Form 1-A Issuer Information UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 1-A
REGULATION A OFFERING STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
OMB APPROVAL

FORM 1-A

OMB Number: 3235-0286


Estimated average burden hours per response: 608.0

1-A: Filer Information

Issuer CIK
0001705012
Issuer CCC
XXXXXXXX
DOS File Number
Offering File Number
Is this a LIVE or TEST Filing? LIVE TEST
Would you like a Return Copy?
Notify via Filing Website only?
Since Last Filing?

Submission Contact Information

Name
Phone
E-Mail Address

1-A: Item 1. Issuer Information

Issuer Infomation

Exact name of issuer as specified in the issuer's charter
FAT Brands Inc.
Jurisdiction of Incorporation / Organization
DELAWARE
Year of Incorporation
2017
CIK
0001705012
Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code
RETAIL-EATING PLACES
I.R.S. Employer Identification Number
08-2130269
Total number of full-time employees
30
Total number of part-time employees
0

Contact Infomation

Address of Principal Executive Offices

Address 1
9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500
Address 2
Attn: Andrew Wiederhorn (CEO)
City
Beverly Hills
State/Country
CALIFORNIA
Mailing Zip/ Postal Code
90212
Phone
310-402-0600

Provide the following information for the person the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff should call in connection with any pre-qualification review of the offering statement.

Name
Allen Sussman, Esq.
Address 1
Address 2
City
State/Country
Mailing Zip/ Postal Code
Phone

Provide up to two e-mail addresses to which the Securities and Exchange Commission's staff may send any comment letters relating to the offering statement. After qualification of the offering statement, such e-mail addresses are not required to remain active.

Financial Statements

Industry Group (select one) Banking Insurance Other

Use the financial statements for the most recent period contained in this offering statement to provide the following information about the issuer. The following table does not include all of the line items from the financial statements. Long Term Debt would include notes payable, bonds, mortgages, and similar obligations. To determine "Total Revenues" for all companies selecting "Other" for their industry group, refer to Article 5-03(b)(1) of Regulation S-X. For companies selecting "Insurance", refer to Article 7-04 of Regulation S-X for calculation of "Total Revenues" and paragraphs 5 and 7 of Article 7-04 for "Costs and Expenses Applicable to Revenues".

Balance Sheet Information

Cash and Cash Equivalents
$ 0.00
Investment Securities
$ 0.00
Total Investments
$
Accounts and Notes Receivable
$ 12237000.00
Loans
$
Property, Plant and Equipment (PP&E):
$ 0.00
Property and Equipment
$
Total Assets
$ 22108000.00
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
$ 3999000.00
Policy Liabilities and Accruals
$
Deposits
$
Long Term Debt
$ 0.00
Total Liabilities
$ 6830000.00
Total Stockholders' Equity
$ 15278000.00
Total Liabilities and Equity
$ 22108000.00

Statement of Comprehensive Income Information

Total Revenues
$ 10061000.00
Total Interest Income
$
Costs and Expenses Applicable to Revenues
$ 3595000.00
Total Interest Expenses
$
Depreciation and Amortization
$ 0.00
Net Income
$ 4204000.00
Earnings Per Share - Basic
$ 0.00
Earnings Per Share - Diluted
$ 0.00
Name of Auditor (if any)
Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP

Outstanding Securities

Common Equity

Name of Class (if any) Common Equity
NA
Common Equity Units Outstanding
8000000
Common Equity CUSIP (if any):
000000000
Common Equity Units Name of Trading Center or Quotation Medium (if any)
NA

Preferred Equity

Preferred Equity Name of Class (if any)
NA
Preferred Equity Units Outstanding
0
Preferred Equity CUSIP (if any)
000000000
Preferred Equity Name of Trading Center or Quotation Medium (if any)
NA

Debt Securities

Debt Securities Name of Class (if any)
NA
Debt Securities Units Outstanding
0
Debt Securities CUSIP (if any):
000000000
Debt Securities Name of Trading Center or Quotation Medium (if any)
NA

1-A: Item 2. Issuer Eligibility

Issuer Eligibility

Check this box to certify that all of the following statements are true for the issuer(s)

1-A: Item 3. Application of Rule 262

Application Rule 262

Check this box to certify that, as of the time of this filing, each person described in Rule 262 of Regulation A is either not disqualified under that rule or is disqualified but has received a waiver of such disqualification.

Check this box if "bad actor" disclosure under Rule 262(d) is provided in Part II of the offering statement.

1-A: Item 4. Summary Information Regarding the Offering and Other Current or Proposed Offerings

Summary Infomation

Check the appropriate box to indicate whether you are conducting a Tier 1 or Tier 2 offering Tier1 Tier2
Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the financial statements have been audited Unaudited Audited
Types of Securities Offered in this Offering Statement (select all that apply)
Equity (common or preferred stock)
Does the issuer intend to offer the securities on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 251(d)(3)? Yes No
Does the issuer intend this offering to last more than one year? Yes No
Does the issuer intend to price this offering after qualification pursuant to Rule 253(b)? Yes No
Will the issuer be conducting a best efforts offering? Yes No
Has the issuer used solicitation of interest communications in connection with the proposed offering? Yes No
Does the proposed offering involve the resale of securities by affiliates of the issuer? Yes No
Number of securities offered
2000000
Number of securities of that class outstanding
8000000

The information called for by this item below may be omitted if undetermined at the time of filing or submission, except that if a price range has been included in the offering statement, the midpoint of that range must be used to respond. Please refer to Rule 251(a) for the definition of "aggregate offering price" or "aggregate sales" as used in this item. Please leave the field blank if undetermined at this time and include a zero if a particular item is not applicable to the offering.

Price per security
$ 12.0000
The portion of the aggregate offering price attributable to securities being offered on behalf of the issuer
$ 24000000.00
The portion of the aggregate offering price attributable to securities being offered on behalf of selling securityholders
$ 0.00
The portion of the aggregate offering price attributable to all the securities of the issuer sold pursuant to a qualified offering statement within the 12 months before the qualification of this offering statement
$ 0.00
The estimated portion of aggregate sales attributable to securities that may be sold pursuant to any other qualified offering statement concurrently with securities being sold under this offering statement
$ 0.00
Total (the sum of the aggregate offering price and aggregate sales in the four preceding paragraphs)
$ 24000000.00

Anticipated fees in connection with this offering and names of service providers

Underwriters - Name of Service Provider
Underwriters - Fees
$
Sales Commissions - Name of Service Provider
TriPoint Global Equities LLC
Sales Commissions - Fee
$ 1800000.00
Finders' Fees - Name of Service Provider
Finders' Fees - Fees
$
Audit - Name of Service Provider
Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP
Audit - Fees
$ 150000.00
Legal - Name of Service Provider
Loeb & Loeb LLP
Legal - Fees
$ 350000.00
Promoters - Name of Service Provider
ICR, LLC
Promoters - Fees
$ 350000.00
Blue Sky Compliance - Name of Service Provider
Blue Sky Compliance - Fees
$
CRD Number of any broker or dealer listed:
143174
Estimated net proceeds to the issuer
$
Clarification of responses (if necessary)
Financial information above is presented on a pro forma basis before the offering.

1-A: Item 5. Jurisdictions in Which Securities are to be Offered

Jurisdictions in Which Securities are to be Offered

Using the list below, select the jurisdictions in which the issuer intends to offer the securities

Selected States and Jurisdictions
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUERTO RICO
ALBERTA, CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
MANITOBA, CANADA
NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA
NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
ONTARIO, CANADA
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA
QUEBEC, CANADA
SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
YUKON, CANADA
CANADA (FEDERAL LEVEL)

Using the list below, select the jurisdictions in which the securities are to be offered by underwriters, dealers or sales persons or check the appropriate box

None
Same as the jurisdictions in which the issuer intends to offer the securities
Selected States and Jurisdictions

ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
PUERTO RICO
ALBERTA, CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
MANITOBA, CANADA
NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA
NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
ONTARIO, CANADA
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA
QUEBEC, CANADA
SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA
YUKON, CANADA
CANADA (FEDERAL LEVEL)

1-A: Item 6. Unregistered Securities Issued or Sold Within One Year

Unregistered Securities Issued or Sold Within One Year

None

Unregistered Securities Act

(e) Indicate the section of the Securities Act or Commission rule or regulation relied upon for exemption from the registration requirements of such Act and state briefly the facts relied upon for such exemption

 

PART II — INFORMATION REQUIRED IN OFFERING CIRCULAR

 

An offering statement pursuant to Regulation A relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information contained in this Preliminary Offering Circular is subject to completion or amendment. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted before the Offering statement filed with the Commission is qualified. This Preliminary Offering Circular shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor may there be any sales of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under the laws of any such state. We may elect to satisfy our obligation to deliver a Final Offering Circular by sending you a notice within two business days after the completion of our sale to you that contains the URL where the Final Offering Circular or the Offering statement in which such Final Offering Circular was filed may be obtained.

 

Subject to Completion, dated September 6, 2017

Preliminary Offering Circular

 

Up to 2,000,000 Shares

of Common Stock

($24,000,000)

 

FAT Brands Inc.

 

 

 

 

This is the initial public offering of securities of FAT Brands Inc. (which we refer to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”). We are offering up to 2,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 (which we refer to as the “Common Stock”) at an offering price of $12.00 per share, for an aggregate offering amount of up to $24,000,000 (the “Offering”). There is no minimum number of shares that must be sold by us for the Offering to proceed.

 

The Offering will terminate at the earlier of: (1) the date at which $24,000,000 of shares has been sold, (2) the date which is one year after this Offering being qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to as the “SEC” or the “Commission”), or (3) the date on which this Offering is earlier terminated by the Company in its sole discretion (which we refer to as the “Termination Date”). This Offering is being conducted on a “best efforts” basis pursuant to Regulation A of Section 3(6) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for Tier 2 offerings. The Company may undertake one or more closings on a rolling basis; however, it intends to complete one closing. Until we complete a closing, the proceeds for the Offering will be kept in an escrow account, except with respect to those investors using a BANQ online brokerage account. At a closing, the proceeds will be distributed to the Company and the associated shares will be issued to investors. If there are no closings or if funds remain in the escrow account upon termination of this Offering without any corresponding closing, the investments for this Offering will be promptly returned to investors, without deduction and without interest. Wilmington Trust, N.A. will serve as the escrow agent. There is a minimum purchase requirement for an investor of 50 shares of Common Stock in order to participate in the Offering.

 

TriPoint Global Equities, LLC has agreed to act as our exclusive, lead managing selling agent (which we refer to as the “Selling Agent”) to offer the shares to prospective investors on a “best efforts” basis. In addition, the Selling Agent may engage one or more sub-Selling Agents or selected dealers. The Selling Agent is not purchasing the shares offered by us, and is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the shares in the Offering.

 

     
 

 

We expect to commence the offer and sale of the shares as of the date on which the Offering Statement of which this Offering Circular is a part (the “Offering Statement”) is qualified by the SEC. Prior to this Offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We intend to apply to list our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “FAT.” We expect our Common Stock to begin trading on NASDAQ upon consummation of the Offering.

 

Following this Offering, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ. See “The Transactions” and “Management—Corporate Governance.”

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act, and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced reporting requirements for this Offering Circular and future filings after this Offering.

 

Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in our Common Stock.

 

    Price to Public    

Selling Agent

Fees (1)

   

Proceeds to

Issuer (2)

 
Per Share   $ 12.00     $ 0.90     $ 24,000,000  
Maximum Offering Amount   $ 24,000,000     $ 1,800,000     $ 21,200,000  

 

(1) We have agreed to pay the Selling Agent a fee of 7.5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company in the Offering and issue a warrant to the Selling Agent to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to 5.0% of the total shares sold in the Offering, exercisable for five years at $13.20 per share. We have also agreed to reimburse certain expenses to the Selling Agent.
(2) We estimate that our total expenses for the Offering will be approximately $1,000,000, along with cash fees payable to the Selling Agent of $1,800,000 assuming the maximum amount is sold in the Offering.

 

THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION DOES NOT PASS UPON THE MERITS OF OR GIVE ITS APPROVAL TO ANY SECURITIES OFFERED OR THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, NOR DOES IT PASS UPON THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF ANY OFFERING CIRCULAR OR OTHER SOLICITATION MATERIALS. THESE SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION WITH THE COMMISSION; HOWEVER, THE COMMISSION HAS NOT MADE AN INDEPENDENT DETERMINATION THAT THE SECURITIES OFFERED ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION.

 

The following would apply only if we are unable to obtain a listing on a national securities exchange and we seek for our Common Stock to trade on a platform of the OTC Markets:

 

GENERALLY NO SALE MAY BE MADE TO YOU IN THIS OFFERING IF THE AGGREGATE PURCHASE PRICE YOU PAY IS MORE THAN 10% OF THE GREATER OF YOUR ANNUAL INCOME OR NET WORTH. DIFFERENT RULES APPLY TO ACCREDITED INVESTORS AND NON-NATURAL PERSONS. BEFORE MAKING ANY REPRESENTATION THAT YOUR INVESTMENT DOES NOT EXCEED APPLICABLE THRESHOLDS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVIEW RULE 251(d)(2)(i)(C) OF REGULATION A. FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ON INVESTING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REFER TO www.investor.gov.

 

This Offering Circular follows the disclosure format of Part I of Form S-1 pursuant to the general instructions of Part II(a)(1)(ii) of Form 1-A.

 

 

 

The date of this Offering Circular is               2017.

 

     
 

 

 

  i  
 

 

 

  ii  
 

 

 

  iii  
 

 

 

  iv  
 

 

 

  v  
 

 

 

  vi  
 

 

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. You should rely only on the information contained in this Offering Circular. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than the information contained in this Offering Circular. The information contained in this Offering Circular is accurate only as of its date, regardless of the time of its delivery or of any sale or delivery of our securities. Neither the delivery of this Offering Circular nor any sale or delivery of our securities shall, under any circumstances, imply that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this Offering Circular. This Offering Circular will be updated and made available for delivery to the extent required by the federal securities laws.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
Offering Circular Summary 1
Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information 10
Risk Factors 14
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 34
The Reorganization Transactions 35
Use of Proceeds 37
Capitalization 38
Dividend Policy 39
Dilution 40
Selected Historical Financial and Other Data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary 41
Selected Historical Financial and Other Data of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company 48
Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information 52
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 58
Letter from our Founder and Chief Executive Officer 67
Business 69
Management 94
Executive Compensation 101
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions 104
Principal Stockholders 107
Description of Capital Stock 108
Shares Eligible for Future Sale 111
Plan of Distribution 112
Legal Matters 117
Where You Can Find More Information 117
Index to Financial Statements 118

 

  vii  
 

 

USE OF MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

 

This Offering Circular includes market and industry data that we have obtained from third-party sources, including industry publications, as well as industry data prepared by our management on the basis of its knowledge of and experience in the industries in which we operate (including our management’s estimates and assumptions relating to such industries based on that knowledge). Management has developed its knowledge of such industries through its experience and participation in these industries. While our management believes the third-party sources referred to in this Offering Circular are reliable, neither we nor our management have independently verified any of the data from such sources referred to in this Offering Circular or ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon by such sources. Furthermore, internally prepared and third-party market prospective information, in particular, are estimates only and there will usually be differences between the prospective and actual results, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, and those differences may be material. Also, references in this Offering Circular to any publications, reports, surveys or articles prepared by third parties should not be construed as depicting the complete findings of the entire publication, report, survey or article. The information in any such publication, report, survey or article is not incorporated by reference in this Offering Circular.

 

  viii  
 

 

 

OFFERING CIRCULAR SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this Offering Circular. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Common Stock. You should read the entire Offering Circular carefully, including the “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our combined financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Offering Circular, before making an investment decision.

 

In this Offering Circular, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “FAT Brands,” the “company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer collectively to, following consummation of the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering, FAT Brands Inc. and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries.

 

Our Company

 

FAT Brands is a leading multi-brand restaurant franchising company that develops, markets, and acquires predominantly fast casual restaurant concepts around the world. As a franchisor, we generally do not own or operate restaurant locations, but rather generate revenue by charging franchisees an initial franchise fee as well as ongoing royalties. This asset light franchisor model provides the opportunity for strong profit margins and an attractive free cash flow profile while minimizing restaurant operating company risk, such as long-term real estate commitments or capital investments. Our scalable management platform enables us to add new stores and restaurant concepts to our portfolio with minimal incremental corporate overhead cost, while taking advantage of significant corporate overhead synergies. The acquisition of additional brands and restaurant concepts as well as expansion of our existing brands are key elements of our growth strategy.

 

We currently operate the Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express restaurant concepts, with 181 total locations across eight states and 18 countries as of March 26, 2017. While our existing footprint covers 18 countries in which we have franchised restaurants open and operational as of March 26, 2017, our overall footprint (including development agreements for proposed stores in new markets and nine countries where our brands previously had a presence that we intend to resell to new franchisees) covers 32 countries. For each of our current restaurant brands and those that we will seek to acquire, the ability to expand the overall concept footprint, both domestically and internationally, is of critical importance and a primary acquisition evaluation criterion. We believe that our restaurant concepts have meaningful growth potential and appeal to a broad base of consumers globally.

 

Fatburger. Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1947, Fatburger (The Last Great Hamburger StandTM) has, throughout its history, maintained its reputation as an iconic, all-American, Hollywood favorite hamburger restaurant serving a variety of freshly made-to-order, customizable, big, juicy, and tasty Fatburgers, Turkeyburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Veggieburgers, French fries, onion rings, soft-drinks and milkshakes. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, Fatburger’s dedication to superior quality inspires robust loyalty amongst its customer base and has long appealed to American cultural and social leaders. We have counted many celebrities and athletes as past franchisees and customers, and we believe this prestige has been a principal driver of the brand’s strong growth. Fatburger offers a premier dining experience, demonstrating the same dedication to serving gourmet, homemade, custom-built burgers as it has since 1947. As of March 26, 2017, there were 162 franchised and sub-franchised Fatburger locations across six states and 18 countries, and Fatburger is one of the fastest growing hamburger restaurant franchises, with 8.2% new store growth in 2016.

 

Buffalo’s Cafe. Established in Roswell, Georgia in 1985, Buffalo’s Cafe (Where Everyone is FamilyTM) is a family-themed casual dining concept known for its chicken wings and 13 distinctive homemade wing sauces, burgers, wraps, steaks, salads, and other classic American cuisine. Featuring a full bar and table service, Buffalo’s Cafe offers a distinctive dining experience affording friends and family the flexibility to share an intimate dinner together or to casually watch sporting events while enjoying extensive menu offerings. After acquiring the Buffalo’s Cafe brand in 2011, we developed and launched Buffalo’s Express, a fast-casual, smaller footprint variant of Buffalo’s Cafe offering a limited version of the full menu with an emphasis on chicken wings, wraps and salads. Current Buffalo’s Express outlets are co-branded with Fatburger locations, providing our franchisees with complementary concepts that share kitchen space and result in a higher average check (compared to stand-alone Fatburger locations). As of March 26, 2017, there were 19 franchised Buffalo’s Cafe and 66 co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express locations globally. Buffalo’s Cafe achieved 10.0% new store growth in 2016.

 

 

  1  
     

 

 

Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse. In March 2017, our parent company, Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the franchisor of the Ponderosa Steakhouse (which we refer to as “Ponderosa”) and Bonanza Steakhouse (which we refer to as “Bonanza”) restaurants, and intends to complete the acquisitions and contribute Ponderosa and Bonanza to us, including one company-owned restaurant, concurrently with the consummation of this Offering. Ponderosa and Bonanza offer the quintessential American steakhouse experience, for which there is strong and growing demand in international markets, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Central America. Ponderosa and Bonanza were established in 1965 and 1963, respectively, and as of March 27, 2017, there were 99 Ponderosa and 20 Bonanza restaurants operating under franchise and sub-franchise agreements in 19 states in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Taiwan, and two company-owned Ponderosa restaurants in the United States.

 

Beyond our current brand portfolio and the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, we intend to acquire restaurant concepts that will allow us to offer additional food categories and expand our geographic footprint. In evaluating potential acquisitions, we specifically seek concepts with the following characteristics:

 

  established, widely-recognized brands;
  steady cash flows;
  track records of long-term, sustainable operating performance;
  good relationships with franchisees;
  sustainable operating performance;
  geographic diversification; and
  growth potential, both geographically and through co-branding initiatives across our portfolio.

 

We approach acquisitions from a value perspective, targeting valuations of approximately 6.0x-8.0x 12-month leading cash flow to ensure that acquisitions are immediately accretive to our earnings. Leveraging our scalable management platform, we expect to achieve cost synergies post-acquisition by reducing the corporate overhead of the acquired company – most notably in the legal, accounting and finance functions. Adjusted for these cost synergies, we believe that we will have the opportunity to acquire complementary restaurant brands at a valuation multiple materially below 6.0x-8.0x 12-month leading cash flow. We also plan to grow the top line revenues of newly acquired brands through support from our management and systems platform, including public relations, marketing and advertising, supply chain assistance, site selection analysis, staff training and operational oversight and support.

 

Including Ponderosa and Bonanza, our experienced and diversified franchisee base consists of 127 franchisees, 46 of whom operate multiple locations. With the completion of the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, our franchisees will operate more than 300 restaurants, with system-wide store level sales in excess of $300 million. Since converting to a franchisor model in 2011, we have improved store-level operations and maintained positive same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market over each of the last five years while operating less than 1% of total units. Over the same time period, our concepts have also experienced significant growth in total number of locations. As a result, between 2012 and 2016, unadjusted for the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, the company achieved compound annual growth rates in net revenue, net income, and EBITDA of 9.9%, 40.0% and 35.3%, respectively, reflecting consistent yearly growth over this period. By providing multiple support services that promote the financial and operational health of our franchisees – our direct customers – we believe that we will continue to enable our franchisees to increase their same-store sales and grow their store counts, thereby driving our sustained strong financial performance. For a discussion of how we calculate same-store sales growth, please refer to “Selected Historical Combined Financial and Other Data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary” beginning on page 41.

 

The FAT Brands Difference – Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.

 

Our name represents the values that we embrace as a company and the food that we provide to customers – Fresh. Authentic. Tasty (which we refer to as “FAT”). The success of our franchisor model is tied to consistent delivery by our restaurant operators of freshly prepared, made-to-order food that our customers desire. With the input of our customers and franchisees, we continually strive to keep a fresh perspective on our brands by enhancing our existing menu offerings and introducing appealing new menu items. When enhancing our offerings, we ensure that any changes are consistent with the core identity and attributes of our brands, although we do not intend to adapt our brands to be all things to all people. In conjunction with our restaurant operators (which means the individuals who manage and/or own our franchised restaurants), we are committed to delivering authentic, consistent brand experiences that have strong brand identity with customers. Ultimately, we understand that we are only as good as the last meal served, and we are dedicated to having our franchisees consistently deliver tasty, high-quality food and positive guest experiences in their restaurants.

 

 

  2  
     

 

 

In pursuing acquisitions and entering new restaurant segments, we are committed to instilling our FAT Brands values into new restaurant concepts. As our restaurant portfolio continues to grow, we believe that both our franchisees and diners will recognize and value this ongoing commitment as they enjoy a wider concept offering.

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that our competitive strengths include:

 

  Management Platform Built for Growth. We have developed a robust and comprehensive management and systems platform that supports the expansion of our existing brands while enabling the accretive and efficient acquisition and integration of additional restaurant concepts. We dedicate our considerable resources and industry knowledge to promote the success of our franchisees, offering them multiple support services such as public relations, marketing and advertising, supply chain assistance, site selection analysis, staff training and operational oversight and support. Furthermore, our platform is scalable and adaptable, allowing us to incorporate new concepts into the FAT Brands family with minimal incremental corporate costs. For example, following our acquisition of the Buffalo’s Cafe brand in 2011, we leveraged our platform to refresh the brand, expand the concept into the fast casual segment (through the Buffalo’s Express concept), and grew the brand appeal to a broader base of FAT Brands’ franchisees. As a result, as of March 26, 2017, we had grown the number of co-branded Buffalo’s Express stores from launch to 66 locations while increasing the number of franchisees from 12 to 29. As such, we intend to grow our existing brands as well as make strategic and opportunistic acquisitions that complement our existing portfolio of concepts providing an entrance into targeted restaurant segments. We believe that our platform is a key differentiator in pursuing this strategy.
     
  Capital Light Business Model Driving High Free Cash Flow Conversion. We maintain an asset light business model requiring minimal capital expenditures by franchising our restaurant concepts to our owner / operators. The multi-brand franchisor model also enables us to efficiently scale the number of restaurant locations with very limited incremental corporate overhead and minimal exposure to store-level risk, such as long-term real estate commitments and increases in employee wage costs. Our multi-brand approach also gives us the organizational depth to provide a host of services to our franchisees, which we believe enhances their financial and operational performance. As a result, new store growth and accelerating financial performance of the FAT Brands network drive increases in our franchise fee and royalty revenue streams while expanding profit and free cash flow margins. From 2012 to 2016, our EBITDA margin expanded from 27.2% to 64.3%.
     
  Strong Brands Aligned with FAT Brands Vision. We have an enviable track record of delivering Fresh, Authentic, and Tasty meals across our franchise system. Our current Fatburger and Buffalo’s concepts have built distinctive brand identities within their respective segments, providing made-to-order, high-quality food at competitive prices. The Ponderosa and Bonanza brands, which we will acquire upon consummation of this Offering, deliver an authentic American steakhouse experience with which customers identify. By maintaining alignment with the FAT Brands vision across an expanding platform, we believe that our concepts will appeal to a broad base of domestic and global consumers.
     
  Experienced and Diverse Global Franchisee Network. As of March 26, 2017 and including Ponderosa and Bonanza, our franchise base consisted of 127 franchisees, 46 of whom operate multiple locations. With the completion of the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, our franchisees will operate more than 300 restaurants, with system-wide sales in excess of $300 million. Based on existing new restaurant commitments of over 300 locations across our brands, we anticipate that our current franchisees will open more than 30 new restaurants annually for at least the next four years. The acquisition of additional restaurant franchisors will also increase the number of restaurants operated by our existing franchisee network. Additionally, our franchise development team has built an attractive pipeline of new potential franchisees, with many experienced restaurant operators and new entrepreneurs eager to join the FAT Brands family.

 

 

  3  
     

 

 

  Ability to Cross-Sell Existing Franchisees Concepts from the FAT Brands Portfolio. Our ability to easily, and efficiently, cross-sell our existing franchisees new brands from our FAT Brands portfolio affords us the ability to grow more quickly and satisfy our existing franchisees’ demands to expand their organizations. By having the ability to offer our franchisees a variety of concepts (i.e., a fast-casual better-burger concept, a fast-casual chicken wing concept, a casual dining concept and steakhouse concepts) from the FAT Brands portfolio, our existing franchisees are able to acquire the rights to, and develop, their respective markets with a well-rounded portfolio of FAT Brands concept offerings affording them the ability to strategically satisfy their respective market demands by developing our various concepts where opportunities are available.
     
  Seasoned and Passionate Management Team. Our management team and employees are critical to our success. Our senior leadership team has more than 200 years of combined experience in the restaurant industry, and many have been a part of our team since the acquisition of the Fatburger brand in 2003. We believe that our management team has the track record and vision to leverage the FAT Brands platform to achieve significant future growth. In addition, through their holdings in FCCG, our senior executives will own a significant equity interest in the company following the consummation of this Offering, ensuring long-term commitment and alignment with our public shareholders. Our management team is complemented by an accomplished Board of Directors.

 

Growth Strategy

 

The principal elements of our growth strategy include:

 

 

Opportunistically Acquire New Brands. Our management platform was developed to cost-effectively and seamlessly scale with new restaurant concept acquisitions. In connection with the Buffalo’s Cafe acquisition, we have also garnered expertise and developed a track record of efficiently on-boarding new brands at minimal incremental corporate cost. The anticipated acquisition of the Ponderosa and Bonanza brands is a continuation of this growth strategy, which will remain a critical facet of our future plan. In particular, we have identified food categories that appeal to a broad international base of customers, targeting the chicken, pizza, coffee, sandwich and dessert segments for future growth. We have developed a strong and actionable pipeline of potential acquisition opportunities to achieve our objectives. We seek concepts with established, widely-recognized brands; steady cash flows; track records of long-term, good relationships with franchisees; sustainable operating performance; geographic diversification; and growth potential, both geographically and through co-branding initiatives across our portfolio. We approach acquisitions from a value perspective, targeting modest multiples of franchise-level cash flow valuations to ensure that acquisitions are immediately accretive to our earnings prior to anticipated synergies.

 

In addition to our pending acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, as of the date of this Offering Circular we have entered into a letter of intent to acquire an additional restaurant concept with approximately 60 franchised stores, and are in discussions to acquire another restaurant concept with approximately 50 stores. However, there can be no assurance that we will enter definitive agreements based on such letter of intent or discussions, consummate such acquisitions or acquire any additional restaurant brands. Furthermore, our acquisitions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including as to when, whether and to what extent the anticipated benefits and cost savings of a particular acquisition will be realized. See “Risk Factors.” 

     
 

Accelerate Same-Store Sales Growth. Same-store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable store base, which we define as the number of stores open for at least one full fiscal year. For each of the last five years, we have achieved positive annual same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market, which represented approximately 69% of our royalty revenue in 2016. To maintain this performance, we have embraced a multi-faceted same-store sales growth strategy. We utilize customer feedback and closely analyze sales data to introduce, test and perfect existing and new menu items. In addition, we regularly utilize public relations and experiential marketing, which we leverage via social media and targeted digital advertising to expand the reach of our brands and to drive traffic to our stores. Furthermore, we have embraced emerging technology to develop our own brand-specific mobile applications, allowing guests to find restaurants, order online, earn rewards and join our e-marketing providers. We have also partnered with third-party delivery service providers, including UberEATS, Grub Hub, Amazon Restaurants and Postmates, which provide online and app-based delivery services and constitute a new sales channel for our existing locations. Finally, many of our franchisees are pursuing a robust capital expenditure program to remodel legacy restaurants and to opportunistically co-brand them with our Buffalo’s Express and / or Fat Bar concepts (serving beer, wine, spirits and cocktails).

 

  4  
     
 

 

  Drive Store Growth through Co-Branding. We franchise co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express locations, giving franchisees the flexibility of offering multiple concepts, while sharing kitchen space, resulting in a higher average check (compared to stand-alone Fatburger locations). Franchisees benefit by serving a broader customer base, and we estimate that co-branding results in a 20%-30% increase in average unit volume compared to stand-alone locations with minimal incremental cost to franchisees. Our acquisition strategy reinforces the importance of co-branding, as we expect to offer each of the complementary brands that we acquire to our existing franchisees on a co-branded basis.
     
  Extend Brands into New Segments. We have a strong track record of extending our brands into new segments, and we believe that we have a significant opportunity to capture new markets by strategically adapting our concepts while reinforcing the brand identity. In addition to dramatically expanding the traditional Buffalo’s Cafe customer base through Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express co-branding, we have also begun evaluating opportunities to leverage the Buffalo’s brand by promoting Buffalo’s Express on a stand-alone basis. Furthermore, we also recently began the roll-out of Fat Bars (serving beer, wine, spirits and cocktails), which we are opportunistically introducing to select existing Fatburger locations on a modular basis. Similarly, post-acquisition, we plan to create smaller-scale, fast casual Ponderosa and Bonanza concepts, to drive new store growth, particularly internationally.
     
  Continue Expanding FAT Brands Internationally. We have a significant global presence, with international franchised stores in Bahrain, Canada, China, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. We have also recently selected a local franchisee in Japan, where we expect to open new stores in the near future. We believe that the appeal of our Fresh, Authentic, and Tasty concepts is global, and we are targeting further penetration of Middle Eastern and Asian markets, particularly through leveraging the Buffalo’s and Ponderosa brands.
     
  Enhance Footprint in Existing Markets through Current Franchisee Networks. Including Ponderosa and Bonanza, we had 127 franchisees who collectively operated more than 300 restaurants as of March 26, 2017. As noted, our existing franchisees have made new store commitments of over 300 locations across our brands, and we anticipate that our current franchisees will open more than 30 new stores annually for at least the next four years. Beyond these existing commitments, we have found that many of our franchisees have grown their businesses over time, increasing the number of stores operated in their organizations and expanding their concept offerings across the FAT Brands portfolio of concepts.
     
  Attract New Franchisees in Existing and Unpenetrated Markets. In addition to the large pipeline of new store commitments from current franchisees, we believe the existing markets for Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe, Buffalo’s Express, and Ponderosa and Bonanza locations are far from saturated and can support a significant increase in units. Furthermore, new franchisee relationships represent the optimal way for our brands to penetrate geographic markets where we do not currently operate. In many cases, prospective franchisees have experience in and knowledge of markets where we are not currently active, facilitating a smoother brand introduction than we or our existing franchisees could achieve independently. We generate franchisee leads through various channels, including franchisee referrals, traditional and non-traditional franchise brokers and broker networks, franchise development advertising, and franchise trade shows and conventions.

 

 

  5  
     

 

 

Summary Risk Factors

 

We are subject to a number of risks, including risks that may prevent us from achieving our business objectives or that may adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects. You should carefully consider the risks discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” including the following risks, before investing in our Common Stock:

 

  Our operating results and growth strategies are closely tied to the success and cooperation of our franchisees, and we have experienced volatility in unit economics of our franchisees in recent years.
     
  Our franchisees could take actions that could harm our business, and may not accurately report sales which drives our royalties.
     
  We may not open new domestic and international franchisee-owned restaurants on a timely basis.
     
  We may not successfully identify, recruit and contract with a sufficient number of qualified franchisees.
     
  We may not achieve our target development goals, aggressive development could cannibalize existing sales and new restaurants and acquisitions of new brands may not be successful or profitable.
     
  Our growth and financial results depend in part on the pending acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, for which we lack history of operations under our ownership, and successfully identifying, closing and integrating future acquisitions of other brands.
     
  Food safety and foodborne illness concerns may have an adverse effect on our business.
     
  Our business may be adversely impacted by changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic conditions in our franchisee markets.
     
  Our international operations subject us to operating and geographic risks and foreign currency risks that could negatively affect our business and financial results.
     
  We depend on key executive management.
     
  We expect that FCCG will remain a significant stockholder, whose interests may differ from those of our public stockholders.
     
  Given our expected market capitalization, there may be limited trading liquidity in our Common Stock.

 

Our Corporate Information

 

FAT Brands Inc., the issuer of the Common Stock in this Offering, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 21, 2017. Our corporate headquarters are located at 9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Beverly Hills, California 90212. Our main telephone number is (310) 402-0600. Our principal Internet website address is www.fatbrands.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into, or a part of, this Offering Circular.

 

 

  6  
     

 

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

 

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include the following:

 

  we are required to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure;
     
  we are not required to engage an auditor to report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (which we refer to as the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”);
     
  we are not required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (which we refer to as the “PCAOB”) regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis);
     
  we are not required to submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency” and “say-on-golden parachutes;” and
     
  we are not required to disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation.

 

We may take advantage of these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this Offering or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue, have more than $700 million in market value of our Common Stock held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period (as such amounts may be adjusted from time-to-time). We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We have elected to adopt the reduced disclosure with respect to financial statements and the related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure. As a result of this election, the information that we provide stockholders may be different than you might get from other public companies in which you hold equity.

 

The JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We are choosing to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.

 

 

  7  
     

 

 

The Offering

 

Issuer in this Offering FAT Brands Inc.
   
Securities offered Common Stock
   
Common Stock to be outstanding before this Offering

8,000,000 shares (1)

   
Common Stock to be outstanding after this Offering 10,000,000 shares, assuming the maximum amount of shares are sold (1)
   
Price per share $12.00
   

Maximum Offering amount

2,000,000 shares at $12.00 per share, or $24,000,000. There is no minimum number of shares that must be sold by in the Offering.

   

Proposed NASDAQ listing

We intend to apply to list our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FAT.” Our Common Stock will not commence trading on NASDAQ until all of the following conditions are met: (i) the Offering is completed; and (ii) we have filed a post-qualification amendment to the Offering Statement and a registration statement on Form 8-A (“Form 8-A”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such post-qualification amendment is qualified by the SEC and the Form 8-A has become effective. Pursuant to applicable rules under Regulation A, the Form 8-A will not become effective until the SEC qualifies the post-qualification amendment. We intend to file the post-qualification amendment and request its qualification immediately prior to the termination of the Offering in order that the Form 8-A may become effective as soon as practicable. Even if we meet the minimum requirements for listing on NASDAQ, we may wait before terminating the Offering and commencing the trading of our Common Stock on NASDAQ in order to raise additional proceeds. As a result, you may experience a delay between the closing of your purchase of shares of our Common Stock and the commencement of exchange trading of our Common Stock on NASDAQ.
   
Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this Offering, after deducting Selling Agent fees and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $21,200,000, assuming the maximum amount of shares are sold.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this Offering as follows: (i) $10,550,000 to fund the acquisition of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company, and (ii) $9,500,000 to repay a portion of the Related Party Debt owed to FCCG, which will use this payment to repay indebtedness that it previously incurred in acquiring Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.. See “Use of Proceeds.” These amounts assume that at least $20,050,000 in net proceeds is raised in the Offering. If less than this amount is raised in the Offering, the repayment of Related Party Debt will be reduced accordingly, and FCCG intends to repay the balance of its indebtedness and fund the purchase of Homestyle Dining LLC from other sources.

 

 

  8  
     

 

 

Controlled company

Following this Offering we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of NASDAQ. However we do not intend to rely on these exemptions and intend to have the same requisite independent directors and board committee structure as non-controlled companies. See “Management—Corporate Governance.”

   
Dividend policy We intend to distribute as dividends to holders of our Common Stock, on a quarterly basis, substantially all of our distributable earnings, net of applicable corporate taxes and amounts payable under the Tax Sharing Agreement, in excess of amounts determined by our Board of Directors to be necessary or appropriate to be retained in the Company to provide for the conduct of our businesses, to make appropriate investments in our businesses, and to comply with the terms of debt instruments that we may enter into, other agreements and applicable law. Our targeted quarterly dividend will be 4% of the price per share in this Offering, or $0.48 per share annually ($0.12 per share quarterly), which amount may be raised or lowered in the future without advance notice. See “Dividend Policy.”
   
Tax Sharing Agreement

We will enter into a Tax Sharing Agreement with FCCG that provides that FCCG will file consolidated federal, California and Oregon (and possibly other jurisdictions where revenue is generated, at FCCG’s election) income tax returns with us and our subsidiaries. We will pay to FCCG the amount that our tax liability would have been had we filed a separate return and not been consolidated with FCCG. To the extent our required payment exceeds our share of the actual consolidated income tax liability (which may occur due to the application of FCCG’s net operating loss carryforwards), we will be permitted to reimburse FCCG in cash or, at the election of a committee of our Board of Directors comprised solely of disinterested directors (directors not affiliated with or interested in FCCG), we may issue to FCCG an equivalent amount of our Common Stock in lieu of cash, valued at the fair market value of our Common Stock at the time of such payment. In addition, our inter-company credit of approximately $11,660,000 due from FCCG will be applied first to reduce such excess income tax payment obligation to FCCG under the Tax Sharing Agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Sharing Agreement.”

   
Risk factors Investing in shares of our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this Offering Circular for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in shares of our Common Stock.
   

Proposed NASDAQ symbol

We intend to apply to list the shares of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FAT.”

 

(1) Excludes:

 

  1,000,000 shares available for future issuance under our 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, and stock options to purchase 367,500 shares which we expect to issue under the Plan to directors and employees upon consummation of this Offering.  
       
  up to 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants to be issued to the Selling Agent in connection with this Offering, exercisable at $13.20 per share.  

 

 

  9  
     

 

 

Summary Historical and Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data

 

The following tables present the summary historical financial data for Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.. Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. were historically under common control of FCCG and are the predecessors of the issuer, FAT Brands Inc., for financial reporting purposes.

 

The summary statement of operations data for each of the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, and the summary balance sheet data as of March 26, 2017 are derived from the unaudited financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the unaudited financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. contained herein. The summary statement of operations data for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, and the summary balance sheet data as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 are derived from the audited financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the audited financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. contained herein. The historical financial data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. have been consolidated on a pro forma basis through mathematical addition to show how FAT Brands Inc. would have performed as an operating entity for the periods presented. In the opinion of our management, such financial data reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation financial position and results of operations for those periods.

 

The summary unaudited pro forma financial data for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016 gives effect to (i) the Reorganization Transactions, (ii) the Ponderosa Acquisition (defined below in “The Reorganization Transactions”), and (iii) the consummation of this Offering as if all such transactions had occurred on December 25, 2016. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information includes various estimates which are subject to material change and may not be indicative of what our operations or financial position would have been had this Offering and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, or that may be expected to occur in the future. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” for a complete description of the adjustments and assumptions underlying the summary unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data.

 

The results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year. The information set forth below should be read together with the “Selected Historical Financial and Other Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and the accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

 

  10  
     

 

 

(In thousands, except net income per share data)

 

    13 weeks ended March 26, 2017     13 weeks ended March 27, 2016  
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
Statement of operations data:                                                
                                                 
Revenues                                                
Royalties   $ 1,153     $ 308     $ 1,461     $ 1,210     $ 352     $ 1,562  
Sales of franchises     795       105       900       775       130       905  
Management fee     15       -       15       29       -       29  
Total revenues     1,963       413       2,376       2,014       482       2,496  
                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     580       140       720       730       176       906  
                                                 
Income from operations     1,383       273       1,656       1,284       306       1,590  
                                                 
Other income (expense)                     -                       -  
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
Total other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
                                                 
Income before income tax expense     1,384       273       1,657       1,260       342       1,602  
                                                 
Income tax expense     497       96       593       496       117       613  
                                                 
Net income   $ 887     $ 177     $ 1,064     $ 764     $ 225     $ 989  
                                                 
EBITDA (1)   $ 1,384     $ 273     $ 1,657     $ 1,260     $ 342     $ 1,602  
                                                 
Pro forma net income per share data (unaudited) (2)                                                
Pro forma weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding:                                                
Basic     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Diluted     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Pro forma net income available to Common Stock per share:                                                
Basic   $ 0.09     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08     $ 0.02     $ 0.10  
Diluted   $ 0.09     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08     $ 0.02     $ 0.10  

 

(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance or liquidity that is determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

 

  11  
     

 

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    13 weeks ended March 26, 2017     13 weeks ended March 27, 2016
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined
                                   
(in thousands)                                              
                                               
Net income   $ 887     $ 177     $ 1,044     $ 764     $ 225     $ 989
Depreciation expense     -       -       -       -       -       -
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -
Income tax expense     497       96       593       496       117       613
EBITDA   $ 1,384     $ 273     $ 1,657     $ 1,260     $ 342     $ 1,602

 

(2) The unaudited pro forma net income data give effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Ponderosa Acquisition, and the sale of shares of our Common Stock by us in this Offering at the initial public offering price of $ per share and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby. For a detailed presentation of the unaudited pro forma information, including a description of the transactions and assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments giving rise to these results, see the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

(In thousands)

 

    March 26, 2017
    FBNA   BFCI   Combined
            (unaudited)
Combined balance sheet data:                        
                         
Cash     -       -       -  
Total assets     13,863       8,245       22,108  
Total liabilities     5,649       1,181       6,830  
Total stockholders’ equity     8,214       7,064       15,278  

 

 

  12  
     

 

 

(In thousands, except net income (loss) per share data)

 

    Fiscal year ended
December 25, 2016
    Fiscal year ended
December 27, 2015
    Fiscal year ended
December 28, 2014
 
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                (unaudited)                 (unaudited)                 (unaudited)  
Statement of operations data:                                                      
                                                       
Revenues                                                                        
Royalties   $ 4,632     $ 1,349     $ 5,981     $ 5,144     $ 1,317     $ 6,461     $ 5,350     $ 1,271     $ 6,621  
Sales of franchises     3,750       255       4,005       2,306       706       3,012       2,353       115       2,468  
Management fee     75             75       83             83       24             24  
Total revenues     8,457       1,604       10,061       7,533       2,023       9,556       7,727       1,386       9,113  
                                                                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,932       663       3,595       2,590       732       3,322       2,646       834       3,480  
                                                                         
Income from operations     5,525       941       6,466       4,943       1,291       6,234       5,081       552       5,633  
                                                                         
Other income (expense)                                                                  
Interest income (expense)                                               (5 )     (5 )
Other income (expense)           36       36             85       85             61       61  
Total other income (expense)           36       36             85       85             56       56  
                                                                         
Income before income tax expense     5,525       977       6,502       4,943       1,376       6,319       5,081       608       5,689  
                                                                         
Income tax expense (benefit)     1,979       319       2,298       2,283       528       2,811       2,145       (15 )     2,130  
                                                                         
Net income   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $ 2,660     $ 848     $ 3,508     $ 2,936     $ 623     $ 3,559  
                                                                         
EBITDA (1)   $ 5,525     $ 977     $ 6,502     $ 4,943     $ 1,376     $ 6,319     $ 5,081     $ 613     $ 5,694  
                                                                         
Pro forma net income per share data (unaudited) (2)                                                                        
Pro forma weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding:                                                                        
Basic     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Diluted     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Pro forma net income available to Common Stock per share:                                                                        
Basic   $ 0.35     $ 0.07     $ 0.42     $ 0.27     $ 0.08     $ 0.35     $ 0.29     $ 0.06     $ 0.35  
Diluted   $ 0.35     $ 0.07     $ 0.42     $ 0.27     $ 0.08     $ 0.35     $ 0.29     $ 0.06     $ 0.35  

 

(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    Fiscal year ended December 25, 2016     Fiscal year ended December 27, 2015  
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
(in thousands)                                                
                                                 
Net income   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $ 2,660     $ 848     $ 3,508  
Depreciation expense     -                                          
Interest income (expense)     -                                          
Income tax expense     1,979       317       2,298       2,283       528       2,811  
EBITDA   $ 5,525     $ 977     $ 6,502     $ 4,943     $ 1,376     $ 6,319  

 

(2) The unaudited pro forma net income data give effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Ponderosa Acquisition, and the sale of shares of our Common Stock by us in this Offering at the initial public offering price of $ per share and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby. For a detailed presentation of the unaudited pro forma information, including a description of the transactions and assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments giving rise to these results, see the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

(In thousands)

 

    Fiscal year ended
December 25, 2016
    Fiscal year ended
December 27, 2015
    Fiscal year ended
December 25, 2014
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined
                (unaudited)                 (unaudited)                 (unaudited)
Combined balance sheet data:                                                                      
                                                                       
Cash   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 211     $ 41     $ 252     $ -     $ -     $ -
Total assets     14,189       8,179       22,368       15,205       7,771       22,976       19,032       8,041       27,073
Total liabilities     6,362       1,192       7,554       9,225       1,242       10,467       8,711       1,961       10,672
Total stockholders’ equity     7,827       6,987       14,814       5,981       6,529       12,510       10,321       6,080       16,401

 

 

  13  
     

 

RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information included in this Offering Circular, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks or uncertainties. In that case, the trading price of our Common Stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. You should carefully review the risks described below as they identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our forward looking statements and historical trends.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

Our operating and financial results and growth strategies are closely tied to the success of our franchisees.

 

Substantially all of our restaurants are operated by our franchisees, which makes us dependent on the financial success and cooperation of our franchisees. We have limited control over how our franchisees’ businesses are run, and the inability of franchisees to operate successfully could adversely affect our operating and financial results through decreased royalty payments. If our franchisees incur too much debt, if their operating expenses or commodity prices increase or if economic or sales trends deteriorate such that they are unable to operate profitably or repay existing debt, it could result in their financial distress, including insolvency or bankruptcy. If a significant franchisee or a significant number of our franchisees become financially distressed, our operating and financial results could be impacted through reduced or delayed royalty payments. Our success also depends on the willingness and ability of our franchisees to implement major initiatives, which may include financial investment. Our franchisees may be unable to successfully implement strategies that we believe are necessary for their further growth, which in turn may harm the growth prospects and financial condition of the company. Additionally, the failure of our franchisees to focus on the fundamentals of restaurant operations, such as quality service and cleanliness (even if such failures do not rise to the level of breaching the related franchise documents), could have a negative impact on our business.

 

Our franchisees could take actions that could harm our business and may not accurately report sales.

 

Our franchisees are contractually obligated to operate their restaurants in accordance with the operations, safety, and health standards set forth in our agreements with them and applicable laws. However, although we will attempt to properly train and support all of our franchisees, franchisees are independent third parties whom we do not control. The franchisees own, operate, and oversee the daily operations of their restaurants, and their employees are not our employees. Accordingly, their actions are outside of our control. Although we have developed criteria to evaluate and screen prospective franchisees, we cannot be certain that our franchisees will have the business acumen or financial resources necessary to operate successful franchises at their approved locations, and state franchise laws may limit our ability to terminate or not renew these franchise agreements. Moreover, despite our training, support and monitoring, franchisees may not successfully operate restaurants in a manner consistent with our standards and requirements, or may not hire and adequately train qualified managers and other restaurant personnel. The failure of our franchisees to operate their franchises in accordance with our standards or applicable law, actions taken by their employees or a negative publicity event at one of our franchised restaurants or involving one of our franchisees could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, our brands, our ability to attract prospective franchisees, our company-owned restaurants, and our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Franchisees typically use a point of sale, or POS, cash register system to record all sales transactions at the restaurant. We require franchisees to use a particular brand or model of hardware or software components for their restaurant system. Currently, franchisees report sales manually and electronically, but we do not have the ability to verify all sales data electronically by accessing their POS cash register systems. We have the right under our franchise agreement to audit franchisees to verify sales information provided to us, and we have the ability to indirectly verify sales based on purchasing information. However, franchisees may underreport sales, which would reduce royalty income otherwise payable to us and adversely affect our operating and financial results.

 

  14  
     

 

If we fail to identify, recruit and contract with a sufficient number of qualified franchisees, our ability to open new franchised restaurants and increase our revenues could be materially adversely affected.

 

The opening of additional franchised restaurants depends, in part, upon the availability of prospective franchisees who meet our criteria. Most of our franchisees open and operate multiple restaurants, and our growth strategy requires us to identify, recruit and contract with a significant number of new franchisees each year. We may not be able to identify, recruit or contract with suitable franchisees in our target markets on a timely basis or at all. In addition, our franchisees may not have access to the financial or management resources that they need to open the restaurants contemplated by their agreements with us, or they may elect to cease restaurant development for other reasons. If we are unable to recruit suitable franchisees or if franchisees are unable or unwilling to open new restaurants as planned, our growth may be slower than anticipated, which could materially adversely affect our ability to increase our revenues and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

If we fail to open new domestic and international franchisee-owned restaurants on a timely basis, our ability to increase our revenues could be materially adversely affected.

 

A significant component of our growth strategy includes the opening of new domestic and international franchised restaurants. Our franchisees opened 14 new restaurants in 2016. Our franchisees face many challenges associated with opening new restaurants, including:

 

  identification and availability of suitable restaurant locations with the appropriate size, visibility, traffic patterns, local residential neighborhoods, local retail and business attractions and infrastructure that will drive high levels of customer traffic and sales per restaurant;
     
  competition with other restaurants and retail concepts for potential restaurant sites and anticipated commercial, residential and infrastructure development near new or potential restaurants;
     
  ability to negotiate acceptable lease arrangements;
     
  availability of financing and ability to negotiate acceptable financing terms;
     
  recruiting, hiring and training of qualified personnel;
     
  construction and development cost management;
     
  completing their construction activities on a timely basis;
     
  obtaining all necessary governmental licenses, permits and approvals and complying with local, state and federal laws and regulations to open, construct or remodel and operate our franchised restaurants;
     
  unforeseen engineering or environmental problems with the leased premises;
     
  avoiding the impact of adverse weather during the construction period; and
     
  other unanticipated increases in costs, delays or cost overruns.

 

As a result of these challenges, our franchisees may not be able to open new restaurants as quickly as planned or at all. Our franchisees have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, delays in restaurant openings from time to time and have abandoned plans to open restaurants in various markets on occasion. Any delays or failures to open new restaurants by our franchisees could materially and adversely affect our growth strategy and our results of operations.

 

  15  
     

 

We may experience difficulties in integrating Ponderosa and Bonanza with our existing business.

 

The pending acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza involves the integration of these brands and their related companies with our existing business and financial accounting and reporting systems. The difficulties of integration include:

 

  coordinating and consolidating geographically separated systems and facilities;
     
  integrating the management and personnel of the acquired brands, maintaining employee morale and retaining key employees;
     
  implementing our management information systems and financial accounting and reporting systems;
     
  establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting; and
     
  implementing operational procedures and disciplines to control costs and increase profitability.

 

The process of integrating operations could cause an interruption of, or loss of momentum in, the activities of our business and that of our Ponderosa and Bonanza, and the loss of key personnel. The diversion of management’s attention and any delays or difficulties encountered in connection with the acquisition and the integration of the Ponderosa and Bonanza operations could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition after the acquisition.

 

Achieving the anticipated benefits of the acquisition will depend in part upon whether we can integrate Ponderosa and Bonanza in an efficient and effective manner. We may not accomplish this integration process smoothly or successfully. If management is unable to successfully integrate the acquired brands, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition may not be realized.

 

Our strategy includes pursuing opportunistic acquisitions of additional brands, and we may not find suitable acquisition candidates or successfully operate or integrate any brands that we may acquire.

 

As part of our strategy, we intend to opportunistically acquire new brands and restaurant concepts. Although we believe that opportunities for future acquisitions may be available from time to time, competition for acquisition candidates may exist or increase in the future. Consequently, there may be fewer acquisition opportunities available to us as well as higher acquisition prices. There can be no assurance that we will be able to identify, acquire, manage or successfully integrate additional brands or restaurant concepts without substantial costs, delays or operational or financial problems. In the event we are able to acquire additional brands or restaurant concepts, the integration and operation of such acquisitions may place significant demands on our management, which could adversely affect our ability to manage our existing restaurants. We may be required to obtain additional financing to fund future acquisitions. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms or at all.

 

We may not achieve our target development goals and the addition of new franchised restaurants may not be profitable.

 

Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to add franchisees and our franchisees’ ability to increase our net restaurant count in domestic and foreign markets. The successful development and retention of new restaurants depends in large part on our ability to attract franchisee investment commitments and the ability of our franchisees to open new restaurants and operate these restaurants profitably. We cannot guarantee that we or our current or future franchisees will be able to achieve our expansion goals or that new restaurants will be operated profitably. Further, there is no assurance that any new restaurant will produce operating results similar to those of our franchisees’ existing restaurants.

 

Expansion into target markets could also be affected by our franchisees’ ability to obtain financing to construct and open new restaurants. If it becomes more difficult or more expensive for our franchisees to obtain financing to develop new restaurants, the expected growth of our system could slow and our future revenues and operating cash flows could be adversely impacted.

 

  16  
     

 

Opening new franchise restaurants in existing markets and aggressive development could cannibalize existing sales and may negatively affect sales at existing franchised restaurants.

 

We intend to continue opening new franchised restaurants in our existing markets as a core part of our growth strategy. Expansion in existing markets may be affected by local economic and market conditions. Further, the customer target area of our franchisees’ restaurants varies by location, depending on a number of factors, including population density, other local retail and business attractions, area demographics and geography. As a result, the opening of a new restaurant in or near markets in which our franchisees’ restaurants already exist could adversely affect the sales of these existing franchised restaurants. Our franchisees may selectively open new restaurants in and around areas of existing franchised restaurants. Sales cannibalization between restaurants may become significant in the future as we continue to expand our operations and could affect sales growth, which could, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. There can be no assurance that sales cannibalization will not occur or become more significant in the future as we increase our presence in existing markets.

 

The number of new franchised restaurants that actually open in the future may differ materially from the number of signed commitments from potential new franchisees.

 

The number of new franchised restaurants that actually open in the future may differ materially from the number of signed commitments from potential new franchisees. Historically, a portion of our commitments sold have not ultimately opened as new franchised restaurants. The historic conversion rate of signed commitments to new franchised locations may not be indicative of the conversion rates we will experience in the future and the total number of new franchised restaurants actually opened in the future may differ materially from the number of signed commitments disclosed at any point in time.

 

Termination of development agreements with certain franchisees could adversely impact our revenues.

 

We enter into development agreements with certain franchisees that plan to open multiple restaurants in a designated area. These franchisees are granted certain rights with respect to specified territories, and at their discretion, these franchisees may open more restaurants than specified in their agreements. In fiscal years 2016, 2015 and 2014 we derived 39.8%, 31.5% and 27.1%, respectively, of our franchise and development fees from development agreements. The termination of development agreements with a franchisee or a lack of expansion by these franchisees could result in the delay of the development of franchised restaurants, discontinuation or an interruption in the operation of one of our brands in a particular market or markets. We may not be able to find another operator to resume development activities in such market or markets. While termination of development agreements may result in a short-term recognition of forfeited deposits as revenue, any such delay, discontinuation or interruption would result in a delay in, or loss of, long-term royalty income to us by way of reduced sales and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Our brands may be limited or diluted through franchisee and third party activity.

 

Although we monitor and regulate franchisee activities through our franchise agreements, franchisees or other third parties may refer to or make statements about our brands that do not make proper use of our trademarks or required designations, that improperly alter trademarks or branding, or that are critical of our brands or place our brands in a context that may tarnish our reputation. This may result in dilution of or harm to our intellectual property or the value of our brands. Franchisee noncompliance with the terms and conditions of our franchise agreements may reduce the overall goodwill of our brands, whether through the failure to meet health and safety standards, engage in quality control or maintain product consistency, or through the participation in improper or objectionable business practices. Moreover, unauthorized third parties may use our intellectual property to trade on the goodwill of our brands, resulting in consumer confusion or dilution. Any reduction of our brands’ goodwill, consumer confusion, or dilution is likely to impact sales, and could materially and adversely impact our business and results of operations.

 

  17  
     

 

Our success depends substantially on our corporate reputation and on the value and perception of our brands.

 

Our success depends in large part upon our and our franchisees’ ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brands and our customers’ loyalty to our brands. Brand value is based in part on consumer perceptions on a variety of subjective qualities. Business incidents, whether isolated or recurring, and whether originating from us, franchisees, competitors, suppliers or distributors, can significantly reduce brand value and consumer trust, particularly if the incidents receive considerable publicity or result in litigation. For example, our brands could be damaged by claims or perceptions about the quality or safety of our products or the quality or reputation of our suppliers, distributors or franchisees, regardless of whether such claims or perceptions are true. Similarly, entities in our supply chain may engage in conduct, including alleged human rights abuses or environmental wrongdoing, and any such conduct could damage our or our brands’ reputations. Any such incidents (even if resulting from actions of a competitor or franchisee) could cause a decline directly or indirectly in consumer confidence in, or the perception of, our brands and/or our products and reduce consumer demand for our products, which would likely result in lower revenues and profits. Additionally, our corporate reputation could suffer from a real or perceived failure of corporate governance or misconduct by a company officer, or an employee or representative of us or a franchisee.

 

Our success depends in part upon effective advertising and marketing campaigns, which may not be successful, and franchisee support of such advertising and marketing campaigns.

 

We believe our brands are critical to our business. We expend resources in our marketing efforts using a variety of media, including social media. We expect to continue to conduct brand awareness programs and customer initiatives to attract and retain customers. Additionally, some of our competitors have greater financial resources, which enable them to spend significantly more on marketing and advertising than us. Should our competitors increase spending on marketing and advertising, or should our advertising and promotions be less effective than our competitors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

The support of our franchisees is critical for the success of our advertising and marketing campaigns we seek to undertake, and the successful execution of these campaigns will depend on our ability to maintain alignment with our franchisees. Our franchisees are required to spend approximately 1%-3% of net sales directly on local advertising or contribute to a local fund managed by franchisees in certain market areas to fund the purchase of advertising media. Our franchisees are also required to contribute 1% of their net sales to a national fund to support the development of new products, brand development and national marketing programs. In addition, we, our franchisees and other third parties have contributed additional advertising funds in the past. While we maintain control over advertising and marketing materials and can mandate certain strategic initiatives pursuant to our franchise agreements, we need the active support of our franchisees if the implementation of these initiatives is to be successful. Additional advertising funds are not contractually required, and we, our franchisees and other third parties may choose to discontinue contributing additional funds in the future. Any significant decreases in our advertising and marketing funds or financial support for advertising activities could significantly curtail our marketing efforts, which may in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media could adversely impact our business.

 

In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the use of social media platforms, including blogs, chat platforms, social media websites, and other forms of Internet based communications which allow individuals access to a broad audience of consumers and other interested persons. The rising popularity of social media and other consumer oriented technologies has increased the speed and accessibility of information dissemination. Many social media platforms immediately publish the content their subscribers and participants post, often without filters or checks on accuracy of the content posted. Information posted on such platforms at any time may be adverse to our interests and/or may be inaccurate. The dissemination of information via social media could harm our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations, regardless of the information’s accuracy. The damage may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction.

 

In addition, social media is frequently used to communicate with our customers and the public in general. Failure by us to use social media effectively or appropriately, particularly as compared to our brands’ respective competitors, could lead to a decline in brand value, customer visits and revenue. Other risks associated with the use of social media include improper disclosure of proprietary information, negative comments about our brands, exposure of personally identifiable information, fraud, hoaxes or malicious dissemination of false information. The inappropriate use of social media by our customers or employees could increase our costs, lead to litigation or result in negative publicity that could damage our reputation and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

  18  
     

 

Negative publicity relating to one of our franchised restaurants could reduce sales at some or all of our other franchised restaurants.

 

Our success is dependent in part upon our ability to maintain and enhance the value of our brands, consumers’ connection to our brands and positive relationships with our franchisees. We may, from time to time, be faced with negative publicity relating to food quality, public health concerns, restaurant facilities, customer complaints or litigation alleging illness or injury, health inspection scores, integrity of our franchisees or their suppliers’ food processing, employee relationships or other matters, regardless of whether the allegations are valid or whether we are held to be responsible. The negative impact of adverse publicity relating to one franchised restaurant may extend far beyond that restaurant or franchisee involved to affect some or all of our other franchised restaurants. The risk of negative publicity is particularly great with respect to our franchised restaurants because we are limited in the manner in which we can regulate them, especially on a real-time basis. The considerable expansion in the use of social media over recent years can further amplify any negative publicity, and do so very quickly, that could be generated by such incidents. A similar risk exists with respect to unrelated food service businesses, if consumers associate those businesses with our own operations. Additionally, employee claims against us based on, among other things, wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment or wrongful termination may also create negative publicity that could adversely affect us and divert our financial and management resources that would otherwise be used to benefit the future performance of our operations. A significant increase in the number of these claims or an increase in the number of successful claims would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Consumer demand for our products and our brands’ value could diminish significantly if any such incidents or other matters create negative publicity or otherwise erode consumer confidence in us or our products, which would likely result in lower sales and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Failure to protect our service marks or other intellectual property could harm our business.

 

We regard our Fatburger®, Buffalo’s Cafe®, Ponderosa® and Bonanza® service marks, and other service marks and trademarks related to our franchise restaurant businesses, as having significant value and being important to our marketing efforts. We rely on a combination of protections provided by contracts, copyrights, patents, trademarks, service marks and other common law rights, such as trade secret and unfair competition laws, to protect our franchised restaurants and services from infringement. We have registered certain trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. However, from time to time we become aware of names and marks identical or confusingly similar to our service marks being used by other persons. Although our policy is to oppose any such infringement, further or unknown unauthorized uses or other misappropriation of our trademarks or service marks could diminish the value of our brands and adversely affect our business. In addition, effective intellectual property protection may not be available in every country in which our franchisees have, or intend to open or franchise, a restaurant. There can be no assurance that these protections will be adequate and defending or enforcing our service marks and other intellectual property could result in the expenditure of significant resources. We may also face claims of infringement that could interfere with the use of the proprietary knowhow, concepts, recipes, or trade secrets used in our business. Defending against such claims may be costly, and we may be prohibited from using such proprietary information in the future or forced to pay damages, royalties, or other fees for using such proprietary information, any of which could negatively affect our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

If our franchisees are unable to protect their customers’ credit card data and other personal information, our franchisees could be exposed to data loss, litigation, and liability, and our reputation could be significantly harmed.

 

Privacy protection is increasingly demanding, and the use of electronic payment methods and collection of other personal information expose our franchisees to increased risk of privacy and/or security breaches as well as other risks. The majority of our franchisees’ restaurant sales are by credit or debit cards. In connection with credit or debit card transactions in-restaurant, our franchisees collect and transmit confidential information by way of secure private retail networks. Additionally, our franchisees collect and store personal information from individuals, including their customers and employees.

 

  19  
     

 

Although our franchisees use secure private networks to transmit confidential information and debit card sales, our security measures and those of technology vendors may not effectively prohibit others from obtaining improper access to this information. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems change frequently and are often difficult to detect for long periods of time, which may cause a breach to go undetected for an extensive period of time. Advances in computer and software capabilities, new tools, and other developments may increase the risk of such a breach. Further, the systems currently used for transmission and approval of electronic payment transactions, and the technology utilized in electronic payment themselves, all of which can put electronic payment at risk, are determined and controlled by the payment card industry, not by us, through enforcement of compliance with the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standards. Our franchisees must abide by the Payment Card Industry-Data Security Standards, as modified from time to time, in order to accept electronic payment transactions. Furthermore, the payment card industry is requiring vendors to become compatible with smart chip technology for payment cards, referred to as EMV-Compliant, or else bear full responsibility for certain fraud losses, referred to as the EMV Liability Shift, which could adversely affect our business. To become EMV-Compliant, merchants must utilize EMV-Compliant payment card terminals at the point of sale and also obtain a variety of certifications. The EMV Liability Shift became effective on October 1, 2015.

 

If a person is able to circumvent our franchisees’ security measures or those of third parties, he or she could destroy or steal valuable information or disrupt our operations. Our franchisees may become subject to claims for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of credit or debit card information, and our franchisees may also be subject to lawsuits or other proceedings relating to these types of incidents. Any such claim or proceeding could cause our franchisees to incur significant unplanned expenses, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Further, adverse publicity resulting from these allegations could significantly harm our reputation and may have a material adverse effect on us and our franchisees’ business.

 

We and our franchisees rely on computer systems to process transactions and manage our business, and a disruption or a failure of such systems or technology could harm our ability to effectively manage our business.

 

Network and information technology systems are integral to our business. We utilize various computer systems, including our franchisee reporting system, by which our franchisees report their weekly sales and pay their corresponding royalty fees and required advertising fund contributions. When sales are reported by a franchisee, a withdrawal for the authorized amount is initiated from the franchisee’s bank on a set date each week based on gross sales during the week ended the prior Sunday. This system is critical to our ability to accurately track sales and compute royalties and advertising fund contributions and receive timely payments due from our franchisees. Our operations depend upon our ability to protect our computer equipment and systems against damage from physical theft, fire, power loss, telecommunications failure or other catastrophic events, as well as from internal and external security breaches, viruses, worms and other disruptive problems. Any damage or failure of our computer systems or network infrastructure that causes an interruption in our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business and subject us to litigation or actions by regulatory authorities. Despite the implementation of protective measures, our systems are subject to damage and/or interruption as a result of power outages, computer and network failures, computer viruses and other disruptive software, security breaches, catastrophic events, and improper usage by employees. Such events could result in a material disruption in operations, a need for a costly repair, upgrade or replacement of systems, or a decrease in, or in the collection of, royalties and advertising fund contributions paid to us by our franchisees. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of, or damage to, our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability which could materially affect our results of operations. It is also critical that we establish and maintain certain licensing and software agreements for the software we use in our day-to-day operations. A failure to procure or maintain these licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business operations.

