designated by the Plan Administrator and communicated to Participants. Any election made within twelve months of the date payment would otherwise commence (unless made no later than 30 days after becoming an Eligible Individual) shall be disregarded and benefits shall be paid in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 7.2(a). Any distribution election made more than 30 days after the Participant became an Eligible Individual shall delay the commencement of distributions to such Participant by five years from the date payments would have commenced in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 7.2(a).

Section 7.3 Distributions on Total and Permanent Disability, Death or Change in Control .

(a) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event: (1) a Participant incurs a Total and Permanent Disability (where such Total and Permanent Disability would qualify as a disability under Code section 409A), or (2) a Participant dies, whether before or after the payment of benefits has commenced hereunder, the Participant’s total

 

12


Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum, which, in accordance with Section 7.1, shall be in cash and/or Common Stock, as applicable, as soon as practicable after such occurrence (but not later than the later of (A) the last day of the calendar year in which the event occurs, or (B) 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the date the event occurs).

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event within two years following a Change in Control (where such Change in Control would constitute a change in effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets within the meaning of Code section 409A), a Participant incurs a Termination, the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum, which, in accordance with Section 7.1, shall be in cash and/or Common Stock, as applicable, as soon as practicable after such occurrence (but not later than the later of (1) the last day of the calendar year in which the event occurs, or (2) 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six-month anniversary of the date of such Termination.

(c) For any other Termination, including Terminations by reason of such Participant’s Total and Permanent Disability where such Total and Permanent Disability would not qualify as a disability under Code section 409A) or Terminations following a Change in Control that would not constitute a change in effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets within the meaning of Code section 409A), the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid in accordance with the Participant’s elected form of payment pursuant to Section 7.2.

Section 7.4 Share Limit . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 1,000,000; provided, however , that such number of shares of Common Stock may be adjusted as the Board deems appropriate to reflect any changes in the Company’s capital structure, including, without limitation, by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-up, stock-split, stock dividends or reverse stock split.

VIII. Participants’ Rights

Section 8.1 Participant Rights in the Plan Unfunded . Any liability of the Plan, the Company and any Participating Employer to any Participant with respect to any benefit shall be based solely upon the contractual obligations created by the Plan and the Deferral Agreements. No such obligation shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or any encumbrance on any property of the Plan, Company or Participating Employer. The obligations under the Deferral Agreements and the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured promises to pay. No Participant or Beneficiary shall have any rights under the Plan other than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company or Participating Employer. The Company or a Participating Employer may establish a rabbi trust for the benefit of

 

13


Participants hereunder or otherwise segregate, identify or reserve assets for the purpose of paying benefits hereunder ; provided, however , that assets segregated, identified or reserved for the purpose of paying benefits pursuant to the Plan shall remain general corporate assets subject to the claim of the Company’s, or applicable Participating Employer’s, creditors or in the case of assets held in a rabbi trust established by the Company or any Participating Employer, subject to the claims of general creditors to the extent provided in such trust. Upon a Change in Control, the Company shall transfer assets to an irrevocable rabbi trust, the fair market value of which, together with the fair market value of the assets then in the trust, are at least equal to the aggregate amount of all Participants’ Account Balances; provided, however , that for purposes of this sentence, assets required to be transferred in respect of that portion of Participants’ Account Balances represented by Stock Units shall be shares of Common Stock. Neither the Plan nor the Deferral Agreements create a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or Beneficiary.

Section 8.2 Restrictions Upon Assignments And Creditors’ Claims . No benefit payable under this Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge prior to actual receipt thereof by the Participant or Beneficiary and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge prior to such receipt shall be void. No benefit payable under this Plan shall be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or other legal or equitable proceeding or process, and any attempt to do so shall be void. Neither the Company nor any Participating Employer shall be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Participant or Beneficiary except as may be required by the tax withholding provisions of the Code or any state’s income tax laws.

Section 8.3 Designation of Beneficiary . Each Participant shall designate, by giving a designation in approved form to the Plan Administrator, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits which may become or continue to be payable under the Plan upon or after such Participant’s death. Successive designations may be made and the last designation received by the Plan Administrator prior to the death of the Participant shall be effective and shall revoke all prior designations.

If a Participant shall fail to designate a Beneficiary, if such designation shall for any reason be illegal or ineffective or if no Beneficiary so designated survives the Participant, then his or her benefits shall be paid to:

(a) His or her surviving spouse; or

(b) If there is no surviving spouse, to the executor or other personal representative of the Participant to be distributed in accordance with the Participant’s will, or, if he or she has no valid will, in accordance with applicable state law.

 

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IX. The Company’s Reservation of Rights

Section 9.1 Termination or Amendment of Plan .

(a) The Company retains the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to amend or terminate the Plan, in whole or in part. Any amendment of the Plan shall be approved by the Board or a committee thereof, shall be in writing, shall be executed by an officer of Company and shall be communicated to the Participants. Except as provided in Sections 9.1(b) and (c), no amendment of the Plan shall impair or curtail the Company’s or a Participating Employer’s contractual obligations arising from Deferral Agreements previously entered into for benefits accrued prior to such amendment.

(b) In the event of Plan termination, payment of Accounts shall be made at the time and in the manner set forth in Article VII, unless the plan termination meets the requirements of Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix). In the event that the Plan is terminated in connection with a change in control, as described in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(B), all Account Balances shall be distributed in a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable after the plan termination is adopted. In the event that the Plan is terminated without replacement, as described in Treasury Regulation 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C), any Account Balances that have not been distributed pursuant to Article VII by the first anniversary of the Plan termination date shall be distributed in a single lump sum payment not later than the second anniversary of such date.

(c) In the event of a change in law that would result in the Plan being deemed to be a funded plan for tax purposes or for purposes of ERISA, the Company retains the right to amend the Plan to the extent necessary to preserve the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan.

Section 9.2 Accelerated Distribution upon Loss of Tax Deferral . In the event a that this Plan fails to satisfy the requirements of Code section 409A and as a consequence Participant becomes subject to federal income tax on all or any portion of his or her Account Balance for which such Participant is not then scheduled to receive a distribution under the Plan, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or distribution election made by such Participant, the Plan Administrator shall accelerate the payment of that portion of the Participant’s Account Balance which the Plan Administrator reasonably determines to be subject to such taxation in a lump sum payable on a date determined by the Plan Administrator.

X. Claims for Benefits

Section 10.1 Claims Review . Any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary who wishes to request a review of a claim for benefits or who wishes an explanation of a benefit or its denial may direct to the Plan Administrator a written request for such review within one hundred twenty (120) days of the denial. The Plan Administrator shall

 

15


respond to the request by issuing a notice to the claimant as soon as possible, but in no event later than ninety (90) days (one hundred eighty (180) days in special cases) from the date of receipt of the request. This notice furnished by the Plan Administrator shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include the following:

(a) The specific reason or reasons for any denial of benefits;

(b) The specific Plan provisions on which any denial is based;

(c) A description of any further material or information which is necessary for the claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why the material or information is needed; and

(d) An explanation of the Plan’s claim appeals procedure.

If the Plan Administrator denies the claim or fails to respond to the claimant’s written request for a review within one hundred eighty (180) days of its receipt, the claimant shall be entitled to proceed to the claim appeals procedure described in Section 10.2. If the claimant does not respond to the notice, posted by first-class mail to the address of record of the claimant, within sixty (60) days from receipt of the notice, the claimant shall be considered satisfied in all respects.

Section 10.2 Appeals Procedure . In the event that the claimant wishes to appeal the claim review denial, the claimant or his or her duly authorized representative may submit to the Plan Administrator, within sixty (60) days of his or her receipt of the notice, a written notification of appeal of the claim denial. The notification of appeal of the claim denial shall permit the claimant or his or her duly authorized representative to utilize the following claim appeals procedures:

(a) To review pertinent documents; and

(b) To submit issues and comments in writing to which the Plan Administrator shall respond.

The Plan Administrator shall furnish a final written decision on formal review not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the notification of appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of the time for processing the appeal. In no event, however, shall the Plan Administrator respond later than one hundred twenty (120) days after a request for an appeal. The decision on the appeal shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, shall include specific reasons for the decision, and shall contain specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

 

16


Section 10.3 Discretion Regarding Claims and Appeals . The Plan Administrator, or any individual or committee to whom responsibility for claims and appeals has been delegated, shall have complete discretion in deciding such claims and appeals and any such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the claimant.

XI. Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 11.1 Effect on Other Benefits . Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the salary deferred by a Participant shall be included in the Participant’s annual compensation for purposes of calculating the Participant’s incentive bonuses, insurance and other employee benefits. Distributions made under the Plan shall be excluded from compensation in years paid for purposes of calculating a Participant’s incentive bonuses, insurance and other employee benefits.

Section 11.2 Tax Withholding . The Company or Participating Employer shall withhold from any payment made by it under the Plan such amount or amounts as may be required to be withheld by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Section 11.3 Participant’s Incapacity . In the event benefits become payable under the Plan after a Participant becomes incapacitated, such benefits shall be paid to the Participant’s legal guardian or legal representative.

Section 11.4 Independence of Plan . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Plan shall be independent of, and in addition to, any other employment agreement or benefit plan or rights that may exist from time to time between the parties hereto. The Plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract of employment between the a Participant and the Company or any Participating Employer, nor shall any provision hereof restrict the right of the Company or any Participating Employer at any time to discharge a Participant, with or without assigning a reason therefor, or restrict the right of a Participant to terminate his or her employment with the Company or a Participating Employer.

Section 11.5 Responsibility for Legal Effect . Neither the Plan Administrator, the Company nor any Participating Employer makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, or assumes any responsibility concerning the legal, tax, or other implications or effects of the Plan.

Section 11.6 Successors, Acquisitions, Mergers, Consolidations . The terms and conditions of the Plan and each Deferral Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and bind the Company, each Participating Employer and the Participants, and their successors, assigns, and personal representatives.

 

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Section 11.7 Controlling Law . The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws, and not the law of conflicts, of the state of Ohio to the extent not preempted by laws of the United States of America.

Section 11.8 Captions . The captions of the various sections of the Plan are solely for convenience and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of the Plan.

Section 11.9 Canadian Participants . Annex I to the Plan contains provisions applicable to certain Participants who are resident in Canada. With respect to such Participants, any conflict between the provisions of Annex I and the other provisions of the Plan shall be resolved in favor of the provisions of Annex I.

ANNEX I

AMENDMENTS TO WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

FOR

CANADIAN ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS

Capitalized terms used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, have the same meaning as in the Wendy’s International, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.

The following amendments to the Plan shall apply to (i) Eligible Individuals resident in Canada and on the payroll of a Participating Employer resident in Canada and (ii) Eligible Individuals that are Outside Directors resident in Canada (collectively, “Canadian Eligible Individuals”):

 

1. Definitions:

(i) The definition of “Cause” set out in Article II is hereby amended by deleting “or” at the end of paragraph (a) and the period after paragraph (b) and replacing it with “; or” and inserting into said subsection immediately following paragraph (b) the following:

“(c) as defined by common law.”

(ii) The following definitions shall replace the corresponding definition set out in Article II:

Effective Date means the date on which all conditions applicable to Canadian Eligible Individuals attached to the resolution of the board of directors of the Participating Employer resident in Canada approving the Plan have been satisfied or such other date as such board determines.”

 

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Investment Option means Stock Units.”

Total and Permanent Disability means a physical or mental condition which qualifies a Participant for Canadian Pension Plan disability benefits or which qualifies such Participant to continue to receive benefits under the Company’s disability plan or under its workers’ compensation policy, after having received such benefits for twelve (12) months.”

 

2. Deferral Accounts:

(i) Section 6.2 shall be replaced by the following:

“Section 6.2 Investment Option . Each Participant shall be deemed to have elected 100% of his or her deferrals in the Investment Option and such deemed election shall be governed by Section 6.4, subject to the amendments noted in this Annex I.”

(ii) Section 6.3 shall not apply.