 

  20  
     

 

We may engage in litigation with our franchisees.

 

Although we believe we generally enjoy a positive working relationship with the vast majority of our franchisees, the nature of the franchisor-franchisee relationship may give rise to litigation with our franchisees. In the ordinary course of business, we are the subject of complaints or litigation from franchisees, usually related to alleged breaches of contract or wrongful termination under the franchise arrangements. We may also engage in future litigation with franchisees to enforce the terms of our franchise agreements and compliance with our brand standards as determined necessary to protect our brands, the consistency of our products and the customer experience. We may also engage in future litigation with franchisees to enforce our contractual indemnification rights if we are brought into a matter involving a third party due to the franchisee’s alleged acts or omissions. In addition, we may be subject to claims by our franchisees relating to our franchise disclosure document, including claims based on financial information contained in our franchise disclosure document. Engaging in such litigation may be costly and time-consuming and may distract management and materially adversely affect our relationships with franchisees and our ability to attract new franchisees. Any negative outcome of these or any other claims could materially adversely affect our results of operations as well as our ability to expand our franchise system and may damage our reputation and brands. Furthermore, existing and future franchise-related legislation could subject us to additional litigation risk in the event we terminate or fail to renew a franchise relationship.

 

The retail food industry in which we operate is highly competitive.

 

The retail food industry in which we operate is highly competitive with respect to price and quality of food products, new product development, advertising levels and promotional initiatives, customer service, reputation, restaurant location, and attractiveness and maintenance of properties. If consumer or dietary preferences change, if our marketing efforts are unsuccessful, or if our franchisees’ restaurants are unable to compete successfully with other retail food outlets in new and existing markets, our business could be adversely affected. We also face growing competition as a result of convergence in grocery, convenience, deli and restaurant services, including the Offering by the grocery industry of convenient meals, including pizzas and entrees with side dishes. Competition from delivery aggregators and other food delivery services has also increased in recent years, particularly in urbanized areas. Increased competition could have an adverse effect on our sales, profitability or development plans, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.

 

Shortages or interruptions in the availability and delivery of food and other supplies may increase costs or reduce revenues.

 

The food products sold by our franchisees are sourced from a variety of domestic and international suppliers. We, along with our franchisees, are also dependent upon third parties to make frequent deliveries of food products and supplies that meet our specifications at competitive prices. Shortages or interruptions in the supply of food items and other supplies to our franchisees’ restaurants could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of items we use and the operations of our franchisees’ restaurants. Such shortages or disruptions could be caused by inclement weather, natural disasters, increased demand, problems in production or distribution, restrictions on imports or exports, the inability of vendors to obtain credit, political instability in the countries in which suppliers and distributors are located, the financial instability of suppliers and distributors, suppliers’ or distributors’ failure to meet our standards, product quality issues, inflation, the price of gasoline, other factors relating to the suppliers and distributors and the countries in which they are located, food safety warnings or advisories or the prospect of such pronouncements, the cancellation of supply or distribution agreements or an inability to renew such arrangements or to find replacements on commercially reasonable terms, or other conditions beyond our control or the control of our franchisees.

 

A shortage or interruption in the availability of certain food products or supplies could increase costs and limit the availability of products critical to our franchisees’ restaurant operations, which in turn could lead to restaurant closures and/or a decrease in sales and therefore a reduction in royalty fees to us. In addition, failure by a key supplier or distributor to our franchisees to meet its service requirements could lead to a disruption of service or supply until a new supplier or distributor is engaged, and any disruption could have an adverse effect on our franchisees and therefore our business. See “Business—Supply Chain.”

 

  21  
     

 

An increase in food prices may have an adverse impact on our and our franchisees’ profit margins.

 

Our franchisees’ restaurants depend on reliable sources of large quantities of raw materials such as protein (including beef and poultry), cheese, oil, flour and vegetables (including potatoes and lettuce). Raw materials purchased for use in our franchisees’ restaurants are subject to price volatility caused by any fluctuation in aggregate supply and demand, or other external conditions, such as weather conditions or natural events or disasters that affect expected harvests of such raw materials. As a result, the historical prices of raw materials used in the operation of our franchisees’ restaurants have fluctuated. We cannot assure you that we or our franchisees will continue to be able to purchase raw materials at reasonable prices, or that prices of raw materials will remain stable in the future. In addition, a significant increase in gasoline prices could result in the imposition of fuel surcharges by our distributors.

 

Because our franchisees provide competitively priced food, we may not have the ability to pass through to customers the full amount of any commodity price increases. If we and our franchisees are unable to manage the cost of raw materials or to increase the prices of products proportionately, it may have an adverse impact on our and our franchisees’ profit margins and their ability to remain in business, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Food safety and foodborne illness concerns may have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Foodborne illnesses, such as E. coli, hepatitis A, trichinosis and salmonella, occur or may occur within our system from time to time. In addition, food safety issues such as food tampering, contamination and adulteration occur or may occur within our system from time to time. Any report or publicity linking one of our franchisee’s restaurants, or linking our competitors or our industry generally, to instances of foodborne illness or food safety issues could adversely affect our brands and reputations as well as our revenues and profits, and possibly lead to product liability claims, litigation and damages. If a customer of one of our franchisees’ restaurants becomes ill as a result of food safety issues, restaurants in our system may be temporarily closed, which would decrease our revenues. In addition, instances or allegations of foodborne illness or food safety issues, real or perceived, involving our franchised restaurants, restaurants of competitors, or suppliers or distributors (regardless of whether we use or have used those suppliers or distributors), or otherwise involving the types of food served at our franchisees’ restaurants, could result in negative publicity that could adversely affect our revenues or the sales of our franchisees. The occurrence of foodborne illnesses or food safety issues could also adversely affect the price and availability of affected ingredients, which could result in disruptions in our supply chain and/or lower margins for us and our franchisees.

 

Health concerns arising from outbreaks of viruses or other diseases may have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business could be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of a widespread health epidemic. The occurrence of such an outbreak of an epidemic illness or other adverse public health developments could materially disrupt our business and operations. Such events could also significantly impact our industry and cause a temporary closure of restaurants, which would severely disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Furthermore, viruses may be transmitted through human contact, and the risk of contracting viruses could cause employees or guests to avoid gathering in public places, which could adversely affect restaurant guest traffic or the ability to adequately staff franchised restaurants. We could also be adversely affected if jurisdictions in which our franchisees’ restaurants operate impose mandatory closures, seek voluntary closures or impose restrictions on operations of restaurants. Even if such measures are not implemented and a virus or other disease does not spread significantly, the perceived risk of infection or health risk may affect our business.

 

New information or attitudes regarding diet and health could result in changes in regulations and consumer consumption habits that could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Government regulation and consumer eating habits may impact our business as a result of changes in attitudes regarding diet and health or new information regarding the health effects of consuming certain menu offerings. These changes have resulted in, and may continue to result in, laws and regulations requiring us to disclose the nutritional content of our food offerings, and they have resulted, and may continue to result in, laws and regulations affecting permissible ingredients and menu offerings. For example, a number of states, counties and cities have enacted menu labeling laws requiring multi-unit restaurant operators to disclose to consumers certain nutritional information, or have enacted legislation restricting the use of certain types of ingredients in restaurants. These requirements may be different or inconsistent with requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (which we refer to as the “PPACA”), which establishes a uniform, federal requirement for certain restaurants to post nutritional information on their menus. Specifically, the PPACA requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations operating under the same name and offering substantially the same menus to publish the total number of calories of standard menu items on menus and menu boards, along with a statement that puts this calorie information in the context of a total daily calorie intake. These inconsistencies could be challenging for us to comply with in an efficient manner. The PPACA also requires covered restaurants to provide to consumers, upon request, a written summary of detailed nutritional information for each standard menu item, and to provide a statement on menus and menu boards about the availability of this information upon request. An unfavorable report on, or reaction to, our menu ingredients, the size of our portions or the nutritional content of our menu items could negatively influence the demand for our products and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

  22  
     

 

Compliance with current and future laws and regulations regarding the ingredients and nutritional content of our menu items may be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, if consumer health regulations or consumer eating habits change significantly, we may be required to modify or discontinue certain menu items, and we may experience higher costs associated with the implementation of those changes. We cannot predict the impact of the new nutrition labeling requirements under the PPACA until final regulations are promulgated. The risks and costs associated with nutritional disclosures on our menus could also impact our operations, particularly given differences among applicable legal requirements and practices within the restaurant industry with respect to testing and disclosure, ordinary variations in food preparation among our own restaurants, and the need to rely on the accuracy and completeness of nutritional information obtained from third-party suppliers.

 

Our business may be adversely impacted by changes in consumer discretionary spending and general economic conditions.

 

Purchases at our franchisees’ restaurants are generally discretionary for consumers and, therefore, our results of operations are susceptible to economic slowdowns and recessions. Our results of operations are dependent upon discretionary spending by consumers of our franchisees’ restaurants, which may be affected by general economic conditions globally or in one or more of the markets we serve. Some of the factors that impact discretionary consumer spending include unemployment rates, fluctuations in the level of disposable income, the price of gasoline, stock market performance and changes in the level of consumer confidence. These and other macroeconomic factors could have an adverse effect on sales at our franchisees’ restaurants, which could lead to an adverse effect on our profitability or development plans, and harm our financial condition and operating results.

 

Our expansion into international markets exposes us to a number of risks that may differ in each country where we have franchised restaurants.

 

We currently have franchised restaurants in Canada, China, UAE, the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Oman, Qatar and Tunisia, and plan to continue to grow internationally. Expansion in international markets may be affected by local economic and market as well as geopolitical conditions. Therefore, as we expand internationally, our franchisees may not experience the operating margins we expect, and our results of operations and growth may be materially and adversely affected. Our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected if global markets in which our franchised restaurants compete are affected by changes in political, economic or other factors. These factors, over which neither our franchisees nor we have control, may include:

 

  recessionary or expansive trends in international markets;
     
  changing labor conditions and difficulties in staffing and managing our foreign operations;
     
  increases in the taxes we pay and other changes in applicable tax laws;
     
  legal and regulatory changes, and the burdens and costs of our compliance with a variety of foreign laws;
     
  changes in inflation rates;
     
  changes in exchange rates and the imposition of restrictions on currency conversion or the transfer of funds;
     
  difficulty in protecting our brand, reputation and intellectual property;
     
  difficulty in collecting our royalties and longer payment cycles;
     
  expropriation of private enterprises;
     
  increases in anti-American sentiment and the identification of our brands as American brands;
     
  political and economic instability; and
     
  other external factors.

 

  23  
     

 

Our international operations subject us to risks that could negatively affect our business.

 

A significant portion of our franchised restaurants are operated in countries and territories outside of the United States, including in emerging markets, and we intend to continue expansion of our international operations. As a result, our business is increasingly exposed to risks inherent in international operations. These risks, which can vary substantially by country, include political instability, corruption and social and ethnic unrest, as well as changes in economic conditions (including consumer spending, unemployment levels and wage and commodity inflation), the regulatory environment, income and non-income based tax rates and laws, foreign exchange control regimes, consumer preferences and the laws and policies that govern foreign investment in countries where our franchised restaurants are operated. In addition, our franchisees do business in jurisdictions that may be subject to trade or economic sanction regimes. Any failure to comply with such sanction regimes or other similar laws or regulations could result in the assessment of damages, the imposition of penalties, suspension of business licenses, or a cessation of operations at our franchisees’ businesses, as well as damage to our and our brands’ images and reputations, all of which could harm our profitability.

 

Foreign currency risks and foreign exchange controls could adversely affect our financial results.

 

Our results of operations and the value of our foreign assets are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, which may adversely affect reported earnings. More specifically, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies could have an adverse effect on our reported earnings. Our Canadian franchisees pay us franchise fees as a percentage of sales denominated in Canadian dollars, which are then converted to U.S. dollars at the prevailing exchange rate. This exposes us to risk of an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar. There can be no assurance as to the future effect of any changes in currency exchange rates on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

 

We depend on key executive management.

 

We depend on the leadership and experience of our relatively small number of key executive management personnel, and in particular key executive management, particularly our Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Wiederhorn. The loss of the services of any of our executive management members could have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects, as we may not be able to find suitable individuals to replace such personnel on a timely basis or without incurring increased costs, or at all. We do not maintain key man life insurance policies on any of our executive officers. We believe that our future success will depend on our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. There is a high level of competition for experienced, successful personnel in our industry. Our inability to meet our executive staffing requirements in the future could impair our growth and harm our business.

 

Labor shortages or difficulty finding qualified employees could slow our growth, harm our business and reduce our profitability.

 

Restaurant operations are highly service oriented and our success depends in part upon our franchisees’ ability to attract, retain and motivate a sufficient number of qualified employees, including restaurant managers and other crew members. The market for qualified employees in our industry is very competitive. Any future inability to recruit and retain qualified individuals may delay the planned openings of new restaurants by our franchisees and could adversely impact our existing franchised restaurants. Any such delays, material increases in employee turnover rate in existing franchised restaurants or widespread employee dissatisfaction could have a material adverse effect on our and our franchisees’ business and results of operations.

 

In addition, strikes, work slowdowns or other job actions may become more common in the United States. Although none of the employees employed by our franchisees are represented by a labor union or are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, in the event of a strike, work slowdown or other labor unrest, the ability to adequately staff our restaurants could be impaired, which could result in reduced revenue and customer claims, and may distract our management from focusing on our business and strategic priorities.

 

  24  
     

 

Changes in labor and other operating costs could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

An increase in the costs of employee wages, benefits and insurance (including workers’ compensation, general liability, property and health) could result from government imposition of higher minimum wages or from general economic or competitive conditions. In addition, competition for qualified employees could compel our franchisees to pay higher wages to attract or retain key crew members, which could result in higher labor costs and decreased profitability. Any increase in labor expenses, as well as increases in general operating costs such as rent and energy, could adversely affect our franchisees’ profit margins, their sales volumes and their ability to remain in business, which would adversely affect our results of operations.

 

A broader standard for determining joint employer status may adversely affect our business operations and increase our liabilities resulting from actions by our franchisees.

 

In 2015, the National Labor Relations Board (which we refer to as the “NLRB”) adopted a new and broader standard for determining when two or more otherwise unrelated employers may be found to be a joint employer of the same employees under the National Labor Relations Act. In addition, the general counsel’s office of the NLRB has issued complaints naming McDonald’s Corporation as a joint employer of workers at its franchisees for alleged violations of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act. In June 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the rescission of these guidelines. However, there can be no assurance that future changes in law, regulation or policy will cause us or our franchisees to be liable or held responsible for unfair labor practices, violations of wage and hour laws, or other violations or require our franchises to conduct collective bargaining negotiations regarding employees of our franchisees. Further, there is no assurance that we or our franchisees will not receive similar complaints as McDonald’s Corporation in the future, which could result in legal proceedings based on the actions of our franchisees. In such events, our operating expenses may increase as a result of required modifications to our business practices, increased litigation, governmental investigations or proceedings, administrative enforcement actions, fines and civil liability.

 

We could be party to litigation that could adversely affect us by increasing our expenses, diverting management attention or subjecting us to significant monetary damages and other remedies.

 

We may become involved in legal proceedings involving consumer, employment, real estate related, tort, intellectual property, breach of contract, securities, derivative and other litigation. Plaintiffs in these types of lawsuits often seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may not be accurately estimated. Regardless of whether any such claims have merit, or whether we are ultimately held liable or settle, such litigation may be expensive to defend and may divert resources and management attention away from our operations and negatively impact reported earnings. With respect to insured claims, a judgment for monetary damages in excess of any insurance coverage could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations. Any adverse publicity resulting from these allegations may also adversely affect our reputation, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

In addition, the restaurant industry around the world has been subject to claims that relate to the nutritional content of food products, as well as claims that the menus and practices of restaurant chains have led to customer health issues, including weight gain and other adverse effects. These concerns could lead to an increase in the regulation of the content or marketing of our products. We may also be subject to such claims in the future and, even if we are not, publicity about these matters (particularly directed at the quick service and fast casual segments of the retail food industry) may harm our reputation and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

  25  
     

 

Changes in, or noncompliance with, governmental regulations may adversely affect our business operations, growth prospects or financial condition.

 

We and our franchisees are subject to numerous laws and regulations around the world. These laws change regularly and are increasingly complex. For example, we and our franchisees are subject to:

 

  The Americans with Disabilities Act in the U.S. and similar state laws that give civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities in the context of employment, public accommodations and other areas.
     
  The U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, which governs matters such as minimum wages, overtime and other working conditions, as well as family leave mandates and a variety of similar state laws that govern these and other employment law matters.
     
  Laws and regulations in government mandated health care benefits such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
  Laws and regulations relating to nutritional content, nutritional labeling, product safety, product marketing and menu labeling.
     
  Laws relating to state and local licensing.
     
  Laws relating to the relationship between franchisors and franchisees.
     
  Laws and regulations relating to health, sanitation, food, workplace safety, child labor, including laws prohibiting the use of certain “hazardous equipment” by employees younger than the age of 18 years of age, and fire safety and prevention.
     
  Laws and regulations relating to union organizing rights and activities.
     
  Laws relating to information security, privacy, cashless payments, and consumer protection.
     
  Laws relating to currency conversion or exchange.
     
  Laws relating to international trade and sanctions.
     
  Tax laws and regulations.
     
  Antibribery and anticorruption laws.
     
  Environmental laws and regulations.
     
  Federal and state immigration laws and regulations in the U.S.

 

Compliance with new or existing laws and regulations could impact our operations. The compliance costs associated with these laws and regulations could be substantial. Any failure or alleged failure to comply with these laws or regulations by our franchisees or indirectly by us could adversely affect our reputation, international expansion efforts, growth prospects and financial results or result in, among other things, litigation, revocation of required licenses, internal investigations, governmental investigations or proceedings, administrative enforcement actions, fines and civil and criminal liability. Publicity relating to any such noncompliance could also harm our reputation and adversely affect our revenues.

 

  26  
     

 

Failure to comply with antibribery or anticorruption laws could adversely affect our business operations.

 

The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other similar applicable laws prohibiting bribery of government officials and other corrupt practices are the subject of increasing emphasis and enforcement around the world. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to promote compliance with these laws, there can be no assurance that our employees, contractors, agents, franchisees or other third parties will not take actions in violation of our policies or applicable law, particularly as we expand our operations in emerging markets and elsewhere. Any such violations or suspected violations could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, including substantial fines and significant investigation costs, and could also materially damage our reputation, brands, international expansion efforts and growth prospects, business and operating results. Publicity relating to any noncompliance or alleged noncompliance could also harm our reputation and adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.

 

Tax matters, including changes in tax rates, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes could impact our results of operations and financial condition.

 

We are subject to income taxes as well as non-income based taxes, such as payroll, sales, use, value added, net worth, property, withholding and franchise taxes in both the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions. We are also subject to regular reviews, examinations and audits by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (which we refer to as the “IRS”) and other taxing authorities with respect to such income and non-income based taxes inside and outside of the U.S. If the IRS or another taxing authority disagrees with our tax positions, we could face additional tax liabilities, including interest and penalties. Payment of such additional amounts upon final settlement or adjudication of any disputes could have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.

 

In addition, we are directly and indirectly affected by new tax legislation and regulation and the interpretation of tax laws and regulations worldwide. Changes in legislation, regulation or interpretation of existing laws and regulations in the U.S. and other jurisdictions where we are subject to taxation could increase our taxes and have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition.

 

Conflict or terrorism could negatively affect our business.

 

We cannot predict the effects of actual or threatened armed conflicts or terrorist attacks, efforts to combat terrorism, military action against any foreign state or group located in a foreign state or heightened security requirements on local, regional, national or international economies or consumer confidence. Such events could negatively affect our business, including by reducing customer traffic or the availability of commodities.

 

Risks Related to Our Company and Our Organizational Structure

 

We will be included in FCCG’s consolidated group for federal income tax purposes and, as a result, may be liable for any shortfall in FCCG’s federal income tax payments

 

For so long as FCCG continues to own at least 80% of the total voting power and value of our capital stock, we expect to be included in FCCG’s consolidated group for federal income tax purposes. By virtue of its controlling ownership and the Tax Sharing Agreement that we anticipate entering into with FCCG, FCCG will effectively control all our tax decisions. Moreover, notwithstanding the Tax Sharing Agreement, federal tax law provides that each member of a consolidated group is jointly and severally liable for the group’s entire federal income tax obligation. Thus, to the extent FCCG or other members of the group fail to make any federal income tax payments required of them by law, we would be liable for the shortfall. Similar principles generally apply for income tax purposes in some state, local and foreign jurisdictions.

 

  27  
     

 

We are controlled by FCCG, whose interests may differ from those of our public stockholders.

 

Immediately following this Offering and the application of net proceeds from this Offering, FCCG will control approximately 80% of the combined voting power of our Common Stock, assuming the sale of the maximum number of shares in the Offering. FCCG will, for the foreseeable future, have significant influence over corporate management and affairs, and will be able to control virtually all matters requiring stockholder approval. FCCG is able to, subject to applicable law, elect a majority of the members of our Board of Directors and control actions to be taken by us, including amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and approval of significant corporate transactions, including mergers and sales of substantially all of our assets. It is possible that the interests of FCCG may in some circumstances conflict with our interests and the interests of our other stockholders, including you. For example, FCCG may have different tax positions from us, especially in light of the Tax Sharing Agreement, that could influence its decisions regarding whether and when to dispose of assets, whether and when to incur new or refinance existing indebtedness. In addition, the determination of future tax reporting positions, the structuring of future transactions and the handling of any future challenges by any taxing authority to our tax reporting positions may take into consideration FCCG’s tax or other considerations, which may differ from the considerations of us or our other stockholders. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Tax Sharing Agreement.”

 

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards and, as a result, will qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.

 

Because of the aggregate voting power of FCCG, we are considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. As such, we are exempt from certain corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ, including (i) the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors, (ii) the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors and (iii) the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. We do not intend to rely on these exemptions and intend to have the same requisite independent directors and board committee structure as non-controlled companies, but we may in the future choose to not maintain a majority of independent directors or compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees consisting entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, in the future you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ.

 

Our anti-takeover provisions could prevent or delay a change in control of our company, even if such change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as they will be in effect upon consummation of this Offering, as well as provisions of Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company, even if such change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions include:

 

 

net operating loss protective provisions, which require that any person wishing to become a “5% shareholder” (as defined in our certificate of incorporation) must first obtain a waiver from our board of directors, and any person that is already a “5% shareholder” of ours cannot make any additional purchases of our stock without a waiver from our board of directors;

     
  authorizing the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that could be issued by our Board of Directors to increase the number of outstanding shares and thwart a takeover attempt;
     
  limiting the ability of stockholders to call special meetings or amend our bylaws;
     
 

providing for a classified board of directors with staggered, three-year terms;

     
  requiring all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders; and
     
  establishing advance notice and duration of ownership requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings.

 

These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing and cause us to take other corporate actions you desire. In addition, because our Board of Directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions could in turn affect any attempt by our stockholders to replace current members of our management team.

 

In addition, the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, to which we are subject, prohibits us, except under specified circumstances, from engaging in any mergers, significant sales of stock or assets or business combinations with any stockholder or group of stockholders who owns at least 15% of our common stock.

 

  28  
     

 

We may issue shares of preferred stock in the future, which could make it difficult for another company to acquire us or could otherwise adversely affect holders of our Common Stock, which could depress the price of our Common Stock.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize us to issue one or more series of preferred stock. Our board of directors will have the authority to determine the preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of preferred stock and to fix the number of shares constituting any series and the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. Our preferred stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the rights of our Common Stock. The potential issuance of preferred stock may delay or prevent a change in control of us, discourage bids for our Common Stock at a premium to the market price, and materially and adversely affect the market price and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Common Stock.

 

The provision of our certificate of incorporation requiring exclusive venue in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware for certain types of lawsuits may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine will have to be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

 

Risks Related to This Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

 

If the ownership of our common stock continues to be highly concentrated, it may prevent you and other minority stockholders from influencing significant corporate decisions and may result in conflicts of interest.

 

Following the consummation of this Offering, FCCG will own approximately 80% of our outstanding Common Stock. As a result, FCCG will indirectly beneficially own shares sufficient for majority votes over all matters requiring stockholder votes, including: the election of directors; mergers, consolidations and acquisitions; the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and other decisions affecting our capital structure; amendments to our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; and our winding up and dissolution. This concentration of ownership may delay, deter or prevent acts that would be favored by our other stockholders. The interests of FCCG may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of our other stockholders. This concentration of ownership may also have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of us. Also, FCCG may seek to cause us to take courses of action that, in its judgment, could enhance its investment in us, but which might involve risks to our other stockholders or adversely affect us or our other stockholders, including investors in this Offering. As a result, the market price of our Common Stock could decline or stockholders might not receive a premium over the then-current market price of our common stock upon a change in control. In addition, this concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock because investors may perceive disadvantages in owning shares in a company with significant stockholders.

 

A limited public trading market may cause volatility in the price of our Common Stock.

 

While we plan to apply for the listing of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, there can be no assurance that our Common Stock will continue to be quoted on NASDAQ or that a meaningful, consistent and liquid trading market will develop. As a result, our stockholders may not be able to sell or liquidate their holdings in a timely manner or at the then-prevailing trading price of our Common Stock. In addition, sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock, or the perception that such sales might occur, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock and our stock price may decline substantially in a short time and our stockholders could suffer losses or be unable to liquidate their holdings.

 

We do not know whether a market will develop for our Common Stock or what the market price of our Common Stock will be and as a result it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of our Common Stock.

 

Before this Offering, there was no public trading market for our Common Stock. If a market for our Common Stock does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for you to sell your shares of Common Stock at an attractive price or at all. We cannot predict the prices at which our Common Stock will trade. It is possible that in one or more future periods our results of operations may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors and, as a result of these and other factors, the price of our Common Stock may fall.

 

  29  
     

 

If our operating and financial performance in any given period does not meet the guidance that we provide to the public, our stock price may decline.

 

We may provide public guidance on our expected operating and financial results for future periods. Any such guidance will be comprised of forward-looking statements subject to the risks and uncertainties described in this Offering Circular and in our other public filings and public statements. Our actual results may not always be in line with or exceed any guidance we have provided, especially in times of economic uncertainty. If, in the future, our operating or financial results for a particular period do not meet any guidance we provide or the expectations of investment analysts or if we reduce our guidance for future periods, the market price of our Common Stock may decline as well.

 

If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they publish negative evaluations of our Common Stock, the price of our Common Stock could decline.

 

The trading market for our Common Stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by industry or financial analysts. If no or few analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our stock would likely decrease. Even if we do obtain analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts covering our business downgrade their evaluations of our stock, the price of our Common Stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover our Common Stock, we could lose visibility in the market for our stock, which in turn could cause our Common Stock price to decline.

 

Our common stock may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.

 

After this Offering, the market price for our common stock is likely to be volatile, in part because our shares have not been traded publicly. In addition, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, most of which we cannot control, including:

 

  low same-store sales growth compared to market expectations;
     
  delays in the planned openings of new stores;
     
  quarterly variations in our operating results compared to market expectations;
     
  changes in preferences of our customers;
     
  adverse publicity about us, the industries we participate in or individual scandals;
     
  announcements of new offerings or significant price reductions by us or our competitors;
     
  stock price performance of our competitors;
     
  changes in the price and availability of food commodities, particularly beef and poultry;
     
 

fluctuations in stock market prices and volumes, which could be exacerbated by the relatively small number of publicly owned shares;

     
  changes in senior management or key personnel;
     
  changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
     
  the market’s reaction to our reduced disclosure as a result of being an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act;
     
  negative earnings or other announcements by us or other restaurant companies;
     
  defaults on indebtedness, incurrence of additional indebtedness, or issuances of additional capital stock;
     
  global economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance; and
     
  the other factors listed in this “Risk Factors” section.

 

  30  
     

 

The initial public offering price of our Common Stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the Selling Agent based upon a number of factors and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail following the closing of this Offering. Volatility in the market price of our common stock may prevent investors from being able to sell their Common Stock at or above the initial public offering price. As a result, you may suffer a loss on your investment.

 

In addition, stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies in our industry. In the past, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were involved in securities litigation, we could incur substantial costs and our resources and the attention of management could be diverted from our business.

 

Substantial future sales of our Common Stock, or the perception in the public markets that these sales may occur, may depress our stock price.

 

Sales of substantial amounts of our Common Stock in the public market after this Offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the price of our Common Stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional shares. Upon the closing of this Offering, we will have shares of Common Stock outstanding (or if the Offering is increased). The shares of Common Stock issued in this Offering will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for any shares of our common stock that may be held or acquired by our directors, executive officers and other affiliates, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, which will be restricted securities under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may not be sold in the public market unless the sale is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available.

 

We and each of our directors, executive officers and holders of substantially all of our outstanding common stock, which collectively will hold 80% of our outstanding capital stock after giving effect to the sale of the maximum shares in this Offering, have agreed with the Selling Agent, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of common stock during the period from the date of this Offering Circular continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this Offering Circular, except with the prior written consent of the Selling Agent. See “Plan of Distribution.” All of our shares of common stock outstanding as of the date of this Offering Circular may be sold in the public market by existing stockholders following the expiration of the applicable lock-up period, subject to applicable limitations imposed under federal securities laws.

 

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under our stock plans. Any such Form S-8 registration statements will automatically become effective upon filing. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statements will be available for sale in the open market following the expiration of the applicable lock-up period. We expect that the initial registration statement on Form S-8 will cover shares of our Common Stock.

 

See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a more detailed description of the restrictions on selling shares of our common stock after this Offering.

 

In the future, we may also issue additional securities if we need to raise capital, which could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of common stock.

 

  31  
     

 

Taking advantage of the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to “emerging growth companies” may make our Common Stock less attractive to investors.

 

The JOBS Act provides that, so long as a company qualifies as an “emerging growth company,” it will, among other things:

 

  be exempt from the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that its independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting;
     
  be exempt from the “say on pay” and “say on golden parachute” advisory vote requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Customer Protection Act (which we refer to as the “Dodd-Frank Act”);
     
  be exempt from certain disclosure requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to compensation of its executive officers and be permitted to omit the detailed compensation discussion and analysis from proxy statements and reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which we refer to as the “Exchange Act”); and
     
  be exempt from any rules that may be adopted by the PCAOB requiring mandatory audit firm rotations or a supplement to the auditor’s report on the financial statements.

 

We currently intend to take advantage of each of the exemptions described above. We have irrevocably elected not to take advantage of the extension of time to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards available under Section 107(b) of the JOBS Act. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years after this Offering. We cannot predict if investors will find our Common Stock less attractive if we elect to rely on these exemptions, or if taking advantage of these exemptions would result in less active trading or more volatility in the price of our Common Stock.

 

We will incur increased costs as a result of becoming a public company and in the administration of our organizational structure.

 

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, insurance and other expenses that we have not incurred as a private company, including costs associated with public company reporting requirements. We also have incurred and will incur costs associated with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules implemented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to as the “SEC”). Following the consummation of this Offering, we will incur ongoing periodic expenses in connection with the administration of our organizational structure. The expenses incurred by public companies generally for reporting and corporate governance purposes have been increasing. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time-consuming and costly, although we are currently unable to estimate these costs with any significant degree of certainty. In estimating these costs however, we took into account expenses related to insurance, legal, accounting, and compliance activities, as well as other expenses not currently incurred. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult or costly for us to obtain certain types of insurance, including director and officer liability insurance, and we may be forced to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. These laws and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our Board of Directors, our board committees or as our executive officers. Furthermore, if we are unable to satisfy our obligations as a public company, we could be subject to delisting of our common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation.

 

  32  
     

 

Failure to establish and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.

 

We are not currently required to comply with the rules of the SEC implementing Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. Upon becoming a public company, we will be required to comply with the SEC’s rules implementing Sections 302 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which will require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of controls over financial reporting. Though we will be required to disclose changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis, we will not be required to make our first annual assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC. However, as an emerging growth company, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 until the later of the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC or the date we are no longer an emerging growth company. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our controls are documented, designed or operating.

 

To comply with the requirements of being a public company, we have undertaken various actions, and may need to take additional actions, such as implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring additional accounting or internal audit staff or consultants. Testing and maintaining internal control can divert our management’s attention from other matters that are important to the operation of our business. Additionally, when evaluating our internal control over financial reporting, we may identify material weaknesses that we may not be able to remediate in time to meet the applicable deadline imposed upon us for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we identify any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting or are unable to comply with the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting once we are no longer an emerging growth company, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our Common Stock could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources.

 

Our ability to pay regular dividends to our stockholders is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and may be limited by our holding company structure and applicable provisions of Delaware law.

 

Following consummation of this Offering, subject to certain conditions and limitations, we expect to pay cash dividends to the holders of our Common Stock on a quarterly basis. Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decrease the amount or frequency of dividends or discontinue the payment of dividends entirely. In addition, as a holding company, we will be dependent upon the ability of our operating subsidiaries to generate earnings and cash flows and distribute them to us so that we may pay dividends to our stockholders. Our ability to pay dividends will be subject to our consolidated operating results, cash requirements and financial condition, the applicable provisions of Delaware law which may limit the amount of funds available for distribution to our stockholders, our compliance with covenants and financial ratios related to existing or future indebtedness, and our other agreements with third parties. In addition, each of the companies in the corporate chain must manage its assets, liabilities and working capital in order to meet all of its cash obligations, including the payment of dividends or distributions.

 

  33  
     

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Offering Circular contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Offering Circular may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding the Reorganization Transactions, expected new franchisees, brands, store openings and future capital expenditures are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions.

 

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  our inability to manage our growth;
     
  the actions of our franchisees;
     
  our inability to maintain good relationships with our franchisees;
     
  our inability to successfully add franchisees, brands and new stores, and timely develop and expand our operations;
     
  our inability to protect our brands and reputation;
     
  our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property;
     
  success of our advertising and marketing campaigns;
     
  our inability to protect against security breaches of confidential guest information;
     
  our business model being susceptible to litigation;
     
  competition from other restaurants;
     
  shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of food products;
     
  our vulnerability to increased food commodity costs;
     
  our failure to prevent food safety and food-borne illness incidents;
     
  changes in consumer tastes and nutritional and dietary trends;
     
  our dependence on key executive management;
     
  our inability to identify qualified individuals for our workforce;
     
  our vulnerability to labor costs;
     
  our inability to comply with governmental regulation;
     
  violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws;
     
  our inability to maintain sufficient levels of cash flow, or access to capital, to meet growth expectations; and
     
  FCCG’s control of us.

 

The forward-looking statements in this Offering Circular are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, and many of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those presented in the forward-looking statements.

 

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Offering Circular. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this Offering Circular after we distribute this Offering Circular, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise.

 

  34  
     

 

THE REORGANIZATION TRANSACTIONS

 

Existing Structure

 

FAT Brands Inc. is currently 100% owned by Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (which we refer to as “FCCG”), and was formed on March 21, 2017 to serve as the eventual holding company of all of our brands and the issuer of the Common Stock to be issued in this Offering.

 

The Reorganization Transactions

 

In connection with the closing of this Offering, we intend to consummate the following transactions, which we refer to collectively as the “Reorganization Transactions”:

 

  FCCG will contribute to us its two operating subsidiaries, Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc., in exchange for an unsecured promissory note with a principal balance of $30,000,000, bearing interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum, and maturing in five years.
     
  FCCG will consummate the acquisition of Homestyle Dining LLC, and will immediately contribute Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company (including related intellectual property) to us as new operating subsidiaries (which we refer to as the “Ponderosa Acquisition”). FCCG agreed in March 2017 to acquire Homestyle Dining LLC from Metromedia Company and its affiliate (“Metromedia”) pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, as amended, which provides for a cash purchase price of $10,550,000 to be paid at closing. The Purchase Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of Metromedia, and customary indemnification provisions under which Metromedia has agreed to indemnify FCCG, subject to certain caps and thresholds, for any liabilities and losses arising out of any inaccuracy in, or breaches of, the representations, warranties and covenants of Metromedia in the Purchase Agreement. A copy of the Purchase Agreement is filed as an exhibit to our Regulation A Offering Statement on Form 1-A, and is incorporated herein by this reference.
     
 

We will apply the net proceeds of this Offering as follows:

 

(i) $10,550,000 will be used to fund the Ponderosa Acquisition by FCCG; and

 

(ii) $9,500,000 will be used to repay a portion of Related Party Debt owed to FCCG, which will use this payment to repay indebtedness that it previously incurred in acquiring Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.

 

These amounts assume that at least $20,050,000 in net proceeds is raised in this Offering. If less than this amount is raised, the repayment of Related Party Debt will be reduced accordingly, and FCCG intends to repay the balance of its indebtedness and fund the purchase of Homestyle Dining LLC from other sources.

     
  We will enter into a Tax Sharing Agreement with FCCG that provides that FCCG will file consolidated federal, California and Oregon (and possibly other jurisdictions where revenue is generated, at FCCG’s election) income tax returns with us and our subsidiaries. We will pay to FCCG the amount that our tax liability would have been had we filed a separate return and not been consolidated with FCCG. To the extent our required payment exceeds our share of the actual consolidated income tax liability (which may occur due to the application of FCCG’s net operating loss carryforwards), we will be permitted to reimburse FCCG in cash or, at the election of a committee of our Board of Directors comprised solely of disinterested directors (directors not affiliated with or interested in FCCG), we may issue to FCCG an equivalent amount of our Common Stock in lieu of cash, valued at the fair market value of our Common Stock at the time of such payment. In addition, our inter-company credit of approximately $11,660,000 due from FCCG will be applied first to reduce such excess income tax payment obligation to FCCG under the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

Concurrently with or shortly following the closing of this Offering, we also expect to enter into a credit facility with a third-party lender, providing for debt financing of between $35,000,000 and $50,000,000. Upon consummation of such credit facility, we intend to repay the remaining Related Party Debt, which is expected to total approximately $20,000,000 after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions described above.

 

Organizational Structure Following this Offering

 

Immediately following the completion of the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering:

 

  FAT Brands Inc. will be a holding company for four major franchised restaurant brands, Fatburger, Buffalo Cafe / Buffalo’s Express, Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse.
     
  Approximately 20% of our Common Stock will be owned by investors in this Offering and 80% will be owned by FCCG.

 

  35  
     

 

The following diagram shows our organizational structure after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering:

 

 

 

  36  
     

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds to us of the sale of the maximum shares of Common Stock that we are offering will be approximately $21,200,000, assuming an initial public offering price of $12.00 per share, and after deducting the estimated cash Selling Agent fees of $1,800,000 and estimated Offering expenses of $1,000,000. However, there is no minimum number of shares that must be sold by us for the Offering to proceed.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds that we receive from this Offering as follows: (i) $10,550,000 to fund the acquisition of Homestyle Dining LLC by FCCG, which will immediately contribute Ponderosa Franchising Company, Bonanza Restaurant Company (including related intellectual property) to us as new operating subsidiaries, and (ii) $9,500,000 to repay a portion of the Related Party Debt owed by us to FCCG (see “The Reorganization Transactions”). FCCG will use such payment to repay indebtedness that it incurred in acquiring Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.. These amounts assume that at least $20,050,000 in net proceeds is raised in the Offering. If less than this amount is raised in the Offering, the repayment of Related Party Debt will be reduced accordingly, and FCCG intends to repay the balance of its indebtedness and fund the purchase of Homestyle Dining LLC from other sources. We will use any net proceeds in excess of $20,050,000 for our general corporate purposes.

 

The Related Party Debt will be unsecured, bear interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum, and mature in five years.

 

Our director and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Wiederhorn, is also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FCCG. The stockholders of FCCG, including Mr. Wiederhorn, will indirectly benefit from the proceeds of this Offering.

 

  37  
     

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth the cash and capitalization as of March 26, 2017, as follows:

 

  of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., and Subsidiaries on a historical combined basis, as predecessor entities, and
     
  of FAT Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries on a pro forma, as adjusted basis to give effect to the Reorganization Transactions, including our issuance and sale of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in this Offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $12.00 per share, after (i) deducting the estimated cash Selling Agent fees of $1,800,000 and estimated Offering expenses of $1,000,000, and (ii) the application of the proceeds from the Offering, each as described under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

For more information, please see “The Reorganization Transactions,” “Use of Proceeds” and “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” elsewhere in this Offering Circular. You should read this information in conjunction with our combined financial statements and the related notes appearing at the end of this Offering Circular and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and other financial information contained in this Offering Circular.

 

    As of March 26, 2017  
    Historical     Pro Forma as
Adjusted(1)
 
    (Unaudited)  
(in thousands, except per share data)            
Cash and cash equivalents   $ -       1,150  
                 
Note payable – affiliate     -       20,500  
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 25,000 shares authorized and shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis     -          
Members’/stockholders’ equity:     -          
Members’ equity (Predecessor Entities Combined)                
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, 25,000 shares authorized and 10,000 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis     -       -  
Additional paid-in capital     8,639       8,639  
Accumulated earnings     6,677       6,677  
Public stockholders’ equity                
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, 25,000 shares authorized and 10,000 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis     -       20  
Additional paid-in capital     -       23,980  
                 
Total capitalization   $ 15,316     $ 59,816  

 

(1) The table above excludes:

 

1,000,000 shares available for future issuance under our 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, and options to purchase 367,500 shares which we expect to issue under the Plan to directors and employees upon consummation of this Offering.

   
up to 100,000 shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants to be issued to the Selling Agent in connection with this Offering, exercisable at $13.20 per share.

 

  38  
     

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We intend to distribute as dividends to holders of our Common Stock, on a quarterly basis, substantially all of our distributable earnings, net of applicable corporate taxes and amounts payable under the Tax Sharing Agreement, in excess of amounts determined to be necessary or appropriate to be retained by our Board of Directors to provide for the conduct of our businesses, to make appropriate investments in our businesses, and to comply with the terms of debt instruments that we may enter into, other agreements and applicable law.

 

Our targeted quarterly dividend will be 4% of the price per share in this Offering, or $0.48 per share annually ($0.12 per share quarterly), which amount may be raised or lowered in the future without advance notice. The declaration and payment of all future dividends, if any, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and may be discontinued at any time. In determining the amount of any future dividends, our Board of Directors will take into account: (i) our consolidated financial results, available cash, and cash requirements and capital requirements, (ii) contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions on, and implications of, the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders, (iii) general economic and business conditions, and (iv) any other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. Our ability to pay dividends may also be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us or our subsidiaries.

 

  39  
     

 

DILUTION

 

Dilution is the amount by which the Offering price paid by the purchasers of the Common Stock in this Offering exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Common Stock after the Offering. Our net tangible book value as of March 26, 2017, assuming that our operating subsidiaries were owned by us as of such date, was $7.2 million. Net tangible book value per share is determined at any date by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be outstanding at that date.

 

If you invest in our Common Stock in this Offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock after this Offering.

 

Pro forma net tangible book value per share is determined at any date by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Common Stock, after giving effect to the Reorganization Transactions and the sale of the maximum number of shares in this Offering. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 26, 2017 would have been approximately negative $12.1 million, or negative $1.21 per share of Common Stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $2.12 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $13.21 per share to new investors purchasing shares of Common Stock in this Offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this Offering from the amount of cash that a new investor paid for a share of Common Stock. The following table illustrates this dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share           $ 12.00  
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 26, 2017 before this Offering(1)   $ 0.72          
Decrease per share attributable to Reorganization Transactions     (3.00 )        
Acquisition of intangible assets     (1.05 )        
Increase per share attributable to investors in this Offering     2.12          
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this Offering (1)             (1.21
Dilution per share to new Common Stock investors           $ 13.21  

 

(1) The computation of pro forma net tangible book value as of March 26, 2017 before and after this Offering is set forth below:

 

(in thousands, except per share data)      
Numerator        
Book value of tangible assets   $ 14,052  
Less: total liabilities     (6,830 )
Pro forma net tangible book value before this Offering(a)   $ 7,222  
         
Offering proceeds     21,200  
Reorganization Transactions     (30,000 )
Acquisition of intangible assets     (10,491 )
Pro forma net tangible book value after this Offering(a)   $ (12,069 )
         
Denominator        
Existing stockholders     8,000  
New investors     2,000  
Shares of Common Stock to be outstanding after this Offering     10,000  

 

(a) Excludes 367,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options expected to be issued at the Offering under the 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan.

 

  40  
     

 

SELECTED HISTORICAL COMBINED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA OF

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC. AND

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

The following tables present the summary historical financial and other data for Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. were historically under common control of FCCG and are the predecessors of the issuer, FAT Brands Inc., for financial reporting purposes. The selected statement of operations data for each of the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, and the summary balance sheet data as of March 26, 2017 are derived from the unaudited financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the unaudited financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. contained herein. The selected statement of operations and combined statement of operations data for each of the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, and the selected balance sheet data and combined balance sheet data as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 are derived from the audited financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the audited consolidated financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary contained herein. The selected statement of operations and combined statement of operations data for each of the years ended December 28, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 25, 2012, and the selected balance sheet data and combined balance sheet data as of December 28, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 25, 2012 are derived from the audited financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the audited consolidated financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary that are not contained herein.

 

The historical financial and other data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. have been combined on a pro forma basis through mathematical addition to show how FAT Brands Inc. would have performed if simply combined as one operating entity for the periods presented. All same-store sales growth percentages were calculated on a local currency basis to exclude the effect of currency fluctuations. In the opinion of our management, such financial and other data reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation financial position and results of operations for those periods.

 

The results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year. The information set forth below should be read together with the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and the financial statements and the combined financial statements, and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

  41  
     

 

(In thousands, except net income per share data)

 

    13 weeks ended
March 26, 2017
    13 weeks ended
March 27, 2016
 
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
Statement of operations data:                                                
                                                 
Revenues                                                
Royalties   $ 1,153     $ 308     $ 1,461     $ 1,210     $ 352     $ 1,562  
Sales of franchises     795       105       900       775       130       905  
Management fee     15       -       15       29       -       29  
Total revenues     1,963       413       2,377       2,014       482       2,496  
                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     580       140       720       730       176       906  
                                                 
Income from operations     1,383       273       1,656       1,284       306       1,590  
                                                 
Other income (expense)                     -                       -  
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
Total other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
                                                 
Income before income tax expense     1,384       273       1,657       1,260       342       1,602  
                                                 
Income tax expense     497       96       593       496       117       613  
                                                 
Net income   $ 887     $ 177     $ 1,064     $ 764     $ 225     $ 989  
                                                 
EBITDA (1)   $ 1,384     $ 273     $ 1,657     $ 1,260     $ 342     $ 1,602  
                                                 
Pro forma net income per share data (unaudited) (2)                                                
Pro forma weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding:                                                
Basic     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Diluted     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Pro forma net income available to Common Stock per share:                                                
Basic   $ 0.09     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08     $ 0.02     $ 0.10  
Diluted   $ 0.09     $ 0.02     $ 0.11     $ 0.08     $ 0.02     $ 0.10  

 

 

(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

  42  
     

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    13 weeks ended March 26, 2017     13 weeks ended March 27, 2016  
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
(in thousands)                                                
                                                 
Net income   887     177       1,064    $   764     225     989  
Depreciation expense     -             -       -       -       -  
Interest income (expense)     -             -       -       -       -  
Income tax expense     497       96       593       496       117       613  
EBITDA   1,384     273     1,657     1,260     342     1,602  

 

 

(2)       The unaudited pro forma net income data give effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Ponderosa Acquisition, and assume the sale of 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock by us in this Offering at the initial public offering price of $12.00 per share and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby. For a detailed presentation of the unaudited pro forma information, including a description of the transactions and assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments giving rise to these results, see the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

(in thousands)

    March 26, 2017
    FBNA   BFCI   Combined
            (unaudited)
Combined balance sheet data:                        
                         
Cash                        
Total assets     13,863       8,245       22,108  
Total liabilities     5,649       1,181       6,830  
Total stockholders' equity     8,214       7,064       15,278  

 

  43  
     

 

(In thousands, except net income (loss) per share data)

 

    Year Ended         Year Ended       Year Ended       Year Ended       Year Ended
      December 25, 2016       December 27, 2015       December 28, 2014        December 29, 2013       December 25, 2012
      FBNA        BFCI        Combined        FBNA        BFCI        Combined        FBNA        BFCI        Combined        FBNA        BFCI        Combined       FBNA       BFCI       Combined  
Statement of operations:                                                                                                                        
Revenues                                                                                                                        
Royalties   $ 4,632     $ 1,349     $ 5,982       5,144     $ 1,317     $ 6,461     $ 5,350     $ 1,271     $ 6,621     $ 5,040     $ 1,099     $ 6,139     $ 4,392     $ 1,424     $ 5,816  
Franchise fees     3,750       255       4,005       2,306       706       3,012       2,353       115       2,468       2,745       35       2,780       1,078       15       1,093  
Management fee     75       -       75       83       -       83       24       -       24       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total revenues     8,457       1,604       10,061       7,533       2,023       9,556       7,727       1,386       9,113       7,785       1,134       8,919       5,470       1,439       6,909  
                                                                                                                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,932       663       3,595       2,590       732       3,322       2,646       834       3,480       3,559       1,357       4,916       3,182       1,799       4,981  
                                                                                                                         
Income (loss) from operations     5,525       941       6,466       4,943       1,291       6,234       5,081       552       5,633       4,226       (223 )     4,003       2,288       (360 )     1,928  
                                                                                                                         
Other income (expense)                                                                                                                        
Interest expense     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       (5 )     (5 )     -       (36 )     (36 )     -       (7 )     (7 )
Other income     -       36       36       -       85       85       -       61       61       -       9       9       -       -       -  
Total other income (expense)     -       36       36       -       85       85       -       56       56       -       (27 )     (27 )     -       (7 )     (7 )
                                                                                                                         
Income (loss) before income tax expense     5,525       977       6,502       4,943       1,376       6,319       5,081       608       5,689       4,226       (250 )     3,976       2,288       (367 )     1,921  
                                                                                                                         
Income tax expense (benefit)     1,979       319       2,298       2,283       528       2,811       2,145       (15 )     2,130       1,776       (90 )     1,686       965       (138 )     827  
                                                                                                                         
Net income (loss)   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $ 2,660     $ 848     $ 3,508     $ 2,936     $ 623     $ 3,559     $ 2,450     $ (160 )   $ 2,290     $ 1,323     $ (229 )   $ 1,094    
                                                                                                                         
EBITDA (1)     5,525       977       6,502       4,943       1,376       6,319       5,081       613       5,694       4,226       (214 )     4,012        2,288       (360 )     1,928   
Pro Forma Net income and Per Share Data: (2)                                                                                                                        
Pro forma net income available to Common Stock   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $  2,660     $ 848     $ 3,508   $ 2,936     $ 623     $ 3,559     $ 2,450     $ (160 )    $ 2,290     $ 1,323     $ (229 )    $ 1,094  
Pro forma net income per share of Common Stock                                                                                                                        
Basic   $ 0.35     $ 0.07   $ 0.42   $ 0.27   $ 0.08   $ 0.35 $ 0.29   $ 0.06   $ 0.35     $ 0.25     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.23     $ 0.13     $ (0.02 )    $ 0.11
Diluted   $ 0.35     $ 0.07   $ 0.42   $ 0.27   $ 0.08   $ 0.35     $ 0.29     $ 0.06     $ 0.35   $ 0.25     $ (0.02 )   $ 0.23   $ 0.13     $ (0.02 )    $ 0.11
Weighted average shares used in computing pro forma net income per share                                                                                                                        
Basic     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  
Diluted     10,000       10,000       10,000     10,000     10,000   10,000       10,000     10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000       10,000  

 

  44  
     

 

 

(1) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    Fiscal year ended December 25, 2016     Fiscal year ended December 27, 2015  
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
(in thousands)                                                
                                                 
Net income   3,546     658     4,204     2,660     848     3,508  
Depreciation expense     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Income tax expense     1,979       319       2,298       2,283       528       2,811  
EBITDA   5,525     977     6,502     4,943     1,376     6,319  

 

 

(2)       The unaudited pro forma net income data give effect to the Reorganization Transactions, the Ponderosa Acquisition, and assume the sale of 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock by us in this Offering at the initial public offering price of $12.00 per share and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby. For a detailed presentation of the unaudited pro forma information, including a description of the transactions and assumptions underlying the pro forma adjustments giving rise to these results, see the section entitled “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information” included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

(In thousands)

   

Fiscal year ended

December 25, 2016

   

Fiscal year ended

December 27, 2015

   

Fiscal year ended

December 28, 2014

 
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                (unaudited)                 (unaudited)                 (unaudited)  
Combined balance sheet data:                                                                        
                                                                         
Cash   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 211     $ 41     $ 252      $ -        $ -         $ -      
Total Assets     14,189       8,179       22,368       15,205       7,771       22,976       19,032        8,041        27,073   
Total liabilities     6,362       1,192       7,554       9,225       1,242       10,467       8,711        1,961        10,672   
Total stockholders' equity     7,827       6,987       14,814       5,981       6,529       12,510       10,321         6,080       16,401   

 

  45  
     

 

    30 Weeks Ended  
    July 23, 2017     July24, 2016  
Other data:                
                 
Number of locations                
Fatburger     160       161  
Domestic     66       72  
International     94       89  
Buffalo’s     19       23  
Domestic     15       18  
International     4       5  
                 
System-wide sales (in thousands)                
Fatburger (system-wide)   $ 63,330     $ 65,233  
Domestic   $ 37,260     $ 38,433  
International   $ 26,070     $ 26,800  
Buffalo’s (system-wide)   $ 14,648     $ 18,321  
Domestic   $ 13,770     $ 15,824  
International   $ 878     $ 2,497  
                 
Same-store sales growth (adjusted)                
Fatburger (system-wide) (1)     0.6%       (3.6 )%
Domestic     8.2 %     0.5 %
International     (8.7 %)     9.0 %
Buffalo’s (system-wide) (2)     0.1%       3.2 %
Domestic     0.1%       3.2 %
International                

 

  46  
     

   

Year Ended

 
    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015     December 28, 2014     December 29, 2013     December 30, 2012  
Other data:                                        
                                         
Number of locations                                        
Fatburger     161       158       148       142       125  
Domestic     68       71       73       76       73  
International     93       87       75       66       52  
Buffalo’s     21       20       19       16       23  
Domestic     16       17       18       15       17  
International     5       3       1       1       6  
                                         
System-wide sales (in thousands)                                        

Fatburger

(system-wide)

  $ 105,706     $ 112,261     $ 111,871     $ 102,807     $ 89,517  
Domestic   $ 62,261     $ 64,740     $ 62,955     $ 57,751     $ 52,160  
International   $ 43,445     $ 47,521     $ 48,916     $ 45,056     $ 37,367  

Buffalo’s

(system-wide)

  $ 36.190     $ 36,395     $ 32,905     $ 26,808     $ 29,605  
Domestic   $ 28.759     $ 29,217     $ 26,784     $ 23,935     $ 23,756  
International   $ 7,431     $ 7,178     $ 6,121     $ 2,873     $ 5,849  
                                         
Same-store sales growth (adjusted)                                        

Fatburger

(system-wide) (1)

    (3.4 5)%     (0.1 )%     3.1 %     (2.6 )%     0.2 %
Domestic     1.5 %     3.9 %     6.3 %     1.8 %     3.2 %
International     (8.8 )%     (4.3 )%     (1.6 )%     (10.5 )%     (8.7 )%

Buffalo’s

(system-wide) (2)

    2.4 %      3.3 %     1.8 %     1.3 %     8.8 %
Domestic     2.4 %     3.3 %     1.8 %     1.3 %     8.8 %
International                     0.0 %     0.0 %     0.0 %
                                         
Average unit volumes (for stores open full year)                                        
Fatburger                                        
Domestic   $ 956,572     $ 922,335     $ 891,077     $ 822,008     $ 758,434  
*Stores Open     65       66       69       67       65  
International   $ 526,251     $ 629,032     $ 721,007     $ 765,136     $ 875,551  
*Stores Open     80       70       58       51       36  
Buffalo’s                                        
Domestic   $ 1,596,682     $ 1,587,766     $ 1,644,426     $ 1,701,477     $ 1,583,616  
*Stores Open     16       17       14       12       15  
International   $ 1,256,748     $ 2,289,939     $ 2,754,818     $ 2,785,515     $ 2,817,070  
*Stores Open     3       2       1       1       1  

 

 

(1)       Fatburger adjusted same-store sales excludes two restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy. The Fatburger restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip was affected by extensive construction on Las Vegas Blvd. The Fatburger restaurant located in Doha, Qatar in the Pearl District was affected by extensive construction and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and related local economy. If these restaurants were included same-store sales data, the percentage change in same-store sales for Domestic Fatburger in 2015, 2016 and through July 23, 2017 would have been 1.7%, 0.6% and 4.9% respectively; the percentage change in same-store sales for International Fatburger in 2015, 2016 and through July 23, 2017 would be (3.6%), (8.5%) and (11.4%) respectively; and the percentage change in same-store sales for System-wide Fatburger in 2015, 2016 and through July 23, 2017 would be (0.3%), (3.4%) and (1.9%) respectively. The 2015, 2016 and July 23, 2017 sales for these units are $7,364,617, $7,005,371 and $3,688,584 respectively for the Las Vegas Strip, and $1,970,779, $1,550,412 and $ 638,734 for the Pearl District. All other figures would remain unchanged.

 

(2)       Buffalo’s adjusted same-store sales excludes four restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant, changes in the alcohol laws or political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy. The Hamilton Mill Atlanta, GA restaurant is being relocated within its shopping center and has been affected by extensive construction to the street and parking lot immediately surrounding the store. Until recently, the Canyon, Texas restaurant held the sole liquor license in a dry county. The Ezdan Mall Doha, Qatar, restaurant has been affected by political sanctions and the related local economy, and the Kingdom Mall Riyadh, Saudi Arabia restaurant is a non-traditional Buffalo’s Cafe food-court store model If these restaurants were included same-store sales data, the percentage change in same-store sales for 2015, 2016 and through July 23, 2017 would be 2.0%, (1.2%) and (4.4%) respectively. The 2015, 2016 and July 23, 2017 sales for these units are $2,491,157, $2,089,060 and $1,049,161 for Hamilton Mill Atlanta, $1,347,538, $1,419,221 and $712,446 for Canyon, Texas, $1,764,284, $1,305,373 and $568,464 for Ezdan Mall Doha, Qatar, and $281,191, $299,625 and $11,833 for the Kingdom Mall Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All other figures would remain unchanged.

 

  47  
     

 

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA OF

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY AND BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

 

The following table presents the selected historical financial data for Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company, which were historically under common control by Homestyle Dining LLC. The selected statement of operations data for each of the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, and the summary balance sheet data as of March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016 are derived from the unaudited financial statements of Ponderosa Franchising Company and the unaudited financial statements of Bonanza Restaurant Company contained herein. The selected statement of operations data for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 are derived from the audited financial statements of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company contained herein. The selected statement of operations data for the years ended December 29, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012, and the selected balance sheet data as of December 29, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012 are derived from the audited financial statements of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company that are not contained herein.

 

The results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period and the results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.

 

  48  
     

 

    (In thousands)  
                                     
    13 Weeks Ended     13 Weeks Ended  
    March 27, 2017     March 28, 2016  
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined  
Statement of
operations:
                                               
                                                 
Revenues                                                
Royalties   $ 731     $ 132     $ 863     $ 779     $ 173     $ 952  
Franchise fees     -       -       -       5       6       11  
Other revenue     -       -       -             -       -  
Total revenues     731       132       863       784       179       963  
                                                 
Selling, general and                                                
administrative expense     454       139       593       439       126       565  
                                                 
Income from operations     277       (7 )     270       345       53       398  
                                                 
Other income                                                
Interest income     7       -       7       7       -       7  
Other income     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total other income     7       -       7       7       -       7  
                                                 
Income before income                                                
tax expense     284       (7 )     277       352       53       405  
                                                 
Income tax expense     -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                 
Net income   $ 284     $ (7 )   $ 277     $ 352     $ 53     $ 405  
                                                 
EBITDA (1)   $ 277     $ (7 )   $ 270     $ 345     $ 53     $ 398  

 

 

(1)       EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    13 weeks ended March 27, 2017     13 weeks ended March 28, 2016  
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined  
                                     
(in thousands)                                                
                                                 
Net income   $ 284     $ (7 )   $ 277     $ 352     $ 53     $ 405  
Depreciation expense     -                                
Interest income (expense)     7             7       7             7  
Income tax expense     -       -       -       -       -       -  
EBITDA   $ 277     $ (7 )   $ 270     $ 345     $ 53     $ 398  

 

    (In thousands)  
                                     
    March 27, 2017     December 26, 2016  
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined  
Balance sheet                                                
                                                 
Cash   $ 61     $ 51     $ 112     $ 50     $ 50     $ 100  
Total assets     794       99       893       798       105       903  
Total liabilities     3       -       3       -       5       5  
Total partners equity     791       99       890       798       100       898  

 

  49  
     

  

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 26, 2016     December 28, 2015     December 29, 2014     December 29, 2013     December 30, 2012  
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined  
Statement of operations:                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                         
Revenues                                                                                                                        
Royalties   $ 3,263     $ 560     $ 3,823     $ 3,582     $ 625     $ 4,207     $ 3,718     $ 686     $ 4,404     $ 3,766     $ 827     $ 4,593     $ 4,219     $ 984     $ 5,203  
Franchise fees     5       15       20       50       -       50       3       -       3       179       4       183       46       4       50  
Other revenue     -       -       -       1       -       1       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total revenues     3,268       575       3,843       3,633       625       4,258       3,721       686       4,407       3,945       831       4,776       4,265       988       5,253  
                                                                                                                         
Selling, general and administrative expenses     1,728       466       2,194       2,010       542       2,552       2,167       556       2,723       2,398       616       3,014       3,005       811       3,816  
                                                                                                                         
Income from operations     1,540       109       1,649       1,623       83       1,706       1,554       130       1,684       1,547       215       1,762       1,260       177       1,437  
                                                                                                                         
Other income                                                                                                                        
Interest income     24       1       25       29       -       29       15       -       15       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other income     -       40       40       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total other income     24       41       65       29       -       29       15       -       15       -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                                                                         
Income before income tax expense     1,564       150       1,714       1,652       83       1,735       1,569       130       1,699       1,547       215       1,762       1,260       177       1,437  
                                                                                                                         
Income tax expense     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
                                                                                                                         
Net income   $ 1,564     $ 150     $ 1,714     $ 1,652     $ 83     $ 1,735     $ 1,569     $ 130     $ 1,699     $ 1,547     $ 215     $ 1,762     $ 1,260     $ 177     $ 1,437  
                                                                                                                         
EBITDA (1)   $ 1,540     $ 149     $ 1,689     $ 1,623     $ 83     $ 1,706     $ 1,554     $ 130     $ 1,684     $ 1,547     $ 215     $ 1,762     $ 1,260     $ 177     $ 1,437  

 

 

(1)       EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. We use the term EBITDA, as opposed to income from operations, as it is widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. We believe that EBITDA is an appropriate measure of operating performance because it eliminates the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure of our financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.

 

  50  
     

 

A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA is set forth below:

 

    Year Ended
December 26, 2016
    Year Ended
December 28, 2015
    Year Ended
December 29, 2014
    Year Ended  
December 29, 2013
    Year Ended
December 30, 2012
 
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined  
(in thousands)                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                         
Net income   $ 1,564     $ 150     $ 1,714     $ 1,652     $ 83     $ 1,735     $ 1,569     $ 130     $ 1,699     $ 1,547     $ 215     $ 1,762     $ 1,260     $ 177     $ 1,437  
Depreciation expense     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Interest income (expense)     24       1       25       29       -       29       15       -       15       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Income tax expense     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
EBITDA   $ 1,540     $ 149     $ 1,689     $ 1,623     $ 83     $ 1,706     $ 1,554     $ 130     $ 1,684     $ 1,547     $ 215     $ 1,762     $ 1,260     $ 177     $ 1,437  

 

    (In thousands)        
    Year Ended
December 26,
2016
    Year Ended
December 28,
2015
    Year Ended
December 29,
2014
    Year Ended
December 29,
2013
    Year Ended
December 30,
2012
       
    Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Combined     Pro Forma
IPO
 
                                                                                                 
Balance sheet:                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                 
Cash   $ 50     $ 50     $ 100     $ 85     $ 52     $ 137     $ 55     $ 51     $ 106     $ 14     $ 20     $ 34     $ 77       39       116     $    
Total assets     798       105       903       961       104       1,065       910       119       1,029       720       104       824       650       113       763       -  
Total liabilities     -       5       5       -       13       13       18       -       18       14       -       14       9       -       9       -  
Total partners’ equity     798       100       898       961       91       1,052       892       119       1,011       706       104       810       641       113       754       -  

 

  51  
     

 

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information presents the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of continuing operations as of and for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, and the year ended December 25, 2016 (which we refer to as “fiscal 2016”) based upon the consolidated historical financial statements of FAT Brands, Ponderosa, and Bonanza, after giving effect to the following transactions (which we refer to as the “Transactions”):

 

 

the issuance of a maximum of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the initial public offering of FAT Brands Inc. at $12.00 per share; and

     
  the Reorganization Transactions.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and the year ended December 25, 2016 give effect to the Transactions as if each of them had occurred on December 28, 2015. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 26, 2017 gives effect to the Transactions as if each of them had occurred on March 26, 2017.

 

We have derived the unaudited pro forma consolidated statement of operations for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and the year ended December 25, 2016 from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the consolidated financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and the audited consolidated financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. and the consolidated financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary for the year ended December 25, 2016 set forth elsewhere in this Offering Circular. The pro forma consolidated financial information is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our combined financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

The pro forma adjustments related to the Reorganization Transactions and this Offering are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, and principally include the following:

 

  Issuance of shares of our Common Stock to the purchasers in this Offering in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $21,200,000, assuming that the shares are sold at $12.000 per share, after deducting Selling Agent fees and Offering expenses.
     
  Contribution by FCCG of its two operating subsidiaries, Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc., to FAT Brands Inc. in exchange for an unsecured promissory note with a principal balance of $30,000,000, bearing interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum, and maturing in five years (the “Related Party Debt”).
     
  Consummation by FCCG of the acquisition of Homestyle Dining LLC, and contribution of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company (including related intellectual property) to FAT Brands Inc. as new operating subsidiaries (the “Ponderosa Acquisition”).
     
 

Application of the net proceeds of this Offering as follows:

 

(i) $10,550,000 to fund the Ponderosa Acquisition by FCCG; and

 

(ii) up to $9,500,000 to repay a portion of Related Party Debt owed to FCCG, which will use this payment to repay indebtedness that it previously incurred in acquiring Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.

     
  We will enter into a Tax Sharing Agreement with FCCG that provides that FCCG will file consolidated federal, California and Oregon (and possibly other jurisdictions where revenue is generated, at FCCG’s election) income tax returns with us and our subsidiaries.  We will pay to FCCG the amount that our tax liability would have been had we filed a separate return and not been consolidated with FCCG. To the extent our required payment exceeds our share of the actual consolidated income tax liability (which may occur due to the application of FCCG’s net operating loss carryforwards), we will be permitted to reimburse FCCG in cash or, at the election of a committee of our Board of Directors comprised solely of disinterested directors (directors not affiliated with or interested in FCCG), we may issue to FCCG an equivalent amount of our Common Stock in lieu of cash, valued at the fair market value of our Common Stock at the time of such payment. In addition, our inter-company credit of approximately $11,660,000 due from FCCG will be applied first to reduce such excess income tax payment obligation to FCCG under the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

  52  
     

 

The pro forma adjustments related to the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, and principally includes the assumption that Ponderosa and Bonanza will not have any cash or related party indebtedness when they are acquired.

 

Except as otherwise indicated, the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information presented assumes that the size of the Offering is not increased.

 

As a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the reporting and internal control and other standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal fees and similar expenses. We have not included any pro forma adjustments relating to these added costs.

 

The pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and methodologies that are factually supportable and directly related to the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information includes various estimates which are subject to material change and may not be indicative of what our operations or financial position would have been had the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering, taken place on the dates indicated, or that may be expected to occur in the future. For further discussion of these matters, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Offering Circular.

 

  53  
     

 

FAT Brands Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the 13 Weeks Ended March 26, 2017

 

(In thousands)

 

    Predecessor Entities     FAT Brands                 The     Acquisition     Pro Forma  
    FBNA     BFCI     Inc.      Ponderosa     Bonanza     Offering     Adjustments     Consolidated  
                                                 
Revenues                                                                
Royalties   $ 1,153     $ 308     $ 1,461     $ 731     $ 132     $ -     $ -     $ 2,324  
Sales of franchises     795       105       900       0       -       -       -       900  
Management fee     15       -       15       -       -       -       -       15  
Total revenues     1,963       413       2,376       731       132       -       -       3,239  
                                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     580       140       720       454       139       218       -       1,531  
                                                                 
Income (loss) from operations     1,383       273       1,656       277       (7 )     (218 )     -       1,708  
                                                                 
Other income (expense)                                                                
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       7       -       238       (750 )     (506 )
Other income (expense)     1       (0 )     1       -       -       -       -       1  
Total other income (expense)     1       (0 )     1       7       -       238       (750 )     (505 )
                                                                 
Income (loss) before income tax expense     1,384       273       1,657       284       (7 )     20       -       1,203  
                                                                 
Income tax expense     497       96       593       -       -       7       (171 )     429  
                                                                 
Net income (loss)   $ 887     $ 177     $ 1,064     $ 284     $ (7 )     13       (579 )   $ 774  

   

  54  
     

 

FAT Brands Inc.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 25, 2016

 

(In thousands)

 

    Predecessor Entities     FAT Brands                 The     Acquisition     Pro Forma  
     FBNA       BFCI     Inc.     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Offering     Adjustments     Consolidated  
                                                 
Revenues                                                                
Royalties   $ 4,632     $ 1,349     $ 5,981     $ 3,263     $ 560     $ -     $ -     $ 9,804  
Sales of franchises     3,750       255       4,005       5       15       -       -       4,025  
Management fee     75       -       75       -       -       -       -       75  
Total revenues     8,457       1,604       10,061       3,268       575       -       -       13,904  
                                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,932       663       3,595       1,728       466       647       -       6,660  
                                                                 
Income from operations     5,525       941       6,466       1,540       109       (647 )     -       7,244  
                                                                 
Other income (expense)                                                                
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       24       1       950       (3,000 )     (2,025 )
Other expense     -       36       36       -       40       -       -       76  
Total other income (expense)     -       36       36       24       41       950       (3,000 )     (1,949 )
                                                                 
Income before income tax expense     5,525       977       6,502       1,564       150       79       (3,000 )     5,295  
                                                                 
Income tax expense     1,979       319       2,298       -       -       28       (463 )     1,863  
                                                                 
Net income (loss)   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $ 1,564     $ 150       51       (2,537 )   $ 3,432  

 

  55  
     

 

FAT Brands Inc.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of March 26, 2017

 

(In thousands)

 

     Predecessor Entities     FAT
Brands
                The     Tax Sharing     Acquisition     Pro Forma  
    FBNA     BFCI     Inc.     Ponderosa     Bonanza     Offering     Adjustments     Adjustments     Consolidated  
                                                       
Assets                                                                        
Current Assets                                                                        
Cash   $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 61     $ 51     $ 11,700     $ -     $ (10,662 )   $ 1,150  
Accounts receivable     519       58       577       331       45       -       -       -       953  
Other current assets     8       -       8       -       3       -       -       (3 )     8  
Advertising expenditures in excess of collections     -       -       -       -       -       -               -       -  
Deferred income taxes     1,297       211       1,508       -       -       -       -       -       1,508  
Total current assets     1,824       269       2,093       392       99       11,700               (10,665 )     3,619  
                                                                         
Due from affiliates     9,375       2,285       11,660       (3 )     -       -       171       3       11,830  
Notes receivable     -       -       -       402       -       -       -       -       402  
Trademarks     2,135       27       2,162       -       -       -       -       9,772       11,934  
Goodwill     529       5,365       5,894       -       -       -       -       -       5,894  
Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund     -       299       299       -       -       -       -       -       299  
Other assets     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total assets   $ 13,863     $ 8,245     $ 22,108     $ 791     $ 99     $ 11,700     $ 171     $ (890 )   $ 33,979  
                                                                         
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity                                                                        
Current liabilities                                                                        
Accounts payable   $ 1,126     $ 140     $ 1,266     $ -     $ -     $ -       -     $ -     $ 1,266  
Accrued expenses     1,180       43       1,223       -       -       -       -       -       1,223  
Accrued interest     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Deferred income     1,269       241       1,510       -       -       -       -       -       1,510  
Note payable - affiliate     -       -       -       -       -       (9,500 )     -       30,000       20,500  
Total current liabilities     3,575       424       3,999               -       (9,500 )     -       30,000       24,499  
                                                                         
Deferred income – noncurrent     2,074       458       2,532       -       -       -       -       -       2,532  
Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund - contra     -       299       299       -       -       -       -       -       299  
Long-term debt     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Total liabilities     5,649       1,181       6,830       -       -       (9,500 )     -       30,000       27,330  
                                                                         
Commitments and contingencies                                                                        
                                                                         
Common stock     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Stockholder’s equity                                                     -                  
Common stock     0       -       0       -       -       20       -       -       20  
Additional paid-in capital     3,500       5,139       8,639       -       -       21,180       -       (30,000 )     (181 )
Partners' equity     -       -       -       791       99       -       171       (890 )     171  
Retained earnings     4,714       1,925       6,639       -       -       -       -       -       6,639  
Total stockholder’s equity     8,214       7,064       15,278       791       99       21,200       171       (30,890 )     6,649  
                                                                         
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity   $ 13,863     $ 8,245     $ 22,108     $ 791     $ 99     $ 11,700     $ 171     $ (890 )   $ 33,979  

 

  56  
     

 

NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(in thousands, except per share information)

 

In connection with this Offering, FCCG will contribute to FAT Brands Inc. its operating subsidiaries, Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. FCCG has also entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the parent company of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company, and intends to complete the acquisitions and contribute Ponderosa and Bonanza to us, including one company-owned restaurant, concurrently with the consummation of this Offering.

 

(1) Basis of presentation – The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements are based on FAT Brands’, Fatburger’s, Buffalo’s, Ponderosa’s and Bonanza’s historical financial statements as adjusted to give effect to the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza. The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, and the twelve months ended December 25, 2016 give effect to the acquisitions as if they had occurred on December 28, 2015. The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of March 26, 2017 gives effect to the acquisitions as if they had occurred on March 26, 2017.

 

(2) Preliminary purchase price allocation – On March 10, 2017, FCCG entered into an agreement to acquire the parent company of Ponderosa and Bonanza, which will involve total consideration of approximately $10.6 million. FCCG plans to finance the acquisition through the proceeds of this Offering. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information includes various assumptions, including those related to the preliminary purchase price allocation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Ponderosa and Bonanza based on management’s best estimates of fair value. The final purchase price allocation may vary based on final appraisals, valuations and analyses of the fair value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities. Accordingly, the pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for illustrative purposes.

 

The following table shows the preliminary allocation of the purchase price for Ponderosa and Bonanza to the acquired identifiable assets:

 

Total purchase price   $ 10,550  
Accounts receivable   $ 376  
Notes receivable     402  
Trademarks     9,772  
Total identifiable assets   $ 10,550  

 

(3) Trademarks – We based our preliminary estimate of trademarks that we expect to recognize as part of the planned acquisitions on the purchase price that we have entered into with the sellers. However, these estimates are preliminary, as we have not completed these acquisitions or analyzed all the facts surrounding the business to be acquired and therefore have not been able to finalize the accounting for these transactions. These estimates will be refined once the Offering is completed and a third party valuation is completed.

 

(4) Cash Received from IPO – We expect our net proceeds from the Offering will be $21,200,000, based on the estimated initial public offering price of $12.00 per share, and after deducting estimated cash Selling Agent fees of $1,800,000 and estimated Offering expenses of $1,000,000.

 

(5) Pro forma adjustments – The pro forma adjustments are based on our preliminary estimates and assumptions that are subject to change. The following adjustments have been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information:

 

Adjustments to the pro forma condensed statement of operations

 

(a) Reflects the income tax effect of pro forma adjustments based on the estimated blended statutory tax rate of 36.0%.

 

(b) Reflects the $30,000,000 Related Party Debt accruing annual interest at 10%.
   
(c)

Increase in compensation expenses related to the grant of 367,500 stock options which we expect to issue under the 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to directors and employees upon consummation of this Offering. This amount was calculated assuming the stock options were granted on December 28, 2015 at an exercise price equal to the assumed offering price of $12.00 per share. The grant date fair value was determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model using the following assumptions:

 

Expected volatility     31.73 %
Expected dividend yield     4.00 %
Expected term (in years)     3.0  
Risk-free interest rate     1.01 %

 

Adjustments to the pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet

 

(d) Acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza is to be cash-free and debt-free at closing.
   
(e) Reflects the assumed value of trademarks acquired in the purchase of Ponderosa and Bonanza, pending third party valuation.
   
(f)

Issuance of $30,000,000 note to FCCG for the contribution of Fatburger and Buffalo’s, and payment of $9,500,00 in principal amount of this note from proceeds of this Offering.

   
(g) Net reduction of amounts due from FCCG for usage of tax net operating losses.
   
(h)

Costs associated with this Offering are charged against the proceeds of this Offering, with a corresponding reduction to additional paid-in capital.

 

  57  
     

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this Offering Circular. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references to “FAT Brands,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer collectively to, following consummation of the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering, FAT Brands Inc. and, unless otherwise stated, all of its subsidiaries.

 

The following discussion contains “forward-looking statements” that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs, and expected performance. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the differences can be material. See “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of these factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Offering Circular.

 

Business Overview

 

FAT Brands is a leading multi-brand restaurant franchising company that develops, markets, and acquires predominantly fast casual restaurant concepts around the world. As a franchisor, we generally do not own or operate restaurant locations, but rather generate revenue by charging franchisees an initial franchise fee as well as ongoing royalties. This asset light franchisor model provides the opportunity for strong profit margins and an attractive free cash flow profile while minimizing restaurant operating company risk, such as long-term real estate commitments or capital investments. Our scalable management platform enables us to add new stores and restaurant concepts to our portfolio with minimal incremental corporate overhead cost, while taking advantage of significant corporate overhead synergies. The acquisition of additional brands and restaurant concepts as well as expansion of our existing brands are key elements of our growth strategy.

 

We currently operate the Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express restaurant concepts, with 181 total locations across eight states and 18 countries as of March 26, 2017. While our existing footprint covers 18 countries in which we have franchised restaurants open and operational as of March 26, 2017, our overall footprint (including development agreements for proposed stores in new markets and nine countries where our brands previously had a presence that we intend to resell to new franchisees) covers 32 countries. For each of our current restaurant brands and those that we will seek to acquire, the ability to expand the overall concept footprint, both domestically and internationally, is of critical importance and a primary acquisition evaluation criterion. We believe that our restaurant concepts have meaningful growth potential and appeal to a broad base of consumers globally.

 

We operate on a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year ending on the last Sunday of the calendar year. In a 52-week fiscal year, each quarter contains 13 weeks of operations; in a 53-week fiscal year, each of the first, second and third quarters includes 13 weeks of operations and the fourth quarter includes 14 weeks of operations. Every five or six years, a 53-week fiscal year occurs. Fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013 were both 52-week years. Fiscal 2014 was a 53-week year and ended on December 31, 2014, which may cause our revenue, expenses and other results of operations to be higher due to an additional week of operations.

 

Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. were historically under common control of FCCG, with a cost-sharing and reimbursement arrangement in place. After the closing of the Offering, the cost-sharing and reimbursement arrangement between FCCG and FBNA/BFCI will terminate and all employees will be moved to FAT Brands Inc. or its subsidiaries as appropriate. The historical financial statements are expected to be consistent with the new FAT Brands Inc. entity, in that reimbursement expense and direct employee costs both appear under SG&A and are expected to be materially the same amounts going forward.

 

Our experienced and diversified franchisee base consists of 69 franchisees, with 32 franchisees owning multiple locations. Since converting to a franchisor model in 2011, we have improved store-level operations and maintained positive same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market over each of the last four years. Over the same time period, our concepts have also experienced significant growth in the total number of locations. As a result, between 2012 and 2016, unadjusted for the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, the company achieved strong compound annual growth rates in net revenue, net income, and EBITDA of 9.9%, 40.0%, and 35.3%, respectively, reflecting consistent yearly growth over this period.

 

  58  
     

 

Our name represents the values that we embrace as a company and the food that we provide to customers – Fresh. Authentic. Tasty (which we refer to as “FAT”). The success of our franchisor model is tied to our franchisee’s profitability and their consistent delivery of freshly prepared, made-to-order food that customers desire. With the input of customers and franchisees, we continually strive to keep a fresh perspective on our brands and perfect our existing offerings while introducing appealing new items.

 

As of March 26, 2017, we had grown the number of co-branded Buffalo’s Express stores from launch to 66 while increasing the number of franchisees from 12 to 29. As a result, new store growth and accelerating financial performance of the FAT Brands network drive increases in our franchise fee and royalty revenue streams while expanding profit and free cash flow margins. From 2012 to 2016, our EBITDA margin expanded from 27.2% to 64.3%.

 

Same-store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable store base, which we define as the number of stores open for at least one full fiscal year. For each of the last five years, we have achieved positive annual same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market, which represented approximately 69% of our royalty revenue in 2016.

 

Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012

 

On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

 

Post-Offering – Taxation, Borrowings and Expenses

 

FAT Brands Inc. was formed March 21, 2017 and has not to date conducted any activities, other than those incident to its formation and the preparation of this Offering Circular. Immediately following the consummation of this Offering, FAT Brands Inc. will be a holding company for four major franchised restaurant brands, Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe / Buffalo’s Express, Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse.

 

After consummation of this Offering, we will be subject to U.S. federal, state and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income from our operations and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. We expect to be taxed as part of a consolidated group with FCCG. Under our Tax Sharing Agreement with FCCG, FCCG will file consolidated federal, California and Oregon (and possibly other jurisdictions where revenue is generated, at FCCG’s election) income tax returns with us and our subsidiaries. We will pay to FCCG the amount that our tax liability would have been had we filed a separate return and not been consolidated with FCCG. To the extent our required payment exceeds our share of the actual consolidated income tax liability (which may occur due to the application of FCCG’s net operating loss carryforwards), we will be permitted to reimburse FCCG in cash or, at the election of a committee of our Board of Directors comprised solely of disinterested directors (directors not affiliated with or interested in FCCG), we may issue to FCCG an equivalent amount of our Common Stock in lieu of cash, valued at the fair market value of our Common Stock at the time of such payment. In addition, our inter-company credit of approximately $11,660,000 due from FCCG will be applied first to reduce such excess income tax payment obligation to FCCG under the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

As part of the Reorganization Transactions, we will issue to FCCG an unsecured promissory note with a principal balance of $30,000,000, bearing interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum, and maturing in five years (the “Related Party Debt”). We will use up to $9,500,000 from this Offering to repay a portion of the Related Party Debt to FCCG, which will use this payment to repay indebtedness that it previously incurred in acquiring Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. Concurrently with or shortly following the closing of this Offering, we expect to enter into a credit facility with a third-party lender, providing for debt financing of between $35,000,000 and $50,000,000. Upon consummation of such credit facility, we intend to repay the remaining Related Party Debt, which is expected to total approximately $20,000,000. 

 

In addition, as a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the reporting, internal controls and other standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal fees and similar expenses.

 

  59  
     

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

To evaluate the performance of our business, we utilize a variety of financial and performance measures, which are typically calculated on a system-wide basis. These key measures include new store openings, average unit volumes and same-store sales growth in addition to the general income statement line items such as revenues, general and administrative expenses, income before income tax expense and net income.

 

New store openings - The number of new store openings reflects the number of stores opened during a particular reporting period. The total number of new stores per year and the timing of stores openings has, and will continue to have, an impact on our results.

 

Average unit volumes - Average Unit Volumes for any 12-month period consist of the average sales of all stores over that period that have been open a full year. Average unit volumes are calculated by dividing total sales from all stores open a full year by the number of stores open during that period. The measurement of AUVs allows us to assess changes in guest traffic and per transaction patterns at our stores.

 

Same-store sales growth - Same-store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable store base, which we define as the number of stores open for at least one full fiscal year. Given our focused marketing efforts and public excitement surrounding each opening, new stores often experience an initial start-up period with considerably higher than average sales volumes, which subsequently decrease to stabilized levels after three to six months. Thus, we do not include stores in the comparable store base until they have been open for at least one full fiscal year. We expect that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future as we continue to open and expand into new markets.

 

The following tables summarize key components of our results of operations for the periods indicated:

 

(In thousands)

    13 weeks ended March 26, 2017     13 weeks ended March 27, 2016  
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
                                     
Statement of operations data:                                                
                                                 
Revenues                                                
Royalties   $ 1,153     $ 308     $ 1,461     $ 1,210     $ 352     $ 1,562  
Sales of franchises     795       105       900       775       130       905  
Management fee     15       -       15       29       -       29  
Total revenues     1,963       413       2,376       2,014       482       2,496  
                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     580       140       720       730       176       906  
                                                 
Income from operations     1,383       283       1,656       1,284       306       1590  
                                                 
Other income (expense)                     -                       -  
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
Total other income (expense)     1       -       1       (24 )     36       12  
                                                 
Income before income tax expense     1,384       273       1,657       1,260       342       1,602  
                                                 
Income tax expense     497       96       593       496       117       613  
                                                 
Net income   $ 887     $ 177     $ 1,064     $ 764     $ 225     $ 989  

 

  60  
     

 

(In thousands)

 

    Year Ended
December 25, 2016
    Year Ended
December 27, 2015
 
    FBNA     BFCI     Combined     FBNA     BFCI     Combined  
Statement of operations:                                    
Revenues                                    
Royalties   $ 4,632     $ 1,349     $ 5,981       5,144     $ 1,317     $ 6,461  
Franchise fees     3,750       255       4,005       2,306       706       3,012  
Management fee     75       -       75       83       -       83  
Total revenues     8,457       1,604       10,061       7,533       2,023       9,556  
                                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,932       663       3,595       2,590       732       3,322  
                                                 
Income from operations     5,525       941       6,466       4,943       1,291       6,234  
                                                 
Other income (expense)                                                
Interest income (expense)     -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other income (expense)     -       36       36       -       85       85  
Total other income (expense)     -       36       36       -       85       85  
                                                 
Income before income tax expense     5,525       977       6,502       4,943       1,376       6,319  
                                                 
Income tax expense     1,979       319       2,298       2,283       528       2,811  
                                                 
Net income   $ 3,546     $ 658     $ 4,204     $ 2,660     $ 848     $ 3,508  

 

Results of Operations of Fatburger North America

 

For the 13 Weeks Ended March 26, 2017, as Compared to the 13 Weeks Ended March 27, 2016

 

Revenues ― Fatburger’s revenues consist of royalty fees, recognition of franchise fees and management fees. Fatburger had revenues of $1,963,483 and $2,013,939 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. The $50,456 or 2.5% decrease in revenues from the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016 to the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 was primarily driven by a decrease in royalties.

 

General and Administrative Expenses ― General and administrative expenses of Fatburger consist primarily of salaries and wages. General and administrative expenses for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 decreased $173,348 or 23.0% to $580,213, as compared to $753,561 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, which primarily reflects a decrease in allocated corporate overhead from the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016 to the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017.

 

Income before Income Tax Expense — Income before income tax expense of Fatburger increased by $122,892 or 9.7% to $1,383,270 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, as compared to Income before Income Tax Expense of $1,260,378 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, due primarily to a decrease in general and administrative expenses.

 

Net Income ― Net income of Fatburger for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 increased by $122,625 or 13.4% to $886,739, as compared to $764,114 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.The increase was again primarily attributable to the lower general and administrative expenses from the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016 to the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017.

 

New store openings - For the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, our Fatburger franchisees opened six stores as compared to one store for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016. We expect that for all of fiscal 2017 and every year thereafter for the foreseeable future, our franchisees will open at least 20 stores worldwide.

 

  61  
     

 

Same-store sales growth – Adjusted same-store sales in our core domestic market (representing approximately 69% of revenues for 2016) grew by positive 6.0% and positive 1.0% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively, compared to the comparable period in the prior year. Overall Fatburger same-store sales in local currency were negative 2.3% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and negative 3.5% for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, reflecting the deterioration in macroeconomic conditions in Canada and the Middle East due to the decline in oil prices, as well as increased competition internationally. We adjusted the percentage change in Fatburger same-store sales by excluding two restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017 related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy. The Fatburger restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip was affected by extensive construction on Las Vegas Blvd. The Fatburger restaurant located in Doha, Qatar in the Pearl District was affected by extensive construction and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and related local economy. If these restaurants were included the same-store sales data, the change in same-store sales for our core domestic market would be positive 3.4% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and negative 1.1% for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, and same-store sales system-wide would be negative 4.0% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and negative 4.8% for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

For the Year Ended December 25, 2016, as Compared to the Year Ended December 27, 2015

 

Revenues ― Fatburger’s revenues consist of royalty fees, recognition of franchise fees and management fees. Fatburger had revenues of $8,457,005 and $7,532,503 for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. The $924,502 or 12.3% increase in revenues from 2015 to 2016 was primarily driven by an increase in franchise fees recognized of approximately $1,444,000, offset by a decrease in royalties of approximately $512,000.

 

General and Administrative Expenses ― General and administrative expenses of Fatburger consist primarily of salaries and wages. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 25, 2016 increased by $342,722 or 13.2% to $2,932,326, as compared to $2,589,604 for the year ended December 27, 2015, which primarily reflects an increase in allocated corporate overhead during the year ended December 25, 2016.

 

Income before Income Tax Expense — Income before income tax expense of Fatburger increased by $581,780 or 11.8% to $5,524,679 for the year ended December 25, 2016, as compared to Income before Income Tax Expense of $4,942,899 for the year ended December 27, 2015, due primarily to an increase in franchise fees received from 2015 to 2016 offset in part by an increase in general and administrative expenses.

 

Net Income ― Net income of Fatburger for the year ended December 25, 2016 increased by $885,865 or 33.3% to $3,546,072, as compared to $2,660,207 for the year ended December 27, 2015.The increase was primarily attributable to lower taxes from lesser taxable franchise fees received in 2016 compared to 2015.

 

New store openings - In 2016, our Fatburger franchisees opened twelve stores as compared to eighteen stores in 2015. We expect that, beginning in fiscal 2017, our franchisees will open at least 20 stores worldwide each year for the foreseeable future.

 

Average unit volumes – Average unit volumes in our core domestic market (representing approximately 69% of revenues for 2016) increased in 2016 by $34,237, or 3.7%, to $956,572, as compared to $922,335 for 2015. Overall Fatburger average unit volumes declined in 2016 by $23,478, or 3.0%, to $747,892, as compared to $771,370 for 2015, reflecting the deterioration in macroeconomic conditions in Canada and the Middle East due to the decline in oil prices, as well as increased competition internationally.

 

Same-store sales growthSame-store sales in our core domestic market (representing approximately 69% of revenues for 2016) grew positively 1.5% and positively 3.9% in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Overall Fatburger system-wide same-store sales in local currency were negative 3.5% in 2016 and 0.1% in 2015, reflecting the deterioration in macroeconomic conditions in Canada and the Middle East due to the decline in oil prices, as well as increased competition internationally. The depreciation of the Canadian dollar had an additional negative effect on sales of 1.1% and 4.0% in 2016 and 2015, respectively, resulting in a cumulative 4.3% decline in 2016 and 4.2% decline in 2015. We adjusted the percentage change in Fatburger same-store sales by excluding two restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017 related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy. The Fatburger restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip was affected by extensive construction on Las Vegas Blvd. The Fatburger restaurant located in Doha, Qatar in the Pearl District was affected by extensive construction and political sanctions affecting the supply chain and related local economy. If these restaurants were included the same-store sales data, the change in same-store sales for our core domestic market in 2016 and 2015 would be positive 0.6% and positive 1.7% respectively and same-store sales system-wide would be negative 3.4% and 0.3%, respectively.

 

  62  
     

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources of Fatburger North America

 

Fatburger funds its operations primarily through franchise fees and royalties. We believe that cash provided by operating activities are adequate to fund our working capital obligations for the next 12 months. However, our ability to continue to meet these requirements and obligations will depend on, among other things, our ability to achieve anticipated levels of revenue and cash flow from operations and our ability to manage costs and working capital successfully.

 

As of March 26, 2017, Fatburger had current assets of $1,824,412, comprised primarily of accounts receivables and deferred income tax. This compares with current assets of $2,162,879 as of December 25, 2016, due primarily to lower deferred income taxes and advertising expenditures in excess of collections.

 

Fatburger had current liabilities of $3,575,328 comprised of deferred income of $1,269,060, accounts payable of $1,125,948 and accrued expenses of $1,180,320, as of March 26, 2017. This compares with current liabilities of $3,547,161 comprised of deferred income of $1,339,080, accounts payable of $1,070,553 and accrued expenses of $1,137,528, as of December 25, 2016.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements of Fatburger North America

 

Fatburger does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Results of Operations of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts

 

For the 13 Weeks Ended March 26, 2017, as Compared to the 13 Weeks Ended March 27, 2016

 

Revenues ― Buffalo’s revenues consist primarily of royalty fees and recognition of franchise fees. Buffalo’s had revenues of $413,271 and $482,307 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. Buffalo’s lower revenue of $69,036, or 14.3%, in the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016 to the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 was primarily the result of the closure of two long-standing stores in Atlanta, Georgia and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 

General and Administrative Expenses ― General and administrative expenses of Buffalo’s primarily consist of salaries and wages. General and administrative expenses for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 decreased by $36,056 or 20.5% to $139,737, as compared to $175,793 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, which primarily reflects a decrease in allocated corporate overhead from the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016 to the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017.

 

Income before Income Tax Expense — Income before income tax expense of Buffalo’s decreased by $32,980 or 10.8% to $273,534 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, as compared to Income before Income Tax Expense of $306,514 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, which reflects lower royalty revenue and lower other income for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 as compared to the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

Net Income ― Net income of Buffalo’s for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 decreased by $48,219 or 21.4% to $177,490, as compared to $225,709 for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower royalty revenue and lower other income for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 as compared to the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

  63  
     

 

New store openings - For the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, our Buffalo’s Cafe franchisees opened no new Buffalo’s Cafe stores as compared to two new stores opened for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016. We expect that for all of fiscal 2017 and every year thereafter for the foreseeable future, our franchisees will open at least one new store worldwide.

 

Same-store sales growth – Same-store sales for Buffalo’s Cafe were negative 0.6% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and positive 3.4% for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016. The softening in positive same-store sales for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 was primarily attributable to adverse weather conditions in the Atlanta area in the first quarter of 2017, which had a negative effect on customer traffic. We adjusted the percentage change in Buffalo’s Cafe same-store sales by excluding four restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant, changes in the alcohol laws or political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy: Hamilton Mill Atlanta, Canyon, Texas, The Ezdan Mall Doha, Qatar, and the Kingdom Mall Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If these restaurants were included the same-store sales system-wide would be negative 3.9% for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and negative 3.5% for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

For the Year Ended December 25, 2016, as Compared to the Year Ended December 27, 2015

 

Revenues ― Buffalo’s revenues consist primarily of royalty fees and recognition of franchise fees. Buffalo’s had revenues of $1,603,910 and $2,023,416 for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. Buffalo’s higher revenue of $419,506 or 20.7% in 2015 as compared to 2016 was the result of higher franchise fees in 2015.

 

General and Administrative Expenses ― General and administrative expenses of Buffalo’s primarily consist of salaries and wages. General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 25, 2016 decreased by $69,190 or 9.4% to $663,212, as compared to $732,402 for the year ended December 27, 2015, which primarily reflects a decrease in allocated corporate overhead during the year ended December 25, 2016.

 

Income before Income Tax Expense — Income before income tax expense of Buffalo’s decreased by $399,847 or 29.0% to $976,588 for the year ended December 25, 2016, as compared to Income before Income Tax Expense of $1,376,435 for the year ended December 27, 2015, which reflects lower franchise fee revenue in 2016 as compared to 2015.

 

Net Income ― Net income of Buffalo’s for the year ended December 25, 2016 decreased by $189,776 or 22.4% to $658,342, as compared to $848,118 for the year ended December 27, 2015. The decrease was primarily attributable to lower taxes from less taxable franchise fees received in 2016 compared to 2015.

 

New store openings - In 2016, our Buffalo’s Cafe franchisees opened two new Buffalo’s Cafe stores as compared to no new stores opened in 2015. We expect that, beginning in fiscal 2017, our franchisees will open at least one store worldwide each year for the foreseeable future.

 

Average unit volumes – Buffalo’s Cafe average unit volumes for 2016 decreased by $118,105, or 7.1%, to $1,543,008, as compared to $1,661,133 for 2015. The drop in average unit volumes reflects the opening of a smaller footprint unit in Saudi Arabia with lower sales volume than the traditional full-service Buffalo’s Cafes.

 

Same-store sales growth – Same-store sales for Buffalo’s Cafe were positive 2.4% in 2016 and positive 3.3% in 2015. Management believes the delta between the year-over-year positive same-store sales comps in 2016 and 2015 was primarily attributable to a lower advertising spend in 2016 versus 2015. We adjusted the percentage change in Buffalo’s Cafe same-store sales by excluding four restaurants which were subject to extraordinary adverse operating conditions in 2015, 2016 and 2017, related to construction blocking direct access or visibility to the restaurant, changes in the alcohol laws or political sanctions affecting the supply chain and the related local economy: Hamilton Mill Atlanta, Canyon, Texas, The Ezdan Mall Doha, Qatar, and the Kingdom Mall Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If these restaurants were included same-store sales data, the percentage change in same-store sales for 2015, 2016 and through July 23, 2017 would be 2.0%, (1.2%) and (4.4%) respectively. The 2015, 2016 and year to date 2017 sales for these units are $2,491,157, $2,089,060 and $1,049,161 for Hamilton Mill Atlanta, $1,347,538, $1,419,221 and $712,446 for Canyon, Texas, $1,764,284, $1,305,373 and $568,464 for Ezdan Mall Doha, Qatar, and $281,191, $299,625 and $11,833 for the Kingdom Mall Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All other figures would remain unchanged. We believe that these extraordinary events largely accounted for the decrease in overall system sales, and we expect same-store sales improvement throughout 2017 and acceleration in 2018.

 

  64  
     

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts

 

Buffalo’s funds its operations primarily through franchise fees and royalties. We believe that cash provided by operating activities are adequate to fund our working capital obligations for the next 12 months. However, our ability to continue to meet these requirements and obligations will depend on, among other things, our ability to achieve anticipated levels of revenue and cash flow from operations and our ability to manage costs and working capital successfully.

 

As of March 26, 2017, Buffalo’s had current assets of $268,644, comprised primarily of accounts receivables and deferred income taxes. This compares with current assets of $303,569 as of December 25, 2016. The decrease in current assets was primarily due to a decrease in deferred income taxes.

 

Buffalo’s had current liabilities of $423,400 comprised of deferred income of $241,208, accounts payable of $139,635 and accrued expenses of $42,557, as of March 26, 2017. This compares with current liabilities of $438,373 comprised of deferred income of $253,333, accounts payable of $97,384 and accrued expenses of $87,656, as of December 25, 2016.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts

 

Buffalo’s does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates (Fatburger and Buffalo’s)

 

Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, such as trademarks, are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if indicators arise. No impairment has been identified for the years ended December 25, 2016 and prior.

 

Revenue recognition (Fatburger): Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized as revenue upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in situations involving store transfers. Deposits are nonrefundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income until the store opens. The company acknowledges that some of its franchisees have not complied with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the Company collects a royalty of 3% to 6% of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue as the related sales are made by the franchisees. Royalties collected in advance are classified as deferred income until earned.

 

Revenue recognition (Buffalo’s): Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The company typically charges a $25,000 co-brand conversion fee, in addition to the initial franchise fee.

 

  65  
     

 

The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in a situation involving store transfers. Deposits are non-refundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income until store opens. The company acknowledges some of its franchisees have not compiled with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the company collects a royalty calculated as a percentage of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue when the related sales are made by the franchisees.

 

Advertising (Fatburger): Fatburger requires advertising payments from franchisees of 1.95% of net sales from Fatburger restaurants located in the Los Angeles marketing area and up to 0.95% of net sales from stores located outside of the Los Angeles marketing area. International locations pay 0.20% to 0.95%. The company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since advertising funds collected are required to be spent for specific advertising purposes, no revenue or expense is recorded for advertising funds. Cumulative advertising expenditures in excess of collections are recorded as current assets and will be reimbursed by future advertising payments from franchises and other Fatburger affiliates. Cumulative collections in excess of advertising expenditures are recorded as accrued expenses and represent advertising funds collected which have not yet been spent on advertising activities.

 

Advertising (Buffalo’s): Buffalo’s generally requires advertising payments from franchisees of 2.0% of net sales from Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe restaurants. Co-branded restaurants generally pay 0.20% to 1.95%. The company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since the company acts in a fiduciary role to collect and disburse these advertising funds, no revenue or expense is recorded. Advertising funds are segregated from other Company assets and the balance of the Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund is recorded as an asset by the company with the offsetting advertising obligation recorded as a liability, Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund - Contra.

 

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The company is currently evaluating the effects adoption of this guidance will have on its financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments are effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-17 on its financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual period beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The company does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial statements.

 

  66  
     

 

LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

Dear customers, franchisees and prospective stockholders of FAT Brands Inc.:

 

I am delighted to finally position our brands so that you can all be part owners, as well as lovers of our delicious Fresh, Authentic and Tasty burgers, shakes, fries, chicken wings, steaks and other offerings! We are fortunate to have been appreciated by so many of you over the years as loyal diners in our restaurants, and we have worked hard to keep our products tasting the same, as we’ve grown our brands and transition from a private company to the public world.

 

Our dedication to quality is reflected by our wide following around the world. Across our brands, we have over 43,500 Twitter followers, 68,000 Instagram followers, and over 1,000,000 Facebook likes. We sold more than 15,000,000 hamburger patties, 10,000,000 steaks and 3,000,000 pounds of chicken wings last year, and that’s just the beginning of where we plan to grow as members of the FAT Brands family.

 

Our histories span more than 70 years, from Fatburger’s start as a hamburger stand in front of our founder Lovie Yancey’s house on Western Avenue in South Central Los Angeles. The Ponderosa and Bonanza Steak House brands were both created more than 50 years ago. Bonanza in Westport, Connecticut by Dan Blocker, who played Eric “Hoss” Cartwright on the famous TV show called Bonanza and shortly thereafter Ponderosa by Dan Lasater with a few friends in Kokomo, Indiana. Our Buffalo’s Cafe brand was started by Ralph Perella in Roswell, Georgia over 30 years ago.

 

Over these many years you can imagine the millions of meals these storied brands have served to so many families and hungry customers. We’ve been fortunate to inject technology into our business without compromising service or food quality. From mobile apps, home delivery partner apps, loyalty programs, customer feedback and survey systems, store locators, restaurant kitchen safety and management reporting systems, and even point of sale systems technology is everywhere and we are focused on utilizing it to improve operational and financial performance without sacrificing the guest experience. Each member of our senior management team receives every single customer on-line feedback/complaint that is entered in real time on their mobile device. Having our finger on the pulse of our restaurants allows us to better support our franchisees and be aware of customer experiences.

 

I take very seriously my role in bringing these brands and families of customers together and creating FAT Brands Inc. Our growth from North America to a presence in many countries around the world gives me great pleasure in knowing that I’m sharing these delicious recipes with fans everywhere. We have restaurants in Beijing, Shanghai, Jakarta, Manila, Panama City, London, Vancouver, Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, Cairo, Tunis, Erbil (Iraq), Karachi, and many other places. We know our fans around the world enjoy our food. I can’t take all the credit though. Our franchisees really deserve the most credit. They are the owners of the restaurants that serve you day in and day out. They have invested their money to own, operate, and support their communities and families and they have built their livelihoods based upon the delicious taste, outstanding quality of the food, consistency and the great service they deliver to you each and every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Also, I want to remember and praise our franchise employees and team members. As a young 13 year old boy, having watched my father pass away from lung cancer when I was only 9 years old, I began working in the restaurant business for my now father-in-law, and Fatburger’s President and Chief Operating Officer. I started sorting bottles, washing dishes and busing tables. I learned a great deal during those 5 years before college about how hard and gratifying it is to work in a restaurant with fellow employees and team members, bringing satisfaction to customers, and how physically exhausting yet rewarding that experience is. Our team members today work thanklessly long hours and physically demanding jobs to bring these meals to customers and then do it again the next day and the next. They truly love their jobs.

 

Someone once taught me two things about the restaurant business: first, that “there are no new ideas in the restaurant industry, just the same ideas repackaged and repositioned, good food and good service is just that, no matter what it looks likeand second that “your best ideas come from your franchise operators and not from the corporate office, because they are the ones every day in the restaurants listening to what customers want”.

 

  67  
     

 

My goal is to continue to remember those lessons learned, keep our franchise partners in mind, appreciate our franchise employees and team members and make sure our restaurants continue to deliver FRESH, AUTHENTIC, TASTY food to customers around the world. We would be proud to count you as a stockholder and we appreciate your patronage and partnership.

 

Sincerely

 

 

Andrew A. Wiederhorn

Chief Executive Officer

FAT Brands Inc.

 

  68  
     

 

BUSINESS

 

The Company

 

FAT Brands is a leading multi-brand restaurant franchising company that develops, markets, and acquires predominantly fast casual restaurant concepts around the world. As a franchisor, we generally do not own or operate restaurant locations, but rather generate revenue by charging franchisees an initial franchise fee as well as ongoing royalties. This asset light franchisor model provides the opportunity for strong profit margins and an attractive free cash flow profile while minimizing restaurant operating company risk, such as long-term real estate commitments or capital investments. Our scalable management platform enables us to add new stores and restaurant concepts to our portfolio with minimal incremental corporate overhead cost, while taking advantage of significant corporate overhead synergies and franchisee cross-selling opportunities. The acquisition of additional brands and restaurant concepts as well as expansion of our existing brands are key elements of our growth strategy.

 

We currently operate the Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express restaurant concepts, with 181 total locations across eight states and 18 countries as of March 26, 2017. Our overall footprint covers 32 countries, including development agreements for proposed stores in new markets and re-development of former franchisee relationships in nine countries where our brands previously had a presence. For each of our current restaurant brands and those that we will seek to acquire, the ability to expand the overall concept footprint, both domestically and internationally, is of critical importance and a primary acquisition evaluation criterion. We believe that our restaurant concepts have meaningful growth potential and appeal to a broad base of consumers globally.

 

Fatburger. Founded in Los Angeles, California in 1947, Fatburger (The Last Great Hamburger StandTM) has, throughout its history, maintained its reputation as an iconic, all-American, Hollywood favorite hamburger restaurant serving a variety of freshly made-to-order, customizable, big, juicy, and tasty Fatburgers, Turkeyburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Veggieburgers, french fries, onion rings, soft-drinks and milkshakes. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, Fatburger’s dedication to superior quality inspires robust loyalty within its customer base and has long appealed to American cultural and social leaders. We have counted many celebrities and athletes as past franchisees and customers, and we believe this prestige has been a principal driver of the brand’s strong growth. Fatburger offers a premier dining experience, demonstrating the same dedication to serving gourmet, homemade, custom-built burgers as it has since 1947. As of March 26, 2017, there were 162 franchised and sub-franchised Fatburger locations across six states and 18 countries, and Fatburger is one of the fastest growing hamburger restaurants, with 8.2% new store growth in 2016.

 

Buffalo’s Cafe. Established in Roswell, Georgia in 1985, Buffalo’s Cafe (Where Everyone is FamilyTM) is a family-themed casual dining concept known for its chicken wings and 13 distinctive homemade wing sauces, burgers, wraps, steaks, salads, and other classic American cuisine. Featuring a full bar and table service, Buffalo’s Cafe offers a distinctive dining experience affording friends and family the flexibility to share an intimate dinner together or to casually watch sporting events while enjoying extensive menu offerings. After acquiring the Buffalo’s Cafe brand in 2011, we developed and launched Buffalo’s Express, a fast-casual, smaller footprint variant of Buffalo’s Cafe offering a limited version of the full menu with an emphasis on chicken wings, wraps and salads. Current Buffalo’s Express outlets are co-branded with Fatburger locations, providing our franchisees with complementary concepts that share kitchen space and result in an estimated 20-30% higher average unit volume (compared to stand-alone Fatburger locations). As of March 26, 2017, there were 19 franchised Buffalo’s Cafe and 66 co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express locations located in 11 countries globally. Buffalo’s Cafe achieved 10.0% new store growth in 2016.

 

Ponderosa & Bonanza Steakhouse. In March 2017, our parent company, Fog Cutter Capital Group (“FCCG”) entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the franchisor of the Ponderosa Steakhouse (which we refer to as “Ponderosa”) and Bonanza Steakhouse (which we refer to as “Bonanza”) restaurants, and intends to complete the acquisitions, including one company-owned restaurant, concurrent with the consummation of this Offering. Ponderosa and Bonanza offer the quintessential American steakhouse experience, for which there is strong and growing demand in international markets, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. Ponderosa and Bonanza were established in 1965 and 1963, respectively, and as of March 27, 2017, there were 99 Ponderosa and 20 Bonanza restaurants operating under franchise and sub-franchise agreements in 19 states in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar and Taiwan, in addition to two company-owned Ponderosa restaurants in the United States.

 

  69  
     

 

Beyond our current brand portfolio and the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, we intend to acquire restaurant concepts that will allow us to offer additional food categories and to expand our geographic footprint. In evaluating potential acquisitions, we specifically seek concepts with the following characteristics:

 

  established, widely-recognized brands;
  steady cash flows;
  track records of long-term, sustainable operating performance;
  good relationships with franchisees;
  sustainable operating performance;
  geographic diversification; and
  growth potential, both geographically and through co-branding initiatives across our portfolio.

 

We approach acquisitions from a value perspective, targeting valuations of approximately 6.0x-8.0x 12-month leading cash flow to ensure that acquisitions are immediately accretive to our earnings. Leveraging our scalable management platform, we expect to achieve cost synergies post-acquisition by reducing the corporate overhead of the acquired company – most notably in the legal, accounting and finance functions. Adjusted for these cost synergies, we believe that we will have the opportunity to acquire complementary restaurant brands at a valuation multiple materially below 6.0x-8.0x 12-month leading cash flow. We also plan to grow the top line revenues of newly acquired brands through support from our management and systems platform, including public relations, marketing and advertising, supply chain assistance, site selection analysis, staff training and operational oversight and support.

 

Including Ponderosa and Bonanza, our experienced and diversified franchisee base consists of 127 franchisees, 46 of whom operate multiple locations. With the completion of the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, our franchisees will operate more than 300 restaurants, with system-wide store level sales in excess of $300 million in 2016. Since converting to a franchisor model in 2011, we have improved store-level operations and maintained positive same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market, particularly in California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, over each of the last five years while operating less than 1% of total units. Over the same time period, our concepts have also experienced significant growth in total number of locations. As a result, between 2012 and 2016, unadjusted for the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, the company achieved compound annual growth rates in net revenue, net income, and EBITDA of 9.9%, 40.0%, and 35.3%, respectively. By providing multiple support services that promote the financial and operational health of our franchisees – our direct customers – we believe that we will continue to enable our franchisees to increase their same-store sales and grow their store counts, thereby driving our sustained strong financial performance.

 

The following graphs show the change in number of our store locations from 2014 through 2016:

 

 

The following table and graphs shows our store locations and revenue by location for Fatburger stores, including closed locations, during 2016:

 

  70  
     

 

    2016: Fatburger (in thousands)  
Country   # of Units     System-Wide
Sales
    % of Total     Royalty Revenue     % of Total  
                               
USA                                        
California     46     $ 35,010       33.1 %   $ 1,891       40.8 %
Non-California     28       27,255       25.8 %     1,319       28.5 %
USA     74       62,265       58.9 %     3,210       69.3 %
                                         
Bahrain     2       1,185       1.1 %     71       1.6 %
Canada     49       26,570       25.1 %     447       9.7 %
China     3       1,612       1.5 %     97       2.1 %
Egypt     1       20       0.0 %     1       0.0 %
Fiji     1       248       0.2 %     25       0.5 %
India     1       183       0.2 %     11       0.2 %
Indonesia     4       978       0.9 %     26       0.6 %
Iraq     3       317       0.3 %     19       0.4 %
Kuwait     3       1,324       1.3 %     80       1.7 %
Malaysia     4       341       0.3 %     20       0.4 %
Oman     1       182       0.2 %     11       0.2 %
Pakistan     6       1,322       1.3 %     80       1.7 %
Philippines     1       71       0.1 %     4       0.1 %
Qatar     2       2,437       2.3 %     146       3.2 %
Saudi Arabia     5       2,297       2.2 %     123       2.7 %
Tunisia     3       407       0.4 %     24       0.5 %
UAE     7       3,088       2.9 %     185       4.0 %
United Kingdom     1       863       0.8 %     52       1.1 %
Total     171     $ 105,710       100.0 %   $ 4,632       100.0 %

 

  71  
     

 

 

 

  72  
     

 

The following table and graphs shows our store locations and revenue by location for Buffalo Cafe and Buffalo’s Express stores, including closed locations, during 2016:

 

    2016: Buffalo’s Cafe | Express (in thousands)  
Country     # of Units       System-Wide
Sales
      % of Total       Royalty Revenue       % of Total  
                                         
United States     34     $ 27,170       78.7 %   $ 1,084       80.3 %
Canada     41       2,912       8.4 %     86       6.3 %
Malaysia     3       37       0.1 %     2       0.2 %
Pakistan     1       3       0.0 %     1       0.0 %
Philippines     1       8       0.0 %     1       0.0 %
Qatar     3       1,504       4.4 %     90       6.7 %
Saudi Arabia     2       2,465       7.2 %     61       4.6 %
Tunisia     2       23       0.1 %     2       0.2 %
UAE     1       90       0.3 %     5       0.4 %
United Kingdom     1       286       0.8 %     17       1.3 %
Total     89     $ 34,448       100.0 %   $ 1,349       100.0 %

 

The FAT Brands Difference – Fresh, Authentic, Tasty

 

Our name represents the values that we embrace as a company and the food that we provide to customers – Fresh. Authentic. Tasty (which we refer to as “FAT”). The success of our franchisor model is tied to consistent delivery by our restaurant operators of freshly prepared, made-to-order food that customers desire. With the input of customers and franchisees, we continually strive to keep a fresh perspective on our brands by enhancing our existing menu offerings and introducing appealing new menu items. When enhancing our offerings, we ensure that any changes are consistent with the core identity and attributes of our brands, although we do not intend to adapt our brands to be all things to all people. In conjunction with our restaurant operators, (which means the individuals who own or manage our franchises restaurants), we are committed to delivering authentic, consistent brand experiences that have strong brand identity with customers. Ultimately, we understand that we are only as good as the last meal served, and we are dedicated to having our franchisees consistently deliver tasty, high-quality food and positive guest experiences in their restaurants.

 

In pursuing acquisitions and entering new restaurant segments, we are committed to instilling our FAT Brands values into new restaurant concepts. As our restaurant portfolio continues to grow, we believe that both our franchisees and diners will recognize and value this ongoing commitment as they enjoy a wider concept offering.

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that our competitive strengths include:

 

  Management Platform Built for Growth. We have developed a robust and comprehensive management platform and systems platform that supports the expansion of our existing brands while enabling the accretive and efficient acquisition and integration of additional restaurant concepts. We dedicate our considerable resources and industry knowledge to promote the success of our franchisees, offering them multiple support services such as public relations, marketing and advertising, supply chain assistance, site selection analysis, staff training and operational oversight and support. Furthermore, our platform is scalable and adaptable, allowing us to incorporate new concepts into the FAT Brands family with minimal incremental corporate costs. For example, following our acquisition of the Buffalo’s Cafe brand in 2011, we leveraged our platform to refresh the brand, expand the concept into the fast casual segment (through the Buffalo’s Express concept), and grew the brand appeal to a broader base of FAT Brands franchisees. As a result, as of March 26, 2017, we had grown the number of co-branded Buffalo’s Express stores from launch to 66 locations while increasing the number of franchisees from 12 to 29. As such, we intend to grow our existing brands as well as make strategic and opportunistic acquisitions that complement our existing portfolio of concepts, by providing an entrance into targeted restaurant segments. We believe that our platform is a key differentiator in pursuing this strategy.

 

  73  
     

 

  Capital Light Business Model Driving High Free Cash Flow Conversion. We maintain an asset light business model requiring minimal capital expenditures by franchising our restaurant concepts to our owner / operators. The multi-brand franchisor model also enables us to efficiently scale the number of restaurant locations with very limited incremental corporate overhead and minimal exposure to store-level risk, such as long-term real estate commitments and increases in employee wage costs. Our multi-brand approach also gives us the organizational depth to provide a host of services to our franchisees, which we believe enhances their financial and operational performance. As a result, new store growth and accelerating financial performance of the FAT Brands network drive increases in our franchise fee and royalty revenue streams while expanding profit and free cash flow margins. From 2012 to 2016, our EBITDA margin expanded from 27.9% to 64.3%.
     
  Strong Brands Aligned with FAT Brands Vision. We have an enviable track record of delivering Fresh, Authentic, and Tasty meals across our franchise system. Our current Fatburger and Buffalo’s concepts have built distinctive brand identities within their respective segments, providing made-to-order, high-quality food at competitive prices. The Ponderosa and Bonanza brands, which we will acquire upon consummation of this Offering, deliver an authentic American steakhouse experience with which customers identify. By maintaining alignment with the FAT Brands vision across an expanding platform, we believe that our concepts will appeal to a broad base of domestic and global consumers.
     
 

Experienced and Diverse Global Franchisee Network. As of March 26, 2017 and including Ponderosa and Bonanza, our franchise base consisted of 127 franchisees, 46 of whom operate multiple locations. With the completion of the Ponderosa and Bonanza acquisitions, our franchisees will operate more than 300 restaurants, with system-wide store level sales in excess of $300 million in 2016. Based on existing new restaurant commitments of over 300 locations across our brands, we anticipate that our current franchisees will open more than 30 new restaurants annually for at least the next four years. The acquisition of additional restaurant franchisors will also increase the number of restaurants operated by our existing franchisee network. Additionally, our franchise development team has built an attractive pipeline of new potential franchisees, with many experienced restaurant operators and new entrepreneurs eager to join the FAT Brands family.

     
  Ability to Cross-Sell Existing Franchisees Concepts from the FAT Brands Portfolio. Our ability to easily, and efficiently, cross-sell our existing franchisees new brands from our FAT Brands portfolio affords us the ability to grow more quickly and satisfy our existing franchisees’ demands to expand their organizations. By having the ability to offer our franchisees a variety of concepts (i.e., a fast-casual better-burger concept, a fast-casual chicken wing concept, a casual dining concept and steakhouse concepts) from the FAT Brands portfolio, our existing franchisees are able to acquire the rights to, and develop, their respective markets with a well-rounded portfolio of FAT Brands concept offerings affording them the ability to strategically satisfy their respective market demands by developing our various concepts where opportunities are available.
     
  Seasoned and Passionate Management Team. Our management team and employees are critical to our success. Our senior leadership team has more than 200 years of combined experience in the restaurant industry, and many have been a part of our team since the acquisition of the Fatburger brand in 2003. We believe that our management team has the track record and vision to leverage the FAT Brands platform to achieve significant future growth. In addition, through their holdings in FCCG, our senior executives will own a significant equity interest in the company following the consummation of this Offering, ensuring long-term commitment and alignment with our public shareholders. Our management team is complemented by an accomplished board of directors.

  

  74  
     

 

Growth Strategy

 

The principal elements of our growth strategy include:

 

 

Opportunistically Acquire New Brands. Our management platform was developed to cost-effectively and seamlessly scale with new restaurant concept acquisitions. In connection with the Buffalo’s Cafe acquisition, we have also garnered expertise and developed a track record of efficiently on-boarding new brands at minimal incremental corporate cost. The anticipated acquisitions of the Ponderosa and Bonanza brands is a continuation of this growth strategy, which will remain a critical facet of our future plan. In particular, we have identified food categories that appeal to a broad international base of customers, targeting the chicken, pizza, coffee, sandwich and dessert segments for future growth. We have developed a strong and actionable pipeline of potential acquisition opportunities to achieve our objectives. We seek concepts with established, widely-recognized brands; steady cash flows; track records of long-term, good relationships with franchisees; sustainable operating performance; geographic diversification; and growth potential, both geographically and through co-branding initiatives across our portfolio. We approach acquisitions from a value perspective, targeting modest multiples of franchise-level cash flow valuations to ensure that acquisitions are immediately accretive to our earnings prior to anticipated synergies.

 

In addition to our pending acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza, as of the date of this Offering Circular we have entered into a letter of intent to acquire an additional restaurant concept with approximately 60 franchised stores, and are in discussions to acquire another restaurant concept with approximately 50 stores. However, there can be no assurance that we will enter definitive agreements based on such letter of intent or discussions, consummate such acquisitions or acquire any additional restaurant brands. Furthermore, our acquisitions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including as to when, whether and to what extent the anticipated benefits and cost savings of a particular acquisition will be realized. See “Risk Factors.” 

     
 

Accelerate Same-Store Sales Growth. Same-store sales growth reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable store base, which we define as the number of stores open for at least one full fiscal year. For each of the last five years, we have achieved positive annual same-store sales growth in our traditional domestic market, the Western United States and particularly in California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, which represented approximately 69% of our royalty revenue in 2016. To maintain this performance, we have embraced a multi-faceted same-store sales growth strategy. We utilize customer feedback and closely analyze sales data to introduce, test and perfect existing and new menu items. In addition, we regularly utilize public relations and experiential marketing, which we leverage via social media and targeted digital advertising to expand the reach of our brands and to drive traffic to our stores. Furthermore, we have embraced emerging technology to develop our own brand-specific mobile applications, allowing guests to find restaurants, order online, earn rewards and join our e-marketing providers. We have also partnered with third-party delivery service providers, including UberEATS, Grub Hub, Amazon Restaurants and Postmates, which provide online- and app-based delivery services and constitute a new sales channel for our existing locations. Finally, many of our franchisees are pursuing a robust capital expenditure program to remodel legacy restaurants and opportunistically co-brand them with our Buffalo’s Express and / or Fat Bar concepts (serving beer, wine, spirits and cocktails).

     
  Drive Store Growth through Co-Branding. We franchise co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express locations, giving franchisees the flexibility of offering multiple concepts, while sharing kitchen space, resulting in a higher average check (compared to stand-alone Fatburger locations). Franchisees benefit by serving a broader customer base – we estimate that co-branding results in a 20%-30% increase in average unit volume compared to stand-alone locations with minimal incremental cost to franchisees. Our acquisition strategy reinforces the importance of co-branding, as we expect to offer each of the complementary brands that we acquire to our existing franchisees on a co-branded basis.
     
  Extend Brands into New Segments. We have a strong track record of extending our brands into new segments, and we believe that we have a significant opportunity to capture new markets by strategically adapting our concepts while reinforcing the brand identity. In addition to dramatically expanding the traditional Buffalo’s Cafe customer base through Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express co-branding, we have also begun evaluating opportunities to leverage the Buffalo’s brand by promoting Buffalo’s Express on a stand-alone basis. Furthermore, we also recently began the roll-out of Fat Bars (serving beer, wine, spirits and cocktails), which we are opportunistically introducing to select existing Fatburger locations on a modular basis. Similarly, post-acquisition, we plan to create smaller-scale, fast casual Ponderosa and Bonanza concepts, to drive new store growth, particularly internationally where there is high demand for American fast casual concepts.

 

  75  
     

 

  Continue Expanding FAT Brands Internationally. We have a significant global presence, with international franchised stores in Bahrain, Canada, China, Egypt, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. We have also recently selected a local franchisee in Japan, where we expect to open new stores in the near future. We believe that the appeal of our Fresh, Authentic, and Tasty concepts is global, and we are targeting further penetration of Middle Eastern and Asian markets, particularly through leveraging the Buffalo’s and Ponderosa brands.
     
  Enhance Footprint in Existing Markets through Current Franchisee Networks. Including Ponderosa and Bonanza, we had 127 franchisees who collectively operated more than 300 restaurants as of March 26, 2017. As noted, our existing franchisees have made new store commitments of over 300 locations across our brands, and we anticipate that our current franchisees will open more than 30 new stores annually for at least the next four years. Beyond these existing commitments, we have found that many of our franchisees have grown their businesses over time, increasing the number of stores operated in their organizations and expanding their concept offerings across the FAT Brands portfolio of concepts.
     
  Attract New Franchisees in Existing and Unpenetrated Markets. In addition to the large pipeline of new store commitments from current franchisees, we believe the existing markets for Fatburger, Buffalo’s and Ponderosa and Bonanza locations are far from saturated and can support a significant increase in units. Furthermore, new franchisee relationships represent the optimal way for our brands to penetrate geographic markets where we do not currently operate. In many cases, prospective franchisees have experience in and knowledge of markets where we are not currently active, facilitating a smoother brand introduction than we or our existing franchisees could achieve independently. We generate franchisee leads through various channels, including franchisee referrals, traditional and non-traditional franchise brokers and broker networks, franchise development advertising, and franchise trade shows and conventions.

 

Restaurant Concepts

 

Fatburger

 

Overview. In 1947, Lovie Yancey opened a three-stool hamburger stand in Downtown Los Angeles, California, calling it Mr. Fatburger. From the beginning, Ms. Yancey was a fixture at the stand where customers, including entertainers Redd Foxx and Ray Charles, would custom-order their burgers. After sustained success at her iconic original Fatburger stand, Ms. Yancey opened a second Fatburger location in West Los Angeles in 1973 which quickly became a popular location for late-night club goers and celebrity burger aficionados. In 1981, Ms. Yancey began franchising Fatburger locations. In 2000, the company was acquired by an investment firm that included Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Cher, Janet Jackson, Darren Star and David Spade among its investors. In 2003, Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. acquired Fatburger.

 

An iconic brand favorite amongst Angelenos, celebrities and other entertainment industry professionals, under FCCG’s management the Fatburger brand has grown from 40 locations in 2003 to 162 locations across eight states and 18 countries as of March 26, 2017. Much like how our Fatburger restaurants are designed to be community gathering places, Fatburger executes a social media strategy that creates an online, on-brand, community gathering place, with over 42,900 Twitter followers, nearly 63,000 followers on Instagram. and over 1,000,000 likes on Facebook, Additionally, in April 2013, our CEO, Andrew Wiederhorn, appeared on the hit television show Undercover Boss as a new Fatburger restaurant employee; the episode is a testament to how our seasoned and passionate management team operates our FAT Brands concepts.

 

Fatburger is also a 50% joint venture partner in Ultrabrandz, which distributes frozen, Fatburger-branded hamburger patties to approximately 4,000 Wal-Mart Stores nation-wide. Although Ultrabrandz does not currently represent a material portion of our net revenue or EBITDA, our successful five-year relationship with Wal-Mart demonstrates the broad appeal of the Fatburger brand outside of markets in which we currently have restaurants, and represents a potential opportunity to offer additional packaged products as part of a broader licensing strategy.

 

  76  
     

 

Menu. For 70 years, Fatburger has maintained a reputation of providing what we believe to be the freshest, most authentic, and tastiest meals in the better-burger restaurant segment, supported by a steadfast commitment to preparing fresh, made-to-order, high-quality food. At its domestic locations, Fatburger uses 100% fresh, never-frozen, USDA Choice lean-beef sourced from grain-fed steers raised in the United States. Every batch of Fatburger’s premium USDA Choice beef undergoes thorough and robust quality control testing prior to distribution to restaurants. Fatburger’s offerings are well-priced and (depending on location) range in price from $5.25 to $11.45 before toppings, sides, and beverages, which falls between the quick-service and casual dining categories.

 

Fatburger Menu

 

 

Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express Menu Co-branded Menu

 

 

Locations. As of March 26, 2017, there were 162 Fatburger locations in 18 countries – including Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Tunisia, Kuwait, Egypt, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Oman, Fiji and India – all of which are still making Fatburgers the same way Ms. Yancey did at her original stand.

 

  77  
     

 

Fatburger Territories

 

 

We believe that Fatburger has a significant market opportunity to expand within our existing footprint as well as in new markets. In our traditional domestic market, our stores are concentrated in the Western United States, particularly in California, Washington, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada. While we believe that these markets are far from saturated, expansion into eastern geographies constitutes a significant whitespace opportunity. Similarly, our Canadian locations are clustered in the west, notably in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, with large population centers in Ontario and Quebec currently unpenetrated.

 

Globally, we are targeting new emerging markets with large populations and/or a growing middle class. Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, and Russia, among others, have been identified internally as markets where we believe Fatburger would hold wide appeal, and we are in the process of developing franchisee relationships in those markets.

 

Restaurant Design. Fatburger locations are typically 1,000 – 1,500 square feet and are decorated in the company’s signature black, red, and yellow color scheme and are complemented with catchy Rock ‘n’ Roll, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Classic Soul music. New locations feature open kitchens, reclaimed materials and millennial-focused design and technology, including LED screen menus, self-serve touch screen beverage dispensers, and Social WiFi connectivity. Each franchisee is also required to use an approved architect, kitchen designer and signage company to ensure consistent, high-quality, store design and construction while embodying the core Fatburger brand image. Additionally, four locations (Las Vegas, Manila, Los Angeles and Shanghai) include Fat Bars (serving beer, wine, alcoholic spirits and cocktails), with several other Fat Bars currently under development.

 

Economics and Same-Store Sales. In 2016, Fatburger had system-wide sales of approximately $105.7 million, an average unit volume of approximately $750,000 across its 140 locations for stores that were open the full year, and an average check of $13.95. Adjusted same-store sales in our traditional, core U.S. market increased 1.5% in 2016, while system-wide Fatburger same-store sales declined 3.5% in 2016. This decrease was primarily the result of an oil-driven deterioration in macroeconomic conditions in Alberta, Canada and the Middle East, as well as a significant increase in competition and market saturation of western food brands, particularly in the better-burger segment in key Middle Eastern markets. For the 30 weeks ended July 23, 2017, adjusted domestic and system-wide same-store sales have improved, achieving year-over-year growth of 8.2% and 0.6%, respectively. With the recent recovery of macroeconomic conditions in our key international markets, we expect that these locations will continue to experience same-store sales improvement throughout 2017 and accelerate in 2018.

 

  78  
     

 

For an explanation of the methodology that we use to calculate adjusted same-store sales for Fatburger, please refer to the table and footnotes on page 47, under the heading “Selected Historical Combined Financial and Other Data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary”.

 

The following graph shows the change in adjusted same-store sales for Fatburger locations from 2012 to July 23, 2017:

 

 

Illustrative Unit Economic Model

 

The following table shows illustrative franchisee economics for stand-alone Fatburger stores. For new stores, we target initial net investment costs of approximately $350,000 and cash-on-cash returns in excess of 35%. While the Fatburger network includes a wide range of AUVs due to differences in store formats, markets, the impact of currency rate fluctuations, franchisee construction choices, and ultimate customer traffic, among other factors. The landlord T.I. allowance estimate below is based on an observed average from corporate and franchise stores that we have opened. As such, the amounts shown in the tables are an example for illustrative purposes only, are not indicative of every franchisee’s results and are not intended to represent future performance. Actual results may differ significantly from the amounts represented below.

 

Illustrative Franchisee Unit Economics - Fatburger

 

    Conversion     New Construction  
Initial Investment                
Structural Buildout and Lease   $ 100,000     $ 350,000  
Franchise Fee     50,000       50,000  
Total Initial Investment   $ 150,000     $ 400,000  
                 
Landlord T.I. Allowance     (20,000 )     (50,000 )
Net Investment   $ 130,000     $ 350,000  
Year 1 Performance                
Estimated Average Unit Volume   $ 900,000     $ 900,000  
Food and Paper Goods     26.0 %     26.0 %
Labor Cost     28.0 %     28.0 %
Rent Cost     10.0 %     10.0 %
Royalty Fee     6.0 %     6.0 %
Advertising Fee     4.0 %     4.0 %
Other Expense     11.0 %     11.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA Margin     15.0 %     15.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA   $ 135,000     $ 135,000  
Cash-on-Cash Return     103.8 %     38.6 %

 

  79  
     

 

Buffalo’s Cafe / Buffalo’s Express

 

Overview. Established in Roswell, GA, in 1985, Buffalo’s Cafe is a casual dining concept known for its chicken wings, distinctive homemade wing sauces, burgers, salads, flatbreads and other classic American cuisine. After acquiring the Buffalo’s Cafe brand in 2011, we launched Buffalo’s Express, a quick-service, smaller footprint variant of Buffalo’s Cafe that is co-branded with Fatburger locations.

 

Menu. The Buffalo’s Cafe menu offers traditional and boneless chicken wings, thirteen fresh-made wing sauces, classic American dinner platters, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, ribs, pizza, desserts, sides, beer, and other beverages. A sample menu is shown below:

 

Buffalo’s Cafe Menu

 

 

  80  
     

 

 

The Buffalo’s Express menu includes key menu offerings from the traditional Buffalo’s Cafe menu, emphasizing wings and salads. A sample co-branded menu panel can be seen below:

 

Buffalo’s Express Menu *

 

*All existing Buffalo’s Express locations are co-branded with Fatburger

 

Locations. The Buffalo’s Cafe brand has grown significantly since its founding, and as of March 26, 2017 had 19 Buffalo’s Cafe and 66 co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express franchise locations in the United States and internationally. Buffalo’s Cafe and Express concepts are currently located in the United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Qatar, China, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Fiji, Malaysia and the Philippines, with plans to expand further in Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Kuwait, Iraq and Indonesia.

 

  81  
     

 

Buffalo’s Cafe | Express Territories

 

 

The Buffalo’s Cafe concept has historically focused on the Southeastern United States. Since our acquisition of the brand, we have significantly grown the Buffalo’s footprint through our Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express co-branding strategy. While that strategy has been successful in increasing brand awareness and driving incremental sales at new and existing Fatburger locations, we believe there are additional market opportunities that we are only beginning to pursue. In particular, we believe that the Buffalo’s Cafe concept will have wide appeal internationally, particularly in emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia. Furthermore, we intend to work with franchisees who have identified markets where they would like to develop the Buffalo’s Express concept as a stand-alone location. In addition to our plans for international expansion, we believe there are additional regions within our traditional domestic market where the concept can be successfully developed.