(iii) Section 6.4 shall be replaced by the following:

“Section 6.4. Investment in Stock Units . The deemed investment in Stock Units may be made only in accordance with the exemptions from short-swing profit recovery provided by the regulations promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the Company’s policies applicable to the purchase of Common Stock. On the first Trading Day following the close of the Company’s window trading period following or during which such deferral is made or such other date as may be designated by the Plan Administrator, an amount equal to such deferrals shall be credited to the Participant’s Account and shall be deemed invested in Stock Units.”

(iv) Section 6.6 shall be replaced by the following:

“Section 6.6 Deemed Dividends Reinvested. With respect to any dividends or other distributions that would have been paid to a Participant had his or her Account actually been invested in Common Stock, the value of such dividends or distributions in respect of only the whole number of Stock Units in a Participant’s Account shall be deemed reinvested in Stock Units. If such dividends or other distributions are in a form other than cash, the value of such amounts shall be determined by the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. In the event of any reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-up, reverse stock split or other corporate transaction affecting the Common Stock, the number of Stock Units allocated to a Participant’s Account shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such transaction.”

 

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3. Distributions:

(i) Section 7.1 shall be replaced by the following:

“Section 7.1 Form and Order of Payments . A Participant’s Account Balance shall be paid in shares of Company Stock; provided, however, that a Participant will be paid cash in lieu of any fractional shares otherwise payable in respect of Stock Units.”

(ii) Section 7.2 shall be replaced by the following:

“Section 7.2. Distribution of Benefits. The Participant will receive the distribution of his or her Account Balance in the form of a single lump sum payable on such date as may be determined by the Employer or Company but in no event earlier that the Participant’s date of Termination or later than December 31 of the calendar year commencing immediately after the date of such Termination.”

(iii) Section 7.3 shall not apply.

 

4. Participants’ Rights:

With respect to Section 8.1, the option of using a rabbi trust referred to therein shall not apply for Canadian Eligible Individuals and the second last sentence of Section 8.1 shall not apply to Canadian Eligible Individuals.

 

5. The Company’s Reservation of Rights”

(i) Section 9.1(b) shall not apply.

(ii) A new Section 9.1.(d) shall be added to read as follows:

“Section 9.1(d). The Company intends that the Plan as it applies to Canadian Participants shall qualify as an arrangement described in subsection 6801(d) of the regulations to the Income Tax Act (Canada) or any successor provision thereto. No amendment of the Plan shall apply to Canadian Participants to the extent such amendment would cause the Plan to cease to so qualify. In the event of Plan termination, payment of Accounts shall be in accordance with Section 7.2 of the Plan as amended by Section 3 of the Canadian Annex.”

(iii) Section 9.2 shall not apply.

 

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Exhibit 10(b)

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 2

(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005)


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 2

 

Preamble

   1

Article I – Definitions

   1

1.1 Account

   1

1.2 Active Participant

   1

1.3 Beneficiary

   1

1.4 Board

   1

1.5 Cause

   1

1.6 Change in Control

   2

1.7 Code

   4

1.8 Committee

   4

1.9 Company

   4

1.10 Compensation

   4

1.11 Contributions

   4

1.12 Covered Employee

   4

1.13 Effective Date

   4

1.14 Employee

   5

1.15 Final Average Compensation

   5

1.16 Good Reason

   5

1.17 Grandfather Eligible Participant

   5

1.18 Inactive Participant

   5

1.19 Normal Retirement Date / Age

   5

1.20 Participant

   5

1.21 Participating Employer

   5

1.22 Pension Plan

   5

1.23 Profit Sharing and Savings Plan

   6

1.24 Plan Year

   6

1.25 SERP

   6

1.26 Total and Permanent Disability

   6

1.27 Year of Service

   6

Article II – Eligibility and Participation

   6

2.1 Eligibility

   6

2.2 Reemployment Following Qualified Military Service

   6

Article III – Amount of Benefit

   7

3.1 Credits to Supplemental Account

   7


3.2 Target Credit for Grandfather Eligible Participants

   9

3.3 Termination Benefit

   11

Article IV – Forms of Payment

   11

4.1 Distribution of Benefits

   11

4.2 Distributions on Total and Permanent Disability or Death

   12

4.3 Distributions on Change in Control

   12

4.4 Designation of Beneficiary

   13

Article V – Plan Administration

   13

5.1 Plan Administrator

   13

5.2 Powers of the Plan Administrator

   14

5.3 Committee

   14

5.4 Indemnification

   14

Article VI – Claims Procedure

   15

6.1 Claims Review

   15

6.2 Appeals Procedure

   15

6.3 Discretion Regarding Claims and Appeals

   16

Article VII – Miscellaneous

   16

7.1 Amendment and Termination

   16

7.2 No Contract Of Employment

   16

7.3 Unfunded Plan

   16

7.4 Restrictions Upon Assignments and Creditors’ Claims

   17

7.5 Payment Constitutes Release

   17

7.6 Applicable Law

   17

Exhibit I

   18

 

2


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 2

Wendy’s International, Inc. maintains the Wendy’s International, Inc. Pension Plan and the Wendy’s International, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan for the benefit of its non-crew employees. From 1984 to 2004, the Company also maintained the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan to provide benefits in excess of those permitted in the Pension and Profit Sharing and Savings Plans under the Internal Revenue Code. Following the enactment of Code section 409A, the Company froze contributions credited under the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan to maintain the grandfathered status of that plan under Code section 409A. The Company has adopted this Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 2 (the “SERP”) to provide benefits in compliance with the provisions of Code section 409A. This SERP shall be interpreted in conformity with the requirements of Code section 409A.

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

Whenever used herein with the initial letter capitalized and unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, words and phrases shall have (a) the meanings stated below, (b) if not stated below, the meanings given to them in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, if defined under that plan, or (c) if not defined in either the SERP or the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, the meanings given to them in the Pension Plan. All masculine terms shall include the feminine and all singular terms shall include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates the gender or the number.

 

  1.1 ACCOUNT means a notional account established for each Participant equal to all supplemental contributions and interest credited under Section 3.1.

 

  1.2 ACTIVE PARTICIPANT means a Covered Employee who becomes a Participant and continues to participate in the SERP pursuant to Article II.

 

  1.3 BENEFICIARY means any person or persons designated by a Participant to receive any death benefits that may become payable under Article IV after the death of such Participant.

 

  1.4 BOARD means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  1.5

CAUSE means the termination of a Participant’s employment by reason of the Board’s good faith determination that the Participant (a) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform his or her duties with the Company


 

or Participating Employer (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Participant has not substantially performed his or her duties and such failure substantially to perform continues for at least fourteen (14) days, or (b) has willfully engaged in conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or Participating Employer, monetarily or otherwise, or (c) has otherwise materially breached the terms of his or her employment agreement with the Company or Participating Employer, if applicable (each, an “Employment Agreement”) (including, without limitation, a voluntary termination of the Participant’s employment by the Participant during the term of such Employment Agreement). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part, shall be considered “willful” unless he or she has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that his or her action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until (1) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (a), (b) or (c) of the first sentence of this definition and specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (2) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board (with the assistance of Participant’s counsel).

 

  1.6 CHANGE IN CONTROL means the occurrence during the Plan Year of:

 

  a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any common stock or other voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors (the “Voting Securities”) by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), immediately after which such Person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; provided , however , in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a “Non-Control Acquisition” (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A “Non-Control Acquisition” shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a “Subsidiary”) (2) the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (3) any Person in connection with a “Non-Control Transaction” (as hereinafter defined);

 

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  b) The individuals who, as of January 1, 2003, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least seventy percent (70%) of the members of the Board; provided , however , that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this SERP, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further , however , that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “Proxy Contest”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

 

  c) The consummation of:

 

  1) A merger, consolidation or reorganization with or into the Company, or in which securities of the Company are issued (a “Merger”), unless such Merger is a “Non-Control Transaction.” A “Non-Control Transaction” shall mean a Merger if:

 

  A) the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such Merger own directly or indirectly immediately following such Merger at least seventy percent (70%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such Merger (the “Surviving Company”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such Merger,

 

  B) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such Merger constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company, or a corporation beneficially directly or indirectly owning a majority of the Voting Securities of the Surviving Company, and

 

  C) no Person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, (iii) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to such Merger was maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any Person who, immediately prior to such Merger had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities or common stock of the Company, has Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Company then outstanding voting securities or its common stock;

 

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  2) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

  3) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding common stock or Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of common stock or Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of common stock or Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of common stock or Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional common stock or Voting Securities which increase the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

 

  1.7 CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

  1.8 COMMITTEE means the Administrative Committee established in Article V.

 

  1.9 COMPANY means Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

 

  1.10 COMPENSATION means a Participant’s annual Compensation, as that term is defined in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, except that there shall be no maximum amount of Compensation considered.

 

  1.11 CONTRIBUTIONS means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Account during a Plan Year, other than interest, pursuant to Article III.

 

  1.12 COVERED EMPLOYEE means an Employee who, on or before October 26, 2006, has been appointed to serve as an officer:

 

  a) For the Company, with the title of “Vice President” or above; or

 

  b) For any Participating Employer, with such titles as may be designated for that Participating Employer by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

  1.13 EFFECTIVE DATE means January 1, 2005, the effective date of this SERP.

 

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  1.14 EMPLOYEE means a person employed by the Company or a Participating Employer who is a United States citizen or resident alien.

 

  1.15 FINAL AVERAGE COMPENSATION shall mean a Participant’s average annual Compensation over the five (5) consecutive calendar years while a Covered Employee (or the total number of completed calendar years while a Covered Employee if less than five (5)) out of the last ten (10) completed calendar years while a Covered Employee preceding the Participant’s attainment of age sixty (60) which will provide him with the highest annual average Compensation.

 

  1.16 GOOD REASON shall mean:

 

  a) in the case of an employee whose employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries is subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such individual and the Company or such subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason,” shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during the period that such employment agreement remains in effect following a Change in Control, and

 

  b) in all other cases, means (1) a material diminution in position or responsibilities, (2) a material reduction of salary or aggregate incentive compensation opportunities or (3) a required relocation beyond fifty miles from the present work location.

 

  1.17 GRANDFATHER ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANT shall mean a Participant who was an Active Participant in the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on January 1, 2003, who had attained age 55 and completed at least five (5) Years of Service as of that date, and who has been continuously employed by the Company or an Affiliate since that date.

 

  1.18 INACTIVE PARTICIPANT means a former Active Participant who is no longer a Covered Employee but who has an Account remaining in the SERP.

 

  1.19 NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE and NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE both mean the first of the month coincident with or next following a Participant’s sixty-fifth birthday.

 

  1.20 PARTICIPANT means an Active Participant or an Inactive Participant.

 

  1.21 PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER means an Affiliate, as defined in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, that has been authorized to participate in the SERP by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

  1.22 PENSION PLAN means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Pension Plan.

 

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  1.23 PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

  1.24 PLAN YEAR means the calendar year.

 

  1.25 SERP means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 2.

 

  1.26 TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY means a physical or mental condition which qualifies a Participant for Social Security disability benefits or which qualifies such Participant to continue to receive benefits under the Company’s disability plan, after having received such benefits for twelve (12) months.

 

  1.27 YEAR OF SERVICE means any Plan Year during which an Employee is credited with a Year of Service under the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

  2.1 ELIGIBILITY

Each Covered Employee who was an Active Participant in the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on the day prior to the Effective Date shall be an Active Participant in the SERP on the Effective Date if still a Covered Employee on that date.

Any other Covered Employee shall become a Participant in the SERP on the latest of the Effective Date, the first day of the Plan Year following the date the Employee became a Covered Employee (the Covered Employee’s date of hire or promotion into eligible employment), or the Entry Date upon which the Covered Employee becomes a Match Eligible Participant in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

  2.2 REEMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING QUALIFIED MILITARY SERVICE

Notwithstanding any provision of this SERP to the contrary, a Covered Employee who returns to employment following qualified military service shall be credited with such Contributions and Years of Service as required under Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

 

6


ARTICLE III - AMOUNT OF BENEFIT

 

  3.1 CREDITS TO SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNT

 

  a) On the last day of each Plan Year commencing after December 31, 2004, for each Active Participant who remains employed as a Covered Employee by the Company or a Participating Employer on the last day of the Plan Year, or who dies, becomes disabled or attains Normal Retirement Age during the Plan Year while actively employed, the Company shall credit to the Supplemental Account of such Active Participant an amount determined as follows:

 

  1) For each Active Participant described above who is not a Grandfather Eligible Participant, on the last day of each Plan Year commencing after December 31, 2004 but before January 1, 2007, an amount equal to the net supplemental credit described in (b) below.