 

Restaurant Design. Traditional Buffalo’s Cafe restaurants range from 3,000 to 4,500 square feet, 25% of which houses the kitchen or back of the house. Units can seat 160 – 200 people inside, including the bar area, with an additional 30 – 50 of outside patio or deck areas. Each location is decorated with a Southern, Americana vibe, creating a family-friendly, casual dining experience.

 

Economics and Same-Store Sales. In 2016, Buffalo’s had system-wide sales of approximately $36.2 million, an average unit volume of $1.5 million across its 19 Buffalo’s Cafe locations that were open the full year, and an average check of $21.95. During 2016, Buffalo’s Cafe adjusted system-wide same-store sales increased 2.4%, and the 30 weeks ended July 23, 2017, Buffalo’s Cafe adjusted system-wide sales increased 0.1%.

 

For an explanation of the methodology that we use to calculate adjusted same-store sales for Buffalo’s Cafe, please refer to the table and footnotes on page 47, under the heading “Selected Historical Combined Financial and Other Data of Fatburger North America, Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary”.

 

  82  
     

 

The following graph shows the change in adjusted same-store sales for all Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express locations from 2012 to July 23, 2017:

 

 

Illustrative Unit Economic Model

 

The following tables show illustrative franchisee economics for Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express stores. The amounts in the tables are examples for illustrative purposes only, are not indicative of every franchisee’s results and are not intended to represent future performance. Actual result may differ significantly from the amounts represented below.

 

For new Buffalo’s Cafe restaurants, we estimate initial net investment costs of approximately $800,000 and cash-on-cash returns in excess of 25%. In addition, the tables illustrate how approximately $50,000 in incremental investment in a co-branded Fatburger / Buffalo’s Express location can yield an almost 10% increase in cash-on-cash returns, relative to a stand-alone Fatburger location. The landlord T.I. allowance estimate below is based on an observed average from corporate and franchise stores that we have opened. As with Fatburger, many store-specific factors contribute to AUVs that may materially deviate from this unit economic model, including differences in store formats, markets, the impact of currency, franchisee construction choices, and ultimate customer traffic.

 

Illustrative Franchisee Unit Economics - Buffalo’s Cafe

 

    New Construction  
Initial Investment        
Structural Buildout and Lease   $ 900,000  
Franchise Fee     50,000  
Total Initial Investment   $ 950,000  
Landlord T.I. Allowance     (150,000 )
Net Investment   $ 800,000  
Year 1 Performance        
Estimated Average Unit Volume   $ 1,500,000  
Food and Paper Goods     26.0 %
Labor Cost     29.0 %
Rent Cost     10.0 %
Royalty Fee     6.0 %
Advertising Fee     4.0 %
Other Expense     10.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA Margin     15.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA   $ 225,000  
Cash on Cash Return     28.1 %

 

 

  83  
     

 

Illustrative Franchisee Unit Economics –

Standalone Fatburger vs. Co-Branded Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express

 

    Standalone
Fatburger
    Co-Branded
Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express
 
Initial Investment                
Structural Buildout and Lease   $ 350,000     $ 400,000  
Franchise Fee     50,000       50,000  
Total Initial Investment   $ 400,000     $ 450,000  
Landlord T.I. Allowance     (50,000 )     (50,000 )
Net Investment   $ 350,000     $ 400,000  
Year 1 Performance                
Estimated Average Unit Volume   $ 900,000     $ 1,125,000  
Food and Paper Goods     26.0 %     26.0 %
Labor Cost     28.0 %     30.0 %
Rent Cost     10.0 %     8.0 %
Royalty Fee     6.0 %     6.0 %
Advertising Fee     4.0 %     4.0 %
Other Expense     11.0 %     10.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA Margin     15.0 %     16.0 %
Store-Level EBITDA   $ 135,000     $ 180,000  
Cash on Cash Return     38.6 %     45.0 %

 

Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses

 

Overview. Ponderosa Steakhouse, founded in 1965, and Bonanza Steakhouse, founded in 1963, offer the quintessential American steakhouse experience, for which there is strong and growing demand in international markets, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. Ponderosa franchises domestically and internationally under Ponderosa Steakhouse®. Bonanza franchises domestically and internationally under Bonanza Steakhouse® and Bonanza Steak & BBQ®.

 

Menu. Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses offer guests a high quality buffet and broad array of great tasting, affordably-priced steak, chicken and seafood entrées. Buffets at Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses feature a large variety of all you can eat salads, soups, appetizers, vegetables, breads, hot main courses and desserts. Bonanza Steak & BBQ, full service steakhouses with fresh farm-to-table salad bar, have offered a menu showcase of USDA flame-grilled steaks and house-smoked BBQ, with contemporized interpretations of traditional American classics.

 

Locations. As of March 26, 2017, Ponderosa had 67 domestic locations in 14 states – (Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin) and 33 international locations in 6 countries and U.S. territories (Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, Taiwan and Puerto Rico). As of March 26, 2017, Bonanza had 13 domestic locations in 10 states –(Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Virginia) and seven international locations in Canada and Puerto Rico.

 

  84  
     

 

Ponderosa & Bonanza Territories

 

 

Restaurant Design. Ponderosa and Bonanza restaurants are located in free standing buildings or in-line in shopping centers, and require approximately 4,000 to 6,000 square feet of floor space, designed and decorated in line with distinctive and uniform color schemes, business formats, design and signs standards and formats. Each franchisee is also required to obtain prior approval from Ponderosa for its architectural plans and specifications, reflecting Ponderosa’s requirements for dimensions, interior design and layout, image, building materials, fixtures, equipment furniture, signs and décor.

 

Economics and Same-Store-Sales. In fiscal 2016, Ponderosa had system-wide gross sales of approximately $140.0 million, an average unit volume of $1.3 million across its 104 locations and an average check of $11.44. Same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market decreased 0.7%, while overall system-wide Ponderosa same-store sales declined 2.9%. This decrease was primarily due to the Puerto Rican economic crisis. In the first quarter of 2017, Ponderosa had system-wide gross sales of approximately $34.7 million, and same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market increased 0.5%, while overall system-wide Ponderosa same-store sales decreased 1.7%. In the second quarter of 2017, Ponderosa had system-wide gross sales of approximately $37.4 million, and same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market increased 1.7%, while overall system-wide Ponderosa same-store sales decreased 0.3%.

 

In fiscal 2016, Bonanza had system-wide gross sales of approximately $25.1 million, average unit volume of $1.3 million across its 20 locations, and an average check of $11.68. Same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market increased approximately 3.3%, while overall Bonanza same-store sales declined 2.4%. This decrease was primarily due to the Puerto Rican economic crisis. In the first quarter of 2017, Bonanza had system-wide gross sales of approximately $7.5 million and same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market increased approximately 4.9%, while overall system-wide Bonanza same-store sales increased 2.4%. In the second quarter of 2017, Bonanza had system-wide gross sales of approximately $7.9 million and same-store sales in its traditional, core U.S. market increased approximately 4.5%, while overall system-wide Bonanza same-store sales increased 2.1%.

 

  85  
     

 

FAT Brands Concept Territories

 

 

Franchise Program – FAT Brands

 

General. As of March 26, 2017, our franchisees operated a total of 181 Fatburger and Buffalo’s restaurants globally. We utilize a franchise development strategy as our primary method for new store growth by leveraging the interest of our existing franchisees and those potential franchisees with an entrepreneurial spirit looking to launch their own business. We have a rigorous franchisees qualification and selection process to ensure that each franchisees meets our strict brand standards. Our franchisee base for Fatburger and Buffalo’s consists of 69 operators who owned from one to 50 stores as of March 26, 2017.

 

Fatburger Franchise Agreements. For Fatburger locations, the current franchise agreement provides for an initial franchise fee of $50,000 per store ($65,000 per store internationally) and a royalty fee of 2% to 6% of net sales on a 15-year term. For 2016, the average royalty rate was 5.35% . In addition, the franchisee must also pay an advertising fee of approximately 3% of net sales on local marketing and approximately 1% of net sales on international marketing.

 

Buffalo’s Franchise Agreements. For Buffalo’s Cafe and Buffalo’s Express locations, the current franchise agreement provides for an initial franchise fee of $50,000 per store and a royalty fee of 2.5% to 6% of gross sales on a 15-year term. For 2016, the average royalty rate was 3.73%. In addition, the Buffalo’s Cafe franchisee agrees to pay an advertising fee of 2% of net sales on local marketing and 2% of net sales to the Buffalo’s Cafe advertising fund. For Buffalo’s Express locations, the franchisee pays approximately 1% of net sales on local store marketing and approximately 3% of net sales to the Buffalo’s Express advertising fund.

 

Ponderosa Franchise Agreements. For Ponderosa locations, the current franchise agreement provides for an initial franchise fee of $40,000 per store and a royalty fee of 0.75% to 4% of net sales on a 15-year term. For 2016, the average royalty rate was 2.68%. In addition, the franchisee must also pay an advertising fee of approximately 0.5% of net sales to a pooled advertising fund.

 

Bonanza Franchise Agreements. For Bonanza locations, the current franchise agreement provides for an initial franchise fee of $40,000 per store and a royalty fee of 0.75% to 4% of net sales on a 15-year term. For 2016, the average royalty rate was 2.28% . In addition, the franchisee must also pay an advertising fee of 0.5% of net sales to a pooled advertising fund.

 

  86  
     

 

Development Agreements. We use development agreements to facilitate the planned expansion of Fatburger and Buffalo’s restaurants through single and multiple unit development. During 2016, almost all of our new Fatburger and Buffalo’s openings occurred as a result of existing development agreements. Each development agreement gives a developer the exclusive right to construct, own and operate Fatburger or Buffalo’s stores within a defined area. In exchange, the franchisee agrees to open a minimum number of stores in the area in a prescribed time period. Franchisees that enter into development agreements are required to pay a fee, which is credited against franchise fees due when the store is opened in the future. Franchisees may forfeit such fees and lose their rights to future development if they do not maintain the required schedule of openings.

 

The following table shows our total existing unit development pipeline for Fatburger and Buffalo’s:

 

    Territory:   Restaurant Model:   Total Unit Commitment :     # Open:     # Remaining:     Type:     Duration  
United States:   San Bernardino, San Diego & Orange Counties   Fatbuff     30       2       28       A       December 4, 2028  
    Los Angeles County / So. Cal   Fatbuff     20       4       16       A       December 31, 2018 (Single Unit Franchisee)  
    Ohio   Ponderosa     7       4       3       A       December 31, 2018  
        U.S.A. Total:     57       10       47                  
                                                 
Canada:   Western Canada   Fatbuff     20       4       16       B          
    Toronto   Fatbuff     63       0       63       B          
        Canada Total:     83       4       79                  
                                                 
Asia:   Philippines   Fatbuff     16       1       15       B          
    Shanghai   Fatburger     5       1       4       B          
    Shanghai & Beijing   Fatburger     8       4       4       B          
    Beijing   Fatburger     15       0       15       A       September 28, 2026  
    Malaysia   Fatbuff     20       0       20       B          
    Malaysia   Fatbuff     20       3       17       B          
    Indonesia   Fatburger     8       4       4       B          
    Pakistan   Fatburger     5       4       1       B          
    Northern India (Delhi & Surrounding Cities)   Fatburger     25       1       24       B          
    Japan   Fatbuff     1       0       1       B          
        Asia Total:     123       18       105                  
                                               
Europe:   United Kingdom   Fatbuff     5       2       3       B          
    United Kingdom   Fatbuff     5       0       5                  
        Europe Total:     10       2       8                  
                                                 
Middle East:   Qatar   Buffalo’s Cafe     5       3       2       B          
    Qatar   Fatburger     5       2       3       B          
              0       0       0                  
        Middle East Total:     10       5       5                  
                                                 
N. Africa:   Egypt   Fatburger     15       2       13       A       July 1, 2026  
    Tunisia   Fatbuff     10       2       8       B          
    Libya   Buffalo’s Cafe     3       0       3       B          
    Libya   Fatburger     10       0       10       B          
        N. Africa Total:     33       4       29                  
        Total Pipeline:     321       43       278                  

 

  87  
     

 

Type A: Franchise has a specific date or schedule of dates by which they must open one or more units. To the extent they miss that date(s), they may lose their right to open or their exclusivity, if any, to a particular territory. If so, they fall into Type B.

 

Type B: Franchisee doesn’t have or has missed a development schedule. Company will allow franchisee to build any remaining previously paid for stores in their territory, absent a new franchisee acquiring exclusivity.

 

Franchisee Support – FAT Brands

 

Marketing

 

Our Fresh, Authentic and Tasty values are the anchor that inspires our marketing efforts. Our resolve to maintain our premium positioning, derived from the FAT Brands’ values, is reinforced by our management platform, capital light business model, experienced and diverse global franchisee network and seasoned and passionate management team. Although our marketing and advertising programs are concept-specific, we believe that our patrons appreciate the value of their experiences visiting our establishments and, thus, the core of our marketing strategy is to engage and dialogue with customers at our restaurant locations as well as through social media.

 

Our Fresh, Authentic and Tasty values are an invitation for our guests to align with FAT Brands’ commitment to consistently deliver freshly prepared, made-to-order food that customers desire. We are dedicated to keeping a fresh perspective on our concepts, perfecting our existing menu offerings as well as introducing appealing new items. We ensure that any changes are consistent with the core identity of our brands, and we will not adapt our brands to be all things to all people.

 

Our marketing initiatives include a robust mix of local community marketing, in-store campaigns, product placements, partnerships, promotions, social media, influencer marketing, traditional media and word of mouth advertising. Corresponding with the evolutionary shift in how customers receive content and engage with media and brands today, we have also dramatically increased our focus on mobile, social, and digital advertising to leverage the content we generate from public relations and experiential marketing in order to better connect with customers, sharing information about new menu offerings, promotions, new store openings and other relevant FAT Brands information. Currently, across our brands, we have over 43,500 Twitter followers, 68,000 Instagram followers and over 1,000,000 Facebook likes,. We communicate with customers in creative and organic ways that fortify our connections with them and increase brand awareness.

 

  88  
     

 

Site Selection and Development.

 

Our franchisees work alongside our corporate real estate committee during the search, review, leasing and development process for a new restaurant location. Typically, it takes between 60 and 90 days from the time we sign an agreement with a franchisee to the moment that franchisee signs a lease. When selecting a location, our team aggressively seeks locations with the following site parameters:

 

  Average Daily Traffic: 35,000+ people
  Access: Easy, distinguishable, and preferably with signaled entry and intersection; two-to-three curb cuts to center and entry from two streets
  Activity Generators: Going home traffic side, easily accessible for lunchtime traffic (pedestrian and automobile), high-frequency specialty retail and storefront urban corridors with convenient parking
  Lease Terms: Five-year minimum with four five-year options; fixed rates preferred
  Visibility: Site and signage must be highly visible from street and/or traffic generators, ideally visible from at least 500 feet in two directions

 

Supply Chain Assistance

 

FAT Brands has always been committed to seeking out and working with best-in-class suppliers and distribution networks. Our Fresh, Authentic and Tasty vision guides us in how we source and develop our ingredients, always looking for the best ways to provide top quality food that is as competitively priced as possible for our franchisees and customers. We utilize a third-party purchasing and consulting company that provides distribution, rebate collection, product negotiations, audits and sourcing services focusing on negotiating distributor, vendor and manufacturer contracts, thereby ensuring that our brands receive meaningful buying power for our franchisees. Our Supply Chain team has developed a reliable supply chain and continues to focus on identifying additional back-ups to avoid any possible interruption of service and product globally. We have a regional strategy for ground beef supply to ensure that we are always serving our proprietary blend of freshly ground and never frozen beef in our stores in the continental United States. Internationally, we utilize the same strategy market-by-market in each country in which our franchisees operate. Only when a fresh never frozen beef option is unavailable do we procure frozen beef, which is then freshly ground in stores. Domestically, we have the same, Southern California based, beef supplier for all of our U.S. Fatburger locations. We have the same, South East United States based, beef supplier for Buffalo’s Cafe. Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses utilize contracted beef suppliers. Internationally, we have a select group of beef suppliers providing product to our franchisees market-by-market. Additionally, we utilize the same procurement strategies for our poultry (chicken and turkey), veggie and hotdog offerings.

 

Domestically, FAT Brands has distribution agreements with broadline national distributors as well as regional providers. Internationally, our franchisees have distribution agreements with different providers market-by-market. We utilize distribution centers operated by our distributors. Our broadline national distributors are the main purchasing link in the United States among many of our suppliers, and distribute most of our dry, refrigerated and frozen goods, non-alcoholic beverages, paper goods and cleaning supplies. Internationally, distributors are also used to distribute the majority of products to our franchisees.

 

Food Safety and Quality Assurance. Food safety is a top priority of FAT Brands. As such, we maintain rigorous safety standards for our menu offerings. We have carefully selected preferred suppliers that adhere to our safety standards, and our franchisees are required to source their ingredients from these approved suppliers. Furthermore, our commitment to food safety is strengthened through the direct relationship between our Supply Chain and Field Consultant Assistance teams.

 

  89  
     

 

Management Information Systems. FAT Brands restaurants utilize a variety of back-office, computerized and manual, point-of-sales systems (NCR and Micros) and tools, which we believe are scalable to support our growth plans. We utilize these systems following a multi-faceted approach to monitor restaurants operational performance, food safety, quality control, customer feedback and profitability.

 

The point-of-sale systems are designed specifically for the restaurant industry and we use many customized features to evaluate and increase operational performance, provide data analysis, marketing promotional tracking, guest and table management, high-speed credit card and gift card processing, daily transaction data, daily sales information, product mix, average transaction size, order modes, revenue centers and other key business intelligence data. Utilizing these point-of-sale systems back-end, web-based, enterprise level, software solution dashboards, our home office and Franchise Operations Consultant Support staff are provided with real-time quick access to detailed business data which allows for our home office and Franchise Operations Consultant Support staff to closely, and remotely, monitor stores performance and assist in providing focused and timely support to our franchisees. Furthermore, these systems supply sales, bank deposit and variance data to our accounting department on a daily basis, and we use this data to generate daily sales information and weekly consolidated reports regarding sales and other key measures for each restaurant with final reports following the end of each period.

 

In addition to utilizing these point-of-sales systems, FAT Brands utilizes The Redbook Digital (and manual) Management System which provides detailed, real-time (and historical) operational data for each locations, allowing our management team to track product inventories, equipment temperatures, repair and maintenance schedules, intra-shift team communications, consistency in following standard operating procedures and tracking of tasks. FAT Brands also utilizes HotSchedules which is a web-based employee scheduling software program providing franchisees, and their management teams, increased flexibility and awareness of scheduling needs allowing them to efficiently, and appropriately, manage their labor costs and store staffing requirements/needs. Lastly, FAT Brands utilizes a proprietary customer feedback system allowing customers to provide feedback in real-time to our entire management team, franchisees and store managers.

 

Field Consultant Assistance.

 

In conjunction with utilizing the FAT Brands Management Information Systems, FAT Brands has a team of dedicated Franchise Operations Consultant Support staff who oversee designated market areas and specific subsets of restaurants. Our Franchise Operations Consultant Support staff work in the field daily with franchisees, and their management teams, to ensure that the integrity of all FAT Brands concepts are upheld and that franchisees are utilizing the tools and systems FAT Brands requires in order to optimize and accelerate franchisee profitability. FAT Brands Franchise Operations Consultant Support staff responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

 

  Conducting announced and un-announced store visits and evaluations
  Continuous training and re-training of new and existing franchise operations
  Conducting quarterly workshops for franchisees and their management teams
  Development and collection of monthly profit and loss statements for each store
  Store set-up, training, oversight and support for pre- and post- new store openings
  Training, oversight and implementation of in-store marketing initiatives
  Inspections of equipment, temperatures, food-handling procedures, customer service, products in store, cleanliness, and team member attitude

 

Training, Pre-Opening Assistance and Opening Support

 

1. Training: FAT Brands offers Executive level and Operational level training programs to its franchisees.

 

Executive Level: The Executive level training program is a two-week long course designed to give non-operationally active franchise owners a high-level overview of the FAT Brands concept they own, the operational tools and resources their management teams will be required to use to run their businesses as well as a review of the operational and financial reporting compliance standards FAT Brands will require them to follow. Topics covered in this program include (but are not limited to):

 

  90  
     

 

  FAT Brands concept-specific mission, vision and values
  The history of the FAT Brands concept
  Basic positional review
  Marketing program overview
  Profit and loss overview
  Franchisee compliance overview
  New store opening timeline and expectations

 

Operational Level: The Operational level training program is a six-week long course designed for either operationally active franchise owner/operators or non-operationally active franchise owners General Managers and Shift Leaders to take a deep-dive into the day-to-day operations, procedures, roles and responsibilities they will be expected to follow when running the restaurants. Topics covered in this program include (but are not limited to):

 

  FAT Brands concept specific mission, vision and values
  The history of the FAT Brands concept
  FAT Brands guest experience program and expectations
  Ability to demonstrate thorough testing and on the job evaluations of each restaurant position
  Analyze service and position performance opportunities
  Inventory-related issues, including initiating counting and back-of-house inventory paperwork and computer work

 

2. Pre-Opening Assistance: Prior to opening a restaurant, FAT Brands provides our franchisees with pre-opening assistance with:

 

  Site selection
  Store design
  Kitchen design
  Procurement of equipment
  Supply chain setup
  Operational training
  POS system procurement and setup
  Digital menu system installation and setup
  Licensed in-store music system setup
  Design of construction hoardings for each restaurant
  Interior trade dress package
  Packaging
  Menu development
  Grand opening plans
  Uniform design and supply
  Digital (website, social media, mobile listings, etc.)
  Media (print, radio, outdoor, word of mouth campaigns)
  Focus groups and consumer market evaluations
  Public Relations
  P.O.P. (Point of Purchase) merchandising materials

 

3. Opening Assistance: When new franchise locations are officially ready to open, FAT Brands provides new store opening support by sending a team of seasoned operational field consultants to the restaurant, where they remain on-site for a minimum of two weeks leading up to and through the opening overseeing all aspects of the restaurant’s operations. Our support staff works hand-in-hand with franchisee management teams to ensure that all procedures are being adequately followed and that the franchisee management teams are properly trained on how to handle customers, utilize the tools provided to them and are capable of adequately operating the restaurants in a real-world environment once the corporate support team departs. In addition to operational support, FAT Brands provides marketing assistance in coordinating grand opening campaigns with local agencies and media outlets, providing public relations support through the distribution of press releases to local/national media outlets, targeted digital/social media advertisements announcing the opening to customers in the area and coordinating the development and scheduling of grand opening ceremonies as well as developing post opening marketing plans for the store with the franchisees.

 

  91  
     

 

Ongoing Support. Once open, FAT Brands constantly provides ongoing operational and marketing support to our franchisees by assisting their management teams in effectively operating their restaurants and increasing their stores financial profitability. Operational examples of ongoing support include (but are not limited to):

 

  Weekly Franchisee and General Manager calls for support and guidance
  Quarterly site visits
  Quarterly market training sessions to review:
    New operational procedures
    Reviews of areas for operational improvement opportunities
    Marketing initiatives training

 

Additional examples of ongoing marketing support include:

 

  Local store marketing initiatives and planning
  Annual promotional calendar (e.g. limited time offering menu items, in-store promotions, cause-marketing promotions)
  Digital support (e.g. website, social media, mobile programs, listings)
  Media (e.g. print, radio, outdoor, word of mouth)
  Public relations
  Market visits and evaluations
  Agency contracting (e.g. advertising, research, digital media)
  P.O.P. (Point of Purchase) merchandising materials
  Revenue stream enhancement (e.g. adding online ordering, delivery, catering programs, )

 

In addition to the existing Franchisee Support services that we currently provide to our Fatburger and Buffalo’s Cafe franchisees, we intend to provide the same scope of Franchisee Support services to the Ponderosa and Bonanza brands following the Ponderosa Acquisition, as well as to brands and companies that we may acquire in the future.

 

Competition

 

As a franchisor, our most important customers are our franchisees, who own and operate FAT Brands restaurants. Our direct competitors for franchisees include well-established national, regional or local franchisors with franchises in the geographies or restaurant segments in which we operate or in which we intend to operate.

 

Our franchisees compete in the fast casual and casual dining segments of the restaurant industry, a highly competitive industry in terms of price, service, location, and food quality. The restaurant industry is often affected by changes in consumer trends, economic conditions, demographics, traffic patterns, and concern about the nutritional content of fast casual foods. Furthermore, there are many well-established competitors with substantially greater financial resources, including a number of national, regional, and local fast casual, casual dining, and convenience stores. The restaurant industry also has few barriers to entry and new competitors may emerge at any time.

 

Food Safety

 

Food safety is a top priority. As such, we maintain rigorous safety standards for each menu item. We have carefully selected preferred food suppliers that adhere to our safety standards, and our franchisees are required to source their ingredients from these approved suppliers.

 

Seasonality

 

Our franchisees have not historically experienced significant seasonal variability in their financial performance.

 

  92  
     

 

Intellectual Property

 

Upon completion of the Reorganization Transactions, we will own domestically, and own or be in the process of transferring to us internationally, valuable intellectual property, including trademarks, service marks, trade secrets and other proprietary information, including the “Fatburger,” “Buffalo’s Café,” and “Buffalo’s Express” logos and trademarks, which are of material importance to our business. After completion of the Ponderosa Acquisition, we will own the “Ponderosa Steakhouse,” “Bonanza Steakhouse,” “Bonanza Steak & BBQ” and “Cole’s Backyard Grill” logos and trademarks. Depending on the jurisdiction, trademarks and service marks generally are valid as long as they are used and/or registered.

 

Customers

 

Our business is not dependent upon a single franchisee or a small group of franchisees.

 

Employees

 

As of March 26, 2017, our company, including FAT Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries, employed approximately 30 people. In addition, our franchisees for our Fatburger and Buffalo’s stores employed approximately 5,000 people, none of whom are to our knowledge represented by a labor union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that we and our franchisees have good relations with our employees.

 

Government Regulation

 

U.S. Operations. Our U.S. operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws affecting our business, primarily laws and regulations concerning the franchisor/franchisee relationship, marketing, food labeling, sanitation and safety. Each of our franchised restaurants in the U.S. must comply with licensing and regulation by a number of governmental authorities, which include health, sanitation, safety, fire and zoning agencies in the state and/or municipality in which the restaurant is located. To date, we have not been materially adversely affected by such licensing and regulation or by any difficulty, delay or failure to obtain required licenses or approvals.

 

International Operations. Our restaurants outside the U.S. are subject to national and local laws and regulations which are similar to those affecting U.S. restaurants. The restaurants outside the U.S. are also subject to tariffs and regulations on imported commodities and equipment and laws regulating foreign investment, as well as anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

 

See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of risks relating to federal, state, local and international regulation of our business.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

We are currently involved in various claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these actions will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or capital resources. However, a significant increase in the number of these claims or an increase in amounts owing under successful claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Properties

 

Our corporate headquarters, including our principal administrative, sales and marketing, customer support, and research and development operations, are located in Beverly Hills, California, where we currently lease and occupy approximately 5,478 square feet of space pursuant to a lease that expires on April 30, 2020.

 

  93  
     

 

MANAGEMENT

 

FAT Brands Inc. will have a board of directors and executive officers, but will have no direct employees. All employees, other than the executive officers, will be directly employed by FAT Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries. References in this section to our “directors”, “director nominees” and “executive officers” refer to the directors, director nominees, and executive officers of Fat Brands Inc., and references in this section to our “employees” (other than our executive officers) refer to the employees of Fat Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

Below is a list of the names and ages, as of March 31, 2017, of our directors, director nominees, executive officers and key employees, and a description of the business experience of each of them.

 

Name   Age   Position
Andrew A. Wiederhorn   51   President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
Ron Roe   40   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Donald J. Berchtold   72   President and Chief Operating Officer, Fatburger Brand
Gregg Nettleton   61   President and Chief Operating Officer, Buffalo’s
Thayer D. Wiederhorn   29   Chief Marketing Officer
Taylor A. Wiederhorn   29   Chief Development Officer

Edward Rensi

 

72

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

Marc L. Holtzman   57   Director Nominee
Squire Junger   67   Director Nominee
Silvia Kessel   72   Director Nominee

Jeff Lotman

  56  

Director Nominee

James Neuhauser   58   Director

 

Executive Officers, Key Employees, Directors and Director Nominees

 

Andrew A. Wiederhorn, age 51, has served as a director and President and Chief Executive Officer of FAT Brands Inc. since its formation. Mr. Wiederhorn has served as the Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Fatburger North America, Inc. since 2006 and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. since 2011. He also served as the Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. since its formation in 1997. Mr. Wiederhorn previously founded and served as the Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Wilshire Financial Services Group Inc. and Wilshire Credit Corporation. Mr. Wiederhorn received his B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1987, with an emphasis in Finance and Entrepreneurship. He previously served on the board of directors of Fabricated Metals, Inc., The Boy Scouts of America Cascade Pacific Council, The Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon, University of Southern California Associates, Citizens Crime Commission of Oregon, and Economic Development Council for the City of Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wiederhorn was featured as the Fatburger CEO on the CBS television program “Undercover Boss” in 2013. Mr. Wiederhorn was selected to our Board of Directors because of his role in our founding and long career in hospitality, and because he possesses particular knowledge and experience in strategic planning and leadership of complex organizations and hospitality businesses.

 

Ron Roe, age 40, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since 2009, and served as our Vice-President of Finance from 2007 to 2009. Prior to 2007, Mr. Roe was an acquisitions associate for FCCG. He began his career as an investment banking analyst with Piper Jaffray. Mr. Roe attended UC Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

 

Donald J. Berchtold, age 72, is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Fatburger North America. Mr. Berchtold has also served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of FCCG since 2006, and in various other positions at FCCG prior to 2006. From 1991 to 1999, Mr. Berchtold served as Senior Vice President of Wilshire Financial Services Group Inc. and its sister company Wilshire Credit Corporation. Prior to 1990, Mr. Berchtold was the owner-operator of his own business that included a dinner house, catering company and other food service concepts, and was active in the Restaurants of Oregon Association. Mr. Berchtold holds a BSC degree in Finance and Marketing from the University of Santa Clara.

 

  94  
     

 

Gregg Nettleton, age 61, has served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. since October 2016. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Nettleton served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GBS Enterprises, an international management consulting firm, since 2011. From 2014 to 2016, Mr. Nettleton also concurrently served as the Executive Vice President of Development of TransX Systems, Inc., an mBaSS mobile platform company, which he developed, positioned and marketed to secure two successful rounds of funding. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Nettleton served as a consultant and Board member Black Angus Steakhouses, LLC. From 2002 to 2004, he served as Chief Marketing officer of International House of Pancakes Inc. and received the award for “Turnaround Chain of the Year” in 2003, and from 2000 to 2001, he served as Interim Chief Marketing Officer of Applebee’s International, Inc. Mr. Nettleton received his B.S. in Management Science from the State University of New York at Geneseo in Geneseo, New York and his M.B.A. in Marketing and Sales from Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

 

Thayer D. Wiederhorn, age 29, has served as the Vice President of Marketing of Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. since June 2012. As Vice President of Marketing, he has overseen global branding and marketing for over 200 corporate and franchise owned Fatburger and Buffalo’s Cafe restaurants across 9 states and over 18 countries. His responsibilities include overseeing all franchisor marketing initiatives, brand advertising funds, websites, social media, menu analysis, menu development, new product development, mobile and digital strategy, customer satisfaction, agency relationships, public relations, media buying, LSM (local store marketing) programs, 4-wall in-store merchandising, partnerships and promotions, retail licensing product lines, product placements and experiential marketing. Mr. Wiederhorn served as Director of Marketing of Fatburger North America Inc. from July 2011 – June 2012 as well as Marketing Coordinator from April 2011 – June 2011 and Brand Development Agent from October 2010 – April 2011. Prior to that, Mr. Wiederhorn started his career working in, and on, Fatburger restaurants and food-trucks. Mr. Wiederhorn received his B.S. degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance Business Economics, from the University of Southern California in 2010.

 

Taylor A. Wiederhorn, age 29, has served as the Vice President of Franchise Marketing and Development of Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concept’s Inc. since September 2011. Mr. Wiederhorn is involved in the marketing and recruitment of international and domestic franchisees as well as the sales of over 100 franchise restaurants for both the Fatburger and Buffalo’s Cafe brands. Mr. Wiederhorn served as the Director of Marketing from October 2010 until September 2011. Prior to that time, Mr. Wiederhorn worked on the Fatburger food truck and in various Fatburger restaurants throughout Los Angeles. Mr. Wiederhorn graduated from University of Southern California Marshall School of Business in December 2010 with a major in Business Administration and concentration in corporate finance.

 

Marc L. Holtzman, age 57, will become a member of the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. upon the closing of this Offering. Mr. Holtzman currently serves as a Chairman of The Bank of Kigali, Rwanda’s largest financial institution, and a director of TeleTech (NASDAQ: TTEC), the world’s leading provider of analytics-driven technology-enabled services. Following a successful transformation and sale in July 2017 of Kazkommertsbank (LSE: KKB:LI), Kazakhstan’s largest bank, Mr. Holtzman recently stepped down as Chief Executive Officer, having joined as Chairman in March 2015. He previously served as Chairman of Meridian Capital HK, a Hong Kong private equity firm. From 2012 through 2015, he served on the Board of Directors of FTI Consulting, Inc., (NYSE:FCN) a global financial and strategic consulting firm, and Sistema, Russia’s largest listed private company (London Stock Exchange). Between 2008 and 2012, Mr. Holtzman served as the executive vice chairman of Barclays Capital. From 2006 to 2008, he served as vice chairman of the investment banking division of ABN AMRO Bank. Between 1989 and 1998, Mr. Holtzman lived and worked in Eastern Europe and Russia, as co-founder and president of MeesPierson EurAmerica (a firm acquired by ABN AMRO) and as senior adviser to Salomon Brothers. Mr. Holtzman serves as a director of Sistema JSFC, (LONDON:SSA;GDR), a Russian listed investment company. Between 2003 and 2005, Mr. Holtzman was President of the University of Denver; and between 1999 and 2003 he served in the Cabinet of Governor Bill Owens as Colorado’s First Secretary of Technology. Mr. Holtzman holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Lehigh University. Mr. Holtzman was selected to our Board of Directors because he brings financial experience and possesses particular knowledge and experience in strategic planning and leadership of complex organizations.

 

Squire Junger, age 67, will become a member of the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. upon the closing of this Offering. Mr. Junger is a co-founder and a managing member of Insight Consulting LLC, a management consulting firm based in the Los Angeles area, providing advice in mergers and acquisitions, corporate divestitures, business integration diagnostics, real estate investment, acquisition, development and construction and litigation support services. Prior to co-founding Insight in 2003 he was a partner at Arthur Andersen LLP, which he joined in 1972. Mr. Junger co-developed and managed the west coast Transaction Advisory Services practice at Andersen, providing comprehensive merger and acquisition consulting services to both financial and strategic buyers and sellers. Mr. Junger is a certified public accountant in California, and received Bachelor of Science and M.B.A. degrees from Cornell University. Mr. Junger was selected to our Board of Directors because he brings substantial expertise in financial and strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and leadership of complex organizations.

 

  95  
     

 

Silvia Kessel, age 72, will become a member of the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. upon the closing of this Offering. Ms. Kessel is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Metromedia Company. Metromedia Company is a management and investment company founded by the late John W. Kluge, which manages and invests in a variety of industries, including medical research, restaurants and outdoor visual displays. Ms. Kessel has served in various executive positions at Metromedia Company and affiliated companies since 1984. Ms. Kessel has previously served as a director of LDDS Communications Inc. (and its successor) (1993-1996), Orion Pictures (1993-1997), AboveNet/Metromedia Fiber Network (1997-2001), Big City Radio (1997-2002), and Liquid Audio (1998-2002), and served on the Board of Governors and Competition Committee of Major League Soccer (1996-2001). Ms. Kessel attended the University of Miami and received an MBA in Finance from Columbia University. From 1981 to 1988, Ms. Kessel taught Finance at Pace University. Ms. Kessel was selected to our Board of Directors because she brings substantial expertise in finance, financial and strategic planning, complex transactions and leadership of complex organizations.

 

Jeff Lotman, age 56, will become a member of the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. upon the closing of this Offering. Mr. Lotman is the Chief Executive Officer of Global Icons, LLC, a company which he founded in 1998. Global Icons is a premier brand licensing agency specializing in the development and extension of corporate brands and trademarks. Prior to launching Global Icons, Mr. Lotman was Chief Operating Officer for Keystone Foods, a multi-billion dollar manufacturing company that developed and supplied food products for companies such as McDonald’s and Kraft.  Mr. Lotman guided the international expansion of Keystone Foods and established manufacturing and distribution operations in over a dozen countries. Mr. Lotman has been a featured guest speaker at many leading industry events, including Entertainment Marketing Conference, Young Presidents’ Organization, SPLICE, Licensing Show, Restaurant Industry Conference, LA Roadshow, UCLA and others.  He has also been profiled numerous times, including in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall St. Journal, CNBC, and FOX. He is a distinguished member of the Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) and the Licensing Executives Society (LES). Mr. Lotman received a B.A. degree in Business and Marketing from Curry College. Mr. Lotman was selected to our board of directors because he brings substantial expertise in retail marketing, branding and licensing opportunities for consumer brands,

 

James Neuhauser, age 58, has served on the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. since its formation. Mr. Neuhauser is a Senior Managing Director in the Private Capital Markets Group of Stifel Nicolas & Company. Mr. Neuhauser is also the Managing Member of Turtlerock Capital, LLC, a company that finances and invests in real estate development projects. He previously worked for FBR & Co. for more than 24 years, including positions as Chief Investment Officer, Head of Investment Banking and Head of the Real Estate and Financial Services groups in Investment Banking through October 2016. He also served as Head of FBR’s Commitment Committee and was a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining FBR, Mr. Neuhauser was a Senior Vice President of Trident Financial Corporation for seven years, where he specialized in managing stock offerings for mutual to stock conversions of thrift institutions. Before joining Trident, he worked in commercial banking with the Bank of New England. Mr. Neuhauser is a CFA charter holder and a member of the Society of Financial Analysts. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Mr. Neuhauser was selected to our Board of Directors because he brings substantial expertise in financial and strategic planning, investment banking complex financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and leadership of complex organizations.

 

Edward H. Rensi, age 72, has served on the board of directors of FAT Brands Inc. since its formation and will become Chairman of the Board upon the closing of this Offering. Mr. Rensi is the retired president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s USA. Prior to his retirement in 1997, Mr. Rensi devoted his entire professional career to McDonald’s, joining the company in 1966 as a “grill man” and part-time manager trainee in Columbus, Ohio. He was promoted to restaurant manager within a year, and went on to hold nearly every position in the restaurant and field offices, including franchise service positions in Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C. In 1972, he was named Philadelphia district manager, and later became regional manager and regional vice president. In 1978, he transferred from the field to the company’s home office in Oak Brook, Illinois, as vice president of Operations and Training, where he was responsible for personnel and product development. In 1980, he became executive vice president and chief operations officer, and was appointed senior executive vice president in 1982. Mr. Rensi was promoted to president and chief operating office of McDonald’s USA in 1984. In 1991, he was named chief executive officer. As president and chief executive officer, his responsibilities included overseeing all domestic company-owned and franchisee operations, in addition to providing direction relative to sales, profits, operations and service standards, customer satisfaction, product development, personnel, and training. Mr. Rensi was directly responsible for management of McDonald’s USA, which consisted of eight geographic zones and 40 regional offices. During his 13-year term as president, McDonald’s experienced phenomenal growth. U.S. sales doubled to more than $16 billion, the number of the U.S. restaurants grew from nearly 6,600 to more than 12,000, and the number of U.S. franchisees grew from 1,600 to more than 2,700. Since his retirement, Mr. Rensi has held consulting positions. From January 2014 to July 2015, Mr. Rensi served as director and interim CEO of Famous Dave’s of America, Inc. Mr. Rensi received his B.S. in Business Education from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Rensi was selected to our Board of Directors because of his long career in hospitality, and because he possesses particular knowledge and experience in strategic planning and leadership of complex organizations and hospitality businesses.

 

  96  
     

 

In October 2015, Mr. Rensi filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois. A plan of reorganization was filed on April 11, 2016, and the case remains active. The plan of reorganization provides for distributions to creditors from the liquidation of Mr. Rensi’s real estate holdings and from his social security and pension income.

 

Family Relationships

 

Donald Berchtold is the father-in-law of Andrew Wiederhorn. Andrew Wiederhorn is the father of Thayer Wiederhorn and Taylor Wiederhorn, who are brothers.

 

Certain Legal Proceedings involving Mr. Wiederhorn

 

Mr. Wiederhorn, our President/Chief Executive Officer and director, was formerly the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Wilshire Financial Services Group (“WFSG”), founded in 1987, and its affiliate Wilshire Credit Corporation (“WCC”), founded in 1989. In 1998, WFSG’s primary business was acquiring and syndicating interests in portfolios of loans, many of which were non-performing or underperforming. WCC’s primary business was servicing the portfolios of loans for WFSG subsidiaries and others. In addition, Donald J. Berchtold, President and Chief Operating Officer of our Fatburger subsidiary, previously served as senior vice president of WCC.

 

In 1998, a crisis in the international debt markets severely affected WFSG’s business and created a cash-flow crisis that required WFSG and WCC to renegotiate borrowing relationships with their lenders, including many Wall Street firms and WFSG and WCC’s primary lender Capital Consultants, Inc. (“CCI”), an investment advisor and money-manager for private individuals and union pensions. In addition to their borrower-lender relationship, on occasion WCC and WFSG would acquire underperforming loans from CCI. In connection with the acquisition of one such loan, with a face value of approximately $3,400,000, WCC required that CCI’s principal personally guarantee repayment. In October 1998, during negotiations to modify their borrowing relationship, CCI’s principal demanded that WCC release him from this personal guaranty as a condition to any re-negotiation. Following consultation and approval of outside corporate counsel, who served both WFSG and WCC, WCC acquiesced in this demand.

 

In September 2000, CCI was placed in receivership by the SEC and Department of Labor for improper handling of ERISA funds, finding that CCI’s principal’s mismanagement resulted in significant losses to the private individuals and union pension funds CCI was managing. During the subsequent investigation by federal authorities, it was argued by federal authorities that WCC’s release of the loan guarantee given by CCI’s principal was a violation of 18 USC §1954, a federal ERISA statute that prohibits giving an improper benefit to a pension fund advisor. The government further argued that the advice of legal counsel and other professionals, which WCC received at the time, was not a defense to a violation of the statute, and that it was irrelevant that WCC was unaware that it had violated the statute. Because Mr. Wiederhorn was the CEO of WCC, the government viewed him as responsible for WCC’s violation of the statute and thereafter pursued criminal charges against Mr. Wiederhorn for violation of the statute.

 

In an effort to recover the losses sustained by CCI’s mismanagement of funds, the individuals and union pensions initiated multiple lawsuits against WCC, Mr. Wiederhorn, Mr. Berchtold, and other officers of WCC. These lawsuits asserted allegations against Mr. Wiederhorn, including breach of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), participation in a fiduciary breach under ERISA, knowing participation in a prohibited transaction under ERISA, knowing transfer of assets under ERISA, and other claims. Following a consolidated mediation of the CCI Lawsuits, the claims against most of the defendants and third-party defendants, including Mr. Wiederhorn, were settled for a total of approximately $120,000,000, of which WFSG, WCC, certain of their officers, directors and shareholders, including Mr. Wiederhorn and FCCG, agreed to pay in the aggregate $45,000,000.

 

  97  
     

 

In connection with these matters, in 2004 Mr. Wiederhorn pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return and one count of violating 18 USC §1954 by causing WCC to release the loan guarantee given by CCI’s principal, which was an improper benefit to such person. He served a 14-month sentence in 2004-2005 and paid $2.0 million in fines and restitutions. Also, in November 1998, WFSG underwent a pre-packaged bankruptcy (WCC was merged into WFSG as part of the process), from which it emerged in 1999.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Composition of our Board of Directors following this Offering

 

Our board of directors will consist of seven directors immediately following this Offering. We will amend and restate our certificate of incorporation in connection with the Reorganization Transactions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the size of the board of directors will be fixed from time to time by a majority vote of the board of directors, and the size of our board will be fixed at seven directors immediately following this Offering. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of directors with staggered three-year terms, with each class consisting, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the total number of directors. Our seven member board will be divided into two Class I directors, two Class II directors and three Class III directors, with terms expiring at our annual meeting of stockholders in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

 

Upon consummation of this Offering, FCCG will own more than 50% of the total outstanding voting power of our common stock and we will be a “controlled company” under applicable corporate governance standards of  The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. As a controlled company, we will not be required by NASDAQ for continued listing of our Common Stock to (i) have a majority of independent directors, (ii) maintain compensation and nominating and governance committees composed entirely of independent directors with written charters addressing each committee’s purpose and responsibilities or (iii) conduct annual performance evaluations of the compensation and nominating and governance committees. We do not intend to take advantage of some of these exemptions from the NASDAQ listing requirements, as discussed herein. In the event that we cease to be a controlled company, we will no longer have the option to take advantage of these exemptions, and will be required to comply with these provisions within the transition periods specified in the NASDAQ rules.

 

These exemptions do not modify the independence requirements for our audit committee, and we intend to comply with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the NASDAQ rules with respect to our audit committee within the applicable time frame. See “Audit Committee.”

 

When considering whether directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our Board of Directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the board of directors focuses primarily on each person’s background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors’ individual biographies set forth above. We believe that our directors provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business.

 

Director Independence

 

The board of directors has reviewed the independence of our directors, as well as our director nominees who will join the board of directors upon the closing of the Offering, based on the corporate governance standards of NASDAQ. Based on this review, the board of directors determined that each of Messrs. Holtzman, Junger, Lotman, Neuhauser and Rensi, and Ms. Kessel, is independent within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of NASDAQ. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the relationships that each of these non-employee directors has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock held by each non-employee director. As required under applicable NASDAQ rules, we anticipate that our independent directors will meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.

 

Board Committees

 

Upon consummation of this Offering, our board will have three standing committees—audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance. Each committee will operate under a charter that has been approved by our board of directors. Current copies of each committee’s charter will be posted on our website, www.fatbrands.com. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this Offering Circular or to be part of this Offering Circular.

 

  98  
     

 

Audit Committee

 

The audit committee will be responsible for, among other matters:

 

  appointing, compensating, retaining, evaluating, terminating and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm;
  discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management;
  reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the scope and results of their audit;
  approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm;
  overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that we file with the SEC;
  reviewing and monitoring our accounting principles, accounting policies, financial and accounting controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
  establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting, internal controls or auditing matters.

 

Our audit committee will initially be comprised of Mr. Junger, Ms. Kessel and Mr. Neuhauser, with Mr. Neuhauser serving as the chair. Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and NASDAQ rules require us to have one independent audit committee member upon the listing of our common stock, a majority of independent directors on our audit committee within 90 days of the date of this Offering Circular and an audit committee composed entirely of independent directors within one year of the date of this Offering Circular. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that each member of the audit committee meets the definition of “independent director” for purposes of serving on an audit committee under Rule 10A-3 and NASDAQ rules, and we intend to comply with the other independence requirements within the time periods specified. In addition, our board of directors has determined that each of Ms. Kessel and Mr. Neuhauser qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

 

  reviewing and approving the compensation of our directors, Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers; and
  appointing and overseeing any compensation consultants.

 

Our compensation committee will initially be comprised of Messrs. Holtzman, Neuhauser and Rensi, with Mr. Holtzman serving as the chair.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The nominating and corporate governance committee’s responsibilities include:

 

  identifying individuals qualified to become members of our Board of Directors, consistent with criteria approved by our Board of Directors; and
  developing and recommending to our Board of Directors a set of corporate governance guidelines and principles.

 

Our nominating and corporate governance committee will initially be comprised of Messrs. Mr. Holtzman, Lotman,and Rensi,, with Mr. Rensi serving as the chair.

 

  99  
     

 

Risk Oversight

 

Our board of directors is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our board of directors focuses on our general risk management strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversees the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our board of directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.

 

Risk Considerations in our Compensation Program

 

We conducted an assessment of our compensation policies and practices for our employees and concluded that these policies and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our company.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

 

No member of our compensation committee is or has been a current or former officer or employee of FAT Brands Inc. or its subsidiaries, or had any related person transaction involving FAT Brands Inc. or its subsidiaries. None of our executive officers served as a director or a member of a compensation committee (or other committee serving an equivalent function) of any other entity, one of whose executive officers served as a director or member of FAT Brands Inc.’s compensation committee.

 

Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

 

We have adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. We have posted a current copy of the code on our website, www.fatbrands.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the NASDAQ listing standards concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code.

 

  100  
     

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

References in this section to our “directors” and “named executive officers” refer to the directors and named executive officers of Fat Brands Inc. following consummation of this Offering, and references in this section to our “employees” (other than our named executive officers) refer to the employees of Fat Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries following consummation of this Offering.

 

This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “2016 Summary Compensation Table” below. In fiscal 2016, our “named executive officers” and their positions were as follows: (i) Andrew A. Wiederhorn, Chief Executive Officer; (ii) Ron Roe, Chief Financial Officer; (iii) Donald J. Berchtold, President and Chief Operating Officer, Fatburger Brand; and (iv) Gregg Nettleton, President and Chief Operating Officer, Buffalo’s Brand.

 

2016 Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016.

 

Name and Principal Position   Year     Salary
($)
    All Other Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 
Andrew A. Wiederhorn, Chief Executive Officer     2016     $ 199,165     $ 0     $ 199,165  
Ron Roe, Chief Financial Officer     2016     $ 112,030     $ 0     $ 112,030  
Donald J. Berchtold, President and COO, Fatburger Brand     2016     $ 199,165     $ 0     $ 199,165  
Gregg Nettleton, President and COO, Buffalo’s Brand     2016       0 (1)   $ 0 (1)     0 (1)

 

(1) Mr. Nettleton joined the company in 2017.

 

Since our company was recently formed, the amounts indicated in the table above reflect compensation paid or accrued directly by our operating subsidiaries for these individuals prior to the Reorganization Transactions, and does not include amounts that we reimbursed to FCCG for these services under a cost-sharing arrangement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”. Following the Reorganization Transactions and this Offering, such reimbursement arrangement will terminate and the base salaries payable to our named executive officers will increase to the following amounts, plus a discretionary annual bonus:

  

  ●  Andrew Wiederhorn -- $400,000 plus 15,000 share stock option award;
  Ron Roe -- $300,000 plus 15,000 share stock option award;
  Donald J. Berchtold - $400,000 plus 15,000 share stock option award;
  Gregg Nettleton -- $200,000 plus 15,000 share stock option award

 

Equity-Based Compensation

 

2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted and approved the 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is a comprehensive incentive compensation plan under which we can grant equity-based and other incentive awards to officers, employees and directors of, and consultants and advisers to, FAT Brands and its subsidiaries. The purpose of the Plan is to help us attract, motivate and retain such persons and thereby enhance stockholder value. The Plan allows for management and the Board of Directors to award stock incentives to substantially all employees as a retention incentive and to ensure that employees' compensation incentives are aligned with stock price appreciation. The Plan provides for a maximum of 1,000,000 shares available for grant.

 

Upon consummation of this Offering, we intend to grant stock options or stock appreciation rights for 367,500 shares under the Plan to directors and employees, each with an exercise price equal to the offering price of $12.00 per share and subject to customary vesting conditions.

 

Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Plan Committee”), consisting of persons who will each be (i) “Outside Directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, (ii) “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”), or Non-Employee Directors, and (iii) “independent” for purposes of NASDAQ.

 

Grant of Awards; Shares Available for Awards.

 

The Plan provides for the grant of awards which are incentive stock options (“ISOs”), non-qualified stock options (“NQSOs”), unrestricted shares, restricted shares, restricted stock units, performance stock, performance units, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), tandem stock appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, or any combination of the foregoing, to key management employees, non-employee directors, and non-employee consultants of FAT Brands (each a “participant”) (however, solely FAT Brands employees are eligible for incentive stock option awards). We have reserved a total of 1,000,000 shares for issuance as or under awards to be made under the Plan. To the extent that an award (or portion of an award) lapses, expires, is canceled, is terminated unexercised or ceases to be exercisable for any reason, or the rights of its holder terminate, any shares subject to such award shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate shares which may be issued under the Plan and shall again be available for the grant of a new award. However, shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not be available for future issuance under the Plan, unless unvested shares are forfeited or repurchased by FAT Brands at the lower of their original purchase price or their fair market value at the time of repurchase.

 

The number of shares for which awards which are options or SARs may be granted to a participant under the Plan during any calendar year is limited to 50,000 shares. For purposes of qualifying awards as “performance-based” compensation under Code Section 162(m), the maximum amount of cash compensation that may be paid to any person under the Plan in any single calendar year shall be $2,000,000. Such amount would act as a limit on cash payments made under Performance Unit Awards or Performance Stock Awards, but would not apply to other types of awards, such as Restricted Stock Unit Awards or Options.

 

Stock Options. The term of each stock option shall be as specified in the option agreement; provided, however, that except for stock options which are ISOs, granted to an employee who owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Code Section 424(d)) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of FAT Brands or of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof (both as defined in Section 424 of the Code), within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code (a “ten percent stockholder”), no option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of its grant (five (5) years for an employee who is a ten percent stockholder). The price at which an share may be purchased upon exercise of a stock option shall be determined by the Plan Committee; provided, however, that such option price (i) shall not be less than the fair market value of an share on the date such stock option is granted, and (ii) shall be subject to adjustment as provided in the Plan.

 

Unrestricted Stock Awards. Pursuant to the terms of the applicable unrestricted stock award agreement, an unrestricted stock award is the award or sale of shares to employees, non-employee directors or non-employee consultants, which are not subject to transfer restrictions in consideration for past services rendered to FAT Brands or for other valid consideration.

 

Restricted Stock Awards. A restricted stock award is a grant or sale of shares to the holder, subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Plan Committee or the Board of Directors may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Plan Committee or the Board of Directors may determine at the date of grant or purchase or thereafter.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Awards. A restricted stock unit award provides for a grant of shares or a cash payment to be made to the holder upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual service-related vesting requirements, based on the number of units awarded to the holder. The Plan Committee shall set forth in the applicable restricted stock unit award agreement the individual service-based vesting requirements which the holder would be required to satisfy before the holder would become entitled to payment and the number of units awarded to the holder. At the time of such award, the Plan Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions. The holder of a restricted stock unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the fair market value of a share, or one (1) share, as determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Committee and as set forth in the restricted stock unit award agreement, for each restricted stock unit subject to such restricted stock unit award, if and to the extent the holder satisfies the applicable vesting requirements.

 

  101  
     

 

Performance Stock Awards. A performance stock award provides for the distribution of shares (or cash equal to the fair market value of shares) to the holder upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or FAT Brands goals or objectives. The Plan Committee shall set forth in the applicable performance stock award agreement the performance goals and objectives (and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply) which the holder and/or FAT Brands would be required to satisfy before the holder would become entitled to the receipt of shares (or cash equal to the fair market value of shares) pursuant to such holder’s performance stock award and the number of shares of shares subject to such performance stock award.

 

Performance Unit Awards. A performance unit award provides for a cash payment to be made to the holder upon the satisfaction of predetermined individual and/or FAT Brands (or affiliate) performance goals or objectives based on selected performance criteria, based on the number of units awarded to the holder. The Plan Committee shall set forth in the applicable performance unit award agreement the performance goals and objectives (and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply) which the holder and/or FAT Brands would be required to satisfy before the holder would become entitled to payment, the number of units awarded to the holder and the dollar value assigned to each such unit. At the time of such award, the Plan Committee may, in its sole discretion, prescribe additional terms and conditions or restrictions. The holder of a performance unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the dollar value assigned to such unit under the applicable performance unit award agreement if the holder and/or FAT Brands satisfies (or partially satisfies, if applicable under the applicable performance unit award agreement) the performance goals and objectives set forth in such performance unit award agreement.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights. A SAR provides the participant to whom it is granted the right to receive, upon its exercise, cash or shares equal to the excess of (A) the fair market value of the number of shares subject to the SAR on the date of exercise, over (B) the product of the number of shares subject to the SAR multiplied by the base value for the SAR, as determined by the Plan Committee or the Board of Directors. The Plan Committee shall set forth in the applicable SAR award agreement the terms and conditions of the SAR, including the base value for the SAR (which shall not be less than the fair market value of an share on the date of grant), the number of shares subject to the SAR and the period during which the SAR may be exercised and any other special rules and/or requirements which the Plan Committee imposes on the SAR. No SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of grant. A tandem SAR is a SAR granted in connection with a related option, the exercise of some or all of which results in termination of the entitlement to purchase some or all of the shares under the related option. If the Plan Committee grants a SAR which is intended to be a tandem SAR, the tandem SAR shall be granted at the same time as the related option and additional restrictions apply.

 

Distribution Equivalent Rights. A distribution equivalent right entitles the holder to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments and/or share distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would be made to the holder had the holder held a specified number of shares during the period the holder held the distribution equivalent rights. The Plan Committee shall set forth in the applicable distribution equivalent rights award agreement the terms and conditions, if any, including whether the holder is to receive credits currently in cash, is to have such credits reinvested (at fair market value determined as of the date of reinvestment) in additional shares or is to be entitled to choose among such alternatives.

 

Recapitalization or Reorganization. Subject to certain restrictions, the Plan provides for the adjustment of shares underlying awards previously granted if, and whenever, prior to the expiration or distribution to the holder of shares underlying an award theretofore granted, FAT Brands shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of our shares or the payment of a stock dividend on shares without receipt of consideration by FAT Brands.

 

Amendment and Termination. The Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to its terms, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date on which it is adopted by the Board of Directors (except as to awards outstanding on that date). The Board of Directors may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for which awards have not theretofore been granted; provided, however, that the Plan’s termination shall not materially and adversely impair the rights of a holder with respect to any award theretofore granted without the consent of the holder. The Board of Directors shall have the right to alter or amend the Plan or any part thereof from time to time; provided, however, that without a majority of our stockholders, no amendment or modification of the Plan may (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to holders, (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, materially increase the number of shares subject to the Plan or the individual award agreements, (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation, or (iv) amend, modify or suspend certain re-pricing prohibitions or amendment and termination provisions as specified therein.

 

Employee Benefits and Perquisites

 

All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in various health and welfare plans maintained by FAT Brands Inc., including:

 

  102  
     

 

  medical, dental and vision group insurance programs;
  medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts; and
  short-term and long-term disability group insurance programs.

 

Our named executive officers participate in these plans on the same basis as other eligible employees. We do not maintain any supplemental health and welfare plans for our named executive officers. We believe the benefits described above are necessary and appropriate to provide a competitive compensation package to our named executive officers.

 

No Tax Gross-Ups

 

We do not make gross-up payments to cover our named executive officers’ personal income taxes that may pertain to any of the compensation or perquisites paid or provided by our company.

 

Director Compensation

 

To date, none of our directors received compensation for services as a director. Following the consummation of the Offering, we will pay each non-employee director serving on our Board of Directors $40,000 in annual cash compensation, plus an annual equity award of 15,000 stock options or SAR’s. To the extent that any non-employee director serves on one or more committees of our Board of Directors, we will pay an additional $20,000 in cash compensation annually.

 

The terms of the equity award described above will be set forth in a written award agreement between the applicable non-employee director and us, which will generally provide for vesting after one year of continued service as a director subject to acceleration upon a change of control.

 

The non-employee director compensation policy (including the compensation described above) may be amended, modified or terminated by our Board of Directors at any time in its sole discretion.

 

  103  
     

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

We have engaged in certain transactions with our directors and executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our voting securities and affiliates of our directors, executive officers and holders of more than 5% of our voting securities. The following are summaries of certain provisions of our related party agreements and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such agreements. Because these descriptions are only summaries of the applicable agreements, they do not necessarily contain all of the information that you may find useful. We therefore urge you to review the agreements in their entirety. Copies of the agreements which will remain in effect after the Offering (or forms of such agreements) have been filed as exhibits to this Offering Circular, and are available electronically on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.

 

Related Party Agreements in Effect Prior to this Offering

 

Fatburger and Buffalo’s

 

Prior to joining FAT Brands, Gregg Nettleton, our President and Chief Operating Officer, Buffalo’s Brand, provided consulting services to us. The aggregate amounts paid to Mr. Nettleton during our fiscal year ended December 25, 2016 was $71,156.

 

Prior to the reorganization of our operations under FAT Brands Inc., our operations were structured so that direct and indirect administrative functions were provided to our subsidiaries Fatburger North America Inc. and Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. by FCCG, including operational personnel to sell franchise rights and assist and train franchisees. FCCG also provided executive administration and accounting services for each subsidiary. Our subsidiaries generally reimbursed FCCG for these services under a cost-sharing arrangement. Fatburger North America Inc. reimbursed FCCG for these expenses in the approximate amounts of $317,949 and $432,696 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively, and $1,699,947 and $1,474,404 for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. reimbursed FCCG for these expenses in the approximate amounts of $66,000 and $82,000 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively, and $294,000 and $240,000 for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. These arrangements will terminate upon completion of the Reorganization Transactions.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, Fatburger North America Inc. recognized payables to FCCG in the amount of $204,504 and $171,743, respectively, for use of the FCCG’s net operating losses for tax purposes, and $920,946 and $1,793,283, respectively, during the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. recorded obligations to FCCG in the amount of $56,422 and $80,823 for use of FCCG’s net operating losses for tax purposes, respectively, and $243,673 and $238,491 during the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, Fatburger North America Inc. declared and paid dividends in the amount of $500,000 and none for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, and $1,700,000 and $7,000,000 during the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts Inc. declared and paid dividends in the amount of $100,000 and none for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, and $200,000 and $400,000 during the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

Ponderosa and Bonanza

 

On January 1, 2010, each of Ponderosa Franchising Company and Bonanza Restaurant Company entered into an intercompany services agreement with Homestyle Dining LLC (which we refer to as “HSD”), whereby HSD provided various management and administrative services, including assistance in the marketing, franchise operations and field support, franchise sales, accounting, purchasing and credit and collections. These expenses are charged to Ponderosa and Bonanza based on actual usage or other allocation methods, which approximates actual usage. In the fiscal quarters ending on March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, HSD charged Ponderosa approximately $446,000 and $426,000, respectively, for these various management and administrative services, and charged Bonanza approximately $97,000 and $110,000, respectively

 

  104  
     

 

HSD also has a management agreement with Metromedia Company (“Metromedia”), whereby Metromedia provided management and administrative services at an agreed-upon fixed amount.

 

On October 14, 2009, HSD and certain affiliates, including Ponderosa and Bonanza (collectively, Borrowers) entered into a Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) with Metromedia which provides for two term loans and a revolving line of credit. The revolving line of credit agreement was subsequently amended, to extend the available borrowing limit to the level needed to cover actual and anticipated draws against the revolving line of credit. The interest on these notes accrues and is payable at a rate of 7.5% per annum. The Credit Agreement and all amounts owed will be terminated upon consummation of the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza upon the consummation of this Offering.

 

The Reorganization Transactions

 

In connection with the Reorganization Transactions, we will engage in certain transactions with certain of our directors, executive officers and other persons and entities which are or will become holders of 5% or more of our voting securities upon the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions, including entering into the Tax Sharing Agreement and issuance of the Related Party Debt. These transactions are described in “The Reorganization Transactions.”

 

Tax Sharing Agreement

 

We will enter into a tax sharing agreement with FCCG that will become effective upon consummation of this Offering, which we refer to as the “Tax Sharing Agreement”. The Tax Sharing Agreement will govern the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of FCCG, FAT Brands Inc. and our subsidiaries with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, tax contests and other matters regarding taxes and related tax returns.

 

The Tax Sharing Agreement provides that FCCG will file consolidated federal, California and Oregon (and possibly other jurisdictions where revenue is generated, at FCCG’s election) income tax returns with us and our subsidiaries. We will pay to FCCG the amount that our tax liability would have been had we filed a separate return and not been consolidated with FCCG. To the extent our required payment exceeds our share of the actual consolidated income tax liability (which may occur due to the application of FCCG’s net operating loss carryforwards), we will be permitted to reimburse FCCG in cash or, at the election of a committee of our Board of Directors comprised solely of disinterested directors (directors not affiliated with or interested in FCCG), we may issue to FCCG an equivalent amount of our Common Stock in lieu of cash, valued at the fair market value of our Common Stock at the time of such payment. In addition, our inter-company credit of approximately $11,660,000 due from FCCG will be applied first to reduce such excess income tax payment obligation to FCCG under the Tax Sharing Agreement.

 

Beneficial ownership of at least 80% of the total voting power and value of our capital stock is required in order for FCCG to continue to include us in its consolidated group for federal income tax purposes. It is the present intention of FCCG to continue to file a single consolidated federal income tax return with its eligible subsidiaries.

 

Indemnification Agreements

 

Our bylaws, as will be in effect prior to the closing of this Offering, provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to certain exceptions contained in our bylaws. In addition, our certificate of incorporation, as will be in effect prior to the closing of this Offering, will provide that our directors will not be liable for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty.

 

Prior to the closing of this Offering, we will enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements will provide the executive officers and directors with contractual rights to indemnification, and expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL, subject to certain exceptions contained in those agreements.

 

  105  
     

 

There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers to which indemnification is being sought, and we are not aware of any pending litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director or officer.

 

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

 

Our board of directors recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interests and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof). Prior to the closing of this Offering, our Board of Directors will adopt a written policy on transactions with related persons that is in conformity with the requirements for issuers having publicly-held common stock that is listed on NASDAQ. Under the new policy:

 

  any related person transaction, and any material amendment or modification to a related person transaction, must be reviewed and approved or ratified by a committee of the board of directors composed solely of independent directors who are disinterested or by the disinterested members of the board of directors; and
     
  any employment relationship or transaction involving an executive officer and any related compensation must be approved by the compensation committee of the board of directors or recommended by the compensation committee to the board of directors for its approval.

 

In connection with the review and approval or ratification of a related person transaction:

 

  management must disclose to the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, the name of the related person and the basis on which the person is a related person, the material terms of the related person transaction, including the approximate dollar value of the amount involved in the transaction, and all the material facts as to the related person’s direct or indirect interest in, or relationship to, the related person transaction;
     
  management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction complies with the terms of our agreements governing our material outstanding indebtedness that limit or restrict our ability to enter into a related person transaction;
     
  management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction will be required to be disclosed in our applicable filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and related rules, and, to the extent required to be disclosed, management must ensure that the related person transaction is disclosed in accordance with such Acts and related rules; and
     
  management must advise the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, as to whether the related person transaction constitutes a “personal loan” for purposes of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

In addition, the related person transaction policy provides that the committee or disinterested directors, as applicable, in connection with any approval or ratification of a related person transaction involving a non-employee director or director nominee, should consider whether such transaction would compromise the director or director nominee’s status as an “independent,” “outside,” or “non-employee” director, as applicable, under the rules and regulations of the SEC, NASDAQ and the Code.

 

  106  
     

 

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock after the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions, including this Offering, for:

 

  each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Common Stock;
  each of our directors;
  each of our named executive officers; and
  all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

 

The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder is determined under rules issued by the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Under these rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by an individual or entity and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options, or other rights, including the redemption right described above, held by such person that are currently exercisable or will become exercisable within 60 days of the date of this Offering Circular, are considered outstanding, although these shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is c/o FAT Brands Inc., 9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Beverly Hills, California 90212. Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.