 

  2) For each Active Participant described above who is not a Grandfather Eligible Participant, on the last day of each Plan Year commencing after December 31, 2006, an amount equal to the net supplemental credit described in (c) below.

 

  3) For each Grandfather Eligible Participant described above, an amount equal to the greater of the net supplemental credit described in (b) or (c) below, as applicable, and the target credit for such Participant for such Plan Year described in Section 3.2.

 

  4) For each Active Participant who was a participant in the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan on December 31, 2004 but who was not vested in the benefits under that plan as of that date, an amount listed on Exhibit I which represents the amount not vested in, and agreed to be forfeited under, the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2004.

 

  b) Net Supplemental Credit . For Plan Years beginning after December 31, 2004 but before December 31, 2006, the difference between the gross supplemental credit amount determined under the table in paragraph (1) below and the offsets set forth in paragraph (2) below.

 

  1) Gross Supplemental Credit .

 

Participant’s Age Plus Years
of Service as of the first day
of the Plan Year
   Supplemental Credits as a
percentage of prior year
Compensation
Less than 40      5%
40-49      8%
50-59    11%
60-69    14%
70 or more    18%

 

7


  2) Offsets . The aggregate of (A) the amounts credited during the prior Plan Year to such Participant pursuant to Section 1.1(c) of the Pension Plan, (B) the amounts that would have been credited during the prior Plan Year to such Participant pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan had the Participant elected to make Deferred Income Contributions to receive the maximum available Company Safe Harbor Matching Contribution, (C) any Company Contributions credited to such Participant during the prior Plan Year pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, and (D) that portion of all “social security” employment (FICA) taxes paid during the prior Plan Year by the Company or Participating Employer pursuant to Code section 3111(a).

 

  c) Net Supplemental Credit . For Plan Years commencing on or after January 1, 2007, the difference between the gross supplemental credit amount determined under the table in paragraph (1) below and the offsets set forth in paragraph (2) below.

 

  1) Gross Supplemental Credit .

 

Participant’s Age Plus Years
of Service as of the first day
of the Plan Year
   Supplemental Credits as a
percentage of prior year
Compensation
Less than 40    2.5%
40-49       5%
50-59    7.5%
60 or more      10%

 

  2) Offsets . The aggregate of (A) the amounts that would have been credited during the prior Plan Year to such Participant pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan had the Participant elected to make Deferred Income Contributions to receive the maximum available Company Safe Harbor Matching Contribution, (B) any Company Profit Sharing Contributions credited to such Participant during the prior Plan Year pursuant to Section 3.6 of the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, and (C) that portion of all “social security” employment (FICA) taxes paid during the prior Plan Year by the Company or Participating Employer pursuant to Code section 3111(a).

 

8


  d) Interest . On the last day of each Plan Year, interest shall be credited to the Supplemental Account as of that date but before crediting the allocation for that Plan Year (if any) under this Section, for each Participant at a rate equal to:

 

  1) From the Effective Date to December 31, 2007, the interest rate applied for that Plan Year to the Account Balance Benefit under the Pension Plan.

 

 

2)

From January 1, 2008, the 30 year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate (or the next longest US government bond rate then available) as of November 30 th .

 

  3.2 TARGET CREDIT FOR GRANDFATHER ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

 

  a) An amount which will provide a Grandfather Eligible Participant with a targeted annual benefit payable as a life annuity at his Normal Retirement Date equal to the amount obtained, if any, when the sum of (2), (3), (4) and (5) below is subtracted from (1) below:

 

  (1) Fifty percent (50%) of the Participant’s Final Average Compensation (determined without salary projection) multiplied by a fraction, not exceeding one (1), the numerator of which is the number of the Participant’s expected Years of Service at his Normal Retirement Date and the denominator of which is fifteen (15).

 

  (2) The Participant’s expected Accrued Benefit Derived from Company Contributions at his Normal Retirement Date under the Pension Plan, assuming that the Participant had elected to make Participant Contributions to the Plan in each Plan Year such contributions as were permitted and that interest credited to the Account Balance Benefit for future years will be at the rate of 7.5%, including the Prior Plan Benefit and the Minimum Benefit.

In the event that such Pension Plan benefits are distributed to the Participant, the lump sum value of such distribution shall be credited with deemed interest at the rate of 7.5% and converted into a life annuity payable at his Normal Retirement Date in the same manner as the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan Accounts in (3) below.

 

  (3) With regard to the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, the sum of the Participant’s:

 

  (i) Company Matched Contribution Account;

 

  (ii) Company Contribution Account;

 

9


  (iii) Company Safe Harbor Matching Contribution Account calculated as if the Participant had elected to make Deferred Income Contributions to receive the maximum available Company Safe Harbor Matching Contribution and as if such contributions had earned interest at an annual rate of 7.5%;

 

  (iv) Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account;

 

  (v) any prior distributions from such Accounts;

 

  (vi) future expected Company Safe Harbor Matching Contributions for each Plan Year until the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date equal to the Company Safe Harbor Matching Contribution deemed to have been received by the Participant for that Plan Year; and

 

  (vi) future expected Company Profit Sharing Contributions for each Plan Year until the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date equal to the Company Profit Sharing Contribution for that Plan Year.

Such amount shall be projected for the number of years from the earlier of the distribution of such Accounts to the Participant or the date of this calculation to the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date at an interest rate of seven and one-half percent (7.5%) compounded annually. In the event that such Profit Sharing and Savings Plan Accounts are distributed to the Participant on different dates, then this projection shall be applied separately to each distribution based upon the specific dates of distribution.

The total projected value shall be converted to a life annuity payable at the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, using the interest rate published by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for use in calculating immediate annuities which is in effect on the first day of the Plan Year to the extent that such rate continues to be published. In the event that such rate is no longer published, the total projected value shall be converted using the applicable interest rate as defined in Code section 417(e)(3) for the lookback month of November preceding the first day of the Plan Year.

 

  (4) The Participant’s Accounts in the Wendy’s International Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan projected and converted to a life annuity payable at his Normal Retirement Date in the same manner as the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan Accounts in (3) above.

 

10


  (5) The Participant’s Accounts in this SERP projected and converted to a life annuity payable at his Normal Retirement Date in the same manner as the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan Accounts in (3) above.

 

  3.3 TERMINATION BENEFIT

If a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason on or after his Normal Retirement Age, after incurring a Total and Permanent Disability, as a result of death or after completing five (5) Years of Service, such Participant (or his Beneficiary in the event of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive a benefit, payable in accordance with Article IV, equal to the balance of the Participant’s Account. If a Participant’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to the earliest of attaining his Normal Retirement Age, incurring a Total and Permanent Disability, the date of his death or completing five (5) Years of Service, then notwithstanding any contrary provision in this SERP, neither the Participant nor his Beneficiary shall be entitled to any benefits under this SERP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a benefit payable in accordance with Article IV, equal to the balance of the Participant’s Account, if the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (a) within two years following a Change in Control or (b) prior to the date of a Change in Control if the Participant reasonably demonstrates that the termination (1) was at the request of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which has been threatened or proposed, such termination shall be deemed to have occurred after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement provided a Change in Control shall actually have occurred.

ARTICLE IV - FORMS OF PAYMENT

 

  4.1 DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

 

  a) Normal Form . Unless a Participant elects one of the distribution alternatives described in Section 4.1(b) in the manner set forth in Section 4.1(c), upon the Participant’s Termination (other than for death, Total and Permanent Disability or a Termination described in Section 4.3), the Participant will receive the distribution of his or her Accounts in a single lump sum payable within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six month anniversary of the date of such Termination.

 

  b)

Alternative Form . In the alternative, a Participant may elect to receive his or her Accounts in quarterly installments payable over no less than two years and no more than fifteen (15) years commencing within 60 days after

 

11


 

the first day of the calendar quarter following the six-month anniversary of the date of such Termination, with the amount of each installment equal to the amount of the Account on the Valuation Date immediately prior to the payment of such installment divided by the number of installments remaining to be paid.

 

  c) Timing and Manner of Distribution Elections . Distribution elections shall be made in such manner as may be designated by the Plan Administrator and communicated to Participants. Any election made within twelve months of the date payment would otherwise commence (unless made no later than 30 days after becoming a Participant) shall be disregarded and benefits shall be paid in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 4.1(a). Effective January 1, 2006, any distribution election made more than 30 days after the Participant became a Covered Employee shall delay the commencement of distributions to such Participant by five years from the date payments would have commenced in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 4.1(a).

 

  4.2 DISTRIBUTIONS ON TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OR DEATH

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event: (a) a Participant incurs a Total and Permanent Disability or (b) a Participant dies, whether before or after the payment of benefits has commenced hereunder, the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum as soon as practicable after such occurrence (but not later than the later of (1) the last day of the calendar year in which the event occurs, or (2) 60 days after the date the event occurs).

 

  4.3 DISTRIBUTIONS ON CHANGE IN CONTROL

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates is involuntarily terminated without Cause or is terminated by the Participant for Good Reason:

 

  (a) If the termination of employment occurs within two years following a Change in Control and the Change in Control constitutes “a change in ownership or effective control of the Company” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,” in each case within the meaning of Code section 409A, the Participant’s Total Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum payable within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six month anniversary of the date of such termination.

 

12


  (b) If the termination of employment occurs within two years following a Change in Control but the Change in Control does not constitute either “a change in ownership or effective control of the Company” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,” in each case within the meaning of Code section 409A, the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid at the time and in the manner elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

  (c) If the Plan Administrator determines that a Participant has demonstrated that a termination prior to a Change in Control met the requirements for accelerated vesting under Section 3.3(b), the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid at the time and in the manner elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1, with the date of the Change in Control treated as the date of Termination when determining the timing of the distribution.

 

  4.4 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

Each Participant shall designate, by giving a designation in approved form to the Plan Administrator, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits which may become or continue to be payable upon or after his death under this Plan. Successive designations may be made and the last designation received by the Plan Administrator prior to the death of the Participant shall be effective and shall revoke all prior designations.

If a Participant shall fail to designate a Beneficiary, if such designation shall for any reason be illegal or ineffective or if no Beneficiary so designated survives the Participant, then his benefits shall be paid to:

 

  a) His surviving spouse; or

 

  b) If there is no surviving spouse, to the executor or other personal representative of the Participant to be distributed in accordance with the Participant’s will, or if he has no valid will, in accordance with applicable state law.

ARTICLE V - PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

  5.1 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

 

  a) The Company shall be the Plan Administrator. The Company shall appoint a Committee to act as its agent or delegate in carrying out its administrative duties.

 

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  b) The Committee shall consist of not fewer than three (3) members who shall be appointed by the Company and may include individuals who are not Participants in the Plan. The Company may remove or replace any member at any time in its sole discretion, and any member may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Company, which resignation shall become effective at its delivery or at any later date specified therein.

 

  5.2 POWERS OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

The Plan Administrator shall be charged with the operation and administration of the SERP in accordance with the terms hereof and shall have all the powers necessary to carry out the provisions of the SERP. Any and all determinations, actions or decisions of the Plan Administrator and Committee with respect to the administration of the SERP, including without limitation the determination of benefit eligibility and interpretation of SERP provisions, shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties having an interest in the SERP.

 

  5.3 COMMITTEE

 

  a) The Committee shall hold meetings upon such notice and at such times and places as its members may from time to time deem appropriate, and may adopt from time to time such bylaws and regulations for the conduct and transaction of its business and affairs consistent with the terms of the Plan and the delegation of duties and powers by the Company. A majority of its members at the relevant time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All action taken by the Committee shall be by vote of the majority of its members present at such meeting, except that the Committee also may act without a meeting by a written consent signed by a majority of its members. A member shall not be disqualified from acting because of any personal interest, benefit or advantage, inasmuch as a member may be a director of the Company, an Employee or a Participant, but no member shall vote or act in connection with an action of the Committee relating exclusively to himself.