 

    Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Before the Offering     Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After the Offering  
Name of beneficial owner   Number     Percentage     Number     Percentage(3)  
5% Stockholders                                
Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc.     8,000,000       100 %     8,000,000       80 %
Named Executive Officers and Directors                                
Andrew A. Wiederhorn     (1)       (1)        0(1)(2)        (1)  
Ron Roe     0       0 %      0(2)       *  
Donald J. Berchtold     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Gregg Nettleton     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Marc L. Holtzman     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Squire Junger     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Silvia Kessel     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Jeff Lotman     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
James Neuhauser     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
Edward Rensi     0       0 %     0(2)       *  
All directors and executive officers as a group (ten persons)     0       0 %     0(2)       0(1) %

 

 

(1) Mr. Wiederhorn beneficially owns 38.2% of FCCG, and disclaims beneficial ownership of the Company held by FCCG except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in FCCG.  
(2) Upon consummation of this Offering, we expect to issue stock options to each individual for 15,000 shares, with an exercise price equal to the price per share in the Offering and vesting in one year.
(3) Assumes the maximum number of shares are sold in the Offering.

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

 

  107  
     

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following descriptions of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, and our amended and restated bylaws, each of which will be in effect prior to the consummation of this Offering, are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to this Offering Circular. By becoming a stockholder in our company, you will be deemed to have notice of and consented to these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

 

Our current authorized capital stock consists of 100 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of the consummation of this Offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

Upon consummation of this Offering, there will be 10,000,000 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding, assuming that 2,000,000 shares are sold in the Offering.

 

Voting Rights. Holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to cast one vote per share. Holders of our Common Stock will not be entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority (or, in the case of election of directors, by a plurality) of the votes entitled to be cast by all stockholders present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class. Except as otherwise provided by law, amendments to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation must be approved by a majority or, in some cases, a super-majority of the combined voting power of all shares entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.

 

Dividend Rights. Holders of Common Stock will share ratably (based on the number of shares of Common Stock held) if and when any dividend is declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

 

Liquidation Rights. On our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each holder of Common Stock will be entitled to a pro rata distribution of any assets available for distribution to common stockholders.

 

Other Matters. No shares of Common Stock will be subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of Common Stock. Holders of shares of our Common Stock do not have subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. Upon consummation of this Offering, all the outstanding shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our Board of Directors has the authority, without action by the stockholders, to designate and issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the powers, rights, preferences, and privileges of each class or series of preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, which may be greater than the rights of the holders of the common stock. There will be no shares of preferred stock outstanding immediately after this Offering.

 

The purpose of authorizing our Board of Directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our Common Stock by restricting dividends on the Common Stock, diluting the voting power of the Common Stock or subordinating the liquidation rights of the Common Stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Common Stock.

 

  108  
     

 

Exclusive Venue

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as it will be in effect upon the closing of this Offering, will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or the amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine will have to be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.

 

Anti-takeover Effects of Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws and Delaware Law

 

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as they will be in effect upon consummation of this Offering, also contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our Board of Directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.

 

NOL Protective Provisions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions (the “NOL Protective Provisions”) intended to prevent certain future transfers of our capital stock which could adversely affect the ability of FCCG and us to use FCCG’s tax net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) for federal and state income tax purposes and certain income tax credits. The NOL Protective Provisions will generally restrict any person or entity from attempting to transfer (which includes sales, transfers, dispositions, purchases and acquisitions) any shares of our Common Stock (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire our Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into our Common Stock), to the extent that such transfer would (i) create or result in an individual or entity (a “Prohibited Person”) becoming either a “5-percent shareholder” of our Common Stock as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and related Treasury Regulations (“Section 382”), or the beneficial owner (as defined under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of five percent (5%) or more of our Common Stock or (ii) increase the stock ownership percentage of any existing Prohibited Person. The NOL Protective Provisions does not restrict transfers that are sales by a Prohibited Person, although they would restrict any purchasers to the extent that the purchaser is or would become a Prohibited Person. A committee of our board of directors comprised solely of independent directors would have the discretion to approve a transfer of stock that would otherwise violate the NOL Protective Provisions. In deciding whether to grant a waiver, the committee may seek the advice of counsel and tax experts with respect to the preservation of federal and state tax attributes pursuant to Section 382.

 

Authorized but Unissued Shares. The authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of NASDAQ. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or by a qualified stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the directors then in office. Our bylaws will prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. In addition, any stockholder who wishes to bring business before an annual meeting or nominate directors must comply with the advance notice and duration of ownership requirements set forth in our bylaws and provide us with certain information. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control of us or our management.

 

  109  
     

 

The foregoing provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board of Directors and in the policies formulated by our Board of Directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change of control. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal. The provisions also are intended to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and, as a consequence, they also may inhibit fluctuations in the market price of our shares of Common Stock that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. Such provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management or delaying or preventing a transaction that might benefit you or other minority stockholders.

 

In addition, in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we have elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL. Subject to certain exceptions, Section 203 prevents a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the date that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our Board of Directors or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person, and would include FCCG.

 

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Prior to the consummation of this Offering, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except that a director will be personally liable for:

 

  any breach of his duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
  acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
  any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; or
  improper distributions to stockholders.

 

These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.

 

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

 

Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of FAT Brands Inc. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.

 

Stockholders’ Derivative Actions

 

Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law and such suit is brought in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware. See “—Exclusive Venue” above.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock will be VStock Transfer, LLC.

 

NASDAQ Listing

 

We intend to apply to list the shares of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FAT.”

 

  110  
     

 

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

 

Before this Offering, there has not been a public market for shares of our Common Stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of shares of our Common Stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants, in the public market after this Offering, or the possibility of these sales occurring, could cause the prevailing market price for our Common Stock to fall or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

 

After this Offering, we will have outstanding 10,000,000 shares of our Common Stock, assuming that 2,000,000 shares are sold in the Offering and no exercise of outstanding options or warrants. The shares that we are selling in this Offering may be resold in the public market immediately following our initial public offering.

 

The 8,000,000 shares of Common Stock that were not offered and sold in this Offering as well as shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants and subject to employee stock options will be upon issuance, “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. These restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.

 

Rule 144

 

In general, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our Common Stock for at least twelve months, in the event we are a reporting company under Regulation A, or at least six months, in the event we have been a reporting company under the Exchange Act for at least 90 days before the sale, would be entitled to sell such securities, provided that such person is not deemed to be an affiliate of ours at the time of sale or to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the 90 days preceding the sale. A person who is an affiliate of ours at such time would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of the following:

 

  ●  1% of the number of shares of our Common Stock then outstanding; or
    the average weekly trading volume of our Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing by such person of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale;

 

provided that, in each case, we are subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days before the sale. Rule 144 trades must also comply with the manner of sale, notice and other provisions of Rule 144, to the extent applicable.

 

Rule 701

 

In general, Rule 701 allows a stockholder who purchased shares of our capital stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours during the immediately preceding 90 days to sell those shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the public information, holding period, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this Offering Circular before selling shares pursuant to Rule 701.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our officers, directors, and more than 5% stockholders have agreed, or will agree, with the Selling Agent, subject to certain exceptions, that, without the prior written consent of the Selling Agent, we and they will not, directly or indirectly, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Offering Circular.

 

    offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition; or
    enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

This agreement does not apply, in our case, to securities issued pursuant to existing employee benefit plans or securities issued upon exercise of options, and other exceptions, and in the case of our officers, directors and other holders of our securities, exercise of stock options issued pursuant to a stock option or similar plans, and other exceptions.

 

Registration Statement on Form S-8

 

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of Common Stock (i) subject to outstanding stock options granted in connection with this Offering, and (ii) issued or issuable under our stock plans. We expect to file the registration statement covering shares offered pursuant to our stock plans shortly after the date of this Offering Circular, permitting the resale of such shares by nonaffiliates in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act and the sale by affiliates in the public market subject to compliance with the resale provisions of Rule 144.

 

  111  
     

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Engagement Agreement with the Selling Agent

 

We are party to an engagement agreement with the Selling Agent. The term of the engagement agreement began on July 24, 2017 and will continue until June 30, 2018, unless one of the following events occurs prior to June 30, 2018, in which case the engagement agreement would be terminated early:

 

(i) we or the Selling Agent terminate the agreement for any reason;
   
(ii) we execute a definitive selling agency agreement with the Selling Agent; or
   
(iii) we decide not to proceed with the Offering or withdraw any offering statement submitted to or filed with the SEC.

 

Compensation for Advisory Services. As part of the engagement agreement, the Selling Agent agreed to provide us with advice with regard to (i) our business, (ii) entering the U.S. capital markets, (iii) the contemplated marketing and development of the Company as a public company and (iv) our ongoing compliance obligations as a public company. As compensation for these advisory services, we agreed to pay the Selling Agent $10,000 per month commencing upon the Company’s stock becoming publicly traded and continuing for a period of 6 months thereafter. The Company also agreed to pay a non-accountable $30,000 due diligence fee with $15,000 due upon signing the engagement agreement and $15,000 upon closing of the offering.

 

Offering Expenses. We are responsible for all Offering fees and expenses, including the following: (i) fees and disbursements of our legal counsel, accountants, and other professionals we engage; (ii) fees and expenses incurred in the production of Offering documents, including design, printing, photograph, and written material procurement costs; (iii) all filing fees, including those charged by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”); (iv) all of the legal fees related to FINRA clearance; and (v) our transportation, accommodation, and other roadshow expenses (which will be pre-approved by the Company). We have agreed to reimburse the Selling Agent for its reasonable and documented legal costs (the Company must pre-approve any expenses in excess of $1,000) up to a maximum of $55,000.

 

Reimbursable Expenses in the Event of Termination. In the event the Offering does not close or the engagement agreement is terminated for any reason, we have agreed to reimburse the Selling Agent for all unreimbursed, reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket fees, expenses, and disbursements, including the Selling Agent’s legal fees, up to $15,000.

 

Selling Agent Fee. We have agreed that the definitive selling agency agreement will provide for us to pay a fee of 7.5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company in the Offering, which shall be allocated by the Selling Agent to members of the selling group and soliciting dealers in its sole discretion provided however, that the fee shall be reduced to 4% for any proceeds received from sales/orders placed through the Selling Agent’s affiliated online platform known as BANQ by investors the Company directly introduces to the Selling Agent through its marketing campaign or from existing security holders of the Company.

 

Selling Agent’s Warrants

 

Upon each closing of this Offering, we have agreed to issue certain warrants (the “Selling Agent’s Warrants”) to the Selling Agent to purchase a number of shares of the Common Stock equal to 5.0% of the total shares of the Common Stock sold in such closing. The Selling Agent’s Warrants are exercisable commencing six months after the date of the applicable closing, and will be exercisable for five years after such date. The exercise price for the Selling Agent’s Warrants will be the amount that is 10% greater than the public offering price, or $13.20 per share. The Selling Agent’s Warrants provide that upon exercise, the Company may elect to redeem the Warrants in cash by paying the difference between the applicable exercise price and the then-current fair market value of the Common Stock.

 

  112  
     

 

The Selling Agent’s Warrants and the Common Stock underlying the Selling Agent’s Warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180-day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. The Selling Agent, or permitted assignees under such rule, may not exercise, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate the Selling Agent’s Warrants or the Common Stock underlying the Selling Agent’s Warrants, nor will the Selling Agent or permitted assignees engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Selling Agent’s Warrants or the underlying shares for a period of 180 days from the applicable closing, except that they may be transferred, in whole or in part, by operation of law or by reason of our reorganization, or to any Selling Agent or selected dealer participating in the Offering and their officers or partners if the Selling Agent’s Warrants or the underlying shares so transferred remain subject to the foregoing lock-up restrictions for the remainder of the time period. The Selling Agent’s Warrants will provide for adjustment in the number and price of the Selling Agent’s Warrants and the shares underlying such Selling Agent’s Warrants in the event of recapitalization, merger, stock split, or other structural transaction, or a future financing undertaken by us.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We and our officers, directors, and more than 5% holders of our Common Stock as of the qualification of the Offering Statement and investors in our recent private placement have agreed, or will agree, with the Selling Agent, subject to certain exceptions, that, without the prior written consent of the Selling Agent, we and they will not, directly or indirectly, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the final closing of the Offering:

 

  offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for the Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition; or
     
  enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of the Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

This agreement does not apply, in our case, to securities issued pursuant to existing employee benefit plans or securities issued upon exercise of options, and other exceptions, and in the case of our officers, directors and other holders of our securities, exercise of stock options issued pursuant to a stock option or similar plans, and other exceptions.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We will apply to the Nasdaq Capital Market to list shares of our Common Stock under the symbol “FAT.” In order to meet one of the requirements for listing our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Selling Agent intends to sell lots of 100 or more shares to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders. Our Common Stock will not commence trading on NASDAQ until each of the following conditions are met: (i) the Offering is terminated; and (ii) we have filed a post-qualification amendment to the Offering Statement and a registration statement on Form 8-A; and such post-qualification amendment is qualified by the SEC and the Form 8-A has become effective. Pursuant to applicable rules under Regulation A, the Form 8-A will not become effective until the SEC qualifies the post-qualification amendment. We intend to file the post-qualification amendment and request its qualification immediately prior to the termination of the Offering in order that the Form 8-A may become effective as soon as practicable. Even if we meet the minimum requirements for listing on NASDAQ, we may wait before terminating the Offering and commencing the trading of our Common Stock on NASDAQ in order to raise additional proceeds. As a result, you may experience a delay between the closing of your purchase of shares of our Common Stock and the commencement of exchange trading of our Common Stock on NASDAQ.

 

Pricing of the Offering

 

Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for our shares of Common Stock. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiation between us and the Selling Agent. The principal factors considered in determining the initial public offering price include:

 

  113  
     

 

  the information set forth in this Offering Circular and otherwise available to the Selling Agent;
  our history and prospects and the history of and prospects for the industry in which we compete;
  our past and present financial performance;
  our prospects for future earnings and the present state of our development;
  the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this Offering;
  the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; and
  other factors deemed relevant by the Selling Agent and us.

 

Indemnification and Control

 

We have agreed to indemnify the Selling Agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we will contribute to the payments the Selling Agent and its affiliates and controlling persons may be required to make in respect of these liabilities.

 

The Selling Agent and its affiliates are engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The Selling Agent and its affiliates may in the future perform various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

 

Our Relationship with the Selling Agent

 

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the Selling Agent and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the issuer. The Selling Agent and its affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

Investment Limitations if We Do Not Obtain a Listing on a National Securities Exchange

 

As set forth in Title IV of the JOBS Act, there are no limits on how many shares an investor may purchase if the Offering results in a listing of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other national securities exchange. The following would apply only if we are unable to obtain a listing on a national securities exchange and we seek for our Common Stock to trade on a platform of the OTC Markets.

 

Generally, in the case of trading on the over-the-counter markets, no sale may be made to you in this Offering if the aggregate purchase price you pay is more than 10% of the greater of your annual income or net worth (please see under “How to calculate your net worth”). Different rules apply to accredited investors and non-natural persons. Before making any representation that your investment does not exceed applicable thresholds, we encourage you to review Rule 251(d)(2)(i)(C) of Regulation A. For general information on investing, we encourage you to refer to www.investor.gov.

 

Because this is a Tier 2, Regulation A offering, most investors in the case of trading on the over-the-counter markets must comply with the 10% limitation on investment in the Offering. The only investor in this Offering exempt from this limitation is an “accredited investor” as defined under Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act (an “Accredited Investor”). If you meet one of the following tests you should qualify as an Accredited Investor:

 

(i) You are a natural person who has had individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with your spouse in excess of $300,000 in each of these years, and have a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year;

 

  114  
     

 

(ii) You are a natural person and your individual net worth, or joint net worth with your spouse, exceeds $1,000,000 at the time you purchase Shares (please see below under “How to calculate your net worth”);

 

(iii) You are an executive officer or general partner of the issuer or a manager or executive officer of the general partner of the issuer;

 

(iv) You are an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, a corporation, a Massachusetts or similar business trust or a partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the shares in this Offering, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000;

 

(v) You are a bank or a savings and loan association or other institution as defined in the Securities Act, a broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act, an insurance company as defined by the Securities Act, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”), or a business development company as defined in that act, any Small Business Investment Company licensed by the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 or a private business development company as defined in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;

 

(vi) You are an entity (including an Individual Retirement Account trust) in which each equity owner is an accredited investor;

 

(vii) You are a trust with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, your purchase of Shares is directed by a person who either alone or with his purchaser representative(s) (as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment, and you were not formed for the specific purpose of investing in the shares in this Offering; or

 

(viii) You are a plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has assets in excess of $5,000,000.

 

Offering Period and Expiration Date

 

This Offering will start on or after the date that the Offering is qualified by the SEC and will terminate on the Termination Date.

 

Procedures for Subscribing

 

U.S. investors may participate in this Offering by opening an account with BANQ, an online brokerage division of TriPoint, the Selling Agent. The BANQ website may be found at Banq.co. BANQ is open to qualified U.S. investors and accepts individual, joint, corporate or IRA accounts. The application process takes approximately 5 minutes and there are no account minimums. Deposits to BANQ can be made via wire transfer or ACH deposit or by mailing in a check. Deposits usually post to an account within 3-5 days. BANQ® is a division of the Selling Agent, a member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”), which protects the securities of its members’ customers up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for claims for cash). TriPoint and BANQ do not charge a fee for opening an account or for depositing shares purchased in the Offering into such account.

 

Investors investing through BANQ will be required to open their accounts and deposit funds into their respective BANQ accounts after the qualification of this Offering Statement relating to this Offering but prior to the applicable closing of this Offering in which such investor is participating; in all events, no funds may be used to purchase securities issued in this Offering until the Offering Statement relating to this Offering and filed by the Company with the SEC has been qualified by the SEC. After an account is opened but before 48 hours prior to the applicable closing of the Offering, the investor will be required to deposit funds into the account sufficient to purchase the amount of securities that the investor intends to purchase in this Offering. Such funds will not be held in an escrow account or otherwise segregated as part of the Offering process. During the marketing period for the Offering and after the Offering Statement has been qualified, the investor will provide an indication of interest as to the amount of securities the investor intends to purchase. Forty-eight (48) hours prior to the completion of a closing in this Offering, each investor that has money deposited with BANQ for this Offering will be asked by BANQ via e-mail and notification to the secure messages section of the website for the BANQ online brokerage account to confirm and finalize the indication of the amount of securities such investor wishes to purchase. Indications will not be finalized without sufficient funds in the investor’s BANQ online brokerage account. Upon the applicable closing, the funds required to purchase that amount of securities will be removed from such investor’s account and transferred to the account of the Company, and the amount of securities purchased will be deposited into such investor’s account. If an investor fails to confirm such investor’s desired investment within the required time, no funds will be withdrawn, no securities will be provided and the investor’s indication will not be confirmed. In addition, if this Offering fails to close, no funds will be withdrawn, no securities will be provided, the investor’s indication will not be confirmed and the funds in the investor’s BANQ account will remain available for withdrawal, in accordance with the investor’s account agreement with BANQ.

 

  115  
     

 

U.S. investors who participate in this Offering other than through BANQ, including through selected dealers who do not maintain clearing agreements, will be required to deposit their funds in an escrow account held at Wilmington Trust, N.A.; any such funds that Wilmington Trust receives shall be held in escrow until the applicable closing of the Offering or such other time as mutually agreed between the Company and the Selling Agent, and then used to complete securities purchases, or returned if this Offering fails to close.

 

Selected Dealers with clearing agreements shall provide the Selling Agent with executed indications and delivery sheets from their customers and shall settle the transaction with the Selling Agent thru DTC on closing. In the event that the Company does not qualify or list on NASDAQ, Selected Dealers who are unable to participate in an over the counter security may withdraw their subscriptions prior to closing.

 

Non-U.S. investors may participate in this Offering by depositing their funds in the escrow account held at Wilmington Trust, N.A.; any such funds that Wilmington Trust receives shall be held in escrow until the applicable closing of the Offering or such other time as mutually agreed between the Company and the Selling Agent, and then used to complete securities purchases, or returned if this Offering fails to close.

 

Right to Reject Subscriptions. After we receive your complete, executed subscription agreement (forms of which are attached to the Offering Statement as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2) and the funds required under the subscription agreement have been transferred to the escrow account or remain in your BANQ account, we have the right to review and accept or reject your subscription in whole or in part, for any reason or for no reason. We will return all monies from rejected subscriptions immediately to you, without interest or deduction.

 

Acceptance of Subscriptions. Upon our acceptance of a subscription agreement, we will countersign the subscription agreement and issue the shares subscribed at closing. Once you submit the subscription agreement and it is accepted, you may not revoke or change your subscription or request your subscription funds. All accepted subscription agreements are irrevocable.

 

Under Rule 251 of Regulation A, if our Common Stock will not trade on a national securities exchange, non-accredited, non-natural investors are subject to the investment limitation and may only invest funds which do not exceed 10% of the greater of the purchaser’s revenue or net assets (as of the purchaser’s most recent fiscal year end). If our Common Stock will not trade on a national securities exchange, a non-accredited, natural person may only invest funds which do not exceed 10% of the greater of the purchaser’s annual income or net worth (please see below on how to calculate your net worth).

 

How to Calculate Net Worth: For the purposes of calculating your net worth, it is defined as the difference between total assets and total liabilities. This calculation must exclude the value of your primary residence and may exclude any indebtedness secured by your primary residence (up to an amount equal to the value of your primary residence). In the case of fiduciary accounts, net worth and/or income suitability requirements may be satisfied by the beneficiary of the account or by the fiduciary, if the fiduciary directly or indirectly provides funds for the purchase of the shares in this Offering.

 

  116  
     

 

In order to purchase the shares in this Offering and prior to the acceptance of any funds from an investor, an investor will be required to represent, to the Company’s satisfaction, that he is either an accredited investor or is in compliance with the 10% of net worth or annual income limitation on investment in this Offering.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed upon by Loeb & Loeb LLP, Los Angeles, California. Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC, New York, New York is acting as counsel to the Selling Agent.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a Regulation A Offering Statement on Form 1-A under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This Offering Circular, which constitutes a part of the Offering Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the Offering Statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information about us and the Common Stock offered hereby, we refer you to the Offering Statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this Offering Circular regarding the contents of any contract or other document that is filed as an exhibit to the Offering Statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Offering Statement. Upon the consummation of this Offering, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of this site is www.sec.gov.

 

  117  
     

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

FAT Brands Inc.  
   
Audited Balance Sheet as of March 21, 2017  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-1
Balance Sheet as of March 21, 2017 F-2
Notes to Financial Statements F-3
   
Fatburger North America, Inc.  
   
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements  
Balance Sheets as of March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016 F-4
Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 F-6
Notes to Financial Statements F-7
   
Audited Financial Statements  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-13
Balance Sheets as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-14
Statements of Income for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-15
Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-16
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-17
Notes to Financial Statements F-18
   
Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary  
   
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016 F-24
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 F-25
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 F-26
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-27
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements  
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-33
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-34
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-35
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-36
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 F-37
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-38
   
Ponderosa Franchising Company  
   
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements  
Balance Sheets as of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016 F-44
Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016 F-45
Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016 F-47
Notes to Financial Statements F-48
   
Audited Financial Statements  
Independent Auditor’s Report F-51
Balance Sheets as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-52
Statements of Income for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-53
Statements of Partners’ Capital for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-54
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-55
Notes to Financial Statements F-56
   
Bonanza Restaurant Company  
   
Unaudited Interim Financial Statements  
Balance Sheets as of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016 F-60
Statements of Income for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016 F-61
Statements of Cash Flows for the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016 F-63
Notes to Financial Statements F-64
   
Audited Financial Statements  
Independent Auditor’s Report F-68
Balance Sheets as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-69
Statements of Income for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-70
Statements of Partners’ Capital for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-71
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015 F-72
Notes to Financial Statements F-73

 

  118  
     

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To The Board of Directors and Stockholders of FAT Brands Inc.

Beverly Hills, California

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of FAT Brands Inc. (the Company) as of March 21, 2017. The balance sheet is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the balance sheet based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statement is free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to performs, an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the balance sheet referred to above presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FAT Brands Inc. at March 21, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP

 

Glendale, California

May 5, 2017

 

  F-1  
 

 

FAT BRANDS INC.

 

Balance Sheet

March 21, 2017

 

ASSETS   $ -  
         
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY        
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share,
100 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding
    -  
         
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ -  

 

  F-2  
 

 

FAT BRANDS INC.

 

Notes to Balance Sheet

March 21, 2017

 

NOTE 1.   ORGANIZATION
     
    FAT Brands Inc. (the Corporation) was formed as a Delaware corporation on March 21, 2017. The Corporation was formed for the purpose of completing a public offering and related transaction, and to acquire and continue certain businesses currently conducted as subsidiaries of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc.
     
NOTE 2.   SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
     
    Basis of Accounting: The Balance Sheet is presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Separate statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows have not been presented in the financial statements because there have been no activities in this entity.
     
NOTE 3.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
     
    The Corporation is authorized to issue 100 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, none of which have been issued or are outstanding.

 

  F-3  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Balance Sheets

March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016

 

 

 

    March 26, 2017     December 25, 2016  
      (unaudited)       (audited)  
Assets                
Current assets                
Cash   $ -     $ -  
Accounts receivable     519,054       408,655  
Other current assets     8,358       8,358  
Advertising expenditures in excess of collections     -       151,000  
Deferred income taxes     1,297,000       1,594,866  
Total current assets     1,824,412       2,162,879  
                 
Due from affiliates     9,374,259       9,361,741  
                 
Trademarks     2,134,800       2,134,800  
                 
Goodwill     529,400       529,400  
Total assets   $ 13,862,871     $ 14,188,820  
                 
Liabilities and STOCKholder’s Equity                
Current liabilities                
Deferred income   $ 1,269,060     $ 1,339,080  
Accounts payable     1,125,948       1,070,553  
Accrued expenses     1,180,320       1,137,528  
                 
Total current liabilities     3,575,328       3,547,161  
                 
Deferred income – noncurrent     2,073,833       2,814,688  
                 
Total liabilities     5,649,161       6,361,849  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)                
                 
Stockholder’s equity                
Common stock, $.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding     10       10  
Additional paid in capital     3,500,000       3,500,000  
Retained earnings     4,713,700       4,326,961  
                 
Total stockholder’s equity     8,213,710       7,826,971  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity   $ 13,862,871     $ 14,188,820  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-4  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Statements of Income

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

 

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Revenues                
Royalties   $ 1,153,467     $ 1,209,551  
Franchise fees     795,016       775,000  
Management fees     15,000       29,388  
                 
Total revenues     1,963,483       2,013,939  
                 
Expenses                
General and administrative     580,213       753,561  
                 
Total expenses     580,213       753,561  
                 
Income before income tax expense     1,383,270       1,260,378  
Income tax expense     496,531       496,264  
                 
Net income   $ 886,739     $ 764,114  
                 
Net income per common share - Basic   $ 886.74     $ 764.11  
                 
Shares used in computing net income per common share     1,000       1,000  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-5  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Statements of Cash Flows

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

 

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net income   $ 886,739     $ 764,114  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Deferred income taxes     297,866       298,617  
Provision for bad debt expense     25,428       -  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (135,827 )     (106,237 )
Advertising expenditures in excess of collections     215,815       76,528  
Accounts payable     55,395       97,361  
Accrued expenses     (22,023 )     110,920  
Deferred income     (810,875 )     (782,466 )
                 
Total adjustments     (374,221 )     (369,408 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities     512,518       394,706  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities                
Dividends paid     (500,000 )     -  
Change in due from affiliates     (12,518 )     (605,578 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities     (512,518 )     (605,483 )
                 
Net decrease in cash     -       (210,872 )
Cash, beginning of quarter     -       210,873  
Cash, end of quarter   $ -     $ -  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of cash flow Information                
Cash paid for income taxes   $ -     $ 19,936  
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash INVESTINg and Financing Activities                
Income tax payable offset against amounts due from affiliates   $ 204,504     $ 171,743  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-6  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Notes to Financial Statements

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

(unaudited)

 

Note 1. Nature of Business

 

Fatburger North America, Inc. (the Company), a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 28, 1990 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (the Parent). Prior to its transfer to the Parent on March 24, 2011, the Company was owned by Fatburger Holdings, Inc. (Holdings) as the result of a stock purchase transaction on August 2001.

 

The Company franchises and licenses the right to use the Fatburger name, operating procedures and method of merchandising to franchisees. Upon signing a franchise agreement, the Company is committed to provide training, some supervision and assistance, and access to Operations Manuals. As needed, the Company will also provide advice and written materials concerning techniques of managing and operating the restaurants. The franchises are operated under the name “Fatburger.” Each franchise agreement term is typically for 15 years with two additional 10-year options available. Additionally, the Company conducts a multi-market advertising campaign to enhance the corporate name and image, which is funded through advertising revenues received from its franchisees and to a lesser extent, other restaurant locations owned and operated by subsidiaries of the Parent.

 

As of March 26, 2017, there were 162 franchise restaurant locations operated by third parties in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Canada, China, UAE, the UK, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Qatar and Tunisia (the Franchisees).

 

Note 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

 

The information provided in this report reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal, recurring items) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year.

 

The accompanying balance sheet as of December 25, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date included elsewhere herein.

 

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consist primarily of royalty and advertising fees from franchisees reduced by reserves for the estimated amount deemed uncollectible due to bad debts.

 

Credit and Depository Risks: Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable. The Company’s customer base consists of franchisees located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Canada, China, UAE, the UK, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Qatar and Tunisia. Management reviews each of its customer’s financial conditions prior to signing a franchise agreement and believes that it has adequately provided for any exposure to potential credit losses.

 

  F-7  
 

 

The Company maintains cash deposits in national financial institutions. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes its cash balances are not exposed to significant risk of loss.

 

Compensated Absences: Employees of the Parent who provide reimbursed services to the Company earn vested rights to compensation for unused vacation time. Accordingly, the Company accrues the amount of vacation compensation that employees have earned but not yet taken at the end of each fiscal year.

 

Revenue Recognition: Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in situations involving store transfers. Deposits are nonrefundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income – current and noncurrent based upon the expected franchise restaurant openings dates. The Company acknowledges that some of its franchisees have not complied with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, six franchise locations were opened and five were closed or otherwise left the franchise system. Of the new franchise locations, two were in California and one each in China, Canada, Qatar, and the UK. Of the closed locations, one each were closed in Washington, Hawaii, Indonesia, UAE, and Oman.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, one franchise location was opened and one was closed or otherwise left the franchise system. The new franchise location was in California. The closed franchise location was also in California.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the Company collects a royalty of 3% to 6% of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue as the related sales are made by the franchisees. Royalties collected in advance are classified as deferred income until earned.

 

Advertising: The Company requires advertising payments of 1.95% of net sales from Fatburger restaurants located in the Los Angeles marketing area and up to 0.95% of net sales from stores located outside of the Los Angeles marketing area. International locations pay 0.20% to 0.95%. The Company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since advertising funds collected are required to be spent for specific advertising purposes, no revenue or expense is recorded for advertising funds. Cumulative collections in excess of advertising expenditures are recorded as accrued expenses and represent advertising funds collected which have not yet been spent on advertising activities.

 

Cumulative advertising expenditures in excess of collections are recorded as current assets and will be reimbursed by future advertising payments from franchises and other Fatburger affiliates.

 

  F-8  
 

 

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. The asset and liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are classified as current or noncurrent, depending on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which they relate.

 

Income Per Common Share: Income per share data was computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each year.

 

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Joint and Several Liabilities: Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Company agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Company expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 6 for further detail. The Company has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects adoption of this guidance will have on its financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments are effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-17 on its financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual period beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

Segment information: The Company has international and domestic licensed operations. Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is our Chief Executive Officer; our CODM reviews financial performance and allocates resources at an overall level on a recurring basis. Therefore, Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment and one reportable segment.

 

  F-9  
 

 

Note 3. DEFERRED INCOME

 

Deferred income is as follows:

 

    March 26, 2017     December 25, 2016  
Deferred franchise fees   $ 2,500,333     $ 3,214,016  
Deferred royalties     842,560       939,752  
                 
Total   $ 3,342,893     $ 4,153,768  
                 
Deferred income – current   $ 1,269,060     $ 1,339,080  
Deferred income – noncurrent     2,073,833       2,814,688  
                 
Total   $ 3,342,893     $ 4,153,768  

 

Note 4. Income Taxes

 

The Company files its Federal and most state income tax returns on a consolidated basis with the Parent. For financial reporting purposes, the Company has recorded a tax provision calculated as if the Company files all of its tax returns on a stand-alone basis. The taxes payable to the Parent determined by this calculation of $204,504 and $171,743 were offset against amounts due from affiliates as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively (see Note 5). As of March 26, 2017, the Parent has estimated aggregate federal net operating loss carryforwards of $71,338,448 available to offset future federal taxable income generated by the Company. These carryforwards begin to expire in 2018.

 

Deferred taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for calculating taxes payable on a stand-alone basis. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows:

 

    March 26, 2017     December 25, 2016  
Current deferred tax assets                
Deferred franchise fees   $ 881,202     $ 1,132,728  
Deferred royalties     296,947       331,200  
Allowances     108,010       99,048  
Accruals and other     8,312       20,280  
State tax accrual     2,529       11,610  
Total   $ 1,297,000     $ 1,594,866  

 

Components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows:

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
Current                
Federal   $ 204,504     $ 171,743  
State     7,437       5,968  
Foreign     (13,276 )     19,936  
      198,665       197,647  
Deferred                
Federal     276,133       286,714  
State     21,733       11,903  
      297,866       298,617  
Total income tax provision   $ 496,531     $ 496,264  

 

  F-10  
 

 

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
Statutory rate     34 %     35 %
State and local income taxes     1       3  
Foreign withholding taxes     -       1  
Effective tax rate     35 %     39 %

 

As of March 26, 2017, the Company’s annual tax filings for the prior three years are open for audit by Federal and for the prior four years for state tax agencies. Management evaluated the Company’s overall tax positions and has determined that no provision for uncertain income tax positions is necessary as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016.

 

Note 5. Related Party Transactions

 

The Company had open accounts with affiliated entities under the common control of the Parent resulting in net amounts due to the Company of $9,374,259 and $9,361,741 as of March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016, respectively.

 

Effective in 2012, the Parent’s operations were structured in such a way that significant direct and indirect administrative functions were provided to the Company. These services include operational personnel to sell franchise rights, assist with training franchisees and assisting franchises with opening restaurants. The Parent also provides executive administration and accounting services for the Company.

 

The Company reimbursed the Parent for these expenses in the approximate amounts of $317,949 and $432,696 for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. Management reviewed the expenses recorded at the Parent and identified the common expenses that shall be allocated to the subsidiaries. These expenses were allocated based on an estimate of management’s time spent on the activities of the Parent and its subsidiaries, and further allocated among the subsidiaries pro rata based on each subsidiary’s respective revenues as a percentage of overall revenues of the subsidiaries. The Company believes that the allocation of expenses is not materially different from what it would have been if the Company was a stand-alone entity.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, the Company recognized payables to the Parent in the amount of $204,504 and $171,743, respectively, for use of the Parent’s net operating losses for tax purposes.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 the Company declared and paid dividends in the amount of $500,000 and none for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

Note 6. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

Periodically, the Company is involved in litigation in the normal course of business. The Company believes that the result of any potential litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

On June 1, 2010, the Company and certain of its affiliates became subject to a judgment payable to GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation (GEFFC) for approximately $4,300,000. On October 11, 2011, GEFFC agreed to accept payments in full satisfaction of the obligation totaling approximately $2,600,000 plus interest at 5%. Subsequently, the Parent made payments totaling approximately $2,000,000, plus interest to GEFFC. As of March 26, 2017, the balance remaining to be paid on the discounted judgment was approximately $580,000. No proceeds were received by the Company, however the Company is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower.

 

  F-11  
 

 

Note 7. geographic information AND MAJOR FRANCHISEES

 

Revenues by geographic area are as follows:

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
United States   $ 851,722     $ 928,043  
Other countries     1,111,761       1,085,896  
Total revenue   $ 1,963,483     $ 2,013,939  

 

Revenues are shown based on the geographic location of our licensees. All of our assets are located in the United States.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, two franchisees each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $362,328 and $220,643. During the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, one franchisee accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $452,520.

 

  F-12  
 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To The Board of Directors and Stockholder

Fatburger North America, Inc.

Beverly Hills, California

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Fatburger North America, Inc. (Company) as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and the related statements of income, stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Fatburger North America, Inc. as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP

 

Glendale, California

May 5, 2017

 

  F-13  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Balance Sheets

December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

    2016     2015  
Assets                
Current assets                
Cash   $ -     $ 210,872  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $281,041 and $128,041 for 2016 and 2015, respectively     408,655       350,346  
Other current assets     8,358       8,358  
Advertising expenditures in excess of collections     151,000       746,187  
Deferred income taxes     1,594,866       2,588,408  
Total current assets     2,162,879       3,904,171  
                 
Due from affiliates     9,361,741       8,637,095  
                 
Trademarks     2,134,800       2,134,800  
                 
Goodwill     529,400       529,400  
Total assets   $ 14,188,820     $ 15,205,466  
                 
Liabilities and STOCKholder’s Equity                
Current liabilities                
Deferred income   $ 1,339,080     $ 1,584,402  
Accounts payable     1,070,553       1,034,485  
Accrued expenses     1,137,528       1,098,180  
                 
Total current liabilities     3,547,161       3,717,067  
                 
Deferred income – noncurrent     2,814,688       5,507,500  
                 
Total liabilities     6,361,849       9,224,567  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)                
                 
Stockholder’s equity                
Common stock, $.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding     10       10  
Additional paid in capital     3,500,000       3,500,000  
Retained earnings     4,326,961       2,480,889  
                 
Total stockholder’s equity     7,826,971       5,980,899  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity   $ 14,188,820     $ 15,205,466  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-14  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Statements of Income

Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

    2016     2015  
Revenues                
Royalties   $ 4,632,243     $ 5,143,702  
Franchise fees     3,750,374       2,305,950  
Management fees     74,388       82,851  
                 
Total revenues     8,457,005       7,532,503  
                 
Expenses                
General and administrative     2,932,326       2,589,604  
                 
Total expenses     2,932,326       2,589,604  
                 
Income before income tax expense     5,524,679       4,942,899  
Income tax expense     1,978,607       2,282,692  
                 
Net income   $ 3,546,072     $ 2,660,207  
                 
Net income per common share - Basic   $ 3,546.08     $ 2,660.21  
                 
Shares used in computing net income per common share     1,000       1,000  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-15  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Statements of Stockholder’s Equity

Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

          Additional              
    Common Stock     Paid In     Retained        
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Total  
                               
Balance at December 28, 2014     1,000     $ 10     $ 3,500,000     $ 6,820,682     $ 10,320,692  
                                         
Net income     -       -       -       2,660,207       2,660,207  
                                         
Dividends paid     -       -       -       (7,000,000 )     (7,000,000 )
                                         
Balance at December 27, 2015     1,000       10       3,500,000       2,480,889       5,980,899  
                                         
Net income     -       -       -       3,546,072       3,546,072  
                                         
Dividends paid     -       -       -       (1,700,000 )     (1,700,000 )
                                         
Balance at December 25, 2016     1,000     $ 10     $ 3,500,000     $ 4,326,961     $ 7,826,971  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-16  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

    2016     2015  
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net income   $ 3,546,072     $ 2,660,207  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Deferred income taxes     993,542       299,561  
Provision for bad debt expense     153,000       135,394  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (211,309 )     (53,602 )
Advertising expenditures in excess of collections     595,187       372,610  
Accounts payable     36,068       238,849  
Accrued expenses     39,348       181,237  
Deferred income     (2,938,134 )     245,642  
                 
Total adjustments     (1,332,298 )     1,419,691  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities     2,213,774       4,079,898  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities                
Dividends paid     (1,700,000 )     (7,000,000 )
Change in due from affiliates     (724,646 )     3,130,974  
                 
Net cash used in financing activities     (2,424,646 )     (3,869,026 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash     (210,872 )     210,872  
Cash, beginning of year     210,872       -  
Cash, end of year   $ -     $ 210,872  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of cash flow Information                
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 29,973     $ 152,275  
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash INVESTINg and Financing Activities                
Note payable assumed by the Parent   $ -     $ 152,510  
                 
Income tax payable offset against amounts due from affiliates   $ 920,946     $ 1,793,283  

 

The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

 

  F-17  
 

 

FATBURGER NORTH AMERICA, INC.

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

 

Note 1. Nature of Business

 

Fatburger North America, Inc. (the Company), a Delaware corporation, was formed on March 28, 1990 and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (the Parent). Prior to its transfer to the Parent on March 24, 2011, the Company was owned by Fatburger Holdings, Inc. (Holdings) as the result of a stock purchase transaction on August 2001.

 

The Company franchises and licenses the right to use the Fatburger name, operating procedures and method of merchandising to franchisees. Upon signing a franchise agreement, the Company is committed to provide training, some supervision and assistance, and access to Operations Manuals. As needed, the Company will also provide advice and written materials concerning techniques of managing and operating the restaurants. The franchises are operated under the name “Fatburger.” Each franchise agreement term is typically for 15 years with two additional 10-year options available. Additionally, the Company conducts a multi-market advertising campaign to enhance the corporate name and image, which is funded through advertising revenues received from its franchisees and to a lesser extent, other restaurant locations owned and operated by subsidiaries of the Parent.

 

As of December 25, 2016, there were 161 franchise restaurant locations operated by third parties in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Canada, China, UAE, the UK, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Oman, Qatar and Tunisia (the Franchisees).

 

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Fiscal Year End: The Company operates on a 52-week calendar and its fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. Consistent with the industry, the Company measures its stores’ performance based upon 7 day work weeks. Using the 52-week cycle ensures consistent weekly reporting for operations and ensures that each week has the same days, since certain days are more profitable than others. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements reflect the Company’s fiscal year ends of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. The use of this fiscal year means a 53rd week is added to the fiscal year every 5 or 6 years.

 

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consist primarily of royalty and advertising fees from franchisees reduced by reserves for the estimated amount deemed uncollectible due to bad debts.

 

Credit and Depository Risks: Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable. The Company’s customer base consists of franchisees located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Washington, Canada, China, UAE, the UK, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Fiji, Oman, Qatar and Tunisia. Management reviews each of its customer’s financial conditions prior to signing a franchise agreement and believes that it has adequately provided for any exposure to potential credit losses.

 

The Company maintains cash deposits in national financial institutions. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes its cash balances are not exposed to significant risk of loss.

 

  F-18  
 

 

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Compensated Absences: Employees of the Parent who provide reimbursed services to the Company earn vested rights to compensation for unused vacation time. Accordingly, the Company accrues the amount of vacation compensation that employees have earned but not yet taken at the end of each fiscal year.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, such as trademarks, are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if indicators arise. No impairment has been identified for the years ended December 25, 2016 and prior.

 

Revenue Recognition: Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in situations involving store transfers. Deposits are nonrefundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income – current and noncurrent based upon the expected franchise restaurant openings dates. The Company acknowledges that some of its franchisees have not complied with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

During the year ended December 25, 2016, thirteen franchise locations were opened and ten were closed or otherwise left the franchise system. Of the new franchise locations, three were in Canada; three were in the United States; two were in Pakistan; and one in each of Tunisia, China, Philippines, Egypt and Iraq. Of the closed locations, three were in California, and one in each of Nevada, Washington, Maryland, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kuwait, and Malaysia.

 

During the year ended December 27, 2015, eighteen franchise locations were opened and ten were closed or otherwise left the franchise system. Of the new franchise locations, five were in Canada; four were in California; two were in Malaysia; and one in each of Tunisia, Kuwait, the UK, Qatar, UAE Fiji, and, Iraq. Of the closed locations, three were in California, and one in each of Nevada, New York, Michigan, Lebanon, UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the Company collects a royalty of 3% to 6% of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue as the related sales are made by the franchisees. Royalties collected in advance are classified as deferred income until earned.

 

Segment information: The Company owns international and domestic licensed operations. Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is our Chief Executive Officer; our CODM reviews financial performance and allocates resources at an overall level on a recurring basis. Therefore, Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment and one reportable segment.

 

Advertising: The Company requires advertising payments of 1.95% of net sales from Fatburger restaurants located in the Los Angeles marketing area and up to 0.95% of net sales from stores located outside of the Los Angeles marketing area. International locations pay 0.20% to 0.95%. The Company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since advertising funds collected are required to be spent for specific advertising purposes, no revenue or expense is recorded for advertising funds.

 

Cumulative advertising expenditures in excess of collections are recorded as current assets and will be reimbursed by future advertising payments from franchises and other Fatburger affiliates

 

  F-19  
 

 

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. The asset and liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are classified as current or noncurrent, depending on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which they relate.

 

Income Per Common Share: Income per share data was computed using the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during each year.

 

Joint and Several Liabilities: Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Company agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors. See note 7 for further detail. The Company has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015.

 

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Joint and Several Liabilities: Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Company agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Company expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 7 for further detail. The Company has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects adoption of this guidance will have on its financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments are effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-17 on its financial statements.

 

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards (continued): In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual period beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

  F-20  
 

 

Note 3. DEFERRED INCOME

 

Deferred income is as follows:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
             
Deferred franchise fees   $ 3,214,016     $ 5,902,500  
Deferred royalties     939,752       1,189,402  
                 
Total   $ 4,153,768     $ 7,091,902  

 

Note 4. Income Taxes

 

The Company files its Federal and most state income tax returns on a consolidated basis with the Parent. For financial reporting purposes, the Company has recorded a tax provision calculated as if the Company files all of its tax returns on a stand-alone basis. The taxes payable to the Parent determined by this calculation of $920,946 and $1,793,283 were offset against amounts due from affiliates as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively (see Note 6). As of December 25, 2016, the Parent has estimated aggregate federal net operating loss carryforwards of $71,370,000 available to offset future federal taxable income generated by the Company. These carryforwards begin to expire in 2018.

 

Deferred taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for calculating taxes payable on a stand-alone basis. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets are as follows:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
Current deferred tax assets                
Deferred franchise fees   $ 1,132,728     $ 2,082,014  
Deferred royalties     331,200       419,543  
Allowances     99,048       45,164  
Accruals and other     20,280       18,983  
State tax accrual     11,610       22,704  
Total   $ 1,594,866     $ 2,588,408  

 

Components of the income tax provision (benefit) are as follows:

 

    Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
Current                
Federal   $ 920,946     $ 1,764,078  
State     34,146       66,778  
Foreign     29,973       152,275  
      985,065       1,983,131  
Deferred                
Federal     956,783       (2,831 )
State     36,759       302,392  
      993,542       299,561  
Total income tax provision   $ 1,978,607     $ 2,282,692  

 

  F-21  
 

 

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
             
Statutory rate     34 %     34 %
State and local income taxes     1       7  
Foreign withholding taxes     1       3  
Other     -       2  
Effective tax rate   36 %     46 %

 

As of December 25, 2016, the Company’s annual tax filings for the prior three years are open for audit by Federal and for the prior four years for state tax agencies. Management evaluated the Company’s overall tax positions and has determined that no provision for uncertain income tax positions is necessary as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015.

 

Note 5. NOTE PAYABLE

 

During 2014, one of the selling stockholders of an affiliate of the Company, Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. made advances to the Company in the amount of $150,000, which is evidenced by a promissory note with interest at 10% per annum and a stated maturity date of December 31, 2014. The proceeds from the borrowing were advanced to the Company’s parent and used in relation to the purchase of one franchise location. During 2015, the unpaid balance of the note was combined with a note payable entered into by the Parent and the selling stockholder. As a result, the note balance was applied against amounts due from affiliates during the year ended December 27, 2015.

 

Note 6. Related Party Transactions

 

The Company had open accounts with affiliated entities under the common control of the Parent resulting in net amounts due to the Company of $9,361,739 and $8,637,095 as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company made net cash advances to affiliates in the amount of $6,285,035 and $6,984,203, respectively. These advances are expected to be recovered from credits for the use of the Parents’ tax net operating losses, and to the lesser extent, from repayment by the affiliates from proceeds generated by their operations and investments.

 

Effective in 2012, the Parent’s operations were structured in such a way that significant direct and indirect administrative functions were provided to the Company. These services include operational personnel to sell franchise rights, assist with training franchisees and assisting franchises with opening restaurants. The Parent also provides executive administration and accounting services for the Company.

 

The Company reimbursed the Parent for these expenses in the approximate amounts of $1,699,947 and $1,474,404 for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. Management reviewed the expenses recorded at the Parent and identified the common expenses that shall be allocated to the subsidiaries. These expenses were allocated based on an estimate of management’s time spent on the activities of the Parent and its subsidiaries, and further allocated among the subsidiaries pro rata based on each subsidiary’s respective revenues as a percentage of overall revenues of the subsidiaries. The Company believes that the allocation of expenses is not materially different from what it would have been if the Company was a stand-alone entity.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company recognized payables to the Parent in the amount of $920,946 and $1,793,283, respectively, for use of the Parent’s net operating losses for tax purposes.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends in the amount of $ 1,700,000 and $7,000,000, respectively.

 

  F-22  
 

 

Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Litigation

 

Periodically, the Company is involved in litigation in the normal course of business. The Company believes that the result of any potential litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

On June 1, 2010, the Company and certain of its affiliates became subject to a judgment payable to GE Capital Franchise Finance Corporation (GEFFC) for approximately $4,300,000. On October 11, 2011, GEFFC agreed to accept payments in full satisfaction of the obligation totaling approximately $2,600,000 plus interest at 5%. Subsequently, the Parent made payments totaling approximately $2,000,000, plus interest to GEFFC. As of December 25, 2016, the balance remaining to be paid on the discounted judgment was approximately $580,000. No proceeds were received by the Company, however the Company is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower.

 

Lease Guarantees

 

The Company had guaranteed the operating lease for one Fatburger restaurant that was to be a joint venture between an affiliate of the Company and a separate third party. This lease went into default in 2008, and the landlord called the Company on its guarantee. The Company settled with this landlord for approximately $271,000, to be paid out in monthly installments of $12,000 until paid in full. The Company fulfilled its obligation and obtained a release from the landlord in 2014.

 

The Company had guaranteed the operating lease for one Fatburger restaurant owned by an affiliate of the Company. This lease went into default in 2008, and the landlord called the Company on its guarantee. The Company settled with this landlord for approximately $60,000, to be paid out in monthly installments of $2,000 over a period of 30 months beginning in October 2009. The liability of $60,000 was recorded in the financial statements as of December 28, 2008. The Company made $4,000 in payments after the settlement, and has not heard from the landlord since then. In 2014, the Company wrote off the debt from its balance sheet.

 

Note 8. geographic information AND MAJOR FRANCHISEES

 

Revenues by geographic area are as follows:

 

    Year Ended
December 25, 2016
    Year Ended
December 27, 2015
 
United States   $ 3,591,953     $ 3,875,580  
Other countries     4,865,052       3,656,923  
Total revenue   $ 8,457,005     $ 7,532,503  

 

Revenues are shown based on the geographic location of our licensees. All of our assets are located in the United States.

 

During the year ended December 25, 2016, one franchisee accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $1,053,337. During the year ended December 27, 2015, the Company had no single franchisee that accounted for more than 10% of its revenues.

 

  F-23  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

March 26, 2017 and December 25, 2016

 

 

 

    March 26, 2017     December 25,2016  
    (unaudited)     (audited)  
Assets                
Current assets                
Cash   $ -     $ -  
Accounts receivable     58,412       53,514  
Other current assets     11       11  
Deferred tax assets     210,221       250,044  
Total current assets     268,644       303,569  
                 
Due from affiliates     2,284,984       2,292,543  
Trademarks     27,000       27,000  
Goodwill     5,365,100       5,365,100  
Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund     299,302       191,058  
Total assets   $ 8,245,030     $ 8,179,270  
                 
Current liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 139,635     $ 97,384  
Accrued expenses     42,557       87,656  
Deferred income     241,208       253,333  
Amount due selling stockholders     -       -  
Total current liabilities     423,400       438,373  
                 
Deferred income – noncurrent     457,924       562,924  
Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund - contra     299,302       191,058  
Total liabilities     1,180,626       1,192,355  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6 and 7)                
                 
Stockholder’s equity                
Common stock, $.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized     -       -  
Additional paid-in capital     5,138,945       5,138,946  
Retained earnings     1,925,459       1,847,969  
Total stockholder’s equity     7,064,404       6,986,915  
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity     8,245,030       8,179,270  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-24  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

 

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Revenues                
Royalties   $ 308,271     $ 352,307  
Franchise fees     105,000       130,000  
Total revenues     413,271       482,307  
                 
Expenses                
General and administrative     139,737       175,793  
Total expenses     139,737       175,793  
                 
Income from operations     273,534       306,514  
                 
Other income     200       35,890  
                 
Income before taxes     273,733       342,404  
                 
Income tax expense     96,244       116,695  
                 
Net income   $ 177,490     $ 225,709  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-25  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

 

 

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net income   $ 177,490     $ 225,709  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:                
Amortization     -       (3,000 )
Deferred income taxes     39,823       35,572  
Changes in current operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (4,898 )     (18,845 )
Other current assets     -       -  
Accounts payable     42,251       35,065  
Accrued expenses     (45,100 )     (5,144 )
Deferred income     (117,125 )     (104,625 )
Total adjustments     (85,049 )     (60,977 )
Net cash flows provided by operating activities     92,441       164,732  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities                
Advances to affiliates     7,559       (169,741 )
Repayments of loans from selling stockholders     -       (35,890 )
Dividend distribution     (100,000 )     -  
Net cash flows used in financing activities     (92,441 )     (205,631 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash     -       (40,899 )
                 
Cash, beginning of quarter     -       -  
                 
Cash, end of quarter   $ -     $ 40,899  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of cash flow Information                
Cash paid for income taxes   $ -     $ 300  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash INVESTING and Financing Activities                
                 
Income tax payable offset against amounts due from affiliates   $ 56,422     $ 80,823  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-26  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016

(unaudited)

 

 

Note 1. Nature of business

 

Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. is a Nevada corporation formed in June 2006. On December 8, 2006, the Nevada corporation acquired all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., a Georgia corporation (BFCI-GA), which became a wholly-owned subsidiary. On November 28, 2011, all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Nevada corporation was acquired by Fog Cap Development LLC (Fog Cap), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (the Parent).

 

Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, grants store franchise and development agreements for the operation of casual dining restaurants (Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés) and quick service restaurants outlets (Buffalo’s Express). The restaurants specialize in the sale of Buffalo-Style chicken wings, chicken tenders, burgers, ribs, wrap sandwiches, and salads. Franchisees are licensed to use the Company’s trade name, service marks, trademarks, logos, and unique methods of food preparation and presentation.

 

In 2012, the Parent began co-branding its Buffalo’s Express restaurants with Fatburger restaurants, the Parent’s other fast casual brand. These co-branded restaurants sell products of both brands and share back-of-the-house facilities.

 

At March 26, 2017, there were 19 operating Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés restaurants and 66 co-branded Buffalo’s Express restaurants. All of these restaurants were franchise locations except for one Buffalo’s Southwest Café restaurant which was owned by an affiliate. At March 27, 2016, there were 23 operating Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés restaurants and 60 co-branded Buffalo’s Express restaurants.

 

Note 2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to prevent the information presented from being misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

 

The information provided in this report reflects all adjustments (consisting solely of normal, recurring items) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations for the periods presented. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year.

 

The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 25, 2016 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date included elsewhere herein.

 

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., a Georgia corporation, (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

  F-27  
 

 

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consist of royalty fees from franchisees reduced by reserves for the estimated amount deemed uncollectible due to bad debts. As of March 26, 2017 and December 26, 2016, no allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded as the collectability of the receivable was reasonably assured.

 

Credit and Depository Risks: The Company maintains its cash accounts at high credit quality financial institutions. The balances, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes its cash balances are not exposed to significant risk of loss.

 

The Company’s customer base consists of franchisees located in Georgia, Texas, California, Canada, the UK, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tunisia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Management reviews each of its customer’s financial conditions prior to signing a franchise agreement and believes that it has adequately provided for any exposure to potential credit losses.

 

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenues from franchise sales upon commencement of operations by a franchisee. Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The Company typically charges a $25,000 co-brand conversion fee.

 

The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in a situation involving store transfers. Deposits are non-refundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income – current and noncurrent based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. The Company acknowledges some of its franchisees have not compiled with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the Company collects a royalty calculated as a percentage of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue when the related sales are made by the franchisees.

 

During 2008 and 2009, the Company received a total of $500,000 from a franchisee of three restaurants in exchange for an exclusive area agreement for ten counties in the state of Georgia and reduced service fees for the franchisee’s restaurants for a ten-year period. The franchisee is required to open four new franchise restaurants in the exclusive territory during the ten-year term of the agreement.

 

The deferred fee is being amortized into income ratably over the ten-year term. Service fee revenues recognized in each of the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 pursuant to the agreement were $12,125. As of March 26, 2017 and December 26, 2016, there remained deferred fees of approximately $68,675 and $80,800, respectively, relating to the exclusive area agreement.

 

Segment information: The Company owns international and domestic licensed operations. Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is our Chief Executive Officer; our CODM reviews financial performance and allocates resources at an overall level on a recurring basis. Therefore, Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment and one reportable segment.

 

Advertising: The Company generally requires advertising payments of 2.0% of net sales from Buffalo’s Southwest Café restaurants. Co-branded restaurants generally pay 0.20% to 1.95%. The Company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since the Company acts in a fiduciary role to collect and disburse these advertising funds, no revenue or expense is recorded.

 

Advertising funds are segregated from other Company assets and the balance of the Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund is recorded as an asset by the Company with the offsetting advertising obligation recorded as a liability, Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund - Contra.

 

  F-28  
 

 

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. The asset and liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are classified as current or noncurrent, depending on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which they relate.

 

Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates in determining assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-04, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments are effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-17 on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual period beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the consolidated financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-29  
 

 

Note 3. DEFERRED INCOME

 

Deferred income is as follows:

 

`   March 26, 2017     December 25,2016  
Deferred franchise fees   $ 630,424     $ 735,424  
Deferred royalties     68,708       80,833  
                 
Total   $ 699,132     $ 816,257  
                 
Deferred income – current   $ 241,208     $ 253,333  
Deferred income – noncurrent     457,924       562,924  
                 
Total   $ 699,132     $ 816,257  

 

Note 4. Related party transactions

 

The Company had open accounts with affiliated entities under the common control of the Parent resulting in net amounts due to the Company of $2,284,984 and $2,116,485 as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. These advances are expected to be recovered through repayment for the use of the Parent’s tax net operating losses, and to a lesser extent from proceeds generated by the affiliates operations and investments.

 

Effective in 2013, the Parent’s operations were structured in such a way that significant direct and indirect administrative functions were provided to the Company. These services include operational personnel to sell franchise rights, assist with training franchisees and assisting franchisees with opening restaurants. The Parent also provides executive administration and accounting services for the Company. Expenses are allocated based on an estimate of management’s time spent on the activities of the Parent and its subsidiaries, and further allocated among the subsidiaries pro rata based on each subsidiary’s respective revenues as a percentage of overall revenues of the subsidiaries. These expenses were approximately $66,000 and $82,000, for the 13 weeks ended of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively and were reimbursed to the Parent in cash. The Company believes that the allocation of expenses is not materially different from what it would have been if the Company was a stand-alone entity.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, the Company recorded obligations to the Parent in the amount of $56,422 and $80,823 for use of the Parent’s net operating losses for tax purposes, respectively.

 

For part of the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and all 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, one Buffalo’s Southwest Café was operated by a relative of an officer. Royalty fees from this related party for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016 were approximately $2,000 and $20,000, respectively. The store was sold to an unaffiliated party on January 3, 2017.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, the Company declared and paid dividends in the amount of $100,000, and none for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

  F-30  
 

 

Note 5. Income taxes

 

The Company files its Federal and most state income tax returns on a consolidated basis with the Parent. For financial reporting purposes, the Company calculates its tax provision as if the Company files its tax returns on a stand-alone basis. The taxes payable to the Parent determined by this calculation of $56,422 and $80,823 were offset against the balances due from affiliates as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively. As of March 26, 2017, the Parent has estimated aggregate federal net operating loss carry forwards of $71,338,448 to offset future federal taxable income generated by the Parent and its subsidiaries, including the Company. These carryforwards begin to expire in 2018.

 

Deferred taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for calculating taxes payable on a stand-alone basis.

 

Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:

 

    March 26, 2017     December 25, 2016  
Net deferred tax assets                
Deferred franchise fees   $ 214,343     $ 250,044  
Deferred royalties     23,361       27,483  
Reserve     (27,483 )     (27,483 )
Total   $ 210,221     $ 250,044  

 

Components of the income tax provision are as follows:

 

    13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
Current                
Federal   $ 56,422     $ 80,823  
State           300  
Foreign            
      56,422       81, 123  
Deferred                
Federal     23,332       19,082  
State     16,490       16,490  
      39,822       35,572  
Total income tax expense   $ 96,244     $ 116,695  

 

The statutory income tax rate of 34% approximates the effective tax rate for the periods presented.

 

As of March 26, 2017, the Company’s annual tax filings for the prior three years are open for audit by Federal and for the prior four years for state tax agencies. Management evaluated the Company’s overall tax positions and has determined that no provision for uncertain income tax positions is necessary as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016.

 

 

Note 6. Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund

 

Under the terms of its franchise agreements, the Company collects fees for creative development and advertising from its franchisees based on percentages of sales as outlined in franchise agreements. The Company is to oversee all advertising and promotional programs and is to have sole discretion over expenditures from the fund.

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the year-end balance of the advertising fund and the related advertising obligation, which were approximately $299,000 and $73,000 as of March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016, respectively.

 

Note 7. commitments AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation: Periodically, the Company is involved in litigation in the normal course of business. The Company believes that the result of any potential litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

Note 8. Retirement plan

 

The Company has a profit sharing plan (the Plan) with a 401(k) feature covering substantially all employees. There were no contributions made by the Company under the Plan for the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017 and March 27, 2016.

 

  F-31  
 

 

Note 9. geographic location and major franchisees

 

Revenues by geographic area are as follows:

 

`   13 Weeks Ended  
    March 26, 2017     March 27, 2016  
United States   $ 250,808     $ 268,375  
Other countries     162,463       213,932  
Total revenue   $ 413,271     $ 482,307  

 

Revenues are shown based on the geographic location of our licensees. All of our assets are located in the United States.

 

During the 13 weeks ended March 26, 2017, three franchisees each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $130,814, $59,776 and $54,804. During the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016, three franchisees each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $157,927, $60,615 and $56,949.

 

  F-32  
 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To The Board of Directors and Stockholder

Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc.

Atlanta, Georgia

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary (Company) as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholder’s equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP  
   
Glendale, California  
May 5, 2017  

 

  F-33  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

 

    2016     2015  
Assets                
Current assets                
Cash   $     $ 40,899  
Accounts receivable     53,514       44,672  
Other current assets     11       11  
Deferred tax assets     250,044       322,294  
Total current assets     303,569       407,876  
                 
Due from affiliates     2,292,543       1,946,744  
Trademarks     27,000       27,000  
Goodwill     5,365,100       5,365,100  
Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund     191,058       24,079  
Total assets   $ 8,179,270     $ 7,770,799  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholder’s Equity                
Current liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 97,384     $ 83,033  
Accrued expenses     87,656       21,967  
Deferred income     253,333       389,333  
Amount due selling stockholders           35,890  
Total current liabilities     438,373       530,223  
                 
Deferred income – noncurrent     562,924       687,924  
Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund - contra     191,058       24,079  
Total liabilities     1,192,355       1,242,226  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 6 and 7)                
                 
Stockholder’s equity                
Common stock, $.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized            
Additional paid-in capital     5,138,946       5,138,946  
Retained earnings     1,847,969       1,389,627  
Total stockholder’s equity     6,986,915       6,528,573  
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity     8,179,270       7,770,799  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-34  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

 

    2016     2015  
Revenues                
Royalties   $ 1,348,910     $ 1,317,050  
Franchise fees     255,000       706,366  
Total revenues     1,603,910       2,023,416  
                 
Expenses                
General and administrative     663,212       732,402  
Total expenses     663,212       732,402  
                 
Income from operations     940,698       1,291,014  
                 
Other income     35,890       85,421  
                 
Income before taxes     976,588       1,376,435  
                 
Income tax expense     318,246       528,317  
                 
Net income   $ 658,342     $ 848,118  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-35  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholder’s Equity

For the Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

 

    Additional              
    Paid-In     Retained        
    Capital     Earnings     Total  
                   
Balance, December 28, 2014   $ 5,138,946     $ 941,509     $ 6,080,455  
                         
Net income           848,118       848,118  
                         
Dividend distribution           (400,000 )     (400,000 )
                         
Balance, December 27, 2015     5,138,946       1,389,627       6,528,573  
                         
Net income           658,342       658,342  
                         
Dividend distribution           (200,000 )     (200,000 )
                         
Balance, December 25, 2016   $ 5,138,946     $ 1,847,969     $ 6,986,915  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-36  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

 

    2016     2015  
Cash flows from operating activities                
Net income   $ 658,342     $ 848,118  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:                
Amortization           10,000  
Deferred income taxes     72,250       272,315  
Changes in current operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (8,842 )     44,278  
Other current assets           23,822  
Accounts payable     14,351       (4,462 )
Accrued expenses     65,689       (5,604 )
Deferred income     (261,000 )     (658,500 )
Total adjustments     (117,552 )     (318,151 )
Net cash flows provided by operating activities     540,790       529,967  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities                
Advances to affiliates     (345,799 )     (60,751 )
Repayments of loans from selling stockholders     (35,890 )     (28,317 )
Dividend distribution     (200,000 )     (400,000 )
Net cash flows used in financing activities     (581,689 )     (489,068 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash     (40,899 )     40,899  
                 
Cash, beginning of year     40,899        
                 
Cash, end of year   $     $ 40,899  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of cash flow Information                
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 2,323     $ 17,511  
                 
Supplemental Disclosure of Noncash INVESTING and Financing Activities                
                 
Income tax payable offset against amounts due from affiliates   $ 243,673     $ 238,491  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-37  
 

 

BUFFALO’S FRANCHISE CONCEPTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Years Ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015

 

 

Note 1. Nature of business

 

Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. is a Nevada corporation formed in June 2006. On December 8, 2006, the Nevada corporation acquired all of the issued and outstanding common stock of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., a Georgia corporation (BFCI-GA), which became a wholly-owned subsidiary. On November 28, 2011, all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Nevada corporation was acquired by Fog Cap Development LLC (Fog Cap), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (the Parent).

 

Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, grants store franchise and development agreements for the operation of casual dining restaurants (Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés) and quick service restaurants outlets (Buffalo’s Express). The restaurants specialize in the sale of Buffalo-Style chicken wings, chicken tenders, burgers, ribs, wrap sandwiches, and salads. Franchisees are licensed to use the Company’s trade name, service marks, trademarks, logos, and unique methods of food preparation and presentation.

 

In 2012, the Parent began co-branding its Buffalo’s Express restaurants with Fatburger restaurants, the Parent’s other fast casual brand. These co-branded restaurants sell products of both brands and share back-of-the-house facilities.

 

At December 25, 2016, there were 21 operating Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés restaurants and 64 co-branded Buffalo’s Express restaurants. All of these restaurants were franchise locations except for one Buffalo’s Southwest Café restaurant which was owned by an affiliate. At December 27, 2015, there were 19 operating Buffalo’s Southwest Cafés restaurants and 62 co-branded Buffalo’s Express restaurants.