 

  b) The Committee may allocate among its members such specific responsibilities, obligations, powers or duties as shall be deemed appropriate.

 

  5.4 INDEMNIFICATION

The Company shall indemnify and defend each member of the Committee and all officers or representatives of the Company and Employees assigned fiduciary responsibility under Federal law to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liability arising from any action or failure to act in connection with the SERP.

 

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ARTICLE VI - CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

  6.1 CLAIMS REVIEW

Any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary who wishes to request a review of a claim for benefits or who wishes an explanation of a benefit or its denial may direct to the Plan Administrator a written request for such review within one hundred twenty (120) days of the denial. The Plan Administrator shall respond to the request by issuing a notice to the claimant as soon as possible, but in no event later than ninety (90) days (one hundred eighty (180) days in special cases) from the date of receipt of the request. This notice furnished by the Plan Administrator shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include the following:

 

  a) The specific reason or reasons for any denial of benefits;

 

  b) The specific SERP provisions on which any denial is based;

 

  c) A description of any further material or information which is necessary for the claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation of why the material or information is needed; and

 

  d) An explanation of the SERP’s claim appeals procedure.

If the Plan Administrator denies the claim or fails to respond to the claimant’s written request for a review within one hundred eighty (180) days of its receipt, the claimant shall be entitled to proceed to the claim appeals procedure described in Section 6.2. If the claimant does not respond to the notice, posted by first-class mail to the address of record of the claimant, within sixty (60) days from receipt of the notice, the claimant shall be considered satisfied in all respects.

 

  6.2 APPEALS PROCEDURE

In the event that the claimant wishes to appeal the claim review denial, the claimant or his duly authorized representative may submit to the Plan Administrator, within sixty (60) days of his receipt of the notice, a written notification of appeal of the claim denial. The notification of appeal of the claim denial shall permit the claimant or his duly authorized representative to utilize the following claim appeals procedures:

 

  a) To review pertinent documents; and

 

  b) To submit issues and comments in writing to which the Plan Administrator shall respond.

 

15


The Plan Administrator shall furnish a final written decision on formal review not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the notification of appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of the time for processing the appeal. In no event, however, shall the Plan Administrator respond later than one hundred twenty (120) days after a request for an appeal. The decision on the appeal shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, shall include specific reasons for the decision, and shall contain specific references to the pertinent SERP provisions on which the decision is based.

 

  6.3 DISCRETION REGARDING CLAIMS AND APPEALS

The Plan Administrator, or any individual or committee to whom responsibility for claims and appeals has been delegated, shall have complete discretion in deciding such claims and appeals and any such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the claimant.

ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS

 

  7.1 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The SERP may be amended by the Company, by action of its Board or a committee thereof, at any time in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant. However, in the event of the amendment or termination of the SERP, any benefit accrued to such date shall not be reduced or forfeited without the consent of each affected Participant. Further, the SERP may not be amended or terminated for two years following the end of the Plan Year in which a Change in Control occurs or, prior to the date of a Change in Control, if an affected Participant reasonably demonstrates that the amendment or termination had been adopted (a) at the request of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (b) otherwise in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which has been threatened or proposed, in either case provided a Change in Control shall actually have occurred.

 

  7.2 NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment between the Company and any Participant.

 

  7.3 UNFUNDED PLAN

The SERP at all times shall be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes and for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may establish a benefits protection trust for the benefit of Participants with an independent bank as trustee.

 

16


Prior to a Change in Control, the Company shall transfer to such trust assets equal to the Accounts of all Participants. Any benefits protection trust established to provide benefits under this SERP shall at all times remain subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors in the event of insolvency.

 

  7.4 RESTRICTIONS UPON ASSIGNMENTS AND CREDITORS’ CLAIMS

No benefit payable under this SERP shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge prior to actual receipt thereof by the Participant or Beneficiary and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge prior to such receipt shall be void. No benefit payable under this SERP shall be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or other legal or equitable proceeding or process, and any attempt to do so shall be void. The Company shall not be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Participant or Beneficiary except as may be required by the tax withholding provisions of the Code or any state’s income tax laws.

 

  7.5 PAYMENT CONSTITUTES RELEASE

Payment to the Participant or Beneficiary as set forth in Article IV shall completely discharge the Company’s obligations under this SERP, whether paid by a benefits protection trust established under Section 7.3 or directly by the Company.

 

  7.6 APPLICABLE LAW

To the extent not preempted by Federal law, the SERP shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 26 th day of October, 2007.

 

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Kerrii B. Anderson
  Kerrii B. Anderson
Its:   President & CEO

 

17


Exhibit I

 

Name

  

Initial Account Balance

  

 

18

Exhibit 10(c)

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 3

(EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2007)


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 3

 

Preamble

   1

Article I - Definitions

   1

1.1   Account

   1

1.2   Active Participant

   1

1.3   Beneficiary

   1

1.4   Board

   1

1.5   Cause

   1

1.6   Change in Control

   2

1.7   Code

   4

1.8   Committee

   4

1.9   Company

   4

1.10   Compensation

   4

1.11   Contributions

   4

1.12   Covered Employee

   4

1.13   Effective Date

   4

1.14   Employee

   4

1.15   Good Reason

   5

1.16   Inactive Participant

   5

1.17   Normal Retirement Date / Age

   5

1.18   Participant

   5

1.19   Participating Employer

   5

1.20   Profit Sharing and Savings Plan

   5

1.21   Plan Year

   5

1.22   SERP

   5

1.23   Total and Permanent Disability

   5

1.24   Year of Service

   5

Article II - Eligibility and Participation

   6

2.1   Eligibility

   6

2.2   Reemployment Following Qualified Military Service

   6

Article III - Amount of Benefit

   6

3.1   Credits to Supplemental Account

   6

3.2   Termination Benefit

   7

Article IV - Forms of Payment

   7

4.1   Distribution of Benefits

   7


4.2   Distributions on Total and Permanent Disability or Death

   8

4.3   Distributions on Change in Control

   8

4.4   Designation of Beneficiary

   9

Article V - Plan Administration

   9

5.1   Plan Administration

   9

5.2   Powers of the Plan Administrator

   10

5.3   Committee

   10

5.4   Indemnification

   10

Article VI - Claims Procedure

   11

6.1   Claims Review

   11

6.2   Appeals Procedure

   11

6.3   Discretion Regarding Claims and Appeals

   12

Article VII - Miscellaneous

   12

7.1   Amendment and Termination

   12

7.2   No Contract Of Employment

   12

7.3   Unfunded Plan

   12

7.4   Restrictions Upon Assignments and Creditors’ Claims

   13

7.5   Payment Constitutes Release

   13

7.6   Applicable Law

   13

 

2


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN NO. 3

Wendy’s International, Inc. maintains the Wendy’s International, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan for the benefit of its non-crew employees. The Company has adopted this Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 3 (the “SERP”) to provide benefits in excess of those permitted in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plans under the Internal Revenue Code and in compliance with the provisions of Code section 409A. This SERP shall be interpreted in conformity with the requirements of Code section 409A.

ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

Whenever used herein with the initial letter capitalized and unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, words and phrases shall have (a) the meanings stated below, or (b) if not stated below, the meanings given to them in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, if defined under that plan. All masculine terms shall include the feminine and all singular terms shall include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates the gender or the number.

 

  1.1 ACCOUNT means a notional account established for each Participant equal to all supplemental contributions and interest credited under Section 3.1.

 

  1.2 ACTIVE PARTICIPANT means a Covered Employee who becomes a Participant and continues to participate in the SERP pursuant to Article II.

 

  1.3 BENEFICIARY means any person or persons designated by a Participant to receive any death benefits that may become payable under Article IV after the death of such Participant.

 

  1.4 BOARD means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  1.5

CAUSE means the termination of a Participant’s employment by reason of the Board’s good faith determination that the Participant (a) willfully and continually failed to substantially perform his or her duties with the Company or Participating Employer (other than a failure resulting from the Participant’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Participant by the Board which specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that the Participant has not substantially performed his or her duties and such failure substantially to perform continues for at least fourteen (14) days, or (b) has willfully engaged in


 

conduct which is demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company or Participating Employer, monetarily or otherwise, or (c) has otherwise materially breached the terms of his or her employment agreement with the Company or Participating Employer, if applicable (each, an “Employment Agreement”) (including, without limitation, a voluntary termination of the Participant’s employment by the Participant during the term of such Employment Agreement). No act, nor failure to act, on the Participant’s part, shall be considered “willful” unless he or she has acted, or failed to act, with an absence of good faith and without a reasonable belief that his or her action or failure to act was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant’s employment shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause unless and until (1) there shall have been delivered to the Participant a copy of a written notice setting forth that the Participant was guilty of conduct set forth above in clause (a), (b) or (c) of the first sentence of this definition and specifying the particulars thereof in detail, and (2) the Participant shall have been provided an opportunity to be heard by the Board (with the assistance of Participant’s counsel).

 

  1.6 CHANGE IN CONTROL means the occurrence during the Plan Year of:

 

  a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any common stock or other voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally for the election of directors (the “Voting Securities”) by any “Person” (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), immediately after which such Person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities; provided , however , in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a “Non-Control Acquisition” (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A “Non-Control Acquisition” shall mean an acquisition by (1) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any corporation or other Person of which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a “Subsidiary”) (2) the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (3) any Person in connection with a “Non-Control Transaction” (as hereinafter defined);

 

  b)

The individuals who, as of January 1, 2003, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least seventy percent (70%) of the members of the Board; provided , however , that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the

 

2


 

Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this SERP, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further , however , that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “Proxy Contest”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or

 

  c) The consummation of:

 

  1) A merger, consolidation or reorganization with or into the Company, or in which securities of the Company are issued (a “Merger”), unless such Merger is a “Non-Control Transaction.” A “Non-Control Transaction” shall mean a Merger if:

 

  A) the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such Merger own directly or indirectly immediately following such Merger at least seventy percent (70%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such Merger (the “Surviving Company”) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities immediately before such Merger,

 

  B) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such Merger constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Company, or a corporation beneficially directly or indirectly owning a majority of the Voting Securities of the Surviving Company, and

 

  C) no Person other than (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary, (iii) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to such Merger was maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any Person who, immediately prior to such Merger had Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the then outstanding Voting Securities or common stock of the Company, has Beneficial Ownership of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving Company then outstanding voting securities or its common stock;

 

  2) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

3


  3) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding common stock or Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of common stock or Voting Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares of common stock or Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of common stock or Voting Securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional common stock or Voting Securities which increase the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

 

  1.7 CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

  1.8 COMMITTEE means the Administrative Committee established in Article V.

 

  1.9 COMPANY means Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation.

 

  1.10 COMPENSATION means a Participant’s annual Compensation, as that term is defined in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, except that there shall be no maximum amount of Compensation considered.

 

  1.11 CONTRIBUTIONS means the amounts credited to a Participant’s Account during a Plan Year, other than interest, pursuant to Article III.

 

  1.12 COVERED EMPLOYEE means an Employee who, after October 26, 2006, was first appointed to serve as an officer:

 

  a) For the Company, with the title of “Vice President” or above; or

 

  b) For any Participating Employer, with such titles as may be designated for that Participating Employer by the Board or a committee thereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Employee shall not be a Covered Employee under this SERP for any Plan Year in which such Employee actively participates in the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 2.

 

  1.13 EFFECTIVE DATE means January 1, 2007, the effective date of this SERP.

 

  1.14 EMPLOYEE means a person employed by the Company or a Participating Employer who is a United States citizen or resident alien.

 

4


  1.15 GOOD REASON shall mean:

 

  a) in the case of an employee whose employment with the Company or one of its subsidiaries is subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such individual and the Company or such subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of “Good Reason,” shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during the period that such employment agreement remains in effect following a Change in Control, and

 

  b) in all other cases, means (1) a material diminution in position or responsibilities, (2) a material reduction of salary or aggregate incentive compensation opportunities or (3) a required relocation beyond fifty miles from the present work location.

 

  1.16 INACTIVE PARTICIPANT means a former Active Participant who is no longer a Covered Employee but who has an Account remaining in the SERP.

 

  1.17 NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE and NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE both mean the first of the month coincident with or next following a Participant’s sixty-fifth birthday.

 

  1.18 PARTICIPANT means an Active Participant or an Inactive Participant.

 

  1.19 PARTICIPATING EMPLOYER means an Affiliate, as defined in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, that has been authorized to participate in the SERP by the Board or a committee thereof.

 

  1.20 PROFIT SHARING AND SAVINGS PLAN means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

  1.21 PLAN YEAR means the calendar year.

 

  1.22 SERP means the Wendy’s International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan No. 3.

 

  1.23 TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY means a physical or mental condition which qualifies a Participant for Social Security disability benefits or which qualifies such Participant to continue to receive benefits under the Company’s disability plan, after having received such benefits for twelve (12) months.

 

  1.24 YEAR OF SERVICE means any Plan Year during which an Employee is credited with a Year of Service under the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

5


ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

 

  2.1 ELIGIBILITY

A Covered Employee shall become a Participant in the SERP on the latest of the Effective Date, the first day of the Plan Year following the date the Employee became a Covered Employee (the Covered Employee’s date of hire or promotion into eligible employment), or the Entry Date upon which the Covered Employee becomes a Match Eligible Participant in the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

  2.2 REEMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING QUALIFIED MILITARY SERVICE

Notwithstanding any provision of this SERP to the contrary, a Covered Employee who returns to employment following qualified military service shall be credited with such Contributions and Years of Service as required under Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

ARTICLE III - AMOUNT OF BENEFIT

 

  3.1 CREDITS TO SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNT

 

  a) For each Plan Year commencing after December 31, 2006, for each Active Participant who remains employed as a Covered Employee by the Company or a Participating Employer on the last day of the Plan Year, or who dies, becomes disabled or attains Normal Retirement Age during the Plan Year while actively employed, the Company shall credit to the Supplemental Account of such Active Participant an amount equal to the sum of:

 

  1) Deemed Match Credit . As of the last day of each Plan Year commencing after December 31, 2006, an amount equal to a percentage of the Participant’s Compensation for the Plan Year in excess of the dollar limitation under Code section 401(a)(17), where the percentage is the maximum annual rate of match available under the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan.

 

  2) Profit Sharing Contribution Credit . As soon as practicable after the Company approves a profit sharing contribution to the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan, an amount equal to a percentage of the Participant’s Compensation for the Plan Year in excess of the dollar limitation under Code section 401(a)(17), where the percentage is the annual rate of the profit-sharing contribution made to the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan on the Participant’s behalf for such Plan Year (expressed as a percentage of his or her “compensation,” as defined pursuant to the Profit Sharing and Savings Plan and with the percentage rounded to the nearest one hundredth of a percent).

 

6


 

b)

Interest . On the last day of each Plan Year, interest shall be credited to the Supplemental Account as of that date but before crediting the allocation for that Plan Year (if any) under this Section, for each Participant at a rate equal to the 30 year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate (or the next longest US government bond rate then available) as of November 30 th .

 

  3.2 TERMINATION BENEFIT

If a Participant’s employment terminates for any reason on or after his Normal Retirement Age, after incurring a Total and Permanent Disability, as a result of death or after completing five (5) Years of Service, such Participant (or his Beneficiary in the event of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive a benefit, payable in accordance with Article IV, equal to the balance of the Participant’s Account. If a Participant’s employment is terminated for any reason prior to the earliest of attaining his Normal Retirement Age, incurring a Total and Permanent Disability, the date of his death or completing five (5) Years of Service, then notwithstanding any contrary provision in this SERP, neither the Participant nor his Beneficiary shall be entitled to any benefits under this SERP.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a benefit payable in accordance with Article IV, equal to the balance of the Participant’s Account, if the Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause (a) within two years following a Change in Control or (b) prior to the date of a Change in Control if the Participant reasonably demonstrates that the termination (1) was at the request of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (2) otherwise arose in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which has been threatened or proposed, such termination shall be deemed to have occurred after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement provided a Change in Control shall actually have occurred.

ARTICLE IV - FORMS OF PAYMENT

 

  4.1 DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS

 

  a) Normal Form . Unless a Participant elects one of the distribution alternatives described in Section 4.1(b) in the manner set forth in Section 4.1(c), upon the Participant’s Termination (other than for death, Total and Permanent Disability or a Termination described in Section 4.3), the Participant will receive the distribution of his or her Accounts in a single lump sum payable within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six month anniversary of the date of such Termination.

 

7


  b) Alternative Form . In the alternative, a Participant may elect to receive his or her Accounts in quarterly installments payable over no less than two years and no more than fifteen (15) years commencing within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six-month anniversary of the date of such Termination, with the amount of each installment equal to the amount of the Account on the Valuation Date immediately prior to the payment of such installment divided by the number of installments remaining to be paid.

 

  c) Timing and Manner of Distribution Elections . Distribution elections shall be made in such manner as may be designated by the Plan Administrator and communicated to Participants. Any election made within twelve months of the date payment would otherwise commence (unless made no later than 30 days after becoming a Participant) shall be disregarded and benefits shall be paid in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 4.1(a). Any distribution election made more than 30 days after the Participant became a Covered Employee shall delay the commencement of distributions to such Participant by five years from the date payments would have commenced in accordance with the preceding distribution election, if any, selected by such Participant or, if no such distribution election has been made, in accordance with Section 4.1(a).

 

  4.2 DISTRIBUTIONS ON TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OR DEATH

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event: (a) a Participant incurs a Total and Permanent Disability or (b) a Participant dies, whether before or after the payment of benefits has commenced hereunder, the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum as soon as practicable after such occurrence (but not later than the later of (1) the last day of the calendar year in which the event occurs, or (2) 60 days after the date the event occurs).

 

  4.3 DISTRIBUTIONS ON CHANGE IN CONTROL

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant’s employment with the Company and its Affiliates is involuntarily terminated without Cause or is terminated by the Participant for Good Reason:

 

  (a) If the termination of employment occurs within two years following a Change in Control and the Change in Control constitutes “a change in ownership or effective control of the Company” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,” in each case within the meaning of Code section 409A, the Participant’s Total Account Balance shall be paid in a single lump sum within 60 days after the first day of the calendar quarter following the six month anniversary of the date of such termination.

 

8


  (b) If the termination of employment occurs within two years following a Change in Control but the Change in Control does not constitute either “a change in ownership or effective control of the Company” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets,” in each case within the meaning of Code section 409A, the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid at the time and in the manner elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

  (c) If the Plan Administrator determines that a Participant has demonstrated that a termination prior to a Change in Control met the requirements for accelerated vesting under Section 3.2(b), the Participant’s total Account Balance shall be paid at the time and in the manner elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.1, with the date of the Change in Control treated as the date of Termination when determining the timing of the distribution.

 

  4.4 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

Each Participant shall designate, by giving a designation in approved form to the Plan Administrator, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits which may become or continue to be payable upon or after his death under this Plan. Successive designations may be made and the last designation received by the Plan Administrator prior to the death of the Participant shall be effective and shall revoke all prior designations.

If a Participant shall fail to designate a Beneficiary, if such designation shall for any reason be illegal or ineffective or if no Beneficiary so designated survives the Participant, then his benefits shall be paid to:

 

  a) His surviving spouse; or

 

  b) If there is no surviving spouse, to the executor or other personal representative of the Participant to be distributed in accordance with the Participant’s will, or if he has no valid will, in accordance with applicable state law.

ARTICLE V - PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

  5.1 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

 

  a) The Company shall be the Plan Administrator. The Company shall appoint a Committee to act as its agent or delegate in carrying out its administrative duties.

 

9


  b) The Committee shall consist of not fewer than three (3) members who shall be appointed by the Company and may include individuals who are not Participants in the Plan. The Company may remove or replace any member at any time in its sole discretion, and any member may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Company, which resignation shall become effective at its delivery or at any later date specified therein.

 

  5.2 POWERS OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

The Plan Administrator shall be charged with the operation and administration of the SERP in accordance with the terms hereof and shall have all the powers necessary to carry out the provisions of the SERP. Any and all determinations, actions or decisions of the Plan Administrator and Committee with respect to the administration of the SERP, including without limitation the determination of benefit eligibility and interpretation of SERP provisions, shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties having an interest in the SERP.

 

  5.3 COMMITTEE

 

  a) The Committee shall hold meetings upon such notice and at such times and places as its members may from time to time deem appropriate, and may adopt from time to time such bylaws and regulations for the conduct and transaction of its business and affairs consistent with the terms of the Plan and the delegation of duties and powers by the Company. A majority of its members at the relevant time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All action taken by the Committee shall be by vote of the majority of its members present at such meeting, except that the Committee also may act without a meeting by a written consent signed by a majority of its members. A member shall not be disqualified from acting because of any personal interest, benefit or advantage, inasmuch as a member may be a director of the Company, an Employee or a Participant, but no member shall vote or act in connection with an action of the Committee relating exclusively to himself.

 

  b) The Committee may allocate among its members such specific responsibilities, obligations, powers or duties as shall be deemed appropriate.

 

  5.4 INDEMNIFICATION

The Company shall indemnify and defend each member of the Committee and all officers or representatives of the Company and Employees assigned fiduciary responsibility under Federal law to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) and liability arising from any action or failure to act in connection with the SERP.

 

10


ARTICLE VI - CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

  6.1 CLAIMS REVIEW

Any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary who wishes to request a review of a claim for benefits or who wishes an explanation of a benefit or its denial may direct to the Plan Administrator a written request for such review within one hundred twenty (120) days of the denial. The Plan Administrator shall respond to the request by issuing a notice to the claimant as soon as possible, but in no event later than ninety (90) days (one hundred eighty (180) days in special cases) from the date of receipt of the request. This notice furnished by the Plan Administrator shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include the following:

 

  a) The specific reason or reasons for any denial of benefits;

 

  b) The specific SERP provisions on which any denial is based;

 

  c) A description of any further material or information which is necessary for the claimant to perfect his claim and an explanation of why the material or information is needed; and

 

  d) An explanation of the SERP’s claim appeals procedure.

If the Plan Administrator denies the claim or fails to respond to the claimant’s written request for a review within one hundred eighty (180) days of its receipt, the claimant shall be entitled to proceed to the claim appeals procedure described in Section 6.2. If the claimant does not respond to the notice, posted by first-class mail to the address of record of the claimant, within sixty (60) days from receipt of the notice, the claimant shall be considered satisfied in all respects.

 

  6.2 APPEALS PROCEDURE

In the event that the claimant wishes to appeal the claim review denial, the claimant or his duly authorized representative may submit to the Plan Administrator, within sixty (60) days of his receipt of the notice, a written notification of appeal of the claim denial. The notification of appeal of the claim denial shall permit the claimant or his duly authorized representative to utilize the following claim appeals procedures:

 

  a) To review pertinent documents; and

 

  b) To submit issues and comments in writing to which the Plan Administrator shall respond.

The Plan Administrator shall furnish a final written decision on formal review not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of the notification of appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of the time for processing the appeal. In no event, however, shall the Plan Administrator respond later than one hundred twenty

 

11


(120) days after a request for an appeal. The decision on the appeal shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, shall include specific reasons for the decision, and shall contain specific references to the pertinent SERP provisions on which the decision is based.

 

  6.3 DISCRETION REGARDING CLAIMS AND APPEALS

The Plan Administrator, or any individual or committee to whom responsibility for claims and appeals has been delegated, shall have complete discretion in deciding such claims and appeals and any such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding upon the claimant.