 

Note 2. Summary of significant accounting policies

 

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc., a Georgia corporation, (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable consist of royalty fees from franchisees reduced by reserves for the estimated amount deemed uncollectible due to bad debts. As of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, no allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded as the collectability of the receivable was reasonably assured.

 

Credit and Depository Risks: The Company maintains its cash accounts at high credit quality financial institutions. The balances, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes its cash balances are not exposed to significant risk of loss.

 

The Company’s customer base consists of franchisees located in Georgia, Texas, California, Canada, the UK, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tunisia Malaysia, and the Philippines. Management reviews each of its customer’s financial conditions prior to signing a franchise agreement and believes that it has adequately provided for any exposure to potential credit losses.

 

  F-38  
 

 

Note 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

 

Fiscal Year End: The Company operates on a 52-week calendar year. The fiscal year ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. Consistent with the industry, Buffalo measures its stores’ performance based upon 7 day work weeks. Using the 52-week cycle ensures consistent weekly reporting for operations and ensures that each week has the same days, since certain days are more profitable than others. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements reflect the Company’s fiscal year ends of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. The use of this fiscal year means a 53rd week is added to the fiscal year every 5 or 6 years.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives, such as trademarks, are not amortized but are reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if indicators arise. Intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives are amortized over their useful lives, but are also reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if indications arise. No impairment has been identified as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015.

 

Franchise rights are amortized over the remaining lives of the agreements at the date of acquisition in December 2011. The weighted average amortization period is 64 months. Amortization expense for the year ended December 27, 2015 was approximately $10,000 and the rights were fully amortized as of December 27, 2015.

 

Revenue Recognition: The Company recognizes revenues from franchise sales upon commencement of operations by a franchisee. Franchise fee revenue from sales of individual franchises is recognized upon completion of training and the actual opening of a location. Typically, franchise fees are $50,000 for each domestic location and are collected 50% upon signing a deposit agreement and 50% at the signing of a lease and related franchise agreement. International franchise fees are typically $65,000 for each location, and are payable 100% upon signing a deposit agreement. The Company typically charges a $25,000 co-brand conversion fee.

 

The franchise fee may be adjusted at management’s discretion or in a situation involving store transfers. Deposits are non-refundable upon acceptance of the franchise application. These deposits are recorded as deferred income – current and noncurrent based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. The Company acknowledges some of its franchisees have not compiled with their development timelines for opening franchise stores. These franchise rights are terminated and franchise fee revenue is recognized for non-refundable deposits.

 

In addition to franchise fee revenue, the Company collects a royalty calculated as a percentage of net sales from its franchisees. Royalties are recognized as revenue when the related sales are made by the franchisees.

 

During 2008 and 2009, the Company received a total of $500,000 from a franchisee of three restaurants in exchange for an exclusive area agreement for ten counties in the state of Georgia and reduced service fees for the franchisee’s restaurants for a ten-year period. The franchisee is required to open four new franchise restaurants in the exclusive territory during the ten-year term of the agreement.

 

Segment information: The Company owns international and domestic licensed operations. Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is our Chief Executive Officer; our CODM reviews financial performance and allocates resources at an overall level on a recurring basis. Therefore, Management has determined that the Company has one operating segment and one reportable segment.

 

  F-39  
 

 

Note 2. Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

 

Revenue Recognition (continued): The deferred fee is being amortized into income ratably over the ten-year term. Service fee revenues recognized in 2016 and 2015 pursuant to the agreement were $48,500 each year. As of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, there remained deferred fees of approximately $80,800 and $129,300, respectively, relating to the exclusive area agreement.

 

Advertising: The Company generally requires advertising payments of 2.0% of net sales from Buffalo’s Southwest Café restaurants. Co-branded restaurants generally pay 0.20% to 1.95%. The Company also receives, from time to time, payments from vendors that are to be used for advertising. Since the Company acts in a fiduciary role to collect and disburse these advertising funds, no revenue or expense is recorded.

 

Advertising funds are segregated from other Company assets and the balance of the Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund is recorded as an asset by the Company with the offsetting advertising obligation recorded as a liability, Buffalo’s Creative and Advertising Fund - Contra.

 

Income Taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach. The asset and liability approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities. Deferred taxes are classified as current or noncurrent, depending on the classification of the assets and liabilities to which they relate.

 

Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of estimates in determining assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards: In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-04, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year, making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the effects adoption of this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets should be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments are effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the pending adoption of ASU 2015-17 on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards (continued): In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual period beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the consolidated financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

  F-40  
 

 

Note 3. Related party transactions

 

The Company has made cumulative advances to affiliated entities under the common control of the Parent in the amount of $2,492,543 and $1,946,744 as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. These advances are expected to be recovered through repayment for the use of the Parent’s tax net operating losses, and to a lesser extent from proceeds generated by the affiliates operations and investments.

 

Effective in 2013, the Parent’s operations were structured in such a way that significant direct and indirect administrative functions were provided to the Company. These services include operational personnel to sell franchise rights, assist with training franchisees and assisting franchisees with opening restaurants. The Parent also provides executive administration and accounting services for the Company. Expenses are allocated based on an estimate of management’s time spent on the activities of the Parent and its subsidiaries, and further allocated among the subsidiaries pro rata based on each subsidiary’s respective revenues as a percentage of overall revenues of the subsidiaries. The Company believes that the allocation of expenses is not materially different from what it would have been if the Company was a stand-alone entity. These expenses were approximately $294,000 and $240,000, for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively and were reimbursed to the Parent in cash.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company recorded obligations to the Parent in the amount of $243,673 and $238,491 for use of the Parent’s net operating losses for tax purposes, respectively.

 

As of December 25, 2016, and December 27, 2015, one Buffalo’s Southwest Café was operated by a relative of an officer. Royalty fees from this related party in 2016 and 2015 were approximately $64,000 and $68,000, respectively.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company declared and paid dividends in the amount of $200,000 and $400,000, respectively.

 

Note 4. Income taxes

 

The Company files its Federal and most state income tax returns on a consolidated basis with the Parent. For financial reporting purposes, the Company calculates its tax provision as if the Company files its tax returns on a stand-alone basis. The taxes payable to the Parent determined by this calculation of $243,673 and $238,491 were offset against the balances due from affiliates as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. As of December 25, 2016, the Parent has estimated aggregate federal net operating loss carry forwards of $71,370,000 to offset future federal taxable income generated by the Parent and its subsidiaries, including the Company. These carryforwards begin to expire in 2018.

 

Deferred taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for calculating taxes payable on a stand-alone basis.

 

Significant components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are as follows:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
Net deferred tax assets                
Deferred franchise fees   $ 250,044     $ 322,294  
Deferred royalties     27,483       43,973  
Reserve     (27,483 )     (43,973 )
Total   $ 250,044     $ 322,294  

 

  F-41  
 

 

Components of the income tax provision are as follows for the years ended:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
Current                
Federal   $ 243,673     $ 238,491  
State            
Foreign     2,323       17,511  
      245,996       256,002  
Deferred                
Federal     72,250       272,315  
State            
      72,250       272,315  
Total income tax expense   $ 318,246     $ 528,317  

 

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:

 

    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
             
Statutory rate     34 %     34 %
Foreign withholding taxes           1  
Effect of differences in estimated tax rates     (1 )     3  
Effective tax rate     33 %     38 %

 

As of December 25, 2016, the Company’s annual tax filings for the prior three years are open for audit by Federal and for the prior four years for state tax agencies. Management evaluated the Company’s overall tax positions and has determined that no provision for uncertain income tax positions is necessary as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015.

 

Note 5. Buffalo’s creative and advertising fund

 

Under the terms of its franchise agreements, the Company collects fees for creative development and advertising from its franchisees based on percentages of sales as outlined in franchise agreements. The Company is to oversee all advertising and promotional programs and is to have sole discretion over expenditures from the fund.

 

During the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company collected advertising fees and vender contributions of approximately $559,000 and $569,000, respectively. Advertising expenditures for the years 2016 and 2015 totaled approximately $392,000 and $591,000, respectively. The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the year-end balance of the advertising fund and the related advertising obligation, which were approximately $191,000 and $24,000 as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

Note 6. commitments AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation: Periodically, the Company is involved in litigation in the normal course of business. The Company believes that the result of any potential litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

Operating Leases: The Company entered into an office lease on March 1, 2012 with an unrelated entity. The lease had a one year term with multiple twelve month extensions, and terminated on June 30, 2016.

 

Total rent expense under operating leases for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 was approximately $5,000 and $18,000, respectively.

  F-42  
 

 

Note 7. Retirement plan

 

The Company has a profit sharing plan (the Plan) with a 401(k) feature covering substantially all employees. There were no contributions made by the Company under the Plan for 2016 and 2015.

 

Note 8. geographic location and major franchisees

 

Revenues by geographic area are as follows:

 

    Year Ended     Year Ended  
    December 25, 2016     December 27, 2015  
                 
United States   $ 1,083,692     $ 1,116,243  
Other countries     520,218       907,173  
Total revenue   $ 1,603,910     $ 2,023,416  

 

Revenues are shown based on the geographic location of our licensees. All of our assets are located in the United States.

 

During the year ended December 25, 2016, three franchisees each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $345,759, $236,843 and $219,000. During the year ended December 25, 2016, three franchisees each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s revenues, with total revenues of $470,000, $231,641 and $222,253.

 

  F-43  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

    March 27, 2017     December 26, 2016  
    (unaudited)        
Assets                
                 
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 61     $ 50  
Accounts receivable, net     331       404  
Receivable - affiliate     -       5  
Total current assets     392       459  
                 
Notes receivable, net     402       339  
Total assets   $ 794     $ 798  
                 
Liabilities and Partners’ Capital                
                 
Current Liabilities:                
Payable - affiliate   $ 3     $ -  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Partners’ capital     791       798  
Total liabilities and partners’ capital   $ 794     $ 798  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-44  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Statements of Income

(in thousands)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended  
    March 27, 2017     March 28, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Revenues:            
Franchise royalties   $ 731     $ 779  
Franchise fees     -       5  
Total revenues     731       784  
                 
General and administrative expenses     454       439  
                 
Interest income on notes receivable     7       7  
                 
Net income   $ 284     $ 352  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-45  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Statements of Partners’ Capital

13 Week Periods ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016

(in thousands)

 

Partners’ capital, December 28, 2015   $ 961  
Distributions     (396 )
Net income     351  
Partners’ capital, March 28, 2016 (unaudited)   $ 916  
Partners’ capital, December 26, 2016   $ 798  
Distributions     (291 )
Net income     284  
Partners’ capital, March 27, 2017 (unaudited)   $ 791  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-46  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended  
    March 27, 2017     March 28, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income   $ 284     $ 352  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Bad debt expense (recovery)     (21 )     9  
Changes in assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable, net     31       (10 )
Receivable / payable - affiliate     8       -  
Net cash provided by operating activities     302       351  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Payments from notes receivable     -       10  
Distributions to partners     (291 )     (396 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (291 )     (386 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash     11       (35 )
Cash, beginning of period     50       85  
Cash, end of period   $ 61     $ 50  
                 
See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.                
                 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash financing activity:                
Conversion of accounts receivable to notes receivable   $ 63     $ -  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-47  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(1) General

 

Ponderosa Franchising Company (the Partnership), a Delaware general partnership, is engaged in franchising Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurants. The Partnership was formed on August 9, 1994, at which time certain assets of the domestic franchising operations of Homestyle Dining LLC (HSD), formerly Metromedia Steakhouses Company, L.P., were transferred to the Partnership. HSD holds a 99% interest in the Partnership, and Jost Restaurant Financing, Inc. (JRF), a wholly owned subsidiary of HSD, holds the remaining 1% partnership interest. The Partnership relies on HSD for all of its corporate and general and administrative functions, as more fully described in note 3.

 

As of December 28, 2015, the Partnership had 77 units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 15 states within the continental United States. During the fiscal quarter ended March 28, 2016, 2 franchised restaurants closed. As of March 28, 2016, the Partnership had 75 units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 15 states within the continental United States. During the fiscal year ended December 26, 2016, 1 new franchised restaurant opened, and 10 franchised restaurants closed. As of December 26, 2016 and March 27, 2017, HSD operated 2 units. As of December 26, 2016 and March 27, 2017, the Partnership had 68 units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 14 states within the continental United States.

 

The operations of the Partnership are dependent upon the management and administrative services provided by HSD per the intercompany services agreement described in note 3. If HSD is not able to continue providing those services, the Partnership can request Metromedia Company (Metromedia), in accordance with the Partnership’s management agreement with Metromedia, to perform the management and administrative services required to continue the uninterrupted operations of the Partnership.

 

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The more significant of these accounting policies are described below.

 

The trademarks associated with the Ponderosa concept remain assets of HSD and are included in the accounts of HSD. HSD granted a license for the use of the domestic trademarks to the Partnership upon formation. There were no payments made for the use of the trademarks.

 

  (b) Accounting Period

 

The Partnership’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Monday of December. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are 13 or 14 week periods. All fiscal quarters presented each comprise a 13 week fiscal quarter.

 

  (c) Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Partnership’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership’s existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based on historical collection data and current franchisee information. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016, accounts receivable of the Partnership were approximately $331,000 and $404,000, respectively, net of reserve balances recorded of $24,000 and $45,000, respectively.

 

  F-48  
 

 

Notes receivable are created when the settlement of a delinquent franchisee receivable account is reached and the entire balance is not immediately paid. All notes receivable have personal guarantees from the franchisee. The notes are made for the shortest time frame negotiable and will generally carry an interest rate of 5% to 12%. Reserve amounts, on the notes, are established generally at 100% or at lesser rates based on the likelihood of collection. As of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016, notes receivable of the Partnership were approximately $402,000 and $339,000, net of reserve balances recorded of $37,000 and $37,000 at March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016, respectively.

 

  (d) Franchise Royalties, Fees and Finance Charges

 

Royalty fees are based on franchise restaurant sales and are recognized as revenue when earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the franchised restaurants commence operation as all services to be provided by the Partnership to earn such fees have been provided. Unearned fees are deferred and are classified as current or long-term liabilities based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. Finance charges may be assessed on past due receivables from franchisees and are recognized when deemed collectible.

 

  (e) Income Taxes

 

Income taxes on the earnings of the Partnership are the responsibility of the partners; accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Management evaluated the Partnership’s tax positions and concluded that the Partnership had taken no material uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, is recorded in interest expense and penalties incurred in operating expenses.

 

  (f) Distributions to Partners

 

Earnings, losses, and other tax attributes of the Partnership are allocated to the partners on the basis stated in the partnership agreement. It is expected and has been the past practice that the Partnership will distribute to the partners those earnings deemed to be in excess of a reasonable level of capital needed to maintain a strong financial position for the Partnership.

 

  (g) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  (h) Joint and Several Liabilities

 

Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Partnership agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Partnership expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 3 for further detail. The Partnership has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016.

 

  (i) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Partnership has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the standard will have on the financial statements.

 

  F-49  
 

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

  (j) Subsequent Events

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Partnership has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through June 19, 2017.

 

(3) Related Party Transactions

 

On January 1, 2010, the Partnership entered into an intercompany services agreement with HSD, whereby HSD provides various management and administrative services. These services include assistance in the areas of marketing, franchise operations and field support, franchise sales, accounting, purchasing and credit and collections. These expenses are charged to the Partnership based on actual usage or other allocation methods, which approximates actual usage. The Partnership believes the expenses charged are reasonable; however, such expenses may not necessarily be indicative of the cost of obtaining such services if the Partnership operated on a stand-alone basis. In the fiscal quarters ending on March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, HSD charged the Partnership approximately $446,000 and $426,000, respectively, for these various management and administrative services which have been included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of income.

 

HSD also has a management agreement with Metromedia, whereby Metromedia provides management and administrative services at an agreed-upon fixed amount.

 

Additionally, all cash receipts and disbursements are handled by HSD on behalf of the Partnership.

 

On October 14, 2009, HSD and certain affiliates, including the Partnership, (collectively, Borrowers) entered into a Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) with Metromedia which provides for: (1) a term loan of $5,840,000 (first term loan), (2) a term loan of $9,300,000 (second term loan), and (3) a revolving line of credit in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,280,000. The revolving line of credit agreement was subsequently amended, to extend the available borrowing limit to the level needed to cover actual and anticipated draws against the revolving line of credit. The interest on these notes accrues and is payable at a rate of 7.5% per annum. No proceeds were received by the Partnership; however, the Partnership is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower and guarantor.

 

The balances at March 27, 2017 for the first term loan, second term loan, and the revolving line of credit are approximately $7,531,000, $12,042,000 and $21,529,000, respectively. Effective January 1, 2017, the maturity dates on the first term loan, the second term loan and the revolving line of credit were extended to December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2014, the interest rate on the outstanding principal balance plus any accrued and unpaid interest as of December 31, 2013 on such loans was amended to (i) 0.28% per annum with respect to the first term loan and the second term loan ; and (ii) with respect to the revolving line of credit, 0.28% initially, and then at the short-term Applicable Federal Rate published each month by the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as may be adjusted from time to time. Effective January 1, 2014, for any calendar year during which any amounts under the loans remain outstanding, any accrued interest not paid by December 31 shall be capitalized to the principal balance. In the quarters ending March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, additional funds were drawn against the revolving line of credit in the aggregate amounts of $65,700 and $318,900, respectively. From time to time, total advances per the revolving line of credit agreement have been and are in excess of the maximum line amount available. Effective January 20, 2017, Metromedia executed a waiver of default for the failure by the Borrowers to immediately repay the aggregate outstanding advances to the extent required to eliminate such excesses, as required by the revolving line of credit agreement.

 

(4) Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Partnership is subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Management believes that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Partnership.

 

  F-50  
 

 

Independent Auditor’s Report

 

To the Partners

Ponderosa Franchising Company

Richardson, Texas

 

Report on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Ponderosa Franchising Company, which comprise the balance sheets as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, the related statements of income, changes in partners’ equity and cash flows for the three years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015,and December 29, 2014, and the related notes to the financial statements.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor’s Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ponderosa Franchising Company as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015, and December 29, 2014 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/S/ RSM US LLP

Dallas, Texas

February 6, 2017

 

  F-51  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

 

Balance Sheets

 

December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015  
Assets                
                 
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 50     $ 85  
Accounts receivable, net     404       473  
Receivable - affiliate     5       12  
Total current assets     459       570  
                 
Notes receivable, net     339       391  
Total assets   $ 798     $ 961  
                 
Liabilities and Partners’ Capital                
                 
Liabilities, none   $ -     $ -  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Partners’ capital     798       961  
Total liabilities and partners’ capital   $ 798     $ 961  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-52  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

 

Statements of Income

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015     2014  
Revenues:                        
Franchise royalties   $ 3,263     $ 3,582     $ 3,718  
Franchise fees     5       50       3  
Other revenue     -       1       -  
Total revenues     3,268       3,633       3,721  
                         
General and administrative expenses     1,728       2,010       2,167  
                         
Interest income on notes receivable     24       29       15  
                         
Net income   $ 1,564     $ 1,652     $ 1,569  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-53  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

 

Statements of Partners’ Capital

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

Partners’ capital, December 30, 2013   $ 706  
Distributions     (1,383 )
Net income     1,569  
Partners’ capital, December 29, 2014     892  
Distributions     (1,583 )
Net income     1,652  
Partners’ capital, December 28, 2015     961  
Distributions     (1,727 )
Net income     1,564  
Partners’ capital, December 26, 2016   $ 798  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-54  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

 

Statements of Cash Flows

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015     2014  
Cash flows from operating activities:                        
Net income   $ 1,564     $ 1,652     $ 1,569  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activites:                        
Bad debt expense     51       21       29  
Changes in assets and liabilities:                        
Accounts receivable, net     18       39       (192 )
Accrued liabilities     -       (3 )     3  
Receivable / payable - affiliate     8       (27 )     1  
Net cash provided by operating activities     1,641       1,682       1,410  
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:                        
Increase in notes receivable     -       (69 )     -  
Payments from notes receivable     51       -       14  
Distributions to partners     (1,727 )     (1,583 )     (1,383 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (1,676 )     (1,652 )     (1,369 )
                         
Net increase (decrease) in cash     (35 )     30       41  
Cash, beginning of year     85       55       14  
Cash, end of year   $ 50     $ 85     $ 55  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-55  
 

 

PONDEROSA FRANCHISING COMPANY

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(1) General

 

Ponderosa Franchising Company (the Partnership), a Delaware general partnership, is engaged in franchising Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurants. The Partnership was formed on August 9, 1994, at which time certain assets of the domestic franchising operations of Homestyle Dining LLC (HSD), formerly Metromedia Steakhouses Company, L.P., were transferred to the Partnership. HSD holds a 99% interest in the Partnership, and Jost Restaurant Financing, Inc. (JRF), a wholly owned subsidiary of HSD, holds the remaining 1% partnership interest. The Partnership relies on HSD for all of its corporate and general and administrative functions, as more fully described in note 3.

 

As of December 28, 2015, the Partnership had 77 units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 15 states in the continental United States. During the fiscal year ended December 26, 2016, 1 new franchised restaurant opened, and 10 franchised restaurants closed. As of December 26, 2016, the Partnership had 68 units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 14 states within the continental United States. As of December 26, 2016, HSD operated 2 Ponderosa Steakhouse units.

 

The operations of the Partnership are dependent upon the management and administrative services provided by HSD per the intercompany services agreement described in note 3. If HSD is not able to continue providing those services, the Partnership can request Metromedia Company (Metromedia), in accordance with the Partnership’s management agreement with Metromedia, to perform the management and administrative services required to continue the uninterrupted operations of the Partnership.

 

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The more significant of these accounting policies are described below.

 

The trademarks associated with the Ponderosa concept remain assets of HSD and are included in the accounts of HSD. HSD granted a license for the use of the domestic trademarks to the Partnership upon formation. There were no payments made for the use of the trademarks.

 

  (b) Accounting Period

 

The Partnerships fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Monday of December. All periods presented comprise a 52 week year.

 

  (c) Cash

 

At various times during the year, the Partnership maintained cash balances at a financial institution in excess of federally insured amounts. The Partnership has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that there is no significant credit risk on such accounts.

 

  (d) Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Partnership’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership’s existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based on historical collection data and current franchisee information. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, accounts receivable of the Partnership were approximately $404,000 and $473,000, respectively, net of reserve balances recorded of $45,000 and $30,000, respectively.

 

  F-56  
 

 

Notes receivable are created when the settlement of a delinquent franchisee receivable account is reached and the entire balance is not immediately paid. All notes receivable have personal guarantees from the franchisee. The notes are made for the shortest time frame negotiable and will generally carry an interest rate of 6% to 12%. Reserve amounts, on the notes, are established generally at 100% or at lesser rates based on the likelihood of collection. As of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, notes receivable of the Partnership were approximately $339,000 and $391,000, net of reserve balances recorded of $37,000 and $3,000 at December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, respectively.

 

  (e) Franchise Royalties, Fees and Finance Charges

 

Royalty fees are based on franchise restaurant sales and are recognized as revenue when earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the franchised restaurants commence operation as all services to be provided by the Partnership to earn such fees have been provided. Unearned fees are deferred and are classified as current or long-term liabilities based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. Finance charges may be assessed on past due receivables from franchisees and are recognized when deemed collectible.

 

  (f) Income Taxes

 

Income taxes on the earnings of the Partnership are the responsibility of the partners; accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Management evaluated the Partnership’s tax positions and concluded that the Partnership had taken no material uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, is recorded in interest expense and penalties incurred in operating expenses.

 

  (g) Distributions to Partners

 

Earnings, losses, and other tax attributes of the Partnership are allocated to the partners on the basis stated in the partnership agreement. It is expected and has been the past practice that the Partnership will distribute to the partners those earnings deemed to be in excess of a reasonable level of capital needed to maintain a strong financial position for the Partnership.

 

  (h) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  (i) Joint and Several Liabilities

 

Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Partnership agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Partnership expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 3 for further detail. The Partnership has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015.

 

  F-57  
 

 

  (j) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Partnership has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the standard will have on the financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

  (k) Subsequent Events

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Partnership has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through February 6, 2017.

 

(3) Related Party Transactions

 

On January 1, 2010, the Partnership entered into an intercompany services agreement with HSD, whereby HSD provides various management and administrative services. These services include assistance in the areas of marketing, franchise operations and field support, franchise sales, accounting, purchasing and credit and collections. These expenses are charged to the Partnership based on actual usage or other allocation methods, which approximates actual usage. The Partnership believes the expenses charged are reasonable; however, such expenses may not necessarily be indicative of the cost of obtaining such services if the Partnership operated on a stand-alone basis. In 2016, 2015 and 2014, HSD charged the Partnership approximately $1,605,000, $1,952,000, and $2,115,000, respectively, for these various management and administrative services which have been included in general and administrative expenses in the Statements of Income.

 

HSD also has a management agreement with Metromedia, whereby Metromedia provides management and administrative services at an agreed-upon fixed amount.

 

Additionally, all cash receipts and disbursements are handled by HSD on behalf of the Partnership.

 

On October 14, 2009, HSD and certain affiliates, including the Partnership, (collectively, Borrowers) entered into a Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) with Metromedia which provides for: (1) a term loan of $5,840,000 (first term loan), (2) a term loan of $9,300,000 (second term loan), and (3) a revolving line of credit in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,280,000. The revolving line of credit agreement was subsequently amended, to extend the available borrowing limit to the level needed to cover actual and anticipated draws against the revolving line of credit. The interest on these notes accrues and is payable at a rate of 7.5% per annum. No proceeds were received by the Partnership; however, the Partnership is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower and guarantor.

 

  F-58  
 

 

The balances at December 26, 2016 for the first term loan, second term loan, and the revolving line of credit are approximately $7,510,000, $12,008,000 and $21,316,000, respectively. Effective January 1, 2017, the maturity dates on the first term loan, the second term loan and the revolving line of credit were extended to December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2014, the interest rate on the outstanding principal balance plus any accrued and unpaid interest as of December 31, 2013 on such loans was amended to (i) 0.28% per annum with respect to the first term loan and the second term loan ; and (ii) with respect to the revolving line of credit, 0.28% initially, and then at the short-term Applicable Federal Rate published each month by the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as may be adjusted from time to time. Effective January 1, 2014, for any calendar year during which any amounts under the loans remain outstanding, any accrued interest not paid by December 31 shall be capitalized to the principal balance. In 2016 and 2015, additional funds were drawn against the revolving line of credit in the aggregate amounts of approximately $398,000 and $1,732,000, respectively. From time to time, total advances per the revolving line of credit agreement have been and are in excess of the maximum line amount available. Effective January 20, 2017, Metromedia executed a waiver of default for the failure by the Borrowers to immediately repay the aggregate outstanding advances to the extent required to eliminate such excesses, as required by the revolving line of credit agreement.

 

(4) Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Partnership is subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Management believes that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Partnership.

 

  F-59  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Balance Sheets

(in thousands)

 

    March 27, 2017     December 26, 2016  
    (unaudited)        
Assets                
                 
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 51     $ 50  
Accounts receivable, net     45       55  
Receivable - affiliate     3       -  
Total Current Assets   $ 99     $ 105  
                 
Liabilities and Partners’ Capital                
                 
Liabilities:                
Payable - affiliate   $ -     $ 5  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Partners’ capital     99       100  
Total liabilities and partners’ capital   $ 99     $ 105  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-60  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Statements of Income

(in thousands)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended  
    March 27, 2017     March 28, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Revenues:                
Franchise royalties   $ 132     $ 173  
Franchise fees     -       6  
Total revenues     132       179  
                 
General and administrative expenses     139       126  
                 
Net income (loss)   $ (7 )   $ 53  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-61  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Statements of Partners’ Capital

13 Week Periods ended March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016

(in thousands)

 

Partners’ capital, December 28, 2015   $ 91  
Distributions     (70 )
Net income     53  
Partners’ capital, March 28, 2016 (unaudited)   $ 74  
Partners’ capital, December 26, 2016   $ 100  
Contributions     6  
Net loss     (7 )
Partners’ capital, March 27, 2017 (unaudited)   $ 99  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-62  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended  
    March 27, 2017     March 28, 2016  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income (loss)   $ (7 )   $ 53  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:                
Bad debt expense     4       5  
Changes in assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable, net     6       10  
Payable / receivable - affiliate     (8 )     -  
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     (5 )     68  
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:                
Contributions from partners     6       -  
Distributions to partners     -       (70 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities     6       (70 )
                 
Net (decrease) increase in cash     1       (2 )
Cash, beginning of period     50       52  
Cash, end of period   $ 51     $ 50  

 

See independent auditor’s review report and notes to financial statements.

 

  F-63  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(5) General

 

Bonanza Restaurant Company (the Partnership), a Delaware general partnership, is engaged in franchising Bonanza Steakhouse and Bonanza Steak & BBQ restaurants. The Partnership was formed on August 9, 1994, at which time certain assets of the domestic franchising operations of Homestyle Dining LLC (HSD), formerly Metromedia Steakhouses Company, L.P., were transferred to the Partnership. HSD holds a 99% interest in the Partnership, and Jost Restaurant Financing, Inc. (JRFI), a wholly owned subsidiary of HSD, holds the remaining 1% partnership interest. The Partnership relies on HSD for all of its corporate and general and administrative functions, as more fully described in note 3.

 

As of December 28, 2015, the Partnership had 21 Bonanza Steakhouse units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 9 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. During the fiscal quarter ended March 28, 2016, 1 franchised restaurant closed. As of March 28, 2016, the Partnership had 20 Bonanza Steakhouse units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 9 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. During the fiscal year ended December 26, 2016, 1 new franchised restaurant opened, and 1 franchised restaurant closed. As of December 26, 2016, the Partnership had 21 Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 10 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As of December 26, 2016, HSD did not operate any Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units. During the fiscal quarter ended March 27, 2017, 1 franchised restaurant closed. As of March 27, 2017, the Partnership had 20 Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 10 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

 

The operations of the Partnership are dependent upon the management and administrative services provided by HSD per the intercompany services agreement described in note 3. If HSD is not able to continue providing those services, the Partnership can request Metromedia Company (Metromedia), in accordance with the Partnership’s management agreement with Metromedia, to perform the management and administrative services required to continue the uninterrupted operations of the Partnership.

 

(6) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The more significant of these accounting policies are described below.

 

The trademarks associated with the Bonanza concept remain assets of HSD and are included in the accounts of HSD. HSD granted a license for the use of the domestic trademarks to the Partnership upon formation. There were no payments made for the use of the trademarks.

 

  (b) Accounting Period

 

The Partnership’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Monday of December. The Partnership’s fiscal quarters are 13 or 14 week periods. All fiscal quarters presented each comprise a 13 week fiscal quarter.

 

  (c) Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Partnership’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership’s existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based on historical collection data and current franchisee information. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016, accounts receivable of the Partnership were approximately $45,000 and $55,000, respectively, net of reserve balances recorded of $40,000 and $36,000, respectively.

 

  F-64  
 

 

Notes receivable are created when the settlement of a delinquent franchisee receivable account is reached and the entire balance is not immediately paid. All notes receivable have personal guarantees from the franchisee. The notes are made for the shortest timeframe negotiable and will generally carry an interest rate of 5% to 12%. Reserve amounts, on the notes, are established generally at 100% or at lesser rates based on the likelihood of collection. There were no outstanding notes receivable as of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016.

 

  (d) Franchise Royalties, Fees and Finance Charges

 

Royalty fees are based on franchise restaurant sales and are recognized as revenue when earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the franchised restaurants commence operation as all services to be provided by the Partnership to earn such fees have been provided. Unearned fees are deferred and are classified as current or long-term liabilities based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. Finance charges may be assessed on past due receivables from franchisees and are recognized when deemed collectible.

 

  (e) Other Income

 

In the quarter ending March 28, 2016, the Partnership received approximately $40,000 from a settlement agreement reached during the year ending December 29, 2014, which had not been previously recorded as income, as management had previously determined that the receivable was not collectable.

 

  (f) Income Taxes

 

Income taxes on the earnings of the Partnership are the responsibility of the partners; accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Management evaluated the Partnership’s tax positions and concluded that the Partnership had taken no material uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, is recorded in interest expense and penalties incurred in operating expenses.

 

  (g) Distributions to Partners

 

Earnings, losses, and other tax attributes of the Partnership are allocated to the partners on the basis stated in the partnership agreement. It is expected and has been the past practice that the Partnership will distribute to the partners those earnings deemed to be in excess of a reasonable level of capital needed to maintain a strong financial position for the Partnership.

 

  (h) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  (i) Joint and Several Liabilities

 

Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Partnership agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Partnership expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 3 for further details. The Partnership has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of March 27, 2017 and December 26, 2016.

 

  F-65  
 

 

  (j) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Partnership has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the standard will have on the financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

  (k) Subsequent Events

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Partnership has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through June 19, 2017.

 

(7) Related Party Transactions

 

On January 1, 2010, the Partnership entered into an intercompany services agreement with HSD, whereby HSD provides various management and administrative services. These services include assistance in the areas of marketing, franchise operations and field support, franchise sales, accounting, purchasing and credit and collections. These expenses are charged to the Partnership based on actual usage or other allocation methods, which approximates actual usage. The Partnership believes the expenses charged are reasonable; however, such expenses may not necessarily be indicative of the cost of obtaining such services if the Partnership operated on a stand-alone basis. In the fiscal quarters ending on March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, HSD charged the Partnership approximately $97,000 and $110,000, respectively, for these various management and administrative services which have been included in general and administrative expenses in the statements of income.

 

HSD also has a management agreement with Metromedia, whereby Metromedia provides management and administrative services at an agreed-upon fixed amount.

 

Additionally, all cash receipts and disbursements are handled by HSD on behalf of the Partnership.

 

On October 14, 2009, HSD and certain affiliates, including the Partnership, (collectively, Borrowers) entered into a Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) with Metromedia which provides for: (1) a term loan of $5,840,000 (first term loan), (2) a term loan of $9,300,000 (second term loan), and (3) a revolving line of credit in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,280,000. The revolving line of credit agreement was subsequently amended, to extend the available borrowing limit to the level needed to cover actual and anticipated draws against the revolving line of credit. The interest on these notes accrues and is payable at a rate of 7.5% per annum. No proceeds were received by the Partnership; however, the Partnership is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower and guarantor.

 

  F-66  
 

 

The balances at March 27, 2017 for the first term loan, second term loan, and the revolving line of credit are approximately $7,531,000, $12,042,000 and $21,529,000, respectively. Effective January 1, 2017, the maturity dates on the first term loan, the second term loan and the revolving line of credit were extended to December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2014, the interest rate on the outstanding principal balance plus any accrued and unpaid interest as of December 31, 2013 on such loans was amended to (i) 0.28% per annum with respect to the first term loan and the second term loan ; and (ii) with respect to the revolving line of credit, 0.28% initially, and then at the short-term Applicable Federal Rate published each month by the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as may be adjusted from time to time. Effective January 1, 2014, for any calendar year during which any amounts under the loans remain outstanding, any accrued interest not paid by December 31 shall be capitalized to the principal balance. In the quarters ending March 27, 2017 and March 28, 2016, additional funds were drawn against the revolving line of credit in the aggregate amounts of $65,700 and $318,900, respectively. From time to time, total advances per the revolving line of credit agreement have been and are in excess of the maximum line amount available. Effective January 20, 2017, Metromedia executed a waiver of default for the failure by the Borrowers to immediately repay the aggregate outstanding advances to the extent required to eliminate such excesses, as required by the revolving line of credit agreement.

 

(8) Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Partnership is subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Management believes that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Partnership.

 

  F-67  
 

 

Independent Auditor’s Report

 

To the Partners

Bonanza Restaurant Company

Richardson, Texas

 

Report on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Bonanza Restaurant Company, which comprise the balance sheets as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, the related statements of income, changes in partners’ capital and cash flows for the three years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015, and December 29, 2014, and the related notes to the financial statements.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditor’s Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bonanza Restaurant Company as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015, and December 29, 2014 in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/S/ RSM US LLP  
Dallas, Texas  
February 6, 2017  

 

  F-68  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

 

Balance Sheets

 

December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015  
Assets                
                 
Current assets:                
Cash   $ 50     $ 52  
Accounts receivable, net     55       52  
Total assets   $ 105     $ 104  
                 
Liabilities and Partners’ Capital                
                 
Liabilities:                
Payable - affiliate   $ 5     $ 13  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Partners’ capital     100       91  
Total liabilities and partners’ capital   $ 105     $ 104  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-69  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

 

Statements of Income

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015     2014  
Revenues:                        
Franchise royalties   $ 560     $ 625     $ 686  
Franchise fees     15       -       -  
Total revenues     575       625       686  
                         
General and administrative expenses     466       542       556  
                         
Other Income:                        
Other income     40       -       -  
Interest income on accounts receivable     1       -       -  
Total other income     41       -       -  
                         
Net income   $ 150     $ 83     $ 130  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-70  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

 

Statements of Partners’ Capital

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

Partners’ capital, December 30, 2013   $ 104  
Distributions     (115 )
Net income     130  
Partners’ capital, December 29, 2014     119  
Distributions     (111 )
Net income     83  
Partners’ capital, December 28, 2015     91  
Distributions     (141 )
Net income     150  
Partners’ capital, December 26, 2016   $ 100  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-71  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

 

Statements of Cash Flows

 

Years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014

 

(in thousands)

 

    2016     2015     2014  
Cash flows from operating activities:                        
Net income   $ 150     $ 83     $ 130  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                        
Bad debt expense     14       13       3  
Changes in assets and liabilities:                        
Accounts receivable, net     (17 )     (12 )     14  
Payable / receivable - affiliate     (8 )     28       (1 )
Net cash provided by operating activities     139       112       146  
                         
Cash flows from financing activities:                        
Distributions to partners     (141 )     (111 )     (115 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (141 )     (111 )     (115 )
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash     (2 )     1       31  
Cash, beginning of year   $ 52       51       20  
Cash, end of year   $ 50     $ 52     $ 51  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activity:                        
Forgiveness of notes receivable   $ -     $ (13 )   $ -  

 

See notes to financial statements.

 

  F-72  
 

 

BONANZA RESTAURANT COMPANY

Notes to Financial Statements

 

(1) General

 

Bonanza Restaurant Company (the Partnership), a Delaware general partnership, is engaged in franchising Bonanza Steakhouse and Bonanza Steak & BBQ restaurants. The Partnership was formed on August 9, 1994, at which time certain assets of the domestic franchising operations of Homestyle Dining LLC (HSD), formerly Metromedia Steakhouses Company, L.P., were transferred to the Partnership. HSD holds a 99% interest in the Partnership, and Jost Restaurant Financing, Inc. (JRFI), a wholly owned subsidiary of HSD, holds the remaining 1% partnership interest. The Partnership relies on HSD for all of its corporate and general and administrative functions, as more fully described in note 3.

 

As of December 28, 2015, the Partnership had 21 Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 9 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. During the fiscal year ended December 26, 2016, 1 new franchised restaurant opened, and 1 franchised restaurant closed. As of December 26, 2016, the Partnership had 21 Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units operating under franchise (and sub-franchise) agreements in 10 states within the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As of December 26, 2016, HSD did not operate any Bonanza Steakhouse or Bonanza Steak & BBQ units.

 

The operations of the Partnership are dependent upon the management and administrative services provided by HSD per the intercompany services agreement described in note 3. If HSD is not able to continue providing those services, the Partnership can request Metromedia Company (Metromedia), in accordance with the Partnership’s management agreement with Metromedia, to perform the management and administrative services required to continue the uninterrupted operations of the Partnership.

 

(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

  (a) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The more significant of these accounting policies are described below.

 

The trademarks associated with the Bonanza concept remain assets of HSD and are included in the accounts of HSD. HSD granted a license for the use of the domestic trademarks to the Partnership upon formation. There were no payments made for the use of the trademarks.

 

  (b) Accounting Period

 

The Partnerships fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the last Monday of December. All periods presented comprise a 52 week year.

 

  (c) Cash

 

At various times during the year, the Partnership maintained cash balances at a financial institution in excess of federally insured amounts. The Partnership has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that there is no significant credit risk on such accounts.

 

  (d) Accounts and Notes Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is the Partnership’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Partnership’s existing accounts receivable. The Partnership determines the allowance based on historical collection data and current franchisee information. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. As of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015, accounts receivable of the Partnership were approximately $55,000 and $52,000, net of reserve balances recorded of $36,000 and $22,000, respectively.

 

  F-73  
 

 

Notes receivable are created when the settlement of a delinquent franchisee receivable account is reached and the entire balance is not immediately paid. All notes receivable have personal guarantees from the franchisee. The notes are made for the shortest timeframe negotiable and will generally carry an interest rate of 9% to 12%. Reserve amounts, on the notes, are established generally at 100% or at lesser rates based on the likelihood of collection.

 

The Partnership wrote off approximately $13,000 of notes receivable in 2015, which had previously already been reserved and therefore not shown on the balance sheet as of December 28, 2015. There were no outstanding notes receivable as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015.

 

  (e) Franchise Royalties, Fees and Finance Charges

 

Royalty fees are based on franchise restaurant sales and are recognized as revenue when earned. Initial franchise fees are recognized as revenue when the franchised restaurants commence operation as all services to be provided by the Partnership to earn such fees have been provided. Unearned fees are deferred and are classified as current or long-term liabilities based upon the expected franchise restaurant opening dates. Finance charges may be assessed on past due receivables from franchisees and are recognized when deemed collectible.

 

  (f) Other Income

 

In the year ending December 26, 2016, the Partnership received approximately $40,000 from a settlement agreement reached during the year ending December 29, 2014, which had not been previously recorded as income, as management had previously determined that the receivable was not collectable.

 

  (g) Income Taxes

 

Income taxes on the earnings of the Partnership are the responsibility of the partners; accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

 

Management evaluated the Partnership’s tax positions and concluded that the Partnership had taken no material uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, is recorded in interest expense and penalties incurred in operating expenses.

 

  (h) Distributions to Partners

 

Earnings, losses, and other tax attributes of the Partnership are allocated to the partners on the basis stated in the partnership agreement. It is expected and has been the past practice that the Partnership will distribute to the partners those earnings deemed to be in excess of a reasonable level of capital needed to maintain a strong financial position for the Partnership.

 

  (i) Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

  F-74  
 

 

  (j) Joint and Several Liabilities

 

Joint and several liabilities are recorded for the amount the Partnership agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement among its co-obligors and any additional amount the Partnership expects to pay on behalf of the co-obligors. See note 3 for further details. The Partnership has not recorded any obligations under this arrangement as of December 26, 2016 and December 28, 2015.

 

  (k) Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), requiring an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The updated standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective and permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 one year making it effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The Partnership has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the standard will have on the financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases with a lease term of more than twelve months. Leases will continue to be classified as either financing or operating, with classification affecting the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease. This ASU is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and requires a modified retrospective approach to adoption for lessees related to capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership does not currently have any leases that will have an impact on the financial statements or disclosures as a result of the adoption of this ASU.

 

  (k) Subsequent Events

 

In preparing these financial statements, the Partnership has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through February 6, 2017.

 

(3) Related Party Transactions

 

On January 1, 2010, the Partnership entered into an intercompany services agreement with HSD, whereby HSD provides various management and administrative services. These services include assistance in the areas of marketing, franchise operations and field support, franchise sales, accounting, purchasing and credit and collections. These expenses are charged to the Partnership based on actual usage or other allocation methods, which approximates actual usage. The Partnership believes the expenses charged are reasonable; however, such expenses may not necessarily be indicative of the cost of obtaining such services if the Partnership operated on a stand-alone basis. In 2016, 2015 and 2014, HSD charged the Partnership approximately $364,000, $488,000, and $511,000, respectively, for these various management and administrative services which have been included in general and administrative expenses in the Statements of Income.

 

HSD also has a management agreement with Metromedia, whereby Metromedia provides management and administrative services at an agreed-upon fixed amount.

 

Additionally, all cash receipts and disbursements are handled by HSD on behalf of the Partnership.

 

On October 14, 2009, HSD and certain affiliates, including the Partnership, (collectively, Borrowers) entered into a Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) with Metromedia which provides for: (1) a term loan of $5,840,000 (first term loan), (2) a term loan of $9,300,000 (second term loan), and (3) a revolving line of credit in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $5,280,000. The revolving line of credit agreement was subsequently amended, to extend the available borrowing limit to the level needed to cover actual and anticipated draws against the revolving line of credit. The interest on these notes accrues and is payable at a rate of 7.5% per annum. No proceeds were received by the Partnership; however, the Partnership is jointly and severally liable as a co-borrower and guarantor.

 

  F-75  
 

 

The balances at December 26, 2016 for the first term loan, second term loan, and the revolving line of credit are approximately $7,510,000, $12,008,000 and $21,316,000, respectively. Effective January 1, 2017, the maturity dates on the first term loan, the second term loan and the revolving line of credit were extended to December 31, 2017. Effective January 1, 2014, the interest rate on the outstanding principal balance plus any accrued and unpaid interest as of December 31, 2013 on such loans was amended to (i) 0.28% per annum with respect to the first term loan and the second term loan ; and (ii) with respect to the revolving line of credit, 0.28% initially, and then at the short-term Applicable Federal Rate published each month by the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, as may be adjusted from time to time. Effective January 1, 2014, for any calendar year during which any amounts under the loans remain outstanding, any accrued interest not paid by December 31 shall be capitalized to the principal balance. In 2016 and 2015, additional funds were drawn against the revolving line of credit in the aggregate amounts of approximately $398,000 and $1,732,000, respectively. From time to time, total advances per the revolving line of credit agreement have been and are in excess of the maximum line amount available. Effective January 20, 2017, Metromedia executed a waiver of default for the failure by the Borrowers to immediately repay the aggregate outstanding advances to the extent required to eliminate such excesses, as required by the revolving line of credit agreement.

 

(4) Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Partnership is subject to various claims and legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities. Management believes that any liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Partnership.

 

  F-76  
 

 

 

  119  
     

 

 

 

  120  
     

 

Shares

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

Preliminary Offering Circular

 

  , 2017

 

     
     

 

PART III—EXHIBITS

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  Description
1.1   Form of Selling Agency Agreement
2.1   Certificate of Incorporation (currently in effect)
2.2   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (to be effective upon the closing of this Offering)
2.3   Bylaws
3.1   Form of Selling Agent Warrant (included in Exhibit 1.1)
4.1   Form of Subscription Agreement
4.2   Form of Subscription Agreement for BANQ subscribers
6.1†   2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and forms of award agreements *
6.2   Office Lease, dated November 10, 2016, by and among Duesenberg Investment Company, LLC, Fatburger North America, Inc., Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc., and Fatburger Corporation
6.3   Form of Indemnification Agreement
6.4†   Form of Tax Sharing Agreement, to be effective upon the closing of this Offering.
6.5†   Promissory Note in the principal amount of $30,000,000, to be issued by FAT Brands Inc. to Fog Cutter Capital Group Inc. (effective upon the closing of this Offering)
6.6   Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated March 10, 2017, by and between Metromedia Company, JWK Enterprises LLC and Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., and amendments thereto
8.1   Form of Closing Escrow Agreement with Wilmington Trust, N.A.
11.1   Consents of Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
11.2   Consent of RSM US LLP, Independent Auditors
11.3†   Consent of Loeb & Loeb LLP (included in Exhibit 12.1)
12.1†   Opinion of Loeb & Loeb LLP
13.1   “Testing the waters” materials
15.1   Correspondence by or on behalf of the Company previously submitted pursuant to Rule 252(d).

 

† To be filed by amendment.

* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

  III-1  
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation A, the issuer certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 1-A and has duly caused this Offering statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of California, on September 6, 2017.

 

  FAT BRANDS INC.
     
  By: /s/ Andrew A. Wiederhorn
    Andrew A. Wiederhorn, President and Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Andrew Wiederhorn and Ron Roe, or any of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Form 1-A offering statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

This offering statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date
         
/s/ Andrew A. Wiederhorn   President/Chief Executive Officer and Director   September 6, 2017
Andrew A. Wiederhorn   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Ron Roe   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer   September 6, 2017
Ron Roe   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ James Neuhauser   Director   September 6, 2017
James Neuhauser        
         
/s/ Edward H. Rensi   Director   September 6, 2017
Edward H. Rensi        

 

  III-2  
 

 

FAT BRANDS INC.

 

Maximum: 2,000,000 Shares of Common Stock

$0.0001 par value per share

 

SELLING AGENCY AGREEMENT

 

September [  ], 2017

 

Tripoint Global Equities, LLC

1450 Broadway, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10018

 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Fat Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Selling Agency Agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell on a “best efforts” basis up to a maximum of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to investors (collectively, the “Investors”) in an initial public offering (the “Offering”) pursuant to Regulation A through Tripoint Global Equities, LLC and its online division, Banq®, as Selling Agent (collectively, the “Selling Agent”), acting on a best efforts basis only, in connection with such sales. The shares of Common Stock to be sold in this offering are referred to herein as the “Shares.” The Shares are more fully described in the Offering Statement (as hereinafter defined).

 

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Selling Agent concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

 

1. Agreement to Act on a Best Efforts Basis. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Selling Agent agrees to act on a best efforts basis only, in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares to the Investors. Under no circumstances will the Selling Agent be obligated to underwrite or purchase any of the Shares for its own account or otherwise provide any financing. The Company will pay to the Selling Agent a fee equal to seven and one half percent (7.5%) (the “Fee”) of the gross offering proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Shares, which shall be allocated by Tripoint to Dealers (as hereinafter defined) participating in the offering, in its sole discretion; provided, however, the Fee shall be reduced to 4% for any proceeds received from sales/orders placed through Banq® by investors the Company directly introduces to Tripoint through its marketing campaign or from existing security holders of the Company, as set forth on the cover page of the Final Offering Circular (as hereinafter defined).

 

The Selling Agent shall have the right to enter into selected dealer agreements with other broker-dealers participating in the Offering (each dealer being referred to herein as a “Dealer” and said dealers being collectively referred to herein as the “Dealers”). The Fee shall be re-allowable, in whole or in part, to the Dealers. The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of compensation to any Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Selling Agent for payment of compensation to Dealers.

 

2. Delivery and Payment.

 

(a) On or after the date of this Agreement, the Company, the Selling Agent and Wilmington Trust (the “Escrow Agent”) will enter into an Escrow Agreement substantially in the form included as an exhibit to the Offering Statement (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which escrow accounts will be established, at the Company’s expense, for the benefit of those Investors who do not choose to invest through the Banq® online platform (the “Escrow Accounts”).

 

(b) Prior to the initial Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) of the Offering and any subsequent Closing Date, (i) each Investor will execute and deliver a Purchaser Questionnaire and Subscription Agreement (each, an “Investor Subscription Agreement”) to the Company and the Company will make available to the Selling Agent and the Escrow Agent copies of each such Investor Subscription Agreement; (ii) each Investor will transfer to the Escrow Account funds in an amount equal to the price per Share as shown on the cover page of the Final Offering Circular (as hereinafter defined multiplied by the number of Shares subscribed by such Investor; (iii) subscription funds received from any Investor will be promptly transmitted to the Escrow Accounts in compliance with Rule 15c2-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and (iv) the Escrow Agent will notify the Company and the Selling Agent in writing as to the balance of the collected funds in the Escrow Accounts.

 

  1  
 

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing Section 2(b), Investors that maintain an account with Banq®, a division of the Selling Agent, may participate in the Offering without depositing funds with the Escrow Agent, provided such Investors maintain sufficient funds in their account with Banq®. Investors who wish to participate in the Offering through their account with Banq® will be asked to confirm their respective investment immediately prior to Closing, at which time each Investor will be required to have funds in its account sufficient to fund the purchase of any Shares for which it subscribes in the Offering. At Closing, any amounts subscribed for will be removed from such Investor’s account and sent immediately to the account of the Company less any Fees due to the Selling Agent. Such funds will not be held in a separate escrow account or otherwise segregated until such time as the Offering is closed.

 

(d) If the Escrow Agent shall have received written notice from the Company and the Selling Agent on or before 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on [ ], 2017, or at such other time(s) on such other date(s), not more than thirty (30) days thereafter, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Selling Agent (each such date, a “Closing Date”), the Escrow Agent will release the balance of the Escrow Accounts for collection by the Company and the Selling Agent as provided in the Escrow Agreement and the Company shall deliver the Shares purchased on such Closing Date to the Investors, which delivery may be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or via book entry with the Company’s securities registrar and transfer agent, Vstock (the “Transfer Agent”). The initial closing (the “Closing”) and any subsequent closing (each, a “Subsequent Closing”) shall take place at the office of the Selling Agent or such other location as the Selling Agent and the Company shall mutually agree. All actions taken at the Closing shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously on the date of the Closing and all actions taken at any Subsequent Closing shall be deemed to have occurred simultaneously on the date of any such Subsequent Closing.

 

(e) If the Company and the Selling Agent determine that the offering will not proceed, then the Escrow Agent will promptly return the funds to the investors without interest.

 

(f) On each Closing Date, the Company will issue to the Selling Agent (and/or its designee) warrants to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to five percent (5%) of the shares issued and sold by the Company on such Closing Date (adjusted upward to the nearest whole share) (the “Selling Agent’s Warrants”). The Selling Agent’s Warrants shall be in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto. The Selling Agent’s Warrants shall have an exercise price per share equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the price per Share as shown on the cover page of the Final Offering Circular (as defined below). The Selling Agent’s Warrants will be exercisable for a term of five years beginning on the Qualification Date (as defined below). The Selling Agent understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Rule 5110 against transferring the Selling Agent’s Warrants and the underlying shares of Common Stock during the one hundred eighty (180) days after the Qualification Date and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Selling Agent’s Warrants, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Qualification Date to anyone other than (i) a Selling agent or Dealer in connection with the offering contemplated hereby or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Selling Agent or of any Selling Agent or Dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.

 

  2  
 

 

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants and covenants to the Selling Agent that:

 

(a) The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an offering statement on Form 1-A (File No. [ ]) (collectively, with the various parts of such offering statement, each as amended as of the Qualification Date for such part, including any Offering Circular and all exhibits to such offering statement, the “Offering Statement”) relating to the Shares pursuant to Regulation A as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the other applicable rules, orders and regulations (collectively referred to as the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission promulgated under the Act. As used in this Agreement:

 

(1) “Applicable Time” means 9:00 am (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement;

 

(2) “Final Offering Circular” means the final offering circular relating to the public offering of the Shares as filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation A of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(3) “Preliminary Offering Circular” means any preliminary offering circular relating to the Shares included in the Offering Statement pursuant to Regulation A of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(4) “Pricing Disclosure Materials” means the most recent Preliminary Offering Circular and the materials identified in Schedule 1 hereto;

 

(5) “Qualification Date” means the date as of which the Offering Statement was or will be qualified with the Commission pursuant to Regulation A, the Act and the Rules and Regulations; and

 

(6) “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any video or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Rule 255 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(b) The Offering Statement has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Act and Regulation A of the Rules and Regulations; no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the qualification or use of the Offering Statement, or any amendment thereto, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s, knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission.

 

(c) The Offering Statement, at the time it became qualified, as of the date hereof, and as of each Closing Date, conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of Regulation A, the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

 

(d) The Offering Statement, at the time it became qualified, as of the date hereof, and as of each Closing Date, did not and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(e) The Preliminary Offering Circular did not, as of its date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the statements contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular as provided by the Selling Agent in Section 8(ii).

 

(f) The Final Offering Circular will not, as of its date and on each Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the statements contained in the Final Offering Circular as provided by the Selling Agent in Section 8(ii).

 

(g) the Pricing Disclosure Materials and each Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to the statements contained in the Preliminary Offering Circular as provided by the Selling Agent in Section 8(ii).

 

  3  
 

 

(h) As of each Closing Date, the Company is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own and lease all the assets owned and leased by it and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign organization in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on or affecting the business, prospects, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, or results of operations of the Company (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and of the bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto have been made available to the Selling Agent, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to any Closing Date.

 

(i) The Company has no subsidiaries, nor does it own a controlling interest in any entity other than those entities set forth on Schedule 4 to this Agreement (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”). Each Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation. Each Subsidiary is duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign company in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties (owned, leased or licensed) or the nature or conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary, except for those failures to be so qualified or in good standing which would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the shares of issued capital stock of each corporate subsidiary, and all of the share capital, membership interests and/or equity interests of each subsidiary that is not a corporation, have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, claim, security interest, restriction on transfer, shareholders’ agreement, proxy, voting trust or other defect of title whatsoever.

 

(j) The Company is organized in, and its principal place of business is in, the United States.

 

(k) The Company is not subject to the ongoing reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and has not been subject to an order by the Commission denying, suspending, or revoking the registration of any class of securities pursuant to Section 12(j) of the Exchange Act that was entered within five years preceding the date the Offering Statement was originally filed with the Commission. The Company is not, and has not been at any time during the two-year period preceding the date the Offering Statement was originally filed with the Commission, required to file with the Commission the ongoing reports required by the Rules and Regulations under Regulation A.

 

(l) The Company is not, nor upon completion of the transactions contemplated herein will it be, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not a development stage company or a “business development company” as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act. The Company is not a blank check company and is not an issuer of fractional undivided interests in oil or gas rights or similar interests in other mineral rights. The Company is not an issuer of asset-backed securities as defined in Item 1101(c) of Regulation AB.

 

(m) Neither the Company, nor any predecessor of the Company; nor any other issuer affiliated with the Company; nor any director or executive officer of the Company or other officer of the Company participating in the offering, nor any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, nor any promoter connected with the Company, is subject to the disqualification provisions of Rule 262 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(n) The Company is not a “foreign private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Act.

 

  4  
 

 

(o) The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and the Escrow Agreement have each been authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and are each a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability.

 

(p) The issuance and sale of the Shares have been duly authorized by the Company, and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. The holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Shares, when issued, will conform to the description thereof set forth in the Final Offering Circular in all material respects.

 

(q) The Company has not authorized anyone other than the management of the Company and the Selling Agent to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Selling Agent has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule 1 hereto.

 

(r) The financial statements and the related notes included in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods covered thereby in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), except as may be stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or schedules of the Company, any Subsidiary or any other entity are required by the Act or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular. There are no off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Regulation S-K Item 303(a)(4)(ii)) that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

(s) Hutchinson & Bloodgood, LLP (the “Accountants”), who have reported on the financial statements and schedules described in Section 3(s), are registered independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The financial statements of the Company and the related notes and schedules included in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and present fairly the information shown therein.

 

(t) Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Statement and the most recent Preliminary Offering Circular and prior to the Closing and any Subsequent Closing, other than as described in the Final Offering Circular (A) there has not been and will not have been any change in the capital stock of the Company or long-term debt of the Company or any Subsidiary or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock or equity interests, or any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, prospects, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”) and (B) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sustained or will sustain any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular.

 

(u) Since the date as of which information is given in the most recent Preliminary Offering Circular, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has entered or will before the Closing or any Subsequent Closing enter into any transaction or agreement, not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred or will incur any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any plans to do any of the foregoing.

 

  5  
 

 

(v) The Company and each Subsidiary has good and valid title in fee simple to all items of real property and good and valid title to all personal property described in the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims except those that (1) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or (2) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property described in the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular as being leased by the Company or any Subsidiary that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole is held by them under valid, existing and enforceable leases, except those that (A) do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or (B) would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w) There are no legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings pending, either domestic or foreign, to which the Company is a party or to which any property of the Company is the subject, nor are there, to the Company’s knowledge, any threatened legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, either domestic or foreign, involving the Company or any property of the Company that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; to the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others.

 

(x) The Company and each Subsidiary has, and at each Closing Date will have, (1) all governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to carry on its business as presently conducted except where the failure to have such governmental licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (2) performed all its obligations required to be performed, and is not, and at each Closing Date will not be, in default, under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument (collectively, a “contract or other agreement”) to which it is a party or by which its property is bound or affected and, to the Company’s knowledge, no other party under any material contract or other agreement to which it is a party is in default in any respect thereunder. The Company and its Subsidiaries are not in violation of any provision of its organizational or governing documents.

 

(y) The Company has obtained all authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, exemption, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency or any sub-division thereof that is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares and the Selling Agent’s Securities under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as may be required under federal, state, local and foreign laws, the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, state securities or Blue Sky laws, the rules and regulations of FINRA or The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“NASDAQ”).

 

(z) There is no actual or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, enforcement action or investigation by any governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the Company, and the Company has received no notice of any pending or threatened claim or investigation against the Company that would provide a legal basis for any enforcement action, and the Company has no reason to believe that any governmental authority is considering such action.

 

(aa) Neither the execution of this Agreement, nor the issuance, offering or sale of the Shares, nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereof or thereof will conflict with, or will result in a breach of, any of the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any contract or other agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject, except such conflicts, breaches or defaults as may have been waived or would not, in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; nor will such action result in any violation, except such violations that would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, of (1) the provisions of the organizational or governing documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (2) any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or of any court or of any federal, state or other regulatory authority or other government body having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

  6  
 

 

(bb) There is no document or contract of a character required to be described in the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular or to be filed as an exhibit to the Offering Statement which is not described or filed as required. All such contracts to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party have been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or any Subsidiary, and constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or any Subsidiary, and are enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms thereof, subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability. None of these contracts have been suspended or terminated for convenience or default by the Company or any of the other parties thereto, and the Company has not received notice of any such pending or threatened suspension or termination.

 

(cc) The Company and its directors, officers or controlling persons have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action intended, or which might reasonably be expected, to cause or result, under the Act or otherwise, in, or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Company’s Common Stock.

 

(dd) Other than as previously disclosed to the Selling Agent in writing, the Company, or any person acting on behalf of the Company, has not and, except in consultation with the Selling Agent, will not publish, advertise or otherwise make any announcements concerning the distribution of the Shares, and has not and will not conduct road shows, seminars or similar activities relating to the distribution of the Shares nor has it taken or will it take any other action for the purpose of, or that could reasonably be expected to have the effect of, preparing the market, or creating demand, for the Shares.

 

(ee) No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company as a result of the filing of the Offering Statement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been waived or as are described in the Offering Statement.

 

(ff) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or threatened labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any Subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors.

 

(gg) The Company and each of its subsidiaries: (i) are and have been in material compliance with all laws, to the extent applicable, and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws, and comparable state laws, and all other local, state, federal, national, supranational and foreign laws, manual provisions, policies and administrative guidance relating to the regulation of the Company and its subsidiaries except for such non-compliance as would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) have not received notice of any ongoing claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Regulatory Agency or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in material violation of any laws and has no knowledge that any such Regulatory Agency or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; and (iii) are not a party to any corporate integrity agreement, deferred prosecution agreement, monitoring agreement, consent decree, settlement order, or similar agreements, or has any reporting obligations pursuant to any such agreement, plan or correction or other remedial measure entered into with any Governmental Authority.

 

  7  
 

 

(hh) The business and operations of the Company, and each of its Subsidiaries, have been and are being conducted in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, approvals, plans, authorizations or requirements relating to occupational safety and health, or pollution, or protection of health or the environment (including, without limitation, those relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes into ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, or relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of chemical substances, pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, whether solid, gaseous or liquid in nature) of any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction (“Environmental Laws”), and all applicable judicial or administrative agency or regulatory decrees, awards, judgments and orders relating thereto, except where the failure to be in such compliance would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice from any governmental instrumentality or any third party alleging any material violation thereof or liability thereunder (including, without limitation, liability for costs of investigating or remediating sites containing hazardous substances and/or damages to natural resources).

 

(ii) There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (as defined below) by or caused by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.

 

(jj) The Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other adequate rights to use, on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and each of its Subsidiary’s business as now conducted (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”), except to the extent such failure to own, possess or have other rights to use such Intellectual Property would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(kk) Except as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary (1) has timely filed all federal, state, provincial, local and foreign tax returns that are required to be filed by such entity through the date hereof, which returns are true and correct, or has received timely extensions for the filing thereof, and (2) has paid all taxes, assessments, penalties, interest, fees and other charges due or claimed to be due from the Company, other than (A) any such amounts being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP or (B) any such amounts currently payable without penalty or interest. There are no tax audits or investigations pending, which if adversely determined could have a Material Adverse Effect; nor to the knowledge of the Company is there any proposed additional tax assessments against the Company or any Subsidiary which could have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. No transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding tax or duty is payable by or on behalf of the Selling Agent to any foreign government outside the United States or any political subdivision thereof or any authority or agency thereof or therein having the power to tax in connection with (i) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company; (ii) the purchase from the Company, and the initial sale and delivery of the Shares to purchasers thereof; or (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other document to be furnished hereunder.

 

(ll) On each Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares to be issued and sold on such Closing Date will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been fully complied with.

 

  8  
 

 

(mm) The Company and its Subsidiaries are insured with insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company, each Subsidiary or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; and there are no claims by the Company or its Subsidiary under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that is not materially greater than the current cost. The Company has obtained director’s and officer’s insurance in such amounts as is customary for a similarly situated company engaging in an initial public offering of securities.

 

(nn) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent or employee of either the Company or any Subsidiary has directly or indirectly, (1) made any unlawful contribution to any federal, state, local and foreign candidate for public office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law, (2) made any payment to any federal, state, local and foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof, (3) violated or is in violation of any provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, or (4) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(oo) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no material action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(pp) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions (the “Sanctions Regulations”) administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC or listed on the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company, is named on any denied party or entity list administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce pursuant to the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any Sanctions Regulations or to support activities in or with countries sanctioned by said authorities, or for engaging in transactions that violate the EAR.

 

(qq) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of the last Closing Date and completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than each Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular, or such other materials as to which the Selling Agent shall have consented in writing.

 

  9  
 

 

(tt) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and all stock purchase, stock option, stock-based severance, employment, change-in-control, medical, disability, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees, directors or independent contractors of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has had or has any present or future obligation or liability, has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred which would result in a material liability to the Company with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists that would subject the Company to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty, or liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable law; and for each such plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the Code has been incurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(uu) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other, which would be required to be disclosed in the Offering Statement, the Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular and is not so disclosed.

 

(vv) The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Act, the Rules and Regulations or the interpretations thereof by the Commission or that would fail to come within the safe harbor for integration under Regulation A.

 

(xx) The Shares have been approved for listing on NASDAQ under the symbol “FAT.”

 

(yy) Except as set forth in this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Selling Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering of the Shares.

 

(zz) To the knowledge of the Company, there are no affiliations with FINRA among the Company’s directors, officers or any five percent or greater stockholder of the Company or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities that were acquired during the 180-day period immediately preceding the initial filing date of the Offering Statement.

 

(aaa) There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of their respective family members. The Company has not directly or indirectly, including through its Subsidiaries, extended or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or executive officer of the Company or any of their respective related interests, other than any extensions of credit that ceased to be outstanding prior to the initial filing of the Offering Statement. No transaction has occurred between or among the Company and any of its officers or directors, stockholders, customers, suppliers or any affiliate or affiliates of the foregoing that is required to be described or filed as an exhibit to in the Offering Statement, the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials or the Final Offering Circular and is not so described.

 

(bbb) The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each United States federal court and New York state court located in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York, New York, U.S.A. (each, a “New York Court”), and the Company has the power to designate, appoint and authorize, and pursuant to Section 13 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably designated, appointed and authorized an agent for service of process in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Shares in any New York Court, and service of process effected on such authorized agent will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company as provided in Section 13 hereof.