ARTICLE VII - MISCELLANEOUS

 

  7.1 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

The SERP may be amended by the Company, by action of its Board or a committee thereof, at any time in its discretion and without the consent of any Participant. However, in the event of the amendment or termination of the SERP, any benefit accrued to such date shall not be reduced or forfeited without the consent of each affected Participant. Further, the SERP may not be amended or terminated for two years following the end of the Plan Year in which a Change in Control occurs or, prior to the date of a Change in Control, if an affected Participant reasonably demonstrates that the amendment or termination had been adopted (a) at the request of a third party who has indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (b) otherwise in connection with, or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which has been threatened or proposed, in either case provided a Change in Control shall actually have occurred.

 

  7.2 NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment between the Company and any Participant.

 

  7.3 UNFUNDED PLAN

The SERP at all times shall be considered entirely unfunded both for tax purposes and for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may establish a benefits protection trust for the benefit of Participants with an independent bank as trustee. Prior to a Change in Control, the Company shall transfer to such trust assets equal to the Accounts of all Participants. Any benefits protection trust established to provide benefits under this SERP shall at all times remain subject to the claims of the Company’s general creditors in the event of insolvency.

 

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  7.4 RESTRICTIONS UPON ASSIGNMENTS AND CREDITORS’ CLAIMS

No benefit payable under this SERP shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge prior to actual receipt thereof by the Participant or Beneficiary and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber or charge prior to such receipt shall be void. No benefit payable under this SERP shall be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution, levy or other legal or equitable proceeding or process, and any attempt to do so shall be void. The Company shall not be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Participant or Beneficiary except as may be required by the tax withholding provisions of the Code or any state’s income tax laws.

 

  7.5 PAYMENT CONSTITUTES RELEASE

Payment to the Participant or Beneficiary as set forth in Article IV shall completely discharge the Company’s obligations under this SERP, whether paid by a benefits protection trust established under Section 7.3 or directly by the Company.

 

  7.6 APPLICABLE LAW

To the extent not preempted by Federal law, the SERP shall be construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer this 26 th day of October, 2007.

 

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Kerrii B. Anderson
  Kerrii B. Anderson
Its:   President & CEO

 

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Exhibit 10(d)

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2007 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

WHEREAS , Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted the Wendy’s International, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”); and

WHEREAS , the Company wishes to amend the Plan effective immediately.

NOW, THEREFORE , the Company amends the Plan as follows:

1. Section 5.2(v) of the Plan is amended to read as follows:

5.2 (v) Effect of Change in Control .

(A) In the event of a Change in Control for an event described in Section 29.6(C) which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, the Formula Restricted Stock Units (including those credited pursuant to Section 5.2(ii) in connection with Dividend Equivalent Rights) shall become fully vested as of the date of such Change in Control.

(B) In the event that a Grantee’s service as a director terminates within a period commencing on the date of a Change in Control for an event described in Section 29.6(A) or (B) which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and ending on the earlier of the Vesting Date and the second anniversary of such Change in Control, provided that such termination occurred in connection with or as a result of such Change in Control, the Formula Restricted Stock Units (including those credited pursuant to Section 5.2(ii) in connection with Dividend Equivalent Rights) shall become fully vested as of the date of such termination.

(C) In the event that a Grantee’s service as a director terminates prior to the Vesting Date, other than as described in Sections 5.2(A) or (B) and provided that such termination occurred in connection with or as a result of such Change in Control, the Formula Restricted Stock Units (including those credited pursuant to Section 5.2(ii) in connection with Dividend Equivalent Rights) shall become fully vested as of the date of such termination but shall not be settled until the applicable Vesting Date.

Exhibit 10(e)

AMENDED AND RESTATED PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT

Wendy’s International, Inc.

March 17, 2006

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT, made as of October 29, 2007, between Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), and Kerrii B. Anderson (the “ Grantee ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Wendy’s International, Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) in order to provide additional incentive to certain employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, as of March 17, 2006 (the “ Date of Grant ”), the Committee had determined to grant to the Grantee an Award of Performance Shares as provided herein to encourage the Grantee’s efforts toward the continuing success of the Company; and

WHEREAS, to avoid the negative consequences of a violation of Code section 409A, the Committee and Grantee have agreed to amend the prior award agreement issued on the Date of Grant, as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Grant of Performance Shares .

1.1 The Company hereby grants to the Grantee an award of 16,210 Performance Shares (the “ Award ”), subject to adjustment pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 hereof and the execution and return of this Agreement by the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate, if applicable) to the Company as provided in Section 10 hereof. Subject to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, payment with respect to vested Earned Performance Shares shall be made entirely in Shares in accordance with Section 8 hereof.

1.2 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

 

2. Performance Cycle .

The Performance Cycle shall be the Company’s 2006 fiscal year, beginning on January 2, 2006 and ending on December 31, 2006.

 

3. Performance Objective and Formula .

3.1 The Performance Objective established by the Committee with respect to the Performance Shares is positive diluted earnings per share.


3.2 If the Company achieves this Performance Objective during the Performance Cycle and the Committee certifies to this result in accordance with Section 4 hereof, the Performance Shares shall be earned and, subject to Sections 4.1, 5, and 6.4 hereof, on May 1, 2007 (the “ Issue Date ”), the Grantee will be credited with a number of Earned Performance Shares equal to the number of Performance Shares listed in Section 1.1 multiplied by a factor determined in accordance with the matrix set forth in Appendix A attached hereto.

For the purpose of applying the matrix set forth in Appendix A, net income shall be as reported on the Company’s income statement for fiscal 2006 with the following adjustments:

(i) disregarding the impact of (a) costs incurred in connection with the initial public offering and any spin-off or other disposition of Tim Hortons Inc., including costs related to additional employees hired by Tim Hortons Inc. or its subsidiaries as a result of its becoming a separate reporting company, (b) interest costs or other expense incurred by Tim Hortons Inc. related to revolving credit and other debt financing arrangements entered into by Tim Hortons Inc. in 2006, (c) the sale of equity of Tim Hortons Inc. in the initial public offering (which will decrease the Company’s reported earnings attributable to earnings of Tim Hortons Inc.), (d) the Tim Hortons Inc. initial public offering and any spin-off or other disposition of Tim Hortons Inc. on the Company’s 2006 income tax expense, (e) costs (including charges) incurred in connection with the sale or other disposition of one or more business units of the Company, (f) severance costs or other charges incurred in connection with the Company’s initiative to reduce its overhead as part of an organizational restructuring of the Company, and related costs of outside consultants and advisors, or (g) new accounting standards or interpretations issued in 2006;

(ii) adding the budgeted consolidated earnings of Tim Hortons Inc. and any other business unit sold or otherwise disposed of to the earnings results of the Company for any period in 2006 for which the earnings results of Tim Hortons Inc. and any other business unit sold or otherwise disposed of are not included in the consolidated earnings results of the Company; and

(iii) adjusting the number of Performance Shares in the event of a spin-off of Tim Hortons Inc. prior to May 1, 2007, such that the Fair Market Value of the Performance Shares (calculated as though the Fair Market Value of a Performance Share is equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) immediately prior to the spin-off is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Performance Shares (calculated in the same manner) immediately after the spin-off, and the number of Shares issued in settlement of the Earned Performance Shares shall be adjusted proportionately to the adjustment in the number of Performance Shares.

 

4. Determination of Award .

4.1 Determination Notice . As soon as possible after the end of the Performance Cycle, the Committee will certify in writing whether the Performance Objective has been met for the Performance Cycle and determine the number of Earned Performance Shares, if any, in accordance with the matrix set forth in Appendix A; provided , that , if the Committee certifies that the Performance Objective has been met, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the number of Earned Performance Shares which may become payable to the Grantee with respect to the Award. The date of the Committee’s certification pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall hereinafter be referred to as the “ Certification Date ”. The Company will notify the Grantee (or the executors or administrators of the Grantee’s estate, if appropriate) of the Committee’s

 

2


certification following the Certification Date (such notice, the “ Determination Notice ”). The Determination Notice shall specify (i) the Company’s reported diluted earnings per share, (ii) the Company’s reported net income as adjusted pursuant to Section 3.2, and (iii) the number of Earned Performance Shares, if any, calculated in accordance with the Committee’s certification pursuant to this Section 4.1 and which may become payable to Grantee pursuant to Sections 6 or 7 hereof.

4.2 Dividend Equivalent Rights . As of the Issue Date, the Grantee shall also be issued a number of Dividend Equivalent Rights equal to the number of Earned Performance Shares. Each Dividend Equivalent Right represents the right to receive all of the cash dividends that are or would be payable with respect to the Share represented by the Earned Performance Share to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates. With respect to each Dividend Equivalent Right, any such cash dividends shall be converted into additional Earned Performance Shares based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such dividend is made (provided that no fractional Stock Units shall be granted). Each such additional Earned Performance Share shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the Earned Performance Share to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates, including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer, forfeiture, vesting, voting and payment provisions contained in Sections 6 through 9 of this Agreement. In the event that an Earned Performance Share is forfeited pursuant to Section 5 or 6 hereof, the related Dividend Equivalent Right shall also be forfeited.

 

5. Forfeiture of Award Prior to Issue Date .

5.1 Termination of Employment . If the Grantee’s employment terminates for any reason prior to the Issue Date, the Award shall automatically terminate and the Grantee shall not be entitled to receive any Earned Performance Shares under Section 4 hereof or otherwise under this Agreement.

5.2 Misconduct . If prior to the Issue Date the Grantee has (i) used for profit or disclosed to unauthorized persons, confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) breached any contract with or violated any fiduciary obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) engaged in unlawful trading in the securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of another company based on information gained as a result of that Grantee’s employment with, or status as a director to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each of (i), (ii) and (iii), an “ Act of Misconduct ”), the Award shall automatically terminate and the Grantee shall not be entitled to receive any Earned Performance Shares under Section 4 hereof or otherwise under this Agreement.

 

6. Vesting of Earned Performance Shares .

6.1 Restrictions on Transfer . The Earned Performance Shares issued under this Agreement may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and may not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated.

6.2 Vesting Generally . Except as provided in Sections 6.3, 6.4 and 7 hereof, one-fourth (1/4) of the number of Earned Performance Shares issued hereunder (rounded down to the nearest whole Share, if necessary) shall vest on each of the first four (4) anniversaries of the Issue Date.

 

3


6.3 Effect of Certain Terminations of Employment .

(i) If the Grantee dies or becomes Disabled (where such Disability would qualify as a disability under Code section 409A), in each case if such event occurs on or after the Issue Date, all Earned Performance Shares which have not become vested in accordance with Section 6.2 or 7 hereof shall vest, and the restrictions on such Earned Performance Shares shall lapse, as of the date of such termination.

(ii) If the Grantee’s employment terminates as a result of the Grantee becoming Disabled (where such Disability would not qualify as a disability under Code section 409A), Retirement, or if the Grantee is terminated without Cause in connection with the disposition of one or more restaurants or other assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary (a “Sale Termination”), in each case if such termination occurs on or after the Issue Date, all Earned Performance Shares which have not become vested in accordance with Section 6.2 or 7 hereof shall vest, and the restrictions on such Earned Performance Shares shall lapse, as of the date of such termination and, if the Grantee is a “specified employee,” shall be settled as set forth in Section 8.3. For purposes of this Award Agreement, Retirement shall mean termination of employment after attaining age 60 with at least 10 years of service (as defined in the Company’s qualified retirement plans) other than by reason of death, Disability or for Cause.

6.4 Forfeiture of Earned Performance Shares . Any and all Earned Performance Shares which have not become vested in accordance with Section 6.2, 6.3 or 7 hereof shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company upon:

(i) the termination by the Grantee, the Company or its Subsidiaries of the Grantee’s employment for any reason other than those set forth in Section 6.3 hereof prior to such vesting; or

(ii) the commission by the Grantee of an Act of Misconduct prior to such vesting.

 

7. Effect of Change in Control .

In the event of a Change in Control which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, at any time on or after the Issue Date (but not before the Issue Date), all Earned Performance Shares which have not become vested in accordance with Section 6 hereof shall vest immediately.

 

8. Delivery of Shares upon Vesting and Lapse .

8.1 Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof, upon the vesting of Earned Performance Shares pursuant to Section 6.2, 6.3 or 7 hereof, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive one (1) Share for each vested Earned Performance Share. Evidence of book entry

 

4


Shares or, if requested by the Grantee prior to such vesting, a stock certificate with respect to such Earned Performance Shares, shall be delivered to the Grantee as soon as practicable following the date on which such Earned Performance Shares have vested, free of all restrictions hereunder.

8.2 With respect to Earned Performance Shares which have vested upon the Grantee’s death pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof, the Grantee’s estate shall be entitled to receive one (1) Share for each vested Earned Performance Share. Evidence of book entry Shares or, if requested by the executors or administrators of the Grantee’s estate, a stock certificate with respect to such Shares, shall be delivered to the executors or administrators of the Grantee’s estate as soon as practicable following the Company’s receipt of acceptable documentation evidencing such individual’s representation of the Grantee’s estate, free of all restrictions hereunder.

8.3 If the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment based on the Grantee’s Share ownership (at least 1% of the outstanding Shares) or compensation relative to other employees (in the top 50) and determined in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Company, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive one (1) Share for each Earned Performance Shares which has vested pursuant to Section 6.3(ii) due to the termination of the Grantee’s employment as a result of the Grantee’s Retirement, a Sale Termination, or the Grantee becoming Disabled (other than a Disability which constitutes a disability within the meaning of Code section 409A). Evidence of book entry Shares or, if requested by the Grantee prior to such vesting, a stock certificate with respect to such Earned Performance Shares, shall be delivered to the Grantee, free of all restrictions hereunder, as soon as administratively practicable after the first day of the calendar month following the date which is six (6) months after the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment.

 

9. Dividends and Voting Rights .

Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Grantee (or his or her representative) shall have no rights of a stockholder with respect to any Earned Performance Shares until the Shares have been issued pursuant to Section 8 to the Grantee (or his or her representative).

 

10. Execution of Award Agreement .

The Performance Shares granted to the Grantee pursuant to the Award shall be subject to the Grantee’s execution and return of this Agreement to the Company or its designee (including by electronic means, if so provided) no later than December 28, 2007 (the “ Grantee Return Date ”); provided that if the Grantee dies before the Grantee Return Date, this requirement shall be deemed to be satisfied if the executor or administrator of the Grantee’s estate executes and returns this Agreement to the Company or its designee no later than ninety (90) days following the Grantee’s death (the “ Executor Return Date ”). If this Agreement is not so executed and returned on or prior to the Grantee Return Date or the Executor Return Date, as applicable, the Performance Shares evidenced by this Agreement shall be forfeited, and neither the Grantee nor the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall have any rights with respect thereto.

 

5


11. No Right to Continued Employment .

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate the Grantee’s employment, nor confer upon the Grantee any right to continuance of employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or continuance of service as a Board member.

 

12. Adjustments .

To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder without adversely affecting the treatment of the Award as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee shall adjust the Performance Objective to reflect the impact of specified corporate transactions (such as a stock split or dividend), special charges, accounting or tax law changes and other extraordinary or nonrecurring events.

 

13. Withholding of Taxes .

Prior to the delivery to the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate, if applicable) of a stock certificate or evidence of book entry Shares with respect to vested Earned Performance Shares, the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall pay to the Company the federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld by the Company (the “ Withholding Taxes ”) with respect to such Earned Performance Shares. By executing and returning this Agreement in the manner provided in Section 10 hereof, the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall be deemed to elect to have the Company withhold a portion of such Earned Performance Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the Withholding Taxes, such election to continue in effect until the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) notifies the Company at least four days prior to the applicable vesting date that the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall satisfy such obligation in cash, in which event the Company shall not withhold a portion of such Earned Performance Shares as otherwise provided in this Section 13.

 

14. Grantee Bound by the Plan .

The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.

 

15. Modification of Agreement .

This Agreement may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated, and any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

16. Severability .

Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

 

6


17. Governing Law .

The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

18. Successors in Interest .

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Grantee’s legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Grantee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors.

 

19. Resolution of Disputes .

Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee, the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors, and the Company and its Subsidiaries for all purposes.

 

20. Entire Agreement .

This Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between the Grantee and the Company and its Subsidiaries, and supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Award.

 

21. Headings .

The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

22. Counterparts .

This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

<Signature page follows>

 

7


WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Jeffrey M. Cava
  Jeffrey M. Cava
  Executive Vice President
GRANTEE
/s/ Kerrii B. Anderson
Kerrii B. Anderson

 

8


APPENDIX A

[Spreadsheet setting forth Grantee’s performance objectives and calculations]

 

9

Exhibit 10(f)

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

(with related Dividend Equivalent Rights)

Wendy’s International, Inc.

                     , 20         

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT, made as of                     , 20__, between Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), and                      (the “ Grantee ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Wendy’s International, Inc. 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) in order to provide additional incentive to certain employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, as of                      , 2007 (the “Date of Grant”), the Committee had determined to grant to the Grantee an Award of Stock Units with related Dividend Equivalent Rights as provided herein to encourage the Grantee’s efforts toward the continuing success of the Company; and

WHEREAS, to avoid the negative consequences of a violation of Code section 409A, the Committee and Grantee have agreed to amend the prior award agreement issued on the Date of Grant, as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Grant .

1.1 Unless this Agreement is rejected by the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate, if applicable) as provided in Section 8 hereof, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee an award (the “ Award ”) of                      Stock Units with an equal number of related Dividend Equivalent Rights. Subject to Section 6 hereof, each Stock Unit represents the right to receive one (1) Share at the time and in the manner set forth in Section 7 hereof.

1.2 Each Dividend Equivalent Right represents the right to receive all of the cash dividends that are or would be payable with respect to the Share represented by the Stock Unit to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates. With respect to each Dividend Equivalent Right, any such cash dividends shall be converted into additional Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such dividend is made (provided that no fractional Stock Units shall be granted). Such additional Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the Stock Unit to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates, including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer, forfeiture, vesting and payment provisions contained in Sections 2 through 7, inclusive, of this Agreement. In the event that a Stock Unit is forfeited pursuant to Section 6 or 8 hereof, the related Dividend Equivalent Right shall also be forfeited.


1.3 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

2. Restrictions on Transfer .

The Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and may not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated.

3. Vesting .

Except as provided in Sections 4 and 5 hereof, all of the number of Stock Units granted hereunder (rounded up to the next whole Stock Unit, if necessary) shall vest on [Date] (the “ Vesting Date ”).

4. Effect of Certain Terminations of Employment .

If the Grantee’s employment terminates as a result of the Grantee’s death, Retirement or becoming Disabled, or if the Grantee is terminated without Cause in connection with the disposition of one or more restaurants or other assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary (a “ Sale Termination ”), in each case if such termination occurs on or after the Date of Grant, all Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 5 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

5. Effect of Change in Control .

5.1 In the event of a Change in Control for an event described in section 29.6(C) of the Plan which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, at any time on or after the Date of Grant, all Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 4 hereof shall vest immediately.

5.2 In the event that a Grantee terminates employment within a period commencing on the date of a Change in Control for an event described in section 29.6(A) or (B) of the Plan which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and ending on the earlier of the Vesting Date and the second anniversary of such Change in Control, provided that such termination was

 

2


initiated by the Company or its Subsidiary without Cause or by the Grantee for Good Reason, and that such Change in Control occurred on or after the Date of Grant, all Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 4 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

5.3 In the event that the Grantee terminates employment prior to the Vesting Date, other than as described in Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above, provided that such termination was initiated by the Company or its Subsidiary without Cause or by the Grantee for Good Reason, and that such Change in Control occurred on or after the Date of Grant, all Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3, 4, 5.1 or 5.2 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

6. Forfeiture of Stock Units .

In addition to the circumstance described in Section 8 hereof, any and all Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company upon:

(i) the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary for any reason other than those set forth in Section 4 hereof prior to such vesting; or

(ii) the commission by the Grantee of an Act of Misconduct prior to such vesting.

For purposes of this Agreement, an “ Act of Misconduct ” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (x) the Grantee uses for profit or discloses to unauthorized persons, confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (y) the Grantee breaches any contract with or violates any fiduciary obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) the Grantee engages in unlawful trading in the securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of another company based on information gained as a result of that Grantee’s employment with, or status as a director to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

7. Issuance of Shares .

On the Vesting Date, or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, the Company shall issue Shares to the Grantee (or, if applicable, the Grantee’s estate) with respect to Stock Units that become vested on the Vesting Date or that become vested pursuant to Section 5.3. Shares with respect to Stock Units that become vested pursuant to Section 4, 5.1 or 5.2 shall be issued upon the date such Stock Units become vested, or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable; provided , however , that if the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment based on the Grantee’s Share ownership (at least 1% of the outstanding Shares) or compensation relative to other employees (in the top 50) and

 

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determined in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Company, any Shares with respect to Stock Units which have become vested pursuant to Section 4 due to the termination of the Grantee’s employment as a result of the Grantee’s Retirement, a Sale Termination, or the Grantee becoming Disabled (other than a Disability which constitutes a disability within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) shall be issued as soon as administratively practicable after the first day of the calendar month following the date which is six (6) months after the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment.

8. Rejection of Award Agreement .

The Grantee may reject this Agreement and forfeit the Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights granted to the Grantee pursuant to the Award by notifying the Company or its designee in the manner prescribed by the Company and communicated to the Grantee; provided that such rejections must be received by the Company or its designee no later than the earlier of (i) [Date] and (ii) the date that is immediately prior to the date that the Stock Units vest pursuant to Section 4 or 5 hereof (the “ Grantee Return Date ”); provided further that if the Grantee dies before the Grantee Return Date, the Grantee’s estate may reject this Agreement no later than ninety (90) days following the Grantee’s death (the “ Executor Return Date ”). If this Agreement is rejected on or prior to the Grantee Return Date or the Executor Return Date, as applicable, the Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights evidenced by this Agreement shall be forfeited, and neither the Grantee nor the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall have any rights with respect thereto.

9. No Right to Continued Employment .

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or its Subsidiaries to terminate the Grantee’s employment, nor confer upon the Grantee any right to continuance of employment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or continuance of service as a Board member.

10. Withholding of Taxes .

Prior to the delivery to the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate, if applicable) of Shares pursuant to Sections 1 and 7 hereof, the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall pay to the Company the federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld by the Company (the “ Withholding Taxes ”) with respect to such Shares. By not rejecting this Agreement in the manner provided in Section 8 hereof, the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall be deemed to elect to have the Company withhold a portion of such Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the Withholding Taxes, such election to continue in effect until the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) notifies the Company at least 4 days prior to the Vesting Date that the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate) shall satisfy such obligation in cash, in which event the Company shall not withhold a portion of such Shares as otherwise provided in this Section 10.

 

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11. Grantee Bound by the Plan .

The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.

12. Modification of Agreement .

This Agreement may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated, and any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

13. Severability .

Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

14. Governing Law .

The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

15. Successors in Interest .

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Grantee’s legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Grantee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors.

16. Resolution of Disputes .

Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee, the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors, and the Company and its Subsidiaries for all purposes.

17. Entire Agreement .

This Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between the Grantee and the Company and its Subsidiaries, and supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Award.

 

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18. Headings .

The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

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Exhibit 10(g)

AMENDED AND RESTATED

FORMULA RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Wendy’s International, Inc.

May 1, 20             

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT, made as of              , 2007, between Wendy’s International, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), and                  (the “ Grantee ”).

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Wendy’s International, Inc. 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) in order to provide additional incentive to certain employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

WHEREAS, as of May 1, 2007 (the “Date of Grant”), pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Plan, the Company granted to the Grantee an Award of Formula Restricted Stock Units as provided herein to encourage the Grantee’s efforts toward the continuing success of the Company; and

WHEREAS, to avoid the negative consequences of a violation of Code section 409A, the Committee and Grantee have agreed to amend the prior award agreement issued on the Date of Grant, as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. Grant of Formula Restricted Stock Units.

1.1 Unless this Agreement is rejected by the Grantee (or the Grantee’s estate, if applicable) as provided in Section 8 hereof, the Company hereby grants to the Grantee an award of                  Formula Restricted Stock Units with an equal number of related Dividend Equivalent Rights (the “ Award ”). Subject to Section 6 hereof, each Formula Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one (1) Share at the time and in the manner set forth in Section 7 hereof.