 

  10  
 

 

(ccc) The Selling Agent’s Warrants have been duly authorized for issuance. The Company has reserved a sufficient number of shares of its Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of the Selling Agent’s Warrants and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Selling Agent’s Warrants, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (such shares of Common Stock, together with the Selling Agent’s Warrants, the “Selling Agent’s Securities”). The issuance of the Common Stock pursuant to the Selling Agent’s Warrants will not be subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

4. Agreements of the Company.

 

(a) The Offering Statement has become qualified, and the Company will file the Final Offering Circular, subject to the prior approval of the Selling Agent, pursuant to Rule 253 and Regulation A, within the prescribed time period and will provide a copy of such filing to the Selling Agent promptly following such filing.

 

(b) The Company will not, during such period as the Final Offering Circular would be required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by an underwriter or dealer in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement (whether physically or through compliance with Rules 251 and 254 under the Act or any similar rule(s)), file any amendment or supplement to the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular unless a copy thereof shall first have been submitted to the Selling Agent within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Selling Agent shall not have reasonably objected thereto in good faith.

 

(c) The Company will notify the Selling Agent promptly, and will, if requested, confirm such notification in writing: (1) when any amendment to the Offering Statement is filed; (2) of any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Offering Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Final Offering Circular or for additional information; (3) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order preventing or suspending the qualification of the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof; (4) of becoming aware of the occurrence of any event that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Offering Statement, the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials or the Final Offering Circular untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Offering Statement, the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials or the Final Offering Circular in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading; and (5) of receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to any suspension of the qualification or exemption from registration of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the qualification of the Offering Statement in connection with the offering contemplated hereby or in connection with sales of Common Stock pursuant to market making activities by the Selling Agent, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment. If the Company has omitted any information from the Offering Statement, it will use its best efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to Regulation A, the Act and the Rules and Regulations and to notify the Selling Agent promptly of all such filings.

 

(d) If, at any time when the Final Offering Circular relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the Final Offering Circular, as then amended or supplemented, would, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to the Company or counsel to the Selling Agent, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or the Offering Statement, as then amended or supplemented, would, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to the Company or counsel to the Selling Agent, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or if for any other reason it is necessary, in the reasonable judgment of counsel to the Company or counsel to the Selling Agent, at any time to amend or supplement the Final Offering Circular or the Offering Statement to comply with the Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at the Company’s expense, an amendment to the Offering Statement and/or an amendment or supplement to the Final Offering Circular that corrects such statement and/or omission or effects such compliance and will deliver to the Selling Agent, without charge, such number of copies thereof as the Selling Agent may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Final Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Selling Agent, and the Selling Agent agrees to provide to each Investor, prior to the Closing and, as applicable, any Subsequent Closing, a copy of the Final Offering Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

  11  
 

 

(e) The Company will furnish to the Selling Agent and their counsel, without charge (a) one conformed copy of the Offering Statement as originally filed with the Commission and each amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto, and (b) so long as an offering circular relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act or the Rules and Regulations, as many copies of each Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Selling Agent may reasonably request.

 

(f) If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has or will promptly notify the Selling Agent in writing and has or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

(h) The Company will comply with any undertakings contained in the Offering Statement.

 

(i) Prior to the sale of the Shares to the Investors, the Company will cooperate with the Selling Agent and its counsel in connection with the registration or qualification, or exemption therefrom, of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Agent may reasonably request; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(j) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering and sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Final Offering Circular under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

 

(k) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ upon approval of the listing application filed with NASDAQ.

 

(l) The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action intended, or which might reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization of the price of the Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

 

(m) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Selling Agent, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option or warrant to purchase, make any short sale, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any offer, sale, grant of any option or warrant to purchase or other disposition), any shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock of the Company, (the “Lock-Up Securities”) for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), except with respect to (i) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options and warrants outstanding as of the date hereof and the issuance of Common Stock or stock options under any employee benefit or stock incentive plan of the Company existing on the date hereof, and described in the Final Offering Circular, (iii) the issuance of Common Stock or stock options under any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan described in the Final Offering Circular, or (iv) the issuance of any shares of Common Stock by the Company in connection with a licensing agreement, joint venture, acquisition or business combination or other collaboration or strategic transaction, provided, however that recipients of such shares of Common Stock agree to be bound by the terms of the lock-up letter described in Section 7(x) hereof and the sum of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock so issued shall not exceed 10% of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately following the consummation of this offering of Shares. If the Selling Agent agrees to waive or release any Lock-Up Securities from the Lock-Up Period, the Company will announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of such release or waiver.

 

  12  
 

 

(n) The Company will direct its counsel to issue legal opinions to the Company’s transfer agent, as requested by the Selling Agent, to enable the Selling Agent to resell the shares issuable upon cashless exercise of the Selling Agent’s Warrant in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the Act.

 

5. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Agent; Agreements of the Selling Agent. The Selling Agent represents and warrants and covenants to the Company that:

 

(a) The Selling Agent agrees that it shall not include any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication used or referred to by such Selling Agent without the prior consent of the Company (any such issuer information with respect to whose use the Company has given its consent, “Permitted Issuer Information”), provided that “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) within the meaning of this Section 5 shall not be deemed to include information prepared by the Selling Agent on the basis of, or derived from, “issuer information”.

 

(b) Neither the Selling Agent nor any Dealer, nor any managing member of the Selling Agent or any Dealer, nor any director or executive officer of the Selling Agent or any Dealer or other officer of the Selling Agent or any Dealer participating in the offering of the Shares is subject to the disqualification provisions of Rule 262 of the Rules and Regulations. No registered representative of the Selling Agent or any Dealer, or any other person being compensated by or through the Selling Agent or any Dealer for the solicitation of Investors, is subject to the disqualification provisions of Rule 262 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(c) The Selling Agent and each Dealer is a member of FINRA and each of them and their respective employees and representatives have all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement, and each shall remain a member or duly licensed, as the case may be, during the Offering.

 

(d) Except for Participating Dealer Agreements, no agreement will be made by the Selling Agent with any person permitting the resale, repurchase or distribution of any Shares purchased by such person.

 

(e) Except as otherwise consented to by the Company, the Selling Agent has not and will not use or distribute any written offering materials other than the Preliminary Offering Circular, Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular. The Selling Agent has not and will not use any “broker-dealer use only” materials with members of the public, or has not and will not make any unauthorized verbal representations or verbal representations which contradict or are inconsistent with the statements made in the Offering Statement in connection with offers or sales of the Shares.

 

6. Expenses.

 

(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay, or reimburse if paid by the Selling Agent, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Offering Statement (including each and every amendment thereto) and exhibits thereto, each Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials, the Final Offering Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto, including all fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel and accountants to the Company, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Shares (if any), (iii) furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) such copies of the Offering Statement (including each and every amendment thereto), each Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials, the Final Offering Circular, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the direct placement of the Shares and market making activities of the Selling Agent, (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the NASDAQ including any supplemental listing application, (v) any filings required to be made by the Selling Agent with FINRA, and the fees, disbursements and other charges in connection therewith, and in connection with any required review by FINRA, (vi) the registration or qualification of the Shares and the Selling Agent’s Securities (as defined in Section 3(aaa)) for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 4(j), including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel in connection therewith, and the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final Blue Sky memoranda, (vii) the fees of counsel to the Selling Agent in connection with the Offering up to a maximum of $55,000, (viii) all transfer taxes, if any, with respect to the sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company to the Investors, (ix) fees and disbursements of the Accountants incurred in delivering the letter(s) described in Section 7(vii) of this Agreement and (x) the fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent.

 

  13  
 

 

(ii) If this Agreement is terminated by the Selling Agent in accordance with the provisions of Section 7, Section 9(i)(c), (d) or (f), the Company shall reimburse the Selling Agent for all of its documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees of its counsel (upon abandonment of the Offering or expiration or termination of this Agreement, the legal counsel shall submit their legal fees to the Company, not to exceed $25,000) (“Reimbursable Expenses”).

 

7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Selling Agent. The obligations of the Selling Agent hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

 

(i) (a) No stop order suspending the qualification of the Offering Statement shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or threatened by any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission), (b) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Offering Statement or the qualification or exemption of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before, or threatened or contemplated by, any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission), (c) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities and (d) after the date hereof no amendment or supplement to the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Selling Agent and the Selling Agent did not object thereto in good faith, and the Selling Agent shall have received certificates of the Company, dated as of each Closing Date and signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect of clauses (a), (b) and (c).

 

(ii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular, (a) there shall not have been a Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in each case other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular and (b) the Company shall not have sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood or other casualty, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, which is not set forth in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular, if in the reasonable judgment of the Selling Agent any such development makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares to Investors and the delivery of the Selling Agent’s Securities as contemplated hereby.

 

(iii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular, there shall have been no litigation or other proceeding instituted against the Company or any of its officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any federal, state or local or foreign court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which litigation or proceeding, in the reasonable judgment of the Selling Agent, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(iv) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct as of each Closing Date in all respects for those representations and warranties qualified by materiality and in all material respects for those representations and warranties that are not qualified by materiality, as if made on such date, and all covenants and agreements herein contained to be performed on the part of the Company and all conditions herein contained to be fulfilled or complied with by the Company at or prior to such Closing Date shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or complied with in all material respects.

 

  14  
 

 

(v) The Selling Agent shall have received an opinion and 10b-5 negative assurances letter, dated as of each Closing Date, of Loeb & Loeb LLP, as counsel to the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

(vi) The Selling Agent shall have received an opinion, dated as of each Closing Date, of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li, LLC, as counsel to the Selling Agent.

 

(vii) At the Closing and at any Subsequent Closing, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Selling Agent a letter, dated the date of its delivery (the “Comfort Letter”), addressed to the Selling Agent and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Selling Agent containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Selling Agent with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Offering Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Materials and the Final Offering Circular.

 

(viii) At the Closing and at any Subsequent Closing, there shall be furnished to the Selling Agent a certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Selling Agent to the effect that each signer has carefully examined the Offering Statement, the Final Offering Circular and the Pricing Disclosure Materials, and that to each of such person’s knowledge:

 

(a) (1) As of the date of each such certificate, (x) the Offering Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (y) neither the Final Offering Circular nor the Pricing Disclosure Materials contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (2) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Offering Circular in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading in any material respect.

 

(b) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement were, when originally made, and are, at the time such certificate is delivered, true and correct in all respects for those representations and warranties qualified by materiality and in all material respects for those representations and warranties that are not qualified by materiality.

 

(c) Each of the covenants required herein to be performed by the Company on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the delivery of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully complied with.

 

(d) No stop order suspending the qualification of the Offering Statement or of any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the Commission.

 

(e) Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Offering Statement and in the Final Offering Circular, there has been no Material Adverse Change.

 

(ix) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Selling Agent such certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the Selling Agent may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness on any Closing Date of any statement in the Offering Statement, the Preliminary Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials or the Final Offering Circular, as to the accuracy on such Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations hereunder of the Selling Agent.

 

  15  
 

 

(x) The Selling Agent shall have received the lock-up letters referred to in Section 4(m) hereof substantially in the form of Exhibit A from each director, officer and stockholder of the Company named in Schedule 2 hereto.

 

(xii) The Shares have been approved for quotation upon notice of issuance on the NASDAQ.

 

(xiii) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Selling Agent on each Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and the Subsidiaries in their respective jurisdiction of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Selling Agent may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(xiv) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the plan of distribution, or other arrangements of the transactions, contemplated hereby.

 

(xv) On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (a) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NYSE:MKT or NASDAQ; (b) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (c) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (d) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (c) or (d) in the judgment of the Selling Agent makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered on any Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Final Offering Circular.

 

8. Indemnification.

 

(i) The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Selling Agent and each of the Dealers, and each of their directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Selling Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each an “Indemnified Party”), from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages, joint or several (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto)), to which it, or any of them, may become subject under the Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by the Company in Section 3 of this Agreement, (b) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in (1) any Preliminary Offering Circular, the Offering Statement or the Final Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto, (2) the Pricing Disclosure Materials, (3) any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or (4) any application or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the Company based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws thereof or filed with the Commission or any securities association or securities exchange (each, an “Application”), or (c) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Offering Circular, the Offering Statement, the Final Offering Circular, the Pricing Disclosure Materials, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Permitted Issuer Information or any Application a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Shares in the offering to any person and is based solely on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Indemnified Party through the Selling Agent expressly for inclusion in the Offering Statement, any Preliminary Offering Circular, the Final Offering Circular, or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Application, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Indemnified Party consists of the information described as such in subsection (ii) below. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

 

  16  
 

 

(ii) The Selling Agent will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) that (a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement made by the Selling Agent in Section 5 of this Agreement, (b) arise out of or are based upon any failure or alleged failure of the Selling Agent to pay any compensation to a Dealer or Dealers, or (c) arise out of or are based solely upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Offering Statement, any Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of or are based solely upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Offering Statement, any Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Selling Agent expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. The Company acknowledges that, for all purposes under this Agreement, the statements set forth in the paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in any Preliminary Offering Circular and the Final Offering Circular constitute the only information relating to the Selling Agent furnished in writing to the Company by the Selling Agent expressly for inclusion in the Offering Statement, any Preliminary Offering Circular or the Final Offering Circular. In no event shall the Selling Agent indemnify the Company for any amounts in excess of the fees actually received by it pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

 

(iii) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under subsection (i) or (ii) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any Indemnified Party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any Indemnified Party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party (who shall not, except with the consent of the Indemnified Party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such Indemnified Party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (a) includes an unconditional release of the Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Indemnified Party.

 

  17  
 

 

(iv) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under subsection (i) or (ii) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Selling Agent on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the Indemnified Party failed to give the notice required under subsection (iii) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Selling Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Selling Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to the Fee received by the Selling Agent. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Selling Agent on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Selling Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (iv) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (iv). The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (iv) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (iv), the Selling Agent will not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the Fee received by the Selling Agent. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

9. Termination.

 

(i) The obligations of the Selling Agent under this Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the initial Closing Date, by notice to the Company from the Selling Agent, without liability on the part of the Selling Agent to the Company if, prior to delivery and payment for the Shares, in the sole judgment of the Selling Agent: (a) there has occurred any material adverse change in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Selling Agent, will in the future materially disrupt, the securities markets or there shall be such a material adverse change in general financial, political or economic conditions or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Selling Agent, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares; (b) there has occurred any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, including without limitation as a result of terrorist activities, such as to make it, in the judgment of the Selling Agent, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares; (c) trading in the Shares or any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited; (d) trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NYSE:MKT or NASDAQ has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, FINRA, or any other governmental or regulatory authority; (e) a banking moratorium has been declared by any state or Federal authority; or (f) in the judgment of the Selling Agent, there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Final Offering Circular, any material adverse change in the assets, properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business.

 

(ii) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 6 hereof.

 

10. Notices. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed or delivered (i) if to the Company, at the office of the Company, 9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Beverly Hills, California 90212, Attention: Andrew Wiederhorn, with copies to Loeb & Loeb LLP, Attention: Allen Sussman, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90067 or (ii) if to the Selling Agent, at the office of Tripoint Global Equities, LLC, 1450 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10018 Attention: Mark Elenowitz, with copies to Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li, LLC, Attention: Louis Taubman, 1450 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, New York 10018 Attention: Louis Taubman, Esq. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under Section 8 may be made by facsimile or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing.

 

  18  
 

 

11. Survival. The respective representations, warranties, agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company and the Selling Agent set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Selling Agent or any controlling person referred to in Section 8 hereof and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Shares. The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 6, 7, 8 and 10 hereof shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

12. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Selling Agent, the Company and their respective successors, and nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i) the indemnification and contribution contained in Sections 8(i) and (iv) of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Selling Agent and any person or persons who control the Selling Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnification and contribution contained in Sections 8(ii) and (iv) of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Offering Statement and any person or persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No purchaser of Shares shall be deemed a successor because of such purchase.

 

13. Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the New York Courts, and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the New York Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company has irrevocably appointed [_____] pursuant to a Form U-2 Uniform Consent to Service of Process filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York, as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York.

 

With respect to any Related Proceeding, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in the New York Courts, and with respect to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the New York Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.

 

The obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any sum due to the Selling Agent shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt by the Selling Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which the Selling Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to the Selling Agent in United States dollars hereunder, the Company agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Selling Agent against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to the Selling Agent hereunder, the Selling Agent agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to the Selling Agent hereunder.

 

  19  
 

 

14. Acknowledgement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Selling Agent is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby. Additionally, the Selling Agent is not advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Selling Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters). The Company has conferred with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Selling Agent shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company or any other person with respect thereto. The Selling Agent advises that it and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of securities and financial services and that it or its affiliates may have business relationships or enter into contractual relationships with purchasers or potential purchasers of the Company’s securities. Any review by the Selling Agent of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Selling Agent and shall not be on behalf of, or for the benefit of, the Company.

 

15. Applicable Law. The validity and interpretations of this Agreement, and the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any provisions relating to conflicts of laws.

 

16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto as to the matters covered hereby and supersedes all prior understandings, written or oral, relating to such subject matter.

 

[signature page follows]

 

  20  
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth below.

 

FAT BRANDS INC.  
   
By:  
Name: Andrew Wiederhorn  
Title: CEO  
   
Accepted as of the date hereof:  
   
TRIPOINT GLOBAL EQUITIES, LLC  
   
By:  
Name: Mark Elenowitz  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

  21  
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

Tripoint Global Equities., LLC

1450 Broadway, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10018

 

  Re: Fat Brands Inc. – Lock-Up Agreement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, a holder of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), or rights to acquire Common Stock, of Fat Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that Tripoint Global Equities, LLC (the “Selling Agent”), proposes to enter into an Selling Agency Agreement (the “Selling Agency Agreement”) with the Company providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”).

 

To induce the Selling Agent to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees for the benefit of the Company and the Selling Agent that, without the Selling Agent’s prior written consent, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the qualification date of the offering circular (the “Offering Circular”) and ending 180 days following the closing date of the Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), directly or indirectly (1) offer, pledge, assign, encumber, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any shares of Common Stock or any securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), by the undersigned on the date hereof or hereafter acquired or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement or arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing. If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed shares of Common Stock the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Offering is abandoned or does not close by May 30, 2017, the Lock-up Period shall terminate on such date.

 

  22  
 

 

The foregoing shall not apply to:

 

(i) the sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Selling Agency Agreement;

 

(ii) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; provided that, no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with such transfer;

 

(iii) (a) exercises of stock options or equity awards granted pursuant to an equity incentive or other plan or warrants to purchase shares of common stock or other securities (including by cashless exercise to the extent permitted by the instruments representing such stock options or warrants so long as such cashless exercise is effected solely by the surrender of outstanding stock options or warrants to the Company and the Company’s cancellation of all or a portion thereof to pay the exercise price), provided that in any such case the securities issued upon exercise shall remain subject to the provisions of this Agreement; (b) transfers of shares of Common Stock or other securities to the Company in connection with the vesting or exercise of any equity awards granted pursuant to an equity incentive or other plan and held by the undersigned to the extent, but only to the extent, as may be necessary to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive or other plans

 

(iv) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock as a bona fide gift or in connection with estate planning, including, but not limited to, dispositions to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned and dispositions from any grantor retained annuity trust established for the direct benefit of the undersigned or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned, or by will or intestacy;

 

(v) any transfer pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce;

 

(vi) (a) any distributions or transfers without consideration of shares of Common Stock or any security directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock to limited partners, members, stockholders or affiliates of the undersigned, or to any partnership, corporation or limited liability company controlled by the undersigned or by a member of the immediate family of the undersigned; (b) any transfer made in connection with the sale or other bona fide transfer in a single transaction of all or substantially all of the undersigned’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the undersigned’s assets, in any such case not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Agreement; or

 

(vii) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b 5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period.

 

Provided¸ however, that (a) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (iv) or (vi), each donee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter agreement substantially in the form of this letter agreement (the “agreement”) and (b) in the case of any transaction pursuant to clauses (iv), (vi) or (vii), such transaction is not required to be reported during the Lock-Up Period by anyone in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or otherwise (other than a required filing on Form 5, Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or 13D/A or 13G/A) and no such filing shall be made voluntarily during the Lock-Up Period. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the Selling Agent’s prior written consent, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

 

  23  
 

 

The undersigned hereby further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this agreement during the period from the date of this agreement to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period has expired.

 

In furtherance of the foregoing, (1) the undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein against the transfer of any such securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions, and (2) the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this agreement.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Selling Agent agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, the Selling Agent will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Selling Agency Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Selling Agent hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this agreement. The undersigned hereby waives any applicable notice requirement concerning the Company’s intention to file the Offering Statement and sell shares of Common Stock thereunder.

 

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Selling Agent are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

The undersigned acknowledges that whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions, that any Public Offering will be made only pursuant to a Selling Agency Agreement the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Selling Agent and that there is no assurance that the Company and the Selling Agent will enter into an Selling Agency Agreement with respect to the Public Offering or that the Public Offering will be consummated.

 

This agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (1) either the Selling Agent, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, advising the other in writing, prior to the execution of the Selling Agency Agreement, that they have determined not to proceed with the Public Offering, (2) termination of the Selling Agency Agreement before the sale of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Selling Agency Agreement, (3) the withdrawal of the Offering Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Public Offering, or (4) [Month] 31, 201[], in the event that the Selling Agency Agreement has not been executed by that date.

 

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

[Signature on following page]

 

  24  
 

 

Sincerely,  
   
STOCKHOLDER  
   
 
   
Name:  
                    

 

[Signature page to Lock-Up Agreement]

 

  25  
 

 

Exhibit B

 

10b-5 and Negative Assurances Letter

 

  26  
 

 

Exhibit C

 

Selling Agency Warrants

 

  27  
 

 

Exhibit __

 

THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE HEREOF MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, OR HYPOTHECATED, OR BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT, OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF SUCH SECURITIES BY ANY PERSON FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE QUALIFICATION DATE OF THE PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES PURSUANT TO OFFERING STATEMENT NO. [ ], AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH FINRA RULE 5110(g)(2).

 

FAT BRANDS INC.

 

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

 

Warrant Shares: [●] Issuance Date: [●], 2017

 

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, Tripoint Global Equities, LLC or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date that is 180 days after the qualification date of the Offering Statement (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or before the close of business on the five (5) year anniversary of the qualification date of the Offering Statement (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Fat Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to [•] shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

 

Section 1. Definitions.

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Selling Agency Agreement, dated September [  ], 2017 (the “Agreement”), between the Company and Tripoint Global Equities, LLC.

 

Section 2. Exercise.

 

(a) Method of Exercise. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed facsimile copy of the Notice of Exercise form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within three (3) trading days after the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is available and specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) trading days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases; provided that the records of the Company, absent manifest error, will be conclusive with respect to the number of Warrant Shares purchasable from time to time hereunder. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within two (2) business days after receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

 

  28  
 

 

(b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $[•], subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”). Except as where otherwise permitted in accordance with Section 2(c), this Warrant may only be exercised by means of payment by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank.

 

(c) Cashless Exercise. This Warrant may at the option of the Holder be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

 

(A) = the VWAP on the trading day immediately preceding the date on which Holder elects to exercise this Warrant by means of a “cashless exercise,” as set forth in the applicable Notice of Exercise;

 

(B) = the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and

 

(X) = the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

 

VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market (as defined below), the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m., Eastern time, to 4:00 p.m., Eastern time), (b) if the OTC Bulletin Board or any market, exchange or quotation system maintained by the OTC Markets Group, Inc., including, without limitation, OTCQB, OTCQX or OTC Pink (or any successors of the foregoing) is not a Trading Market and the Common Stock is then traded on such market, exchange or quotation system, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on such market, exchange or quotation system or (c) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the board of directors of the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Holder, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

 

Trading Market” means the NYSE:MKT, Nasdaq Capital Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Global Select Market, or any other national securities exchange, market, or trading or quotation facility on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.

 

(d) Mechanics of Exercise.

 

(i) Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall use best efforts to cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Company’s stock transfer agent and registrar (the “Transfer Agent”) to the Holder by physical delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is five (5) trading days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, (B) surrender of this Warrant (if required) and (C) payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (including by cashless exercise, if permitted) (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”). The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised, with payment to the Company of the Exercise Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(d)(vi) before the issuance of such shares, having been paid.

 

(ii) Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

  29  
 

 

(iii) Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

 

(iv) Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of shares of Common Stock with an aggregate sale price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

(v) No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

(vi) Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that, in the event Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the assignment form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise.

 

(vii) Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  30  
 

 

(e) Holder’s Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates (as defined below), and any other Persons (as defined below) acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents, as defined below) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether, and representation and certification to the Company that, this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two (2) trading days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior written notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(e), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation in no event exceeds 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(e) shall continue to apply. Any such increase or decrease will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.

 

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a Person.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, or association.

 

(e) Exercise Limitations Due to Tax Considerations. If the Holder delivers a Notice of Exercise but the Company determines in good faith that the issuance of Warrant Shares upon such exercise of the Warrant would cause the Company to lose its ability to be included with Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc. in a consolidated federal income tax return, in a California unitary income tax return, or in an Oregon consolidated income tax return, then the Company may, in lieu of delivering Warrant Shares upon such exercise, instead deliver an amount of cash within ten (10) business days of the Notice of Exercise that is equal to the VWAP of the Warrant Shares that would be deliverable to the Holder had the Holder elected a “cashless exercise” of the Warrant for the same number of shares specified in the Notice of Exercise.

 

  31  
 

 

Section 3. Certain Adjustments.

 

(a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

 

(b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time during which this Warrant is outstanding the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or other rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation). The provisions of this Section 3(b) will not apply to any grant, issuance or sale of Common Stock Equivalents or other rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property of the Company which is not made pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock.

 

  32  
 

 

(c) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant after such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction that is (1) an all cash transaction, (2) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, or (3) a Fundamental Transaction involving a person or entity not traded on a national securities exchange, including, but not limited to, the NYSE:MKT, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the option of the Holder or the Company or any Successor Entity, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction, purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the trading day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(c), and to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) before such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.

 

(d) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

  33  
 

 

(e) Notice to Holder.

 

(i) Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

(ii) Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register (as defined in Section 4(c)) of the Company, at least 10 business days before the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

 

Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.

 

(a) Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this original Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued. Neither this Warrant nor any Warrant Shares issued upon exercise of this Warrant shall be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness or commencement of sales of the offering pursuant to which this Warrant is being issued, except the transfer of any security:

 

(i) by operation of law or by reason of reorganization of the Company;

 

(ii) to any FINRA member firm participating in the offering and the officers or partners thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction in this Section 4(a) for the remainder of the time period; or

 

(iii) the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities received remain subject to the lock-up restriction in this Section 4(a) for the remainder of the time period.

 

  34  
 

 

(b) New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the initial issuance date of this Warrant and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

(c) Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

Section 5. Piggyback Registration Rights.

 

To the extent the Company does not maintain an effective registration statement for the Warrant Shares and in the further event that the Company files a registration statement with the Commission covering the sale of its shares of Common Stock (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8, or on another form, or in another context, in which such “piggyback” registration would be inappropriate), then, for a period commencing on the Initial Exercise Date and terminating on the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Initial Exercise Date, the Company shall give written notice of such proposed filing to the holders of Warrant Shares as soon as practicable but in no event less than ten (10) business days before the anticipated filing date, which notice shall describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, of the offering, and offer to the holders of Warrant Shares in such notice the opportunity to register the sale of such number of shares of Warrant Shares as such holders may request in writing within five (5) business days after receipt of such notice (a “Piggyback Registration”). The Company shall cause such Warrant Shares to be included in such registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed underwritten offering to permit the Warrant Shares requested to be included in a Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Warrant Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. All holders of Warrant Shares proposing to distribute their securities through a Piggyback Registration that involves an underwriter or underwriters shall enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such Piggyback Registration.

 

Section 6. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividend rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company before the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth herein.

 

(b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

 

(c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a business day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding business day.

 

  35  
 

 

(d) Authorized Shares. The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such commercially reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

 

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

 

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions therefor, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

 

(e) Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles, and federal or state courts sitting in the State of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising out of this Warrant.

 

(f) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

(g) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any and all costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

(h) Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register.

 

(i) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

  36  
 

 

(j) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages alone would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(k) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

 

(l) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

 

(m) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

(n) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

  37  
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

  FAT BRANDS INC.
   
  By:
     
  Name: Andrew Wiederhorn
     
  Title: Chief Executive Officer
   
[CORPORATE SEAL]  
   
ATTEST:  
 
Secretary  

 

[Signature Page to Selling Agent’s Warrant]

 

  38  
 

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO: FAT BRANDS INC.

 

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant, dated _______, 2017, and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):

 

[  ] in lawful money of the United States by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank; or

 

[  ] if permitted by the terms of the Warrant, the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).

 

(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

   

 

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:

 

   
   
   

 

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

 

Name of Investing Entity:  
   
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:  
   
Name of Authorized Signatory:  
   
Title of Authorized Signatory:  
   
Date:  

 

  39  
 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute
this form and supply required information.
Do not use this form to exercise the Warrant.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ____ all of or _______ shares of the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

   whose address is:

 

 

 

 

 

Date: ______________, _______

 

Holder’s Signature:  
   
Holder’s Address:  
   
   

 

Signature Guaranteed:  

 

NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

 

  40  
 

 

 

 

  Page 1

 

I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF “FAT BRANDS INC.”, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF MARCH, A.D. 2017, AT 10:26 O`CLOCK P.M.

 

A FILED COPY OF THIS CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY RECORDER OF DEEDS.

 

 

     
 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

  FAT BRANDS INC.  

 

 

First: The name of the corporation is FAT Brands Inc.

 

Second: The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of the registered agent of the corporation at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

Third: The purpose of the corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

Fourth: The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred (100) shares of Common Stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share.

 

Fifth: The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors, and the directors need not be elected by ballot unless required by the Bylaws of the corporation. The number of directors of the corporation shall be determined in the manner provided by the Bylaws and may be increased or decreased from time to time in the manner provided therein.

 

Sixth: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, the Board of Directors may not repeal or amend any bylaw that the stockholders have expressly provided may not be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws for the corporation.

 

Seventh: The corporation reserves the right to amend and repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State of Delaware. All rights herein conferred are granted subject to this reservation.

 

Eighth: The incorporator is Eileen Kang, whose mailing address is c/o Loeb & Loeb LLP, 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, California 90067.

 

Ninth: A director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived any improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this article to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

     
     

 

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing paragraphs by the stockholders of the corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

 

I, the undersigned, being the incorporator, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, do make, file and record this certificate of incorporation, do certify that the facts herein stated are true, and, accordingly, have hereto set my hand and seal this 21st day of March, 2017.

 

  /s/ Eileen Kang
  Eileen Kang, Incorporator

 

  2  
 

 

Exhibit 2.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
FAT BRANDS INC.
(a Delaware corporation)

 

FAT Brands Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. The name of the corporation is FAT Brands Inc. The corporation’s original certificate of incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 21, 2017.

 

2. This amended and restated certificate of incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with the Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law by the board of directors and stockholders of the corporation.

 

3. The certificate of incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

 

The name of the corporation is FAT Brands Inc. (the “Corporation”).

 

ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801.The name of the registered agent of the corporation at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

ARTICLE III
PURPOSE

 

The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).

 

ARTICLE IV
STOCK

 

SECTION 4.01 Authorized Stock. The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Thirty Million (30,000,000), of which Twenty-Five Million (25,000,000), shall consist of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and Five Million (5,000,000) shall consist of shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).

 

SECTION 4.02 Common Stock.

 

(a) Voting. Except as otherwise provided (i) by the DGCL, (ii) by Section 4.03 of this Article IV, or (iii) by the terms of any certificate of designation with respect to any series of Preferred Stock, and subject to the rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, if any, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the entire voting power of the shares of the Corporation for the election of directors of the Corporation and on other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders shall be vested exclusively in the holders of the shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“Certificate of Incorporation”) that relates solely to the terms, number of shares, powers, designations, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including, without limitation, voting rights), or to qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or pursuant to the DGCL. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to vote. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights.

 

  1  
 

 

(b) Dividends. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.

 

(c) Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, and subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock in respect thereof, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

 

SECTION 4.03 Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be issued at any time and from time to time in one or more series. Subject to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, the Board of Directors is authorized to fix from time to time by resolution or resolutions the number of shares constituting any such series of Preferred Stock and the designation thereof, and to determine (and set forth in a certificate of designation filed pursuant to the DGCL) the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, dividend rights, dividend rate, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including, without limitation, sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices and liquidation preferences of any such series, or any of the foregoing. Further, the Board of Directors is authorized to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issuance of shares of that series, subject to the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, stated in this Certificate of Incorporation or the resolution of the Board of Directors originally fixing the number of shares of such series. If the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock is so decreased, then the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 5.01 Number. The number of directors that shall constitute the entire Board of Directors shall be determined in the manner prescribed by the Bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”).

 

SECTION 5.02 Classification; Term. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, hereby designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to such classes. The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V; the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V; and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire upon the election of directors at the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V. At each annual meeting of stockholders, commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Article V, each of the successors elected to replace the directors of a class whose term shall have expired at such annual meeting shall be elected to hold office until the third annual meeting next succeeding his or her election and until his or her respective successor shall have been duly elected and qualified. Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, if the number of directors that constitutes the Board of Directors is changed, any newly created directorships or decrease in directorships shall be so apportioned by the Board of Directors among the classes as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as is practicable, provided that no decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5.02, and subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, each director shall serve until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

  2  
 

 

SECTION 5.03 Rights of Holders of Preferred Stock Relating to Director Elections. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Article V, whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, filling of vacancies and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the certificate of designation for such series of Preferred Stock, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant to the provisions of this Article V, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues; (a) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to such provisions, and (b) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to such provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such series of stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate, and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 5.04 Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, a director may be removed from office by the stockholders of the Corporation only for cause.

 

SECTION 5.05 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights and preferences of holders of any series of outstanding Preferred Stock with respect to the election of directors, vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors for any reason and newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall, unless otherwise provided by law, be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by any other person or persons, including stockholders. Any director so elected shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class for which such director shall have been assigned by the Board of Directors or in which such vacancy occurred and until such persons’ successor shall be duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

SECTION 5.06 Powers. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 5.07 Election. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

  3  
 

 

ARTICLE VI
STOCKHOLDERS

 

SECTION 6.01 Special Meetings. Except as otherwise expressly provided by the terms of any series of Preferred Stock permitting the holders of such series of Preferred Stock to call a special meeting of the holders of such series, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Board of Directors. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of the stockholders is hereby specifically denied.

 

SECTION 6.02 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner and to the extent provided in the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE VII
FORUM FOR CERTAIN ACTIONS

 

Unless a majority of the Board, acting on behalf of the Corporation, consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum (which consent may be given at any time, including during the pendency of litigation), the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its current or former directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (in each case, as may be amended from time to time) or (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any of its current or former directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware, in all cases subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over all indispensable parties named as defendants.

 

ARTICLE VIII
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

SECTION 8.01 Limitation of Personal Liability. No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

SECTION 8.02 Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify, to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, as now or hereafter in effect, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and such right to indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of such person’s heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. The right to indemnification conferred by this Section 8.02 shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided that such director or officer presents to the Corporation a written undertaking to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation under this Article VIII or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except for proceedings to enforce any director’s or officer’s rights to indemnification or to advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify or advance expenses to any director or officer (or such director’s or officer’s heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

  4  
 

 

SECTION 8.03 Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss incurred by such person in any such capacity or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL.

 

SECTION 8.04 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights and authority conferred in this Article VIII shall neither be exclusive of, nor be deemed in limitation of, any rights to which any person may otherwise be or become entitled or permitted under this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

SECTION 8.05 Persons Other Than Directors and Officers. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to, or to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, persons other than those persons described in the first sentence of Section 8.02 of Article VIII or to advance expenses to persons other than directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 8.06 Effect of Modifications. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision contained in this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to further limit or eliminate the liability of directors or officers) and shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any current or former director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification with respect to any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

ARTICLE IX

OWNERSHIP LIMIT

 

SECTION 9.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Article IX:

 

(a) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute;

 

(b) “Committee” shall mean a committee established from time-to-time by the Board of Directors to administer this Article IX, comprised of at least three directors on the Board of Directors, none of whom shall be “affiliated” (as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) with Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc.;

 

(c) “Excess Shares” means any Stock, or any rights in Stock, the Transfer or ownership of which would result in, or increase, a Prohibited Ownership Percentage under Section 9.02;

 

(d) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute;

 

(e) “Expiration Date” means the earlier of (x) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code, if the Committee determines that the restrictions in this Article IX are no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits, or (y) such date as the Committee shall fix in accordance with Section 9.07 of this Article IX;

 

(f) “Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation Sections 1.382-4(d)(9) and 1.382-2T(h)(4)(v);

 

(g) a “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, estate, trust (including a trust qualified under Sections 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, company, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, or similar organization (including the Corporation if appropriate in the context) and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any other entity described in Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-3(a)(1)(i);

 

  5  
 

 

(h) “Prohibited Distributions” means any and all dividends or other distributions paid by the Corporation with respect to any Excess Shares received by a Purported Acquiror;

 

(i) a “Public Group” shall have the meaning contained in Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-2T(f)(13);

 

(j) a “Prohibited Ownership Percentage” shall mean (i) any beneficial ownership (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of five percent (5%) or more in value of the aggregate outstanding Stock, (ii) any beneficial ownership (determined under federal income tax principles, including indirect and constructive ownership for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, including Treasury Regulation Sections 1.382-4 and 1.382-2T(h), of five percent (5%) or more in value of the aggregate outstanding Stock, or (iii) a “5-percent shareholder” of the Corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-2T(g) (determined (A) without giving effect to Treasury Regulation Sections 1.382-2T(g)(2), 1.382-2T(g)(3), 1.382-2T(h)(2)(ii) or (iii), and 1.382-2T(h)(6)(iii), (B) by treating every Person or Public Group which owns Stock, whether directly or by attribution, as directly owning such Stock notwithstanding any further attribution of such Stock to other Persons and notwithstanding Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-2T(h)(2)(i)(A), (C) by substituting the term “Person” or “Public Group” in place of “individual” in Treasury Regulation Section 1.382-2T(g)(1), and (D) by treating an Option as Stock only to the extent that treating it as Stock would cause an increase in ownership of Stock by the Transferee, Person or Public Group under Section 9.02);

 

(k) “Prohibited Person” shall mean any Person or Public Group who has or would have, if a Transfer or purported Transfer were completed, a Prohibited Ownership Percentage;

 

(l) “Purported Acquiror” shall mean any Person or Public Group that purports to acquire record, beneficial, legal or any other ownership of Excess Shares. If there is more than one Purported Acquiror with respect to certain Excess Shares (for example, if the Purported Acquiror of record ownership of such Excess Shares is not the Purported Acquiror of beneficial ownership of such Excess Shares), then references to “Purported Acquiror” shall include any or all of such Purported Acquirors, as appropriate;

 

(m) “Stock” means all interests in the Corporation that would be treated as stock in the Corporation pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.382(d)(3) or 1.382-2T(f)(18);

 

(n) “Tax Benefits” shall mean net operating loss carryovers (including, without limitation, any “net unrealized built-in loss,” as defined under Code Section 382), capital loss carryovers, general business credit carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers and other tax benefits to which the Corporation or any member of the Corporation’s “affiliated group,” as that term is used in Section 1504 of the Code (or any similar provision of state or local law), is or becomes entitled pursuant to the Code and the Treasury Regulations (or any similar provision of state or local law).

 

(o) “Transfer” shall mean any conveyance, issuance, sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition, by any means, of legal, record or beneficial ownership (direct or indirect) of Stock, whether such means are direct or indirect, voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, or any agreement to take any such action or cause any such events, including, without limitation, the transfer of any ownership interest in any entity that owns (directly or indirectly) Stock (and any reference in this Article IX to a Transfer of Stock shall include any Transfer of any interest in any such entity and references to the Persons to whom Stock is Transferred shall include Persons to whom any interest in any such entity shall have been Transferred); and

 

(p) “Transferee” means any Person to whom Stock is Transferred.

 

  6  
 

 

(q) “Treasury Regulations” shall mean the regulations promulgated under the Code, including temporary regulations, as amended from time to time. In any reference in this Article IX to Section 382 of the Code or any Treasury Regulation thereunder, the “loss corporation” shall be the Corporation, without regard to whether or not it has any loss or other attribute.

 

SECTION 9.02 Transfer and Ownership Restrictions. In order to preserve the Tax Benefits of the Corporation, from and after the effective time of this Article IX until the Expiration Date, no Transfer of any Stock may be made to a Transferee, other than to Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., to the extent that such Transfer, if effected: (a) would cause the Transferee or any other Person or Public Group to have a Prohibited Ownership Percentage; or (b) would increase the Prohibited Ownership Percentage of the Transferee or any other Person or Public Group having a Prohibited Ownership Percentage.

 

SECTION 9.03 Waiver of Restrictions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee may waive the application of any of the restrictions contained in Section 9.02, including, without limitation, any Transfer of Stock that would otherwise be prohibited, in any instance in which the Committee determines that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Corporation, notwithstanding the effect of such waiver on any Tax Benefits. The Committee may impose any conditions that it deems reasonable and appropriate in connection with such a waiver, including without limitation, restrictions on the ability of any Transferee to Transfer Stock acquired through a Transfer. A waiver of the Committee hereunder may be given prospectively or retroactively.

 

SECTION 9.04 Purported Transfer in Violation of Transfer Restriction. Unless a waiver of the Committee is obtained as provided in Section 9.03, any purported Transfer of Excess Shares (other than a Transfer as provided in Section 9.04(b) or an automatic transfer as provided below) shall be null and void ab initio and shall not be effective to Transfer any record, legal, beneficial or any other ownership of such Excess Shares to the Purported Acquiror, who shall not be entitled to any rights as a stockholder of the Corporation with respect to such Excess Shares, and such Excess Shares shall be automatically transferred pursuant to DGCL Section 202(c)(4) to an agent designated by the Corporation (the “Agent”). Any future dividends or distributions payable on any Excess Shares shall be paid to the Agent until the Excess Shares are sold by it. A Transfer that is null and void under this Section 9.04 shall not adversely affect the validity of any other Transfer of any Stock in the same or any other related transaction.

 

(a) Demand by Corporation. Unless a waiver of the Committee is obtained as provided in Section 9.03 of this Article IX, within 30 days of a determination by the Committee that there has been or is threatened a purported Transfer of Excess Shares to a Purported Acquiror, or that a Person proposes to take any action in violation of this Article IX (whether or not such action is intentional), the Corporation shall make a demand on the Purported Acquiror to transfer or cause the transfer of any certificate or other evidence of purported ownership of the Excess Shares within the Purported Acquiror’s possession or control, along with the Prohibited Distributions, to the Agent. Any failure by the Purported Acquiror to transfer or cause the transfer of any certificate or other evidence of purported ownership of the Excess Shares to the Agent shall not negate the automatic transfer of such Excess Shares to the Agent.

 

(b) Transfer of Excess Shares and Prohibited Distributions to Agent. Upon demand by the Corporation, the Purported Acquiror shall transfer or cause the transfer of any certificate or other evidence of purported ownership of the Excess Shares within the Purported Acquiror’s possession or control, along with the Prohibited Distributions, to the Agent. The Agent shall sell in an arms-length transaction (through The Nasdaq Stock Market, if possible, but in any event consistent with applicable law) any Excess Shares provided, however, that the Agent shall, in its reasonable discretion, effect such sale or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not be required to effect any such sale within any specific time frame if, in the Agent’s reasonable discretion, such sale or sales would disrupt the market for the Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation or would otherwise substantially adversely affect the value of the Common Stock or such other securities. The proceeds of such sale shall be referred to as “Sales Proceeds.” If, after purportedly acquiring the Excess Shares, the Purported Acquiror has purported to sell some or all of them to an unrelated party in an arms-length transaction, the Purported Acquiror shall be deemed to have sold such Excess Shares on behalf of the Agent, and in lieu of transferring the Prohibited Distributions to the Agent, the Purported Acquiror shall transfer to the Agent the Prohibited Distributions and the proceeds of such sale (the “Resale Proceeds”), except to the extent that the Agent grants written permission to the Purported Acquiror to retain a portion of the Resale Proceeds not exceeding the amount that would have been payable by the Agent to the Purported Acquiror pursuant to Section 9.04(c) if the Excess Shares had been sold by the Agent rather than by the Purported Acquiror. Any purported Transfer of the Excess Shares by the Purported Acquiror other than a transfer which (a) is described in the preceding sentences of this Section 9.04(b) or occurs automatically to the Agent and (b) does not itself violate the provisions of this Article IX shall be null and void ab initio and shall not be effective to transfer any ownership of the Excess Shares.

 

  7  
 

 

(c) Allocation of Sale Proceeds, Resale Proceeds and Prohibited Distributions. The Sales Proceeds, the Resale Proceeds if applicable, and Prohibited Distributions if applicable shall be allocated as follows: (1) first to the Agent in an amount equal to the expenses incurred in selling such Excess Shares; then (2) second, to the Purported Acquiror up to the following amount: (a) the purported purchase price paid or value of consideration surrendered by the Purported Acquiror for the Excess Shares, or (b) where the purported Transfer of the Excess Shares to the Purported Acquiror was by gift, inheritance, or any similar purported Transfer, the fair market value of the Excess Shares at the time of such purported Transfer; and then (3) third any remaining amounts to an entity designated by the Corporation that is described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code, contributions to which must be eligible for deduction under each of Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 2055 and 2522 of the Code. In no event shall any Excess Shares, Sales Proceeds, Resale Proceeds or Prohibited Distributions inure to the benefit of the Corporation or the Agent, except to the extent used to cover expenses incurred by the Agent in performing its duties hereunder.

 

(d) Remedies. Without limiting any other remedies available to the Corporation, if a Purported Acquiror shall fail to comply with Section 9.04(b) within thirty (30) days of the Corporation’s demand, and unless a waiver of the Committee is obtained as provided in Section 9.03, the Corporation shall promptly take all cost effective actions which it believes appropriate to compel the Purported Acquiror to surrender to the Agent the certificates representing any purported ownership of Excess Shares, the Resale Proceeds, and/or the Prohibited Distributions or to enjoin or rescind any such purported Transfer. The Committee may authorize such additional actions as it deems advisable to give effect to the provisions of this Article IX, including, without limitation, refusing to give effect on the books of the Corporation to any such purported Transfer. The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce or prevent a violation of the provisions of this Article IX.

 

(e) Liability. If any Person shall knowingly violate, or knowingly cause any other Person under the control of such Person (“Controlled Person”) to violate, Section 9.02, then that Person and any Controlled Person shall be jointly and severally liable for, and shall pay to the Corporation, such amount as will, after taking account of all taxes imposed with respect to the receipt or accrual of such amount and all costs incurred by the Corporation as a result of such violation, put the Corporation in the same financial position as it would have been in had such violation not occurred.

 

SECTION 9.05 Obligation to Provide Information. At the request of the Corporation or as a condition to the registration of the Transfer of any Stock, any Person who is a beneficial, legal or record holder of Stock, and any proposed Transferee and any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the proposed Transferee, shall provide such information as the Corporation may request from time to time in order to determine compliance with this Article IX or the status of the Corporation’s Tax Benefits.

 

SECTION 9.06 Legends. The Committee may require that any certificates issued by the Corporation evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject either to the restrictions on transfer and ownership contained in this Article IX or to conditions imposed by the Committee under Section 9.03 bear a conspicuous legend referencing the applicable restrictions.

 

SECTION 9.07 Authority of Committee. Nothing contained in this Article IX shall limit the authority of the Committee to take such other action to the extent permitted by law as it deems necessary or advisable to preserve the Tax Benefits. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in law (including applicable regulations) making one or more of the following actions necessary or desirable or in the event that the Committee believes one or more of such actions is in the best interest of the Corporation, the Committee may accelerate or extend the Expiration Date; provided that the Committee shall determine in writing that such acceleration or extension is reasonably necessary or desirable to preserve the Tax Benefits or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary or desirable to preserve the Tax Benefits, as the case may be. In addition, the Committee may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind Bylaws, regulations and procedures of the Corporation not inconsistent with the express provisions of this Article IX for purposes of determining whether any Transfer of Stock would jeopardize the Corporation’s ability to preserve or utilize any Tax Benefits, or for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Article IX. The Committee shall have the exclusive power and authority to administer this Article IX and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Committee, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Article IX, including without limitation, the right and power to (1) interpret the provisions of this Article IX, (2) make all calculations and determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Article IX and (3) determine value in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article IX, including any definition used herein, the Committee shall have the power to determine the application of such provisions with respect to any situation based on its reasonable belief, understanding or knowledge of the circumstances. In the event this Article IX requires an action by the Committee but fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Committee shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Article IX. All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations which are done or made by the Committee in good faith shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Corporation, the Agent, and all other parties.

 

  8  
 

 

SECTION 9.08 Benefits of this Article IX. Nothing in this Article IX shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Corporation or the Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Article IX. This Article IX shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation and the Agent.

 

SECTION 9.09 Severability. If any provision of this Article IX or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Article IX.

 

SECTION 9.10 Waiver. With regard to any power, remedy or right provided herein or otherwise available to the Corporation or the Agent under this Article IX, (i) no waiver will be effective unless expressly contained in a writing signed by the waiving party; and (ii) no alteration, modification or impairment will be implied by reason of any previous waiver, extension of time, delay or omission in exercise, or other indulgence.

 

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT

 

SECTION 10.01 Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation. The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL, and all rights, preferences and privileges herein conferred upon stockholders of the Corporation by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Section 10.01. In addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, and in addition to any other vote that may be required by law, applicable stock exchange rule or the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend, alter, repeal or adopt any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX or this Article X (including, without limitation, any such Article as renumbered as a result of any amendment, alteration, repeal or adoption of any other Article).

 

SECTION 10.02 Amendment of Bylaws. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the DGCL, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws may also be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

  9  
 

 

ARTICLE XI
SECTION 203

 

The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, and the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to the Corporation.

 

*      *      *      *      *

 

  10  
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed, signed and acknowledged by the undersigned duly authorized officer of the Corporation as of the date set forth below.

 

Dated: ___________________, 2017

 

  FAT Brands Inc.
   
     
  Name: Andrew W. Wiederhorn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  11  
 

 

Exhibit 2.3

 

BYLAWS OF

FAT BRANDS INC.

 

(Effective May 21, 2017)

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

SECTION 1.01 Registered Office. The registered office and registered agent of FAT Brands Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below). The Corporation may also have offices in such other places in the United States or elsewhere (and may change the Corporation’s registered agent) as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may, from time to time, determine or as the business of the Corporation may require as determined by any officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

SECTION 2.01 Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that meetings of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as described in Section 2.11 of these Bylaws in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2.02 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the Corporation’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation as then in effect (as the same may be amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware and at such time and date as the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall determine and state in the notice of meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 2.03 Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.

 

(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders only (a) as provided in the Stockholder Agreement (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) (with respect to nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors only), (b) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) delivered pursuant to Section 2.04 of Article II of these Bylaws, (c) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof or (d) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who, subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, complied with the notice procedures set forth in paragraphs (A)(2) and (A)(3) of this Section 2.03 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”).

 

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Section 2.03, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary, and, in the case of business other than nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, such other business must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders are first publicly traded, be deemed to have occurred on June 15, 2017); provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from the anniversary date of the previous year’s meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03(A)(2) to the contrary, if the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders, then a stockholder’s notice required by this Section shall be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is received by the Secretary not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) calendar day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

   1  

 

 

(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books and records, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of the stock of the Corporation at the time of the giving of the notice, will be entitled to vote at such meeting and will appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, (iv) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will be or is part of a group that will (x) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, (v) a certification regarding whether such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, have complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the Corporation and/or the stockholder’s and/or beneficial owner’s acts or omissions as a stockholder of the Corporation and (vi) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the nomination or proposal and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation between or among the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, any of their respective affiliates or associates and/or any others acting in concert with any of the foregoing (collectively, “proponent persons”); and (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any contract to purchase or sell, the acquisition or grant of any option, right or warrant to purchase or sell or any swap or other instrument) to which any proponent person is a party, the intent or effect of which may be (i) to transfer to or from any proponent person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security of the Corporation, (ii) to increase or decrease the voting power of any proponent person with respect to shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and/or (iii) to provide any proponent person, directly or indirectly, with the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to otherwise benefit economically from, any increase or decrease in the value of any security of the Corporation. A stockholder providing notice of a proposed nomination for election to the Board of Directors or other business proposed to be brought before a meeting (whether given pursuant to this paragraph (A)(3) or paragraph (B) of this Section 2.03) shall update and supplement such notice from time to time to the extent necessary so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct (x) as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (y) as of the date that is fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, provided that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting is less than fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the information shall be supplemented and updated as of such later date. Any such update and supplement shall be delivered in writing to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), not later than ten (10) days prior to the date for the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update or supplement required to be made as of fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting or adjournment or postponement thereof) and not later than five (5) days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, but no later than the date prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of any update and supplement required to be made as of a date less than fifteen (15) days prior the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and to determine the independence of such director under the Exchange Act and rules and regulations thereunder and applicable stock exchange rules.

 

   2  

 

 

(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who (subject to paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting if the stockholder’s notice as required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Section 2.03 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(C) General.

 

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (C)(4) of this Section 2.03, only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03 or the Stockholder Agreement shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual or special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall, in addition to making any other determination that may be appropriate for the conduct of the meeting, have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and on stockholder approvals. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.03, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

   3  

 

 

(2) Whenever used in these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (a) in a press release released by the Corporation, provided that such press release is released by the Corporation following its customary procedures, is reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Bloomberg, Associated Press or comparable national news service or is generally available on internet news sites or (b) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.03; provided, however, that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws (including paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) hereof), and compliance with paragraphs (A)(1)(d) and (B) of this Section 2.03 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit other business. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock of the Corporation as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.

 

SECTION 2.04 Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely notice in writing or by electronic transmission, in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL, of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed to or transmitted electronically by the Secretary to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 2.05 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the holders of record of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter. Once a quorum is present to organize a meeting, it shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholders.

 

   4  

 

 

SECTION 2.06 Voting. Except as otherwise provided by or pursuant to the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy in any manner provided by applicable law, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Unless required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of applicable law, of the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, of any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence and subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, all elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast in respect of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

SECTION 2.07 Chairman of Meetings. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, or, in his or her absence or disability, a person designated by the Board of Directors shall be the chairman of the meeting and, as such, preside at all meetings of the stockholders.

 

SECTION 2.08 Secretary of Meetings. The Secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a person to act as secretary at such meetings.

 

SECTION 2.09 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote only to the extent permitted by and in the manner provided under applicable law.

 

SECTION 2.10 Adjournment. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, if less than a quorum be present, the chairman of the meeting or stockholders holding a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation, present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present. Any business may be transacted at the adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

SECTION 2.11 Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

 

   5  

 

 

(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

 

(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication,

 

provided that

 

(i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder;

 

(ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and

 

(iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

SECTION 2.12 Inspectors of Election. The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (a) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (b) determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors’ count of all votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.

 

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

SECTION 3.01 Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by the DGCL or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

SECTION 3.02 Number and Term; Chairman. The number of directors shall be fixed in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The term of each director shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors, who shall have the powers and perform such duties as provided in these Bylaws and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. If the Chairman of the Board of Directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present at such meeting shall elect one (1) of their members to preside.

 

SECTION 3.03 Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.

 

   6  

 

 

SECTION 3.04 Removal. Directors of the Corporation may be removed in the manner provided in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Stockholder Agreement and applicable law.

 

SECTION 3.05 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Stockholder Agreement. Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.

 

SECTION 3.06 Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or as provided by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary if directed by the Board of Directors, and shall be at such places and times as they or he or she shall fix. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors. At least twenty four (24) hours before each special meeting of the Board of Directors, either written notice, notice by electronic transmission or oral notice (either in person or by telephone) of the time, date and place of the meeting shall be given to each director. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

SECTION 3.07 Quorum, Voting and Adjournment. Subject to the requirements of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place of such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting so adjourned.

 

SECTION 3.08 Committees; Committee Rules. The Board of Directors may designate from time to time one or more committees, including an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, each such committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation in accordance with the Stockholder Agreement. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee to replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation. All committees of the Board of Directors shall keep minutes of their meetings and shall report their proceedings to the Board of Directors when requested or required by the Board of Directors. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by a resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, the presence of at least a majority of the members of the committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the committee at which a quorum is present. Unless otherwise provided in such a resolution, and subject to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in the event that a member and that member’s alternate, if alternates are designated by the Board of Directors, of such committee is or are absent or disqualified, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

   7  

 

 

SECTION 3.09 Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed in the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form or shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

SECTION 3.10 Remote Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment in which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

SECTION 3.11 Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

 

SECTION 3.12 Reliance on Books and Records. A member of the Board of Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

SECTION 4.01 Number. The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer (who shall also be President for the purpose of the DGCL, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors), a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel and a Secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors and who shall hold office for such terms as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and until their successors are elected and qualify or until their earlier resignation or removal. In addition, the Board of Directors may elect one or more Vice Presidents, including one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

SECTION 4.02 Other Officers and Agents. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it deems advisable, who shall hold their office for such terms and shall exercise and perform such powers and duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more officers called a Vice Chairman, each of whom does not need to be a member of the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.03 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general executive charge, management and control of the properties and operations of the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such properties and operations as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities.

 

SECTION 4.04 President/Vice Presidents. The President, each Vice President, if any are elected (of whom one or more may be designated an Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President), shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.05 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.06 Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel. The Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

   8  

 

 

SECTION 4.07 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds, securities, evidences of indebtedness and other valuables of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation. He or she shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation, taking proper vouchers therefor. He or she shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, upon their request, a report of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond for the faithful discharge of his or her duties in such amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

 

In addition, the Treasurer shall have such further powers and perform such other duties incident to the office of Treasurer as from time to time are assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.08 Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) cause minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and directors to be recorded and kept properly; (b) cause all notices required by these Bylaws or otherwise to be given properly; (c) see that the minute books, stock books and other nonfinancial books, records and papers of the Corporation are kept properly; and (d) cause all reports, statements, returns, certificates and other documents to be prepared and filed when and as required. The Secretary shall have such further powers and perform such other duties as prescribed from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.09 Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Each Assistant Treasurer and each Assistant Secretary, if any are elected, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the Treasurer and Secretary, respectively, in the absence or disability of such officer, unless or until the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors shall otherwise determine. In addition, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.10 Corporate Funds and Checks. The funds of the Corporation shall be kept in such depositories as shall from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors or its designees selected for such purposes. All checks or other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary or such other person or agent as may from time to time be authorized and with such countersignature, if any, as may be required by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.11 Contracts and Other Documents. The Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary and such other officer or officers as may from time to time be authorized by the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors or any other committee given specific authority by the Board of Directors during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors to authorize such action, shall each have the power to sign and execute on behalf of the Corporation deeds, conveyances, contracts and any and all other documents requiring execution by the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.12 Ownership of Securities of Another Entity. Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, or such other officer or agent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, shall have the power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend and to vote at any meeting of securityholders of any entity in which the Corporation holds securities or equity interests and may exercise, on behalf of the Corporation, any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities or equity interests at any such meeting, including the authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.13 Delegation of Duties. In the absence, disability or refusal of any officer to exercise and perform his or her duties, the Board of Directors may delegate to another officer such powers or duties.

 

SECTION 4.14 Resignation and Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed from office for or without cause at any time by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time in the same manner prescribed under Section 3.03.

 

   9  

 

 

SECTION 4.15 Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill vacancies occurring in any office.

 

ARTICLE V

STOCK

 

SECTION 5.01 Shares With Certificates. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock in the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (a) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, any Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number and class of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such holder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint one or more transfer agents and/or registrars for the transfer or registration of certificates of stock of any class and may require stock certificates to be countersigned or registered by one or more of such transfer agents and/or registrars.

 

SECTION 5.02 Shares Without Certificates. If the Board of Directors chooses to issue shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation, if required by the DGCL, shall, within a reasonable time after the issue or transfer of shares without certificates, send the stockholder a written statement of the information required by the DGCL. The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

 

SECTION 5.03 Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, upon surrender to the Corporation by delivery thereof (to the extent evidenced by a physical stock certificate) to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books and ledgers. Certificates representing such shares, if any, shall be cancelled and new certificates, if the shares are to be certificated, shall thereupon be issued. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are not represented by a certificate shall be transferred in accordance with applicable law. A record shall be made of each transfer. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so. The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 5.04 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. A new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may, in its discretion, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond, in such sum as the Corporation may direct, in order to indemnify the Corporation against any claims that may be made against it in connection therewith. A new certificate or uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in the place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation that has become mutilated upon the surrender by such owner of such mutilated certificate and, if required by the Corporation, the posting of a bond by such owner in an amount sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it in connection therewith.

 

SECTION 5.05 List of Stockholders Entitled To Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then a list of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 5.05 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

   10  

 

 

SECTION 5.06 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

 

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c) Unless otherwise restricted by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board of Directors, (i) when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

SECTION 5.07 Registered Stockholders. Prior to the surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates for a share or shares of stock or notification to the Corporation of the transfer of uncertificated shares with a request to record the transfer of such share or shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner of such share or shares as the person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an owner of such share or shares. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof.

 

   11  

 

 

ARTICLE VI

NOTICE AND WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

SECTION 6.01 Notice. If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

 

SECTION 6.02 Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

SECTION 7.01 Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Each current or former director or officer of the Corporation (hereinafter an “indemnitee”) who was or is a party, is threatened to be made a party to, or is otherwise involved in, as a witness or otherwise, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (brought in the right of the Corporation or otherwise), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal, including any and all appeals, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted by indemnitee in any such capacity or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent (hereinafter an “indemnifiable proceeding”), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than the DGCL permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), from and against all loss and liability suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, including any appeals; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 7.03 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, further, that the Corporation shall not be obligated under this Section 7.01: (a) to indemnify indemnitee under these Bylaws for any amounts paid in settlement of any indemnifiable proceeding unless the Corporation consents to such settlement, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, or (b) to indemnify indemnitee for any disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by indemnitee of securities of the Corporation under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

In addition, subject to Section 7.04, the Corporation shall not be liable under this Article VII to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, without limitation, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that the indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under this Article VII or any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.

 

SECTION 7.02 Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 7.01, an indemnitee shall also have the right, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, to be paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorney’s fees, costs and expenses) incurred by the indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending, or otherwise arising out of or related to, any indemnifiable proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII pursuant to Section 7.03 (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that,

 

   12  

 

 

(a) if the DGCL so requires or in the case of an advance made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement, an advancement of expenses shall be made solely upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) if and to the extent that it is determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or entitled to advancement of expenses under Sections 7.01 and 7.02 or otherwise;

 

(b) the Corporation’s obligation to make an advancement of expenses pursuant to this Section 7.02 shall be subject to the limitations on indemnification provided in Section 7.01, except that the Corporation shall advance expenses to defend an indemnifiable proceeding alleging a claim under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

 

(c) with respect to any indemnifiable proceeding for which the indemnitee requests advancement of expenses under this Section 7.02, the Corporation shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to indemnitee, upon the delivery to indemnitee of written notice of its election to do so.

 

SECTION 7.03 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses is not paid in full within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Corporation of a request therefor, the indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in any court of competent jurisdiction of his or her entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense (including attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) of prosecuting or defending such suit. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel or the Corporation’s stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Further, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover advanced expenses upon a final adjudication that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

SECTION 7.04 Indemnification Not Exclusive.

 

(a) The provisions for indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Article VII, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Article VII, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Corporation to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, other agreements or arrangements, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Corporation and as to action in any other capacity.

 

   13  

 

 

(b) Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Corporation at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Corporation shall be fully and primarily responsible for payments to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Article VII, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Under no circumstance shall the Corporation be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities, and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Corporation hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Corporation, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 7.04(b) and entitled to enforce this Section 7.04(b).

 

For purposes of this Section 7.04(b), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(1) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Corporation or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Corporation may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

 

(2) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the Corporation and any indemnity-related entity pursuant to the DGCL, any agreement and any certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Corporation or the indemnitee-related entities, as applicable.

 

SECTION 7.05 Nature of Rights. The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal. In addition, the rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VII shall extend to any broader indemnification rights permitted by any amendment to the DGCL.

 

SECTION 7.06 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL. Subject to Section 7.04, in the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Article VII, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy or any other indemnity agreement covering the indemnitee. The indemnitee shall execute all papers required and take all reasonable action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance policy. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

 

SECTION 7.07 Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation, and may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, enter agreements with any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation that grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses in excess of those granted in the provisions of this Article VII.

 

   14  

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 8.01 Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

SECTION 8.02 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

 

SECTION 8.03 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to change, by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall consist of the twelve (12) month period ending on the last Sunday in December.

 

SECTION 8.04 Construction; Section Headings. For purposes of these Bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) references to “Articles” and “Sections” refer to articles and sections of these Bylaws and (ii) the term “include” or “includes” means includes, without limitation, and “including” means including, without limitation. Section headings in these Bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing any provision herein.

 

SECTION 8.05 Inconsistent Provisions. In the event that any provision of these Bylaws is or becomes inconsistent with any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the DGCL or any other applicable law, such provision of these Bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 9.01 Amendments. The Board of Directors is authorized to make, alter, amend, repeal and rescind, in whole or in part, these Bylaws without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Bylaws or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation), these Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to make, alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these Bylaws (including this Section 9.01) or to adopt any provision inconsistent herewith.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

   15  

 

 

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

Common Stock

In

FAT Brands Inc.

 

This Subscription Agreement relates to my/our agreement to purchase _____________________________ shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), to be issued by FAT Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for a purchase price of $12.00 per Share, for a total purchase price of $____________________________ (“Subscription Price”), subject to the terms, conditions, acknowledgments, representations and warranties stated herein and in the Final Offering Circular for the sale of the Shares, dated September__, 2017 (the “Circular”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Circular.

 

Simultaneously with or subsequent to the execution and delivery hereof, if I have an account with Banq.co®, I am authorizing the Selling Agent to debit funds equal to the amount of the Subscription Price from my account at Banq.co®; or, if I do not have an account with Banq.co® , making either an ACH authorization or a wire transfer pursuant to the escrow instructions set forth in the Offering Circular, or delivered to me by my broker-dealer, in the amount of my Subscription Price, provided that if my broker-dealer or the Selling Agent have arranged to facilitate the funding of the Subscription Price to the escrow account (as described below) through a clearing agent, then I agree to deliver the funds for the Subscription Price pursuant to the instructions provided by such clearing agent, such broker-dealer or the Selling Agent. I understand that if I wish to purchase Shares, I must complete this Subscription Agreement and, if I have an account with Banq.co®, have sufficient funds in my account at the time of the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement; or, if I do not maintain an account with Banq.co®, submit the applicable Subscription Price as set forth herein. Subscription funds submitted by Investors who do not have an account with Banq.co® will be held by and at an FDIC insured bank in compliance with SEC Rule 15c2-4, with funds released to the Company at closing ,as described in the Circular. The escrow account will be maintained by Wilmington Trust as escrow agent. In the event that the Offering is terminated, then the Offered Shares will not be sold to investors pursuant to this offering and all funds will be returned to investors from escrow together with interest, if any. If any portion of the Shares is not sold in the offering, any funds paid by me for such portion of the Shares will be returned to me promptly; or, if I have an account with Banq.co®, funds for such unsold Shares will not be debited from my account at closing.