1.2 Each Dividend Equivalent Right represents the right to receive all of the cash dividends that are or would be payable with respect to the Share represented by the Formula Restricted Stock Unit to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates. With respect to each Dividend Equivalent Right, any such cash dividends shall be converted into additional Formula Restricted Stock Units based on the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date such dividend is made (provided that no fractional Formula Restricted Stock Units shall be granted). Such additional Formula Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the Formula Restricted Stock Unit to which the Dividend Equivalent Right relates, including, without limitation, the restrictions on transfer, forfeiture, vesting and payment provisions contained in Sections 2 through 7, inclusive, of this Agreement. In the event that a Formula Restricted Stock Unit is forfeited pursuant to Section 6 or 8 hereof, the related Dividend Equivalent Right shall also be forfeited.

1.3 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.


2. Restrictions on Transfer.

The Formula Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Agreement may not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and may not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated.

 

3. Vesting Generally.

Except as provided in Sections 4 and 5 hereof, one-third (1/3) of the number of Shares of Formula Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder (rounded up to the nearest whole Formula Restricted Stock Unit, if necessary) shall vest on each of the first three (3) anniversaries of the Date of Grant (each such anniversary, a “Vesting Date”).

 

4. Effect of Certain Terminations of Service.

If the Grantee’s service as a director terminates as a result of the Grantee’s death, Retirement or becoming Disabled, in each case on or after the Date of Grant, all Formula Restricted Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 5 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

 

5. Effect of Change in Control.

5.1 In the event of a Change in Control for an event described in section 29.6(C) of the Plan which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, at any time on or after the Date of Grant, all Formula Restricted Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 4 hereof shall vest immediately.

5. 2 In the event that the Grantee’s service as a director terminates within a period commencing on the date of a Change in Control for an event described in section 29.6(A) or (B) of the Plan which also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of its assets, in each case within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and ending on the earlier of the Vesting Date and the second anniversary of such Change in Control, provided that such termination occurred in connection with or as a result of such Change in Control, and that such Change in Control occurred on or after the Date of Grant, all Formula Restricted Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3 or 4 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

5.3 In the event that the Grantee’s service as a director terminates prior to the Vesting Date, other than as described in Sections 5.1 or 5.2 above, provided that such termination occurred in connection with or as a result of such Change in Control, and that such Change in Control occurred on or after the Date of Grant, all Formula Restricted Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3, 4, 5.1 or 5.2 hereof shall vest as of the date of such termination.

 

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6. Forfeiture of Formula Restricted Stock Units.

In addition to the circumstance described in Section 8 hereof, any and all Formula Restricted Stock Units which have not become vested in accordance with Section 3, 4 or 5 hereof shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company upon:

(i) the termination of the Grantee’s service as a director for any reason other than those set forth in Section 4 hereof prior to such vesting; or

(ii) the commission by the Grantee of an Act of Misconduct prior to such vesting.

For purposes of this Agreement, an “ Act of Misconduct ” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (x) the Grantee uses for profit or discloses to unauthorized persons, confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (y) the Grantee breaches any contract with or violates any fiduciary obligation to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) the Grantee engages in unlawful trading in the securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of another company based on information gained as a result of the Grantee’s status as a director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

7. Issuance of Shares.

On each Vesting Date, or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, the Company shall issue Shares to the Grantee (or, if applicable, the Grantee’s estate) with respect to Formula Restricted Stock Units that become vested on that Vesting Date or that become vested pursuant to Section 5.3. Shares with respect to Formula Restricted Stock Units that become vested pursuant to Section 4, 5.1 or 5.2 shall be issued upon the date such Stock Units become vested, or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable; provided , however , that if the Grantee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code as of the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment based on the Grantee’s Share ownership (at least 1% of the outstanding Shares) or compensation relative to other employees (in the top 50) and determined in accordance with policies and procedures adopted by the Company, any Shares with respect to Stock Units which have become vested pursuant to Section 4 due to the termination of the Grantee’s employment as a result of the Grantee’s Retirement, a Sale Termination, or the Grantee becoming Disabled (other than a Disability which constitutes a disability within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) shall be issued as soon as administratively practicable after the first day of the calendar month following the date which is six (6) months after the date of the Grantee’s termination of employment.

 

8. Rejection of Award Agreement.

The Grantee may reject this Agreement and forfeit the Formula Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights granted to the Grantee pursuant to the Award by notifying the Company or its designee in the manner prescribed by the Company and communicated to the Grantee; provided that such rejections must be received by the Company or its designee no later than the earlier of (i) December 28, 2007 and (ii) the date that is immediately prior to the date

 

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that the Formula Restricted Stock Units vest pursuant to Section 4 or 5 hereof (the “ Grantee Return Date ”); provided that if the Grantee dies before the Grantee Return Date, the Grantee’s estate may reject this Agreement no later than ninety (90) days following the Grantee’s death (the “ Executor Return Date ”). If this Agreement is rejected on or prior to the Grantee Return Date or the Executor Return Date, as applicable, the Formula Restricted Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights evidenced by this Agreement shall be forfeited, and neither the Grantee nor the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors shall have any rights with respect thereto.

 

9. No Right to Continued Service as Director.

Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan shall confer upon the Grantee any right to be retained as a member of the Board.

 

10. Grantee Bound by the Plan.

The Grantee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions thereof.

 

11. Modification of Agreement.

This Agreement may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated, and any terms or conditions may be waived, but only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto.

 

12. Severability.

Should any provision of this Agreement be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected by such holding and shall continue in full force in accordance with their terms.

 

13. Governing Law.

The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

14. Successors in Interest.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any successor to the Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Grantee’s legal representatives. All obligations imposed upon the Grantee and all rights granted to the Company under this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors.

 

15. Resolution of Disputes.

Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Agreement shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee, the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors, and the Company and its Subsidiaries for all purposes.

 

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16. Entire Agreement.

This Agreement and the terms and conditions of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between the Grantee and the Company and its Subsidiaries, and supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Award.

 

17. Headings.

The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

 

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Jeffrey M. Cava
  Jeffrey M. Cava
  Executive Vice President

 

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Exhibit 31(a)

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Kerrii B. Anderson, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wendy’s International, Inc.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 9, 2007

 

/s/ Kerrii B. Anderson

Name:   Kerrii B. Anderson
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31(b)

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Joseph J. Fitzsimmons, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wendy’s International, Inc.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 9, 2007

 

/s/ Joseph J. Fitzsimmons

Name:   Joseph J. Fitzsimmons
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32(a)

Certification of CEO Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

This certification is provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and accompanies the quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 of Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “Issuer”).

I, Kerrii B. Anderson, the Chief Executive Officer of Issuer certify that, to the best of my knowledge:

 

  (i) the Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and

 

  (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

Dated: November 9, 2007

 

/s/ Kerrii B. Anderson

Name:   Kerrii B. Anderson

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Wendy’s International, Inc. and will be retained by Wendy’s International, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Exhibit 32(b)

Certification of CFO Pursuant to

18 U.S.C. Section 1350,

As Adopted Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

This certification is provided pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and accompanies the quarterly report on Form 10-Q (the “Form 10-Q”) for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 of Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “Issuer”).

I, Joseph J. Fitzsimmons, the Chief Financial Officer of Issuer certify that, to the best of my knowledge:

 

  (i) the Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)); and

 

  (ii) the information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer.

Dated: November 9, 2007

 

/s/ Joseph J. Fitzsimmons

Name:   Joseph J. Fitzsimmons

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Wendy’s International, Inc. and will be retained by Wendy’s International, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Exhibit 99

WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Safe Harbor Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information, so long as those statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the statement. Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “Company”) desires to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Act.

Certain information in this Form 10-Q, particularly information regarding future economic performance and finances, and plans, expectations and objectives of management, is forward looking. The following factors, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect the Company’s actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements:

Competition . The quick-service restaurant industry is intensely competitive with respect to price, service, location, personnel and type and quality of food. The Company and its franchisees compete with international, regional and local organizations primarily through the quality, variety and value perception of food products offered. The number and location of units, quality and speed of service, attractiveness of facilities, effectiveness of advertising and marketing programs, and new product development by the Company and its competitors are also important factors. The Company anticipates that intense competition will continue to focus on pricing. Certain of the Company’s competitors have substantially larger marketing budgets.

Economic, Market and Other Conditions . The quick-service restaurant industry is affected by changes in international, national, regional, and local economic conditions, consumer preferences and spending patterns, demographic trends, consumer perceptions of food safety, weather, traffic patterns, the type, number and location of competing restaurants, and the effects of war or terrorist activities and any governmental responses thereto. Factors such as inflation, food costs, labor and benefit costs, legal claims, and the availability of management and hourly employees also affect restaurant operations and administrative expenses. The ability of the Company and its franchisees to finance new restaurant development, improvements and additions to existing restaurants, and the acquisition of restaurants from, and sale of restaurants to franchisees is affected by economic conditions, including interest rates and other government policies impacting land and construction costs and the cost and availability of borrowed funds.

Importance of Locations. The success of Company and franchised restaurants is dependent in substantial part on location. There can be no assurance that current locations will continue to be attractive, as demographic patterns change. It is possible the neighborhood or economic conditions where restaurants are located could decline in the future, thus resulting in potentially reduced sales in those locations.

Government Regulation . The Company and its franchisees are subject to various federal, state, and local laws affecting their business. The development and operation of restaurants depend to a significant extent on the selection and acquisition of suitable sites, which are subject to zoning, land use, environmental, traffic, and other regulations. Restaurant operations are also subject to licensing and regulation by state and local departments relating to health, sanitation and safety standards, federal and state labor laws (including applicable minimum wage requirements, overtime, working and safety conditions, and citizenship requirements), federal and state laws which prohibit discrimination and other laws regulating the design and operation of facilities, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Changes in these laws and regulations, particularly increases in applicable minimum wages, may adversely affect financial results. The operation of the Company’s franchisee system is also subject to regulation enacted by a number of states and rules promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission. The Company cannot predict the effect on its operations, particularly on its relationship with franchisees, of the future enactment of additional legislation regulating the franchise relationship. The Company’s financial results could also be affected by changes in applicable accounting rules.

Growth Plans . The Company plans to increase the number of systemwide restaurants open or under construction. There can be no assurance that the Company or its franchisees will be able to achieve growth objectives or that new restaurants opened or acquired will be profitable.


The opening and success of restaurants depends on various factors, including the identification and availability of suitable and economically viable locations, sales levels at existing restaurants, the negotiation of acceptable lease or purchase terms for new locations, permitting and regulatory compliance, the ability to meet construction schedules, the financial and other development capabilities of franchisees, the ability of the Company to hire and train qualified management personnel, and general economic and business conditions.

International Operations . The Company’s business outside of the United States is subject to a number of additional factors, including international economic and political conditions, differing cultures and consumer preferences, currency regulations and fluctuations, diverse government regulations and tax systems, uncertain or differing interpretations of rights and obligations in connection with international franchise agreements and the collection of royalties from international franchisees, the availability and cost of land and construction costs, and the availability of experienced management, appropriate franchisees, and joint venture partners. Although the Company believes it has developed the support structure required for international growth, there is no assurance that such growth will occur or that international operations will be profitable.

Disposition of Restaurants . The disposition of company operated restaurants to new or existing franchisees is part of the Company’s strategy to develop the overall health of the system by acquiring restaurants from, and disposing of restaurants to, franchisees where prudent. The realization of gains from future dispositions of restaurants depends in part on the ability of the Company to complete disposition transactions on acceptable terms.

Transactions to Improve Return on Investment . The sale of real estate previously leased to franchisees is generally part of the program to improve the Company’s return on invested capital. There are various reasons why the program might be unsuccessful, including changes in economic, credit market, real estate market or other conditions, and the ability of the Company to complete sale transactions on acceptable terms and at or near the prices estimated as attainable by the Company.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q, or to update them to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date this Form 10-Q was first furnished to shareholders, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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