 

In order to induce the Company to accept this Subscription Agreement for the Shares and as further consideration for such acceptance, I hereby make, adopt, confirm and agree to all of the following covenants, acknowledgments, representations and warranties with the full knowledge that the Company and its affiliates will expressly rely thereon in making a decision to accept or reject this Subscription Agreement:

 

1. Type of Ownership

 

[  ] Individual

[  ] Institution

 

2. Investor Information (You must include a permanent street address even if your mailing address is a P.O. Box.)

 

  Individual/Beneficial Owner:  
     
  Name: Social Security/Tax ID Number:
     
  Street Address: City:
     
  Region: Postal Code:
     
  Country: Phone Number:
     
  Email Address:  

 

     

 

 

  Joint-Owner/Minor: (If applicable.)  
     
  Name: Social Security/Tax ID Number:
     
  Street Address: City:
     
  Region: Postal Code:
     
  Country: Phone Number:
     
  Email Address:  

 

3. Investor Eligibility Certifications

 

I understand that to purchase Shares, I must either be an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), or I must limit my investment in the Shares to a maximum of: (i) 10% of my net worth or annual income, whichever is greater, if I am a natural person; or (ii) 10% of my revenues or net assets, whichever is greater, for my most recently completed fiscal year, if I am a non-natural person.

 

I understand that if I am a natural person I should determine my net worth for purposes of these representations by calculating the difference between my total assets and total liabilities. I understand this calculation must exclude the value of my primary residence and may exclude any indebtedness secured by my primary residence (up to an amount equal to the value of my primary residence). In the case of fiduciary accounts, net worth and/or income suitability requirements may be satisfied by the beneficiary of the account or by the fiduciary, if the fiduciary directly or indirectly provides funds for the purchase of the Shares.

 

I hereby represent and warrant that I meet the qualifications to purchase Shares because:

 

[  ] The aggregate purchase price for the Common Stock I am purchasing in the Offering does not exceed 10% of my net worth or annual income, whichever is greater.

 

[  ] I am an accredited investor.

 

4. I understand that the Company reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, accept or reject this subscription, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever, and to the extent not accepted, unused funds maintained in my account at Banq.co® or transmitted herewith shall either not be debited from my account at Banq.co® or be returned to the undersigned in full, with any interest accrued thereon.

 

5. I have received the Circular.

 

6. I accept the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

 

7. I am purchasing the Shares for my own account.

 

8. I hereby represent and warrant that I am not on, and am not acting as an agent, representative, intermediary or nominee for any person identified on, the list of blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury. In addition, I have complied with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, directives, and executive orders relating to anti-money laundering, including but not limited to the following laws: (1) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56; and (2) Executive Order 13224 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism) of September 23, 2001.

 

By making the foregoing representations you have not waived any right of action you may have under federal or state securities law. Any such waiver would be unenforceable. The Company will assert your representations as a defense in any subsequent litigation where such assertion would be relevant. This subscription agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

9. Digital (“electronic”) signatures, often referred to as an “e-signature”, enable paperless contracts and help speed up business transactions. The 2001 E-Sign Act was meant to ease the adoption of electronic signatures. The mechanics of this Subscription Agreement’s electronic signature include your signing this Agreement below by typing in your name, with the underlying software recording your IP address, your browser identification, the timestamp, and a securities hash within an SSL encrypted environment. This electronically signed Subscription Agreement will be available to both you and the Company, as well as any associated brokers, so they can store and access it at any time, and it will be stored and accessible on Banq.co®. You and the Company each hereby consent and agree that electronically signing this Agreement constitutes your signature, acceptance and agreement as if actually signed by you in writing. Further, all parties agree that no certification authority or other third party verification is necessary to validate any electronic signature; and that the lack of such certification or third party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your signature or resulting contract between you and the Company. You understand and agree that your e-signature executed in conjunction with the electronic submission of this Subscription Agreement shall be legally binding and such transaction shall be considered authorized by you. You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this Subscription Agreement and you consent to be legally bound by this Subscription Agreement’s terms and conditions. Furthermore, you and the Company each hereby agree that all current and future notices, confirmations and other communications regarding this Subscription Agreement specifically, and future communications in general between the parties, may be made by email, sent to the email address of record as set forth in this Subscription Agreement or as otherwise from time to time changed or updated and disclosed to the other party, without necessity of confirmation of receipt, delivery or reading, and such form of electronic communication is sufficient for all matters regarding the relationship between the parties. If any such electronically sent communication fails to be received for any reason, including but not limited to such communication being diverted to the recipient’s spam filters by the recipient’s email service provider, or due to a recipient’s change of address, or due to technology issues by the recipient’s service provider, the parties agree that the burden of such failure to receive is on the recipient and not the sender, and that the sender is under no obligation to resend communications via any other means, including but not limited to postal service or overnight courier, and that such communications shall for all purposes, including legal and regulatory, be deemed to have been delivered and received. No physical, paper documents will be sent to you, and if you desire physical documents then you agree to be satisfied by directly and personally printing, at your own expense, the electronically sent communication(s) and maintaining such physical records in any manner or form that you desire.

 

     

 

 

10. Delivery Instructions. If you are funding outside of your BANQ® account via escrow through either an ACH authorization or a wire transfer pursuant to the escrow instructions set forth in the Offering Circular, or delivered to me by my broker-dealer, in the amount of my Subscription Price, provided that if my broker-dealer or the Selling Agent have arranged to facilitate the funding of the Subscription, please fill out the information below to have your shares delivered to your broker, held at the transfer agent or delivered to your residence. All orders entered on BANQ® will have shares delivered directly to BANQ®

 

[  ] Retain at the transfer agent

 

[  ] Deliver to the address of record above.

 

[  ] Deliver to my brokerage account at the following instructions:

 

DWAC INSTRUCTIONS

 

 

Name of DTC Participant (broker-dealer at which the account

or accounts to be credited with the Common Stock are maintained):

 
       

 

  DTC Participant Number:
     
       

 

   

Name of Account at DTC Participant being

credited with the Common Stock

     
       

 

   

Account Number at DTC Participant being credited

with the Common Stock:

     
       

 

     

 

 

Your Consent is Hereby Given: By signing this Subscription Agreement electronically, you are explicitly agreeing to receive documents electronically including your copy of this signed Subscription Agreement as well as ongoing disclosures, communications and notices.

 

SIGNATURES:

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) OR ENTITY REGISTERED ABOVE.

 

Subscriber:

 

_______________________________________

Name:

Email:

Date:

 

 

Issuer:

 

/s/ Andrew Wiederhorn

Name: Andrew Wiederhorn

Company: FAT Brands Inc.

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

Common Stock

In

FAT Brands Inc.

 

This Subscription Agreement relates to my/our agreement to purchase ________ shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), to be issued by FAT Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for a purchase price of $12.00 per Share, for a total purchase price of $___________ (“Subscription Price”), subject to the terms, conditions, acknowledgments, representations and warranties stated herein and in the Final Offering Circular for the sale of the Shares, dated September_______, 2017 (the “Circular”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Circular.

 

Simultaneously with or subsequent to the execution and delivery hereof, if I have an account with BANQ®, I am authorizing the Selling Agent to debit funds equal to the amount of the Subscription Price from my account at BANQ®; in the amount of my Subscription Price, provided that if my broker-dealer or the Selling Agent have arranged to facilitate the funding of the Subscription Price to the escrow account (as described below) through a clearing agent, then I agree to deliver the funds for the Subscription Price pursuant to the instructions provided by such clearing agent, such broker-dealer or the Selling Agent. I understand that if I wish to purchase Shares, I must complete this Subscription Agreement and, if I have an account with BANQ®, have sufficient funds in my account at the time of the execution and delivery of this Subscription Agreement; or, if I do not maintain an account with Banq.co®, submit the applicable Subscription Price as set forth herein. Subscription funds submitted by Investors who do not have an account with BANQ® will be held by and at an FDIC insured bank in compliance with SEC Rule 15c2-4, with funds released to the Company at closing ,as described in the Circular. The escrow account will be maintained by Wilmington Trust as escrow agent. In the event that the offering is terminated, then the Offered Shares will not be sold to investors pursuant to this offering and all funds will be returned to investors from escrow together with interest, if any. If any portion of the Shares is not sold in the offering, any funds paid by me for such portion of the Shares will be returned to me promptly; or, if I have an account with BANQ®, funds for such unsold Shares will not be debited from my account at closing.

 

In order to induce the Company to accept this Subscription Agreement for the Shares and as further consideration for such acceptance, I hereby make, adopt, confirm and agree to all of the following covenants, acknowledgments, representations and warranties with the full knowledge that the Company and its affiliates will expressly rely thereon in making a decision to accept or reject this Subscription Agreement:

 

1. Type of Ownership

 

[  ] Individual [  ] Joint [  ] Institution

 

2. Investor Information (You must include a permanent street address even if your mailing address is a P.O. Box.)

 

  Individual/Beneficial Owner: Joint-Owner/Minor: (If applicable.)
  Name: Name:
  Social Security/Tax ID Number: Social Security/Tax ID Number:
  Street Address: Street Address:
  City: City:
  State: State:
  Postal Code: Postal Code:
  Country: Country:
  Phone Number: Phone Number:
  Email Address: Email Address:

 

3. Investor Eligibility Certifications

 

I understand that to purchase Shares, I must either be an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”), or, unless the securities issued in the offering initially trade on a national securities exchange, I must limit my investment in the Shares to a maximum of: (i) 10% of my net worth or annual income, whichever is greater, if I am a natural person; or (ii) 10% of my revenues or net assets, whichever is greater, for my most recently completed fiscal year, if I am a non-natural person. I understand that if I am a natural person I should determine my net worth for purposes of these representations by calculating the difference between my total assets and total liabilities. I understand this calculation must exclude the value of my primary residence and may exclude any indebtedness secured by my primary residence (up to an amount equal to the value of my primary residence). In the case of fiduciary accounts, net worth and/or income suitability requirements may be satisfied by the beneficiary of the account or by the fiduciary, if the fiduciary directly or indirectly provides funds for the purchase of the Shares.

 

I hereby represent and warrant that I meet the qualifications to purchase Shares because:

 

[  ] The aggregate purchase price for the Common Stock I am purchasing in the offering does not exceed 10% of my net worth or annual income, whichever is greater.

 

[  ] The aggregate purchase price for the Common Stock I am purchasing in the offering does exceed 10% of my net worth or annual income, whichever is greater. I understand that my full subscription may only be accepted if the securities trade on a national securities exchange.

 

[  ] I am an accredited investor.

 

     

 

 

4. I understand that the Company reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, accept or reject this subscription, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever, and to the extent not accepted, unused funds maintained in my account at BANQ® or transmitted herewith shall either not be debited from my account at BANQ® or be returned to the undersigned in full, with any interest accrued thereon.

 

5. I have received the Circular.

 

6. I accept the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

 

7. I am purchasing the Shares for my own account.

 

8. I hereby represent and warrant that I am not on, and am not acting as an agent, representative, intermediary or nominee for any person identified on, the list of blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury. In addition, I have complied with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations, directives, and executive orders relating to anti-money laundering, including but not limited to the following laws: (1) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56; and (2) Executive Order 13224 (Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism) of September 23, 2001. By making the foregoing representations you have not waived any right of action you may have under federal or state securities law. Any such waiver would be unenforceable. The Company will assert your representations as a defense in any subsequent litigation where such assertion would be relevant. This subscription agreement and all rights hereunder shall be governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

 

9. Digital (“electronic”) signatures, often referred to as an “e-signature”, enable paperless contracts and help speed up business transactions. The 2001 E-Sign Act was meant to ease the adoption of electronic signatures. The mechanics of this Subscription Agreement’s electronic signature include your signing this Agreement below by typing in your name, with the underlying software recording your IP address, your browser identification, the timestamp, and a securities hash within an SSL encrypted environment. This electronically signed Subscription Agreement will be available to both you and the Company, as well as any associated brokers, so they can store and access it at any time, and it will be stored and accessible on Banq.co®. You and the Company each hereby consent and agree that electronically signing this Agreement constitutes your signature, acceptance and agreement as if actually signed by you in writing. Further, all parties agree that no certification authority or other third party verification is necessary to validate any electronic signature; and that the lack of such certification or third party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your signature or resulting contract between you and the Company. You understand and agree that your e-signature executed in conjunction with the electronic submission of this Subscription Agreement shall be legally binding and such transaction shall be considered authorized by you. You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature on this Subscription Agreement and you consent to be legally bound by this Subscription Agreement’s terms and conditions. Furthermore, you and the Company each hereby agree that all current and future notices, confirmations and other communications regarding this Subscription Agreement specifically, and future communications in general between the parties, may be made by email, sent to the email address of record as set forth in this Subscription Agreement or as otherwise from time to time changed or updated and disclosed to the other party, without necessity of confirmation of receipt, delivery or reading, and such form of electronic communication is sufficient for all matters regarding the relationship between the parties. If any such electronically sent communication fails to be received for any reason, including but not limited to such communication being diverted to the recipient’s spam filters by the recipient’s email service provider, or due to a recipient’s change of address, or due to technology issues by the recipient’s service provider, the parties agree that the burden of such failure to receive is on the recipient and not the sender, and that the sender is under no obligation to resend communications via any other means, including but not limited to postal service or overnight courier, and that such communications shall for all purposes, including legal and regulatory, be deemed to have been delivered and received. No physical, paper documents will be sent to you, and if you desire physical documents then you agree to be satisfied by directly and personally printing, at your own expense, the electronically sent communication(s) and maintaining such physical records in any manner or form that you desire.

 

10. Delivery Instructions. If you are funding outside of your BANQ® account via escrow through either an ACH authorization or a wire transfer pursuant to the escrow instructions set forth in the Offering Circular, or delivered to me by my broker-dealer, in the amount of my Subscription Price, provided that if my broker-dealer or the Selling Agent have arranged to facilitate the funding of the Subscription, please fill out the information below to have your shares delivered to your broker, held at the transfer agent or delivered to your residence. All orders entered on BANQ® will have shares delivered directly to BANQ®

 

Your Consent is Hereby Given: By signing this Subscription Agreement electronically, you are explicitly agreeing to receive documents electronically including your copy of this signed Subscription Agreement as well as ongoing disclosures, communications and notices.

 

SIGNATURES:

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON(S) OR ENTITY REGISTERED ABOVE.

 

Subscriber:   Issuer:
       
    /s/Andrew Wiederhorn
Name:   Name: Andrew Wiederhorn
Email:   Company:  FAT Brands Inc.
Date:   Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

     

 

 

Exhibit 6.2

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

FORM OF INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”), dated as of         , 2017 is by and between FAT Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and                  (the “Indemnitee”).

 

WHEREAS, Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company, or the Company expects Indemnitee to join the Company as a director and/or officer;

 

WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of public companies;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that enhancing the ability of the Company to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons is in the best interests of the Company and that the Company therefore should seek to assure such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage is available; and

 

WHEREAS, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with substantial protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee’s ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws (collectively, the “Constituent Documents”), any change in the composition of the Board or any change in control or business combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of, and the advancement of Expenses (as defined in Section 1(f) below) to, Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and to the extent insurance is maintained for the continued coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the Indemnitee’s agreement to provide services to the Company, the parties agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

(a) “Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to the term “beneficial owner” in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

 

(b) “Change in Control” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

 

(i) any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;

 

(ii) the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation, unless immediately following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, all of the Beneficial Owners of the Voting Securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the entity resulting from such transaction;

 

(iii) during any period of two consecutive years, not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; or

 

   1  
 

 

(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

(c) “Claim” means:

 

(i) any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law; or

 

(ii) any inquiry, hearing or investigation that the Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

 

(d) “Delaware Court” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9(e) below.

 

(e) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

 

(f) “Expenses” means any and all expenses, including attorneys’ and experts’ fees, court costs, transcript costs, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, and all other costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in, any Claim. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Claim, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 5 only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

 

(g) “Expense Advance” means any payment of Expenses advanced to Indemnitee by the Company pursuant to Section 4 or Section 5 hereof.

 

(h) “Indemnifiable Event” means any event or occurrence, whether occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise (collectively with the Company, “Enterprise”) or by reason of an action or inaction by Indemnitee in any such capacity (whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Loss is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement).

 

(i) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently performs, nor in the past three years has performed, services for either: (i) the Company or Indemnitee (other than in connection with matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar agreements) or (ii) any other party to the Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

(j) “Losses” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other), ERISA excise taxes, amounts paid or payable in settlement, including any interest, assessments, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, and all other charges paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in, any Claim.

 

   2  
 

 

(k) “Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity and includes the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(l) “Standard of Conduct Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9(b) below.

 

(m) “Voting Securities” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.

 

2. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve (or continue to serve as applicable) as a director and/or officer of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is no longer serving in such capacity. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment agreement between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that his or her employment with or service to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise is at will and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment agreement between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director and/or officer of the Company, by the Company’s Constituent Documents or Delaware law. This Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, of any of its subsidiaries or Enterprise, as provided in Section 12 hereof.

 

3. Indemnification. Subject to Section 9 and Section 10 of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof, or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification, against any and all Losses if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or participant in, any Claim by reason of or arising in part out of an Indemnifiable Event, including, without limitation, Claims brought by or in the right of the Company, Claims brought by third parties, and Claims in which the Indemnitee is solely a witness.

 

4. Advancement of Expenses. Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Company, prior to the final disposition of any Claim by final adjudication to which there are no further rights of appeal, of any and all Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim arising out of an Indemnifiable Event. Indemnitee’s right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within sixty (60) days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request, (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. In connection with any request for Expense Advances, Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. In connection with any request for Expense Advances, Indemnitee shall execute and deliver to the Company an undertaking (which shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expense Advances) to repay any amounts paid, advanced, or reimbursed by the Company for such Expenses to the extent that it is ultimately determined, following the final disposition of such Claim, that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification hereunder. Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.

 

5. Indemnification for Expenses in Enforcing Rights. To the fullest extent allowable under applicable law, the Company shall also indemnify against, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall advance to Indemnitee subject to and in accordance with Section 4, any Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action or proceeding by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims relating to Indemnifiable Events, and/or (b) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification or insurance recovery, as the case may be. Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse the Company in the event that a final judicial determination is made that such action brought by Indemnitee was frivolous or not made in good faith.

 

   3  
 

 

6. Partial Indemnity. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of any Losses in respect of a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event but not for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

7. Notification and Defense of Claims.

 

(a) Notification of Claims. Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim which could relate to an Indemnifiable Event or for which Indemnitee could seek Expense Advances, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of the nature of, and the facts underlying, such Claim. The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company hereunder shall not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder, unless the Company’s ability to participate in the defense of such claim was materially and adversely affected by such failure/except that the Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement with respect to any judicial award in a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event if the Company was not given a reasonable and timely opportunity to participate at its expense in the defense of such action. If at the time of the receipt of such notice, the Company has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in effect under which coverage for Claims related to Indemnifiable Events is potentially available, the Company shall give prompt written notice to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Claim, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company.

 

(b) Defense of Claims. The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any such Claim, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any Expenses subsequently directly incurred by Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee’s defense of such Claim other than reasonable costs of investigation or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own legal counsel in such Claim, but all Expenses related to such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be at Indemnitee’s own expense; provided, however, that if (i) Indemnitee’s employment of its own legal counsel has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee has reasonably determined that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the defense of such Claim, (iii) after a Change in Control, Indemnitee’s employment of its own counsel has been approved by the Independent Counsel or (iv) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Claim, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain its own separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any such Claim) and all Expenses related to such separate counsel shall be borne by the Company.

 

8. Procedure upon Application for Indemnification. In order to obtain indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including in such request such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Claim, provided that documentation and information need not be so provided to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. Indemnification shall be made insofar as the Company determines Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification in accordance with Section 9 below.

 

   4  
 

 

9. Determination of Right to Indemnification.

 

(a) Mandatory Indemnification; Indemnification as a Witness.

 

(i) To the extent that Indemnitee shall have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses relating to such Claim in accordance with Section 3 to the fullest extent allowable by law, and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 9(b)) shall be required.

 

(ii) To the extent that Indemnitee’s involvement in a Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event is to prepare to serve and serve as a witness, and not as a party, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses incurred in connection therewith to the fullest extent allowable by law and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 9(b)) shall be required.

 

(b) Standard of Conduct. To the extent that the provisions of Section 9(a) are inapplicable to a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event that shall have been finally disposed of, any determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Losses relating to such Claim and any determination that Expense Advances must be repaid to the Company (a “Standard of Conduct Determination”) shall be made as follows:

 

(i) if no Change in Control has occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum or (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; and

 

(ii) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, (A) if the Indemnitee so requests in writing, by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board or (B) otherwise, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee.

 

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within sixty (60) days of such request, any and all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in cooperating with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination.

 

(c) Making the Standard of Conduct Determination. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 9(b) to be made as promptly as practicable. If the person or persons designated to make the Standard of Conduct Determination under Section 9(b) shall not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after the later of (A) receipt by the Company of a written request from Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8 (the date of such receipt being the “Notification Date”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, then Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person or persons making such determination in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate information relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of any Claim.

 

(d) Payment of Indemnification. If, in regard to any Losses:

 

(i) Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a);

 

   5  
 

 

(ii) no Standard Conduct Determination is legally required as a condition to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder; or

 

(iii) Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 9(b) or Section 9(c) to have satisfied the Standard of Conduct Determination,

 

then the Company shall pay to Indemnitee, within five days after the later of (A) the Notification Date or (B) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) is satisfied, an amount equal to such Losses.

 

(e) Selection of Independent Counsel for Standard of Conduct Determination. If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(ii), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either case, Indemnitee or the Company, as applicable, may, within five days after receiving written notice of selection from the other, deliver to the other a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not satisfy the criteria set forth in the definition of “Independent Counsel” in Section 1(i), and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is properly and timely made and substantiated, (i) the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit; and (ii) the non-objecting party may, at its option, select an alternative Independent Counsel and give written notice to the other party advising such other party of the identity of the alternative Independent Counsel so selected, in which case the provisions of the two immediately preceding sentences, the introductory clause of this sentence and numbered clause (i) of this sentence shall apply to such subsequent selection and notice. If applicable, the provisions of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to successive alternative selections. If no Independent Counsel that is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination shall have been selected within twenty (20) days after the Company gives its initial notice pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9(e) or Indemnitee gives its initial notice pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 9(e), as the case may be, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (“Delaware Court”) to resolve any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or to appoint as Independent Counsel a person to be selected by the Court or such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person or firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or firm so appointed will act as Independent Counsel. In all events, the Company shall pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection with the Independent Counsel’s determination pursuant to Section 9(b).

 

(f) Presumptions and Defenses.

 

(i) Indemnitee’s Entitlement to Indemnification. In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption and establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Delaware Court. No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct may be used as a defense to any legal proceedings brought by Indemnitee to secure indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct.

 

   6  
 

 

(ii) Reliance as a Safe Harbor. For purposes of this Agreement, and without creating any presumption as to a lack of good faith if the following circumstances do not exist, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company if Indemnitee’s actions or omissions to act are taken in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Board or by any other Person (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors) as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnity hereunder.

 

(iii) No Other Presumptions. For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or have any particular belief, or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted.

 

(iv) Defense to Indemnification and Burden of Proof. It shall be a defense to any action brought by Indemnitee against the Company to enforce this Agreement (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for Losses incurred in defending against a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event in advance of its final disposition) that it is not permissible under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed. In connection with any such action or any related Standard of Conduct Determination, the burden of proving such a defense or that the Indemnitee did not satisfy the applicable standard of conduct shall be on the Company.

 

(v) Resolution of Claims. The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful on the merits or otherwise for purposes of Section 9.1(a)(i) if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with our without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise for purposes of Section 9.1(a)(i). The Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome this presumption.

 

10. Exclusions from Indemnification. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to:

 

(a) indemnify or advance funds to Indemnitee for Expenses or Losses with respect to proceedings initiated by Indemnitee, including any proceedings against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees and not by way of defense, except:

 

(i) proceedings referenced in Section 5 above (unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous); or

 

(ii) where the Company has joined in or the Board has consented to the initiation of such proceedings.

 

(b) indemnify Indemnitee if a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law.

 

   7  
 

 

(c) indemnify Indemnitee for the disgorgement of profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or any similar successor statute.

 

(d) indemnify or advance funds to Indemnitee for Indemnitee’s reimbursement to the Company of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation previously received by Indemnitee or payment of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with an accounting restatement of the Company or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act).

 

11. Settlement of Claims. The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the Company shall be liable for indemnification of the Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement if an Independent Counsel has approved the settlement. The Company shall not settle any Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event in any manner that would impose any Losses on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee’s prior written consent.

 

12. Duration. All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company (or is serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of another Enterprise) and shall continue thereafter (i) so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event (including any rights of appeal thereto) and (ii) throughout the pendency of any proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto) commenced by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret his or her rights under this Agreement, even if, in either case, he or she may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any such Claim or proceeding.

 

13. Non-Exclusivity. The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, “Other Indemnity Provisions”); provided, however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder.

 

14. Liability Insurance. For the duration of Indemnitee’s service as a director and/or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to continue to maintain in effect policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company’s current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. In all policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors, if Indemnitee is a director, or of the Company’s officers, if Indemnitee is an officer (and not a director) by such policy. Upon request, the Company will provide to Indemnitee copies of all directors’ and officers’ liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials.

 

15. No Duplication of Payments. The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise received payment under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents, Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Company hereunder.

 

16. Subrogation. In the event of payment to Indemnitee under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

   8  
 

 

17. Amendments. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless in the form of a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought, and no such waiver shall operate as a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver thereof.

 

18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substances satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

19. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any portion thereof) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, against receipt, or mailed, by postage prepaid, certified or registered mail:

 

(a) if to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

(b) if to the Company, to:

 

FAT Brands Inc.

Attention: General Counsel

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

 

Notice of change of address shall be effective only when given in accordance with this Section. All notices complying with this Section shall be deemed to have been received on the date of hand delivery or on the third business day after mailing.

 

21. Governing Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801, as its agent in the State of Delaware for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or make, any claim that the Delaware Court lacks venue or that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

   9  
 

 

22. Headings. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction or interpretation thereof.

 

23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

[signature page follows]

 

   10  
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  FAT Brands Inc.
                      
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  INDEMNITEE
     
     
  Name:  
  Address:  
     
     

 

   11  
 

 

 

 

EXECUTION

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

(HOMESTYLE DINING LLC)

 

by and between

 

METROMEDIA COMPANY and

JWK ENTERPRISES LLC (SELLERS),

 

and

 

FOG CUTTER CAPITAL GROUP, INC. (BUYER)

 

dated as of

 

March 10, 2017

 

   

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1
   
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE 10
   
Section 2.01 Purchase and Sale. 10
   
Section 2.02 Purchase Price. 10
   
Section 2.03 Transactions to be Effected at the Closing. 10
   
Section 2.04 Closing. 11
   
Section 2.05 Withholding Tax. 11
   
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER 11
   
Section 3.01 Organization and Authority of Sellers. 11
   
Section 3.02 Organization of the Company and Subsidiaries; Organizational Documents 12
   
Section 3.03 Capitalization. 12
   
Section 3.04 Subsidiaries 13
   
Section 3.05 No Conflicts; Consents. 13
   
Section 3.06 Financial Statements. 13
   
Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities. 14
   
Section 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes, Events, and Conditions. 15
   
Section 3.09 Material Contracts. 17
   
Section 3.10 Real Property and Personal Property Matters. 19
   
Section 3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. 20
   
Section 3.12 Intellectual Property. 20
   
Section 3.13 Inventory; Accounts Receivable. 22
   
Section 3.14 Franchise Matters 22
   
Section 3.15 Suppliers. 25
   
Section 3.16 Insurance. 25

 

   

 

 

Section 3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders. 26
   
Section 3.18 Compliance With Laws; Franchising Compliance 26
   
Section 3.19 Environmental Matters. 27
   
Section 3.20 Employee Benefit Matters. 28
   
Section 3.21 Employment Matters. 32
   
Section 3.22 Taxes. 33
   
Section 3.23 Books and Records. 36
   
Section 3.24 Brokers. 36
   
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER 36
   
Section 4.01 Organization and Authority of Buyer. 36
   
Section 4.02 No Conflicts; Consents. 37
   
Section 4.03 Brokers. 37
   
Section 4.04 Sufficiency of Funds. 37
   
Section 4.05 Legal Proceedings. 37
   
ARTICLE V COVENANTS 37
   
Section 5.01 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. 37
   
Section 5.02 Access to Information. 38
   
Section 5.03 No Solicitation of Other Bids. 38
   
Section 5.04 Notice of Certain Events. 39
   
Section 5.05 Resignations. 40
   
Section 5.06 Confidentiality. 40
   
Section 5.07 Non-competition; Non-solicitation. 40
   
Section 5.08 Governmental Approvals and Consents. 41
   
Section 5.09 Books and Records. 43
   
Section 5.10 Closing Conditions 44

 

   

 

 

Section 5.11 Public Announcements. 44
   
Section 5.12 Further Assurances. 44
   
ARTICLE VI TAX MATTERS 44
   
Section 6.01 Tax Covenants. 44
   
Section 6.02 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. 45
   
Section 6.03 Tax Indemnification. 45
   
Section 6.04 Straddle Period. 46
   
Section 6.05 Contests. 46
   
Section 6.06 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. 46
   
Section 6.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. 47
   
Section 6.08 Survival. 47
   
Section 6.09 Overlap. 47
   
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CLOSING 47
   
Section 7.01 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. 47
   
Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. 47
   
Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of Seller. 49
   
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION 50
   
Section 8.01 Survival. 50
   
Section 8.02 Indemnification By Seller. 51
   
Section 8.03 Indemnification By Buyer. 51
   
Section 8.04 Certain Limitations. 52
   
Section 8.05 Indemnification Procedures. 52
   
Section 8.06 Payments. 55
   
Section 8.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. 55
   
Section 8.08 Effect of Investigation. 55

 

   

 

 

Section 8.09 Exclusive Remedies. 55
   
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION 56
   
Section 9.01 Termination. 56
   
Section 9.02 Effect of Termination. 56
   
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 57
   
Section 10.01 Expenses. 57
   
Section 10.02 Notices. 57
   
Section 10.03 Interpretation. 58
   
Section 10.04 Headings. 58
   
Section 10.05 Severability. 58
   
Section 10.06 Entire Agreement. 58
   
Section 10.07 Successors and Assigns. 58
   
Section 10.08 No Third-party Beneficiaries. 59
   
Section 10.09 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. 59
   
Section 10.10 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. 59
   
Section 10.11 Specific Performance. 60
   
Section 10.12 Counterparts. 60

 

Disclosure Schedules  
   
Section 3.04 Subsidiaries
   
Section 3.05 Conflicts and Consents
   
Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities
   
Section 3.08(h) Material Agreements
   
Section 3.08(i) Indebtedness
   
Section 3.08(j) Dispositions of Assets

 

   

 

 

Section 3.08(u) Entry into a new line of Business or Discontinuance of Existing Line of Business
   
Section 3.08(y) Tax Elections
   
Section 3.09(a) Material Contracts
   
Section 3.10(b) Leased Real Estate
   
Section 3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets
   
Section 3.12(a) Company IP Registrations / Unregistered IP
   
Section 3.12(b) Company IP Agreements
   
Section 3.12(c) Exceptions to Ownership of Company Intellectual Property
   
Section 3.14(a) Franchise Agreements and Area Development Agreements
   
Section 3.14(b)(i) Enforceability of Franchise Agreements
   
Section 3.14(b)(ii) Breaches of Franchise Agreements
   
Section 3.14(b)(iv) Waivers
   
Section 3.14(b)(vi) Franchisees with Past Due Obligations
   
Section 3.14(b)(vii) Franchisees not current with Development Obligations
   
Section 3.14(d) Franchise Jurisdictions
   
Section 3.14(g) Franchisee Sales Persons
   
Section 3.14(i) Closed Franchisees
   
Section 3.15 Suppliers
   
Section 3.16 Insurance
   
Section 3.17(a) Legal Proceedings
   
Section 3.17(b) Governmental Orders and Unsatisfied Judgments
   
Section 3.18(b) Permits
   
Section 3.20(a) Benefit Plans
   
Section 3.20(g) Post-termination or retiree welfare benefits
   
Section 3.21 Employment Matters
   
Section 3.22(f) Taxable Years
   
Section 3.22(m) Consolidated or Combined Tax Groups
   
Section 3.22(t) Foreign Jurisdictions

 

   

 

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

(HOMESTYLE DINING LLC)\

 

This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 10, 2017, is entered into by and between Metromedia Company, a Delaware general partnership, and JWK Enterprises LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, a “Seller” and together, the “Sellers”), on the one hand, and Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, on the other hand (“Buyer”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Sellers collectively own all of the issued and outstanding membership interests (the “Membership Interests”) in Homestyle Dining LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”); and

 

WHEREAS, Sellers wish to sell to Buyer, and Buyer wishes to purchase from Sellers, the Membership Interests, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

Definitions

 

The following terms have the meanings specified or referred to in this ARTICLE I:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(a).

 

Action” means any action, cause of action, lawsuit, arbitration, , audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.

 

Accrued Salary and Payroll Tax Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

 

Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Area Developer Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(a).

 

Assignment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b)(i).

 

  1  

 

 

Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Basket” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(a).

 

Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).

 

BRC” means Bonanza Restaurant Company, a Delaware general partnership.

 

Breach” means (a) any breach, inaccuracy, failure to perform, failure to comply, failure to notify, default, or violation or (b) any other act, omission, event, occurrence, or condition the existence of which would (i) permit any Person to accelerate any monetary obligation or terminate, or cancel or modify any right or obligation or (ii) require the payment of a monetary penalty.

 

Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.

 

Buyer” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Buyer Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.02.

 

Cap” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04(a).

 

CBG” means Coles Backyard Grill LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.

 

CBFG” means Cole’s Backyard Grill Franchising LLC.

 

Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.

 

  2  

 

 

Company IP Registrations” means all Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

Contracts” means all agreements, contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures, and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.

 

Current Assets” means cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventory and prepaid expenses, but excluding (a) the portion of any prepaid expense of which Buyer will not receive the benefit following the Closing, (b) deferred Tax assets and (c) receivables from any of the Company’s Affiliates, managers, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Audited Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Current Liabilities” means accounts payable, accrued Taxes and accrued expenses, but excluding payables to any of the Company’s Affiliates, managers, employees, officers or members and any of their respective Affiliates, deferred Tax liabilities and the current portion of long term debt, determined in accordance with GAAP applied using the same accounting methods, practices, principles, policies and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and valuation and estimation methodologies that were used in the preparation of the Audited Financial Statements for the most recent fiscal year end as if such accounts were being prepared and audited as of a fiscal year end.

 

Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(c).

 

Disclosure Schedules” means the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Sellers and Buyer concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Environmental Claim” means any Action, Governmental Order, lien, fine, penalty, or, as to each, any settlement or judgment arising therefrom, by or from any Person alleging liability of whatever kind or nature (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or resulting from: (a) the presence, Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials; or (b) any actual or alleged non-compliance with any Environmental Law or term or condition of any Environmental Permit.

 

  3  

 

 

Environmental Law” means any applicable Law, and any Governmental Order or binding agreement with any Governmental Authority: (a) relating to pollution (or the cleanup thereof) or the protection of natural resources, endangered or threatened species, human health or safety, or the environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water or groundwater, or subsurface strata); or (b) concerning the presence of, exposure to, or the management, manufacture, use, containment, storage, recycling, reclamation, reuse, treatment, generation, discharge, transportation, processing, production, disposal or remediation of any Hazardous Materials. The term “Environmental Law” includes, without limitation, the following (including their implementing regulations and any state analogs): the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401 et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.

 

Environmental Notice” means any written directive, notice of violation or infraction, or notice respecting any Environmental Claim relating to actual or alleged non-compliance with any Environmental Law or any term or condition of any Environmental Permit.

 

Environmental Permit” means any Permit, letter, clearance, consent, waiver, closure, exemption, decision or other action required under or issued, granted, given, authorized by or made pursuant to Environmental Law.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Franchise Agreement” means any Contract granting Franchise Rights of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Franchise Rights” means any and all rights relating to the ownership, operation and development of one or more restaurants branded as Ponderosa Steakhouse, Bonanza Steakhouse, Bonanza Steak & BBQ or Coles Backyard Grill.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.

 

Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(a)(viii).

 

  4  

 

 

Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of Law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.

 

Hazardous Materials” means: (a) any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or manmade, that is hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under Environmental Laws; and (b) any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Indebtedness” means any liability or obligation under or for any of the following, in each case to the extent any related amount is actually owed: (a) indebtedness for borrowed money, including the principal and accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any guaranty of owed money; (b) indebtedness evidenced by a note, debenture, deed of trust, mortgage or similar instrument; (c) letter of credit or surety bond, the extent drawn upon and then only the outstanding amount required to be paid; (d) capital lease; (e) deferred purchase price of any property; and (f) conditional sale obligations, excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.

 

Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05.

 

Independent Accountant” shall mean a mutually acceptable nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants other than the Company’s or Buyer’s principal independent accounting firm.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.

 

Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) Marks, trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, petty patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.

 

  5  

 

 

Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Knowledge of Sellers” or “Sellers’ Knowledge” or any other similar knowledge qualification, means the actual or constructive knowledge of any director, managing member, manager or officer of Seller, the Company or any Material Subsidiary, after due inquiry.

 

Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.

 

Lease” shall mean all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions, and other agreements (written or oral) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds any Leased Real Estate, including the right to all security deposits and other amounts and instruments deposited by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder.

 

Leased Real Estate” shall mean all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other rights to use or occupy any land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, or other interest in real property held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07.

 

Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except in the case of fraud or to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other third party.

 

Marks” means all fictitious business names, trading names, corporate names, and registered trademarks, and service marks and applications therefor.

 

  6  

 

 

“Management Agreements” means the respective Management Agreements between Metromedia Company and each of (i) BFC, (ii) CBGF and (iii) PFC.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or (b) the ability of Sellers, or either Seller, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly or indirectly, arising out of or attributable to: (i) general economic or political conditions; (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company or any Material Subsidiary operates; (iii) any changes in financial or securities markets in general; (iv) act of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (v) any action required or permitted by this Agreement, except pursuant to Section 3.05 and Section 5.08; (vi) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules, including GAAP; or (vii) the public announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a disproportionate effect on the Company or any Material Subsidiary compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company or such Material Subsidiary conducts its businesses.

 

Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(a).

 

Material Subsidiary” means each of Ponderosa Franchising Company,, and Bonanza Restaurant Company.

 

Material Suppliers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15.

 

Membership Interests” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).

 

Organizational Documents” means (a) in the case of a Person that is a corporation, its articles or certificate of incorporation and its by-laws, regulations or similar governing instruments required by the laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization; (b) in the case of a Person that is a partnership, its articles or certificate of partnership, formation or association, and its partnership agreement (in each case, limited, limited liability, general or otherwise); (c) in the case of a Person that is a limited liability company, its articles or certificate of formation or organization, and its limited liability company agreement or operating agreement; and (d) in the case of a Person that is none of a corporation, partnership (limited, limited liability, general or otherwise), limited liability company or natural person, its governing instruments as required or contemplated by the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.

 

  7  

 

 

Owned Real Estate” shall mean all land, together with all buildings, structures, fixtures, and improvements located thereon and all easements, rights of way, and appurtenances relating thereto, owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.

 

Permitted Liens” means: (a) statutory Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not delinquent or which are being contested by appropriate proceedings (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof); (c) zoning, entitlement, building, and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over such Person’s owned or leased real property, which are not violated by the current use and operation of such real property; (d) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements, and other similar non-monetary matters of record affecting title to such Person’s owned or leased real property, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses; (e) any right of way or easement related to public roads and highways, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses; and (f) Liens arising under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement, and similar legislation.

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association, or other entity.

 

PFC” means Ponderosa Franchising Company, a Delaware general partnership.

 

Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable period ending on and including the Closing Date.

 

Post-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date and, with respect to any taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable period beginning after the Closing Date.

 

Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

 

Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).

 

Real Property” means all Leased Real Estate and all Owned Real Estate.

 

Related Party Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness owed to the Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

  8  

 

 

Release” means any actual or threatened release, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, abandonment, disposing or allowing to escape or migrate into or through the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air (indoor or outdoor), surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata or within any building, structure, facility or fixture).

 

Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, managing members, managers, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.

 

Restricted Business” means the segments of the restaurant business typically referred to as a “Quick Service” or a “Fast Casual”.

 

Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.07(a).

 

Seller” or “Sellers” have the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Sellers Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.03.

 

SPAC Definitive Agreement” means a definitive agreement pursuant to which M I Acquisitions, Inc. agrees to acquire, merge or combine with the Buyer and/or the Buyer’s operating Subsidiaries or businesses.

 

SPAC Proxy” means a preliminary proxy statement disclosing that a SPAC Definitive Agreement has been executed and delivered.

 

Straddle Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04.

 

Subsidiary” means a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of voting securities is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by the Company.

 

Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return, or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

Territory” means the United States of America.

 

  9  

 

 

Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(a).

 

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement and the Assignment.

 

Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21 (b).

 

WARN Act” means the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, and similar state, local and foreign laws related to plant closings, relocations, mass layoffs and employment losses.

 

ARTICLE II

Purchase and sale

 

Section 2.01 Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, Sellers shall sell to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase from Sellers, all of Sellers’ right, title, and interest in and to the Membership Interests, free and clear of all Liens, for the consideration specified in Section 2.02.

 

Section 2.02 Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) for the Membership Interests shall be (i) Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000) if the Closing occurs on or prior to March 15, 2017, (ii) Nine Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($9,150,000) if the Closing occurs subsequent to March 15, 2017 and on or before March 30, 2017, (iii) Nine Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($9,350,000) if the Closing occurs subsequent to March 30, 2017 and on or before April 29, 2017, (iv) Nine Million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($9,450,000) if the Closing occurs subsequent to April 29, 2017 and on or before May 30, 2017, (v) Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9,500,000) if the Closing occurs on May 31, 2017 or (vi) Nine Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($9,550,000.00) if the Closing occurs on or after June 1, 2017. At Closing, the Company may be sold free of any cash, and will have (i) no Related Party Indebtedness and (ii) no accrued salaries and payroll taxes in excess of One Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($135,000) (the “Accrued Salary and Payroll Tax Cap”).

 

Section 2.03 Transactions to be Effected at the Closing.

 

(a) At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Sellers:

 

(i) the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to one or more accounts of the Sellers, designated in writing by Sellers to Buyer no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date; and

 

(ii) the Transaction Documents and all other agreements, documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by Buyer at or prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 7.03 of this Agreement.

 

  10  

 

 

(b) At the Closing, Sellers shall deliver to Buyer:

 

(i) an assignment of the Membership Interests to Buyer in form and substance satisfactory to Buyer (the “Assignment”), duly executed by each Seller; and

 

(ii) the other Transaction Documents and all other agreements, documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by Sellers at or prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 7.02 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.04 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the purchase and sale of the Membership Interests contemplated hereby shall take place at a closing (the “Closing”) to be held at 10:00 a.m., New York time, no later than one (1) Business Day after the last of the conditions to Closing set forth in ARTICLE VII have been satisfied or waived (other than conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied on the Closing Date), at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY, or at such other time or on such other date or at such other place as Buyer and Sellers shall mutually agree upon in writing (the day on which the Closing takes place being the “Closing Date”).

 

Section 2.05 Withholding Tax. Buyer and the Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price all Taxes that Buyer and the Company may be required to deduct and withhold under any provision of Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated as delivered to Sellers hereunder.

 

ARTICLE III

Representations and warranties of Sellers

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the Disclosure Schedules, each Seller represents and warrants to Buyer that the statements contained in this ARTICLE III are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

Section 3.01 Organization and Authority of Sellers. Each Seller is a corporation, general partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Each Seller has full corporate, general partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents to which Sellers are a party, to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by Sellers of this Agreement and the Assignment and any other Transaction Document to which Sellers are a party, the performance by Sellers of their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Sellers of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate, general partnership or limited liability company action on the part of each Seller. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Seller, and (assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by Buyer) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of each Seller enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms. When the Assignment and each other Transaction Document to which Sellers are or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Sellers (assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by each other party thereto), the Assignment and such other Transaction Documents will constitute a legal and binding obligation of each Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

  11  

 

 

Section 3.02 Organization of the Company and Subsidiaries; Organizational Documents.

 

(a) Organization; Standing and Power. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has the requisite corporate, limited liability company, or other organizational, as applicable, power and authority to own, lease, and operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the assets and properties owned, leased, or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or license necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b Organizational Documents. Seller has delivered or made available to Buyer a true and correct copy of the Organizational Documents of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its Organizational Documents.

 

Section 3.03 Capitalization.

 

(a) Sellers are the record owner of and together have good and valid title to the Membership Interests, free and clear of all Liens. The Membership Interests constitute 100% of the total issued and outstanding membership interests in the Company. The Membership Interests have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable. Upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer shall own all of the Membership Interests, free and clear of all Liens. The Membership Interests were issued in compliance with applicable Laws. The Membership Interests were not issued in violation of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any other agreement, arrangement, or commitment to which Sellers or the Company is a party and are not subject to or in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any Person.

 

(b) There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating to any membership interests in the Company or obligating Sellers or the Company to issue or sell any membership interests (including the Membership Interests), or any other interest, in the Company. Other than the Organizational Documents, there are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or understandings in effect with respect to the voting or transfer of any of the Membership Interests.

 

  12  

 

 

(c) There are no (i) outstanding or authorized shares of capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company that are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company; (ii) options, warrants, or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to issue, any capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, voting securities, or other ownership interests in) the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iii) restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock, or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any capital stock or voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 3.04 Subsidiaries. Section 3.04 of the Disclosure Schedules lists each Subsidiary of the Company (direct or indirect) as of the date hereof and its place of organization. All Subsidiaries of the Company, are wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each Subsidiary that is owned directly or indirectly by the Company have been validly issued, were issued free of pre-emptive rights, are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all Liens, including any restriction on the right to vote, sell, or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any Person.

 

Section 3.05 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Sellers of this Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary; (c) except as set forth in Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedules, require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel any Contract to which Sellers, the Company or any of Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their respective properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Company or any Subsidiary; or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien other than Permitted Liens on any properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

  13  

 

 

Section 3.06 Financial Statements.

 

(a) Financial Statements. Sellers have delivered to Buyer complete copies of the audited financial statements of PFC, BRC and CBG, consisting of the balance sheet as of their respective fiscal year-ends in the years 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 in the case of PFC and BRC (and 2016, 2015 and 2014 solely in the case of CBG), and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the years then ended (the “Audited Financial Statements”), and unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries consisting of the balance sheet as of December 26, 2016 and the related statements of income and retained earnings, members’ equity and cash flow for the twelve periods then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the period involved, subject, in the case of the Interim Financial Statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which will not be materially adverse) and the absence of notes (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those presented in the Audited Financial Statements). The Financial Statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of each entity included therein as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of each of them for the periods indicated. The balance sheets of PFC, BRC and CBG,, as applicable, as of their respective fiscal year-end in 2016 are referred to herein as the “Balance Sheets” and the dates thereof as the “Balance Sheet Dates” and the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the twelve periods ended December 26, 2016 are referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheets” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Dates.” The Company and each Material Subsidiary maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b) Internal Controls. The Company and each Material Subsidiary has established and maintains a system of “internal controls over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP including policies and procedures that: (i) require the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company or such Material Subsidiary, as applicable; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and that receipts and expenditures of the Company or such Material Subsidiary, as applicable, are being made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management and the Board of Directors; and (iii) provide assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the assets of the Company or such Material Subsidiary, as applicable.

 

Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Section 3.07 of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary has any liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured, or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the applicable Balance Sheet as of the applicable Interim Balance Sheet Date, and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the applicable Interim Balance Sheet Date and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount. Neither the Company nor any Material Subsidiary is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to: (i) any joint venture, off balance sheet partnership, or any similar Contract or arrangement (including any such Contract or arrangement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company or any Material Subsidiary, on the one hand, and any other Person, including any structured finance, special purpose, or limited purpose Person, on the other hand); or (ii) any “off balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act). At Closing, the Company and each Subsidiary will have no (i) Related Party Indebtedness or (ii) accrued salaries or payroll taxes in excess of the Accrued Salary and Payroll Tax Cap.

 

  14  

 

 

Section 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes, Events, and Conditions. Since the applicable Interim Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, there has not been, with respect to the Company or any Material Subsidiary, as applicable, any:

 

(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) amendment of the Organizational Documents of the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(c) split, combination or reclassification of any equity interests in the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of, or creation of any Lien on, any equity interests in the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any membership interests in the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(e) declaration or payment of any distributions on or in respect of any equity interest in the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or redemption, purchase or acquisition of any outstanding equity interests in the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;

 

(g) material change in cash management practices of the Company or any Material Subsidiary, or any of their policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;

 

  15  

 

 

(h) except as set forth in Section 3.14(h) of the Disclosure Schedules, entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;

 

(i) except as set forth in Section 3.14(i) of the Disclosure Schedules, incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except (i) unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) Related Party Indebtedness;

 

(j) except as set forth in Section 3.14(j) of the Disclosure Schedules, transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet of the Company or any Material Subsidiary or cancellation of any debts (except possibly in connection with the elimination of Related Party Indebtedness) or entitlements;

 

(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Company Intellectual Property or Company IP Agreements;

 

(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;

 

(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;

 

(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any Material Contract to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(o) any material capital expenditures;

 

(p) imposition of any Lien upon any properties or assets, tangible or intangible, of the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(q) hiring or promoting any person as an officer;

 

(r) (i) grant of any bonus, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, managers, independent contractors or consultants, other than (A) as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law or (B) increases in compensation made to non-officer employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $100,000, or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, manager, independent contractor or consultant;

 

(s) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, manager, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement with a Union, in each case whether written or oral;

 

  16  

 

 

(t) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its members or current or former managers, officers and employees;

 

(u) except as set forth in Section 3.14(u) of the Disclosure Schedules, entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;

 

(v) adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;

 

(w) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $100,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(x) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets, stock or other equity of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;

 

(y) action by the Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Buyer in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period; or

 

(z) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing.

 

Section 3.09 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.09(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists each of the following Contracts of the Company and each Material Subsidiary (such Contracts, together with all Contracts disclosed in Sections 3.10(a) or 3.10(b) (“Real Property”), Section 3.12(b) (“Company IP Agreements”), or Section 3.14(a) (“Franchise Agreements”) of the Disclosure Schedules, are referred to herein as “Material Contracts”):

 

(i) each Contract of the Company or any Material Subsidiary involving aggregate consideration in excess of $100,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Company without penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

  17  

 

 

(ii) all Contracts that require the Company or any Material Subsidiary to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a third party or that contain “take or pay” provisions;

 

(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Company or any Material Subsidiary of any Person with respect to any Tax or environmental Liability of any Person;

 

(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of equity or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of stock or other equity interests, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party;

 

(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than 90 days’ notice;

 

(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Company or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party (“Government Contracts”);

 

(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Company or any Material Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;

 

(x) any Contracts to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement;

 

(xi) all Contracts between or among the Company or any Material Subsidiary, on the one hand, and Sellers or any Affiliate of Sellers (other than the Company) on the other hand;

 

(xii) all collective bargaining agreements or Contracts with any Union to which the Company or any Material Subsidiary is a party; and

 

(xiii) any other Contract that is material to the Company or any Material Subsidiary and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.09.

 

(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Company or Material Subsidiary, as applicable, in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Company or Material Subsidiary, as applicable, or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under) in any material respect, or has provided or received any notice of any intention to terminate, any Material Contract. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments, and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Buyer.

 

  18  

 

 

Section 3.10 Real Property and Personal Property Matters.

 

(a) Owned Real Estate. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Owned Real Estate. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein.

 

(b) Leased Real Estate. Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of all Leases (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties, and other agreements with respect thereto) as of the date hereof for each such Leased Real Estate (including the date and name of the parties to such Lease document). The Company has delivered to Buyer a true and complete copy of each such Lease. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect or as set forth on Section 3.10(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, with respect to each Lease: (i) such Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of Sellers, any other party to the Lease, is in breach or default under such Lease, and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with or without notice, lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default under such Lease; (iii) the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s possession and quiet enjoyment of the Leased Real Estate under such Lease has not been disturbed, and to the Knowledge of Sellers, there are no disputes with respect to such Lease; and (iv) there are no Liens on the estate created by such Lease other than Permitted Liens. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has assigned, pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred any Lease or any interest therein, nor has the Company or any Subsidiary subleased, licensed, or otherwise granted any Person (other than another Subsidiary of the Company) a right to use or occupy such Leased Real Estate or any portion thereof.

 

(c) Real Estate Used in the Business. The Leased Real Estate identified in Section 3.10(b) comprise all of the real property used or intended to be used in, or otherwise related to, the business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d) Personal Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary are in possession of and have good and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests in or valid rights under contract to use, the machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, and other tangible personal property and assets owned, leased, or used by the Company or any Subsidiary, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

 

  19  

 

 

Section 3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Company and each Subsidiary are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Company and each Subsidiary, together with all other properties and assets of each of them, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the business of the Company and each Subsidiary after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Company and each Subsidiary as currently conducted.

 

Section 3.12 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Company IP Registrations and (ii) Company Intellectual Property that are not registered but that are material to the business or operations of the Company and each Subsidiary. All required filings and fees related to the Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. Sellers have provided Buyer with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence, and other materials related to all Company IP Registrations.

 

(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all Company IP Agreements. Sellers have provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments, and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Company or of its Subsidiary, as applicable, in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary, or any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Company IP Agreement.

 

(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company or its Subsidiaries are the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the current business or operations of the Company and each Subsidiary, in each case, free and clear of Liens other than Permitted Liens. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sellers have entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee of the Company or Subsidiary, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Company and such Subsidiary any ownership interest and right they may have in the Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the exclusive ownership of all Company Intellectual Property in the Company or Subsidiary, as applicable. Sellers have provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such agreements.

 

  20  

 

 

(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of its business or operations as currently conducted.

 

(e) The rights of the Company or any Subsidiary in the Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting, and enforceable. The Company or such Subsidiary has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.

 

(f) The conduct of the business of the Company and each Subsidiary, as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of each of them, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not and will not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Company Intellectual Property.

 

(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability, or ownership of any Company Intellectual Property or the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to any Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Company Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Company Intellectual Property.

 

  21  

 

 

Section 3.13 Inventory; Accounts Receivable.

 

(a) All inventory of the Company and each Material Subsidiary, whether or not reflected in the Balance Sheets, consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except for obsolete, damaged, defective or slow-moving items that have been written off or written down to fair market value or for which adequate reserves have been established. All such inventory is owned by the Company and each Material Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, and no inventory is held on a consignment basis. The quantities of each item of inventory (whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive, but are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Company and each Material Subsidiary.

 

(b) The accounts receivable of the Company and each Material Subsidiary reflected on the Interim Balance Sheets and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Company or each Material Subsidiary involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute only valid, undisputed claims of the Company or each Material Subsidiary, as applicable, not subject to claims of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) are subject to a reasonable reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheets or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the applicable Interim Balance Sheet Dates, on the accounting records of the Company or each Material Subsidiary. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheets or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Company and each Material Subsidiary have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.

 

Section 3.14 Franchise Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and correct list of all currently effective Franchise Agreements and area development agreements (“Area Developer Agreements”), including any amendments thereto, to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, listing the name of the franchisee, licensee or area developer (“Franchisee”), date of agreement or amendment, and location of restaurant(s) or development area. No other Contracts exist between the Company or any Subsidiary and any third party granting any such third party the right, or any option or right of first refusal, to conduct business under the name “Ponderosa Steakhouse”, “Bonanza Steakhouse” , or any other Marks owned or used by the Company or any Subsidiary. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not require the consent of any Franchisee. Except as set forth in Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, to Sellers’ Knowledge, the restaurants that are the subject of Franchise Agreements with Franchisees are presently open to the public and operating. Seller has made available to Buyer a correct and complete copy of each Franchise Agreement (as amended to date) listed in Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(b) With respect to each Franchise Agreement identified and Area Development Agreement in Section 3.14(a) of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(i) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b)(i) of the Disclosure Schedules, such Franchise Agreement and Area Development Agreement is the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the applicable Franchisee or area developer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be subject to (x) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other Laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors, and general principles of equity and (y) the effects of franchise and other Laws;

 

  22  

 

 

(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b)(ii) of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company or any Subsidiary is not nor is, to Sellers’ Knowledge, any counter-party, in Breach of such Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement, and to Sellers’ Knowledge no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time would constitute a Breach under such Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement, except for such Breaches by the counter-party thereto which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to Buyer of such Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement;

 

(iii) no party to such Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement has delivered a formal written demand for early termination pursuant to the terms thereof; and

 

(iv) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b)(iv) of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has granted a waiver or consent with respect to a provision of such Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement regarding a counter-party’s obligation to make payments of royalty fees, contributions to any marketing development fund, or expenditures for advertising purposes;

 

(v) the Company or a Subsidiary has in its possession an original or executed copy of each Franchise Agreement and Area Development Agreement, and any amendments thereto;

 

(vi) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b)(vi) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Franchisee is current in its financial obligations to each the Company or any Subsidiary, including without limitation, for payments due for franchise, development, or license fees, royalties, advertising contributions, and product purchases; and

 

(vii) Except as set forth in Section 3.14(b)(vii) of the Disclosure Schedules, each Franchisee is current in its development obligations with respect to each restaurant to be developed by such Franchisee in such Franchisee’s development area.

 

(c) Since the Interim Balance Sheet Date, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any formal written notice, claim or demand pursuant to the terms of a Franchise Agreement from any Franchisee of any Breach by the Company or any Subsidiary of any material term or provision of such Franchise Agreement.

 

  23  

 

 

(d) Schedule 3.14(d) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth each state or other jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary is currently registered to sell its franchises or with which the Company or any Subsidiary has filed an application for registration to sell its franchises that is currently pending, or has filed (where such filing is required) an application for exemption from registration, to sell franchises, and the effective date and expiration date of each such registration and exemption.

 

(e) To Sellers’ Knowledge, other than matters for which the Company or any Subsidiary has obtained releases, during the period commencing on January 1, 2012 and continuing through the date of this Agreement, the Company and each Subsidiary has in all material respects made all disclosures in each Franchise Offering Circular required by all applicable federal and state laws and regulations which govern the sale of franchises, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any “Franchise Sales Person”, has offered for sale, accepted an offer, or sold a Franchise except in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations which govern the sale of franchises.

 

(f) Except as disclosed in any Franchise Offering Circular, during the period commencing on the Interim Balance Sheet Date and continuing through the date of this Agreement, the Company has received no written notice of any violation by the Company or any Subsidiary of any franchise law from any federal, Canadian or state regulatory agency and, to Sellers’ Knowledge, no allegations of violations by the Company or any Subsidiary of any state franchise registration, disclosure, relationship or termination law have been made by any federal, Canadian or state regulatory agency.

 

(g) Section 3.14(g) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a complete and accurate list of all independent sales representatives, area developers, agents, employees, contractors, brokers or consultants authorized by the Company to offer or sell franchises during the period commencing on the Interim Balance Sheet Date and continuing through the date of this Agreement (collectively, “Franchise Sales Persons”), including a list of all written or oral agreements or arrangements (and with respect to oral agreements a description thereof) with such Franchise Sales Persons under which the Company or any Subsidiary has authorized any Franchise Sales Persons to offer or sell Franchises on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary or agreed to rebate or share amounts receivable under any Franchise Agreement. Sellers have delivered to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of all such agreements.

 

(h) Except as set forth in the Franchise Agreements or Area Developer Agreements, no Franchisee has a protected territory, exclusive territory, covenant not to compete, right of first refusal, option or other arrangement (collectively, the “Territorial Rights”) with the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to which (A) the Company or any Subsidiary is restricted in any way in its right to own or operate, or license others to own or operate, any business or line of business; or (B) the Franchisee is granted rights for the acquisition of additional franchises or expansion of the Franchisee’s territory. No Franchisee’s Territorial Rights conflict with the Territorial Rights of any other Franchisee. To the extent the Company or any Subsidiary granted any such Territorial Rights (whether disclosed or required to be disclosed herein), the Company or any Subsidiary has complied with such Territorial Rights and, in the course of offering or selling franchises, the Company or any Subsidiary has not violated the Territorial Rights of any Franchisee.

 

  24  

 

 

(i) Section 3.14(i) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a complete and accurate list of the name, last known address and telephone number of all Franchisees whose franchise agreements were terminated, cancelled, not renewed, reacquired by the Company or who have otherwise ceased to do business during the period commencing on January 1, 2012 and continuing through the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.15 Suppliers. Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth (i) each supplier to whom the Company or any Subsidiary has paid consideration for goods or services rendered in an amount greater than or equal to $100,000 for the most recent fiscal year (collectively, the “Material Suppliers”); and (ii) the amount of purchases from each Material Supplier during such periods. Except as set forth in Section 3.15 of the Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice, and has no reason to believe, that any of its Material Suppliers has ceased, or intends to cease, to supply goods or services to the Company or any Subsidiary or to otherwise terminate or materially reduce its relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

Section 3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and managers of the Company or such Subsidiary (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Buyer. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Company or any Subsidiary. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms; (b) are provided by carriers who are financially solvent; and (c) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. There are no claims related to the business of the Company or any Subsidiary pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. None of the Company or any Subsidiary is in default under, or has otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies are of the type and in the amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting a business similar to the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, and are sufficient for compliance with all applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound.

 

  25  

 

 

Section 3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.

 

(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened (a) against or by the Company or any Subsidiary affecting any of their respective properties or assets (or by or against Sellers or any Affiliate thereof and relating to the Company or any Subsidiary); or (b) against or by the Company, any Subsidiary, Sellers or any Affiliate of Sellers that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets. The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.

 

Section 3.18 Compliance With Laws; Franchising Compliance.

 

(a) The Company and each Subsidiary has complied, and is now complying, with all Laws applicable to it or its business, properties or assets.

 

(b) All Permits required for the Company or any Subsidiary to conduct its business have been obtained by it and are valid and in full force and effect. All fees and charges with respect to such Permits as of the date hereof have been paid in full. Section 3.18(b) of the Disclosure Schedules lists all current Permits issued to the Company or any Subsidiary, including the names of the Permits and their respective dates of issuance and expiration. No event has occurred that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation, suspension, lapse, or limitation of any Permit set forth in Section 3.18(b) of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) The Company and each Subsidiary has offered Franchise Rights only pursuant to duly registered offerings and otherwise in compliance with all Laws.

 

(d) by federal or state law shall be submitted to Franchisor for review prior to their being filed with any government agency;

 

Section 3.19 Environmental Matters.

 

(a) The Company and each Subsidiary is currently and has been in compliance with all Environmental Laws and has not, and the Sellers have not, received from any Person any: (i) Environmental Notice or Environmental Claim; or (ii) written request for information pursuant to Environmental Law, which, in each case, either remains pending or unresolved, or is the source of ongoing obligations or requirements as of the Closing Date.

 

(b) (b) There are no Environmental Permits necessary for the ownership, lease, operation or use of the business or assets of the Company and each Subsidiary. Neither Sellers nor the Company are aware of any condition, event or circumstance that might prevent or impede, after the Closing Date, the ownership, lease, operation or use of the business or assets of the Company and each Subsidiary as currently carried out. No real property currently or formerly owned, operated, or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary is listed on, or has been proposed for listing on, the National Priorities List (or CERCLIS) under CERCLA, or any similar state list.

 

  26  

 

 

(c) There has been no Release of Hazardous Materials in contravention of Environmental Law with respect to the business or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any real property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary, and none of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Seller has received an Environmental Notice that any real property currently or formerly owned, operated or leased in connection with the business of the Company or any Subsidiary (including soils, groundwater, surface water, buildings and other structure located on any such real property) has been contaminated with any Hazardous Material which could reasonably be expected to result in an Environmental Claim against, or a violation of Environmental Law or term of any Environmental Permit by, Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d) There are no active or abandoned aboveground or underground storage tanks owned or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(e) There are no off-site Hazardous Materials treatment, storage, or disposal facilities or locations used by the Company or any Subsidiary, and any predecessors as to which the Company or any Subsidiary may retain liability, and none of these facilities or locations has been placed or proposed for placement on the National Priorities List (or CERCLIS) under CERCLA, or any similar state list, and none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary has received any Environmental Notice regarding potential liabilities with respect to such off-site Hazardous Materials treatment, storage, or disposal facilities or locations used by any of them.

 

(f) None of the Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary has retained or assumed, by contract or operation of Law, any liabilities or obligations of third parties under Environmental Law.

 

(g) There are no environmental reports, studies, audits, records, sampling data, site assessments, risk assessments, economic models and other similar documents with respect to the business or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary or any currently or formerly owned, operated or leased real property which are in the possession or control of the Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary related to compliance with Environmental Laws, Environmental Claims or an Environmental Notice or the Release of Hazardous Materials; and (ii) There are no material documents concerning planned or anticipated capital expenditures required to reduce, offset, limit or otherwise control pollution and/or emissions, manage waste or otherwise ensure compliance with current or future Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, costs of remediation, pollution control equipment and operational changes).

 

  27  

 

 

(h) None of the Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary is aware of or reasonably anticipates, as of the Closing Date, any condition, event or circumstance concerning the Release or regulation of Hazardous Materials that might, after the Closing Date, prevent, impede or materially increase the costs associated with the ownership, lease, operation, performance or use of the business or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary as currently carried out.

 

Section 3.20 Employee Benefit Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity or other equity, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, manager, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary, or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Buyer or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.20(a) of the Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”).

 

(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, Sellers have made available to Buyer accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.

 

  28  

 

 

(c) Each Benefit Plan and related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including ERISA, the Code and any applicable local Laws). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Buyer or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. All benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP.

 

(d) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (A) all contributions required to be paid by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (B) none of the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (C) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Company or any subsidiary; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonable be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

  29  

 

 

(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated, or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Buyer, the Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has a commitment or obligation, nor has made any representations to any employee, officer, manager, independent contractor, or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify, or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.

 

(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(g) of the Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et. seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and none of the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.

 

(h) There is no pending or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.

 

(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by Sellers, the Company or any of their Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any manager, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. None of Sellers, the Company, nor any of their respective Affiliates have any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any manager, officer, employee, independent contractor, or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify, or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.

 

(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings, and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. None of Company or any Subsidiary has any obligation to gross up, indemnify, or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest, or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

(k) Each individual who is classified by the Company or any Subsidiary as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.

 

  30  

 

 

(l) Neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former manager, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code.

 

Section 3.21 Employment Matters.

 

(a) Section 3.21(a) of the Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary as of the date hereof, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); and (iii) hire date The Company has previously disclosed to the Buyer compensation information with respect to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Company or any Subsidiary for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full or accrued only since the most recent pay period.

 

(b) The Company or any Subsidiary is not, and has not been for the past five years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past five years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, and, to Sellers’ Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. During the past five years there has not been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their employees.

 

(c) The Company and each Subsidiary is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices to the extent they relate to employees of the Company and or each Subsidiary, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Company and each Subsidiary as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Company or any Subsidiary classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.21(c) of the Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions against the Company or any Subsidiary pending, or to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Company or any Subsidiary, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment related matter arising under applicable Laws.

 

  31  

 

 

(d) The Company has complied with the WARN Act with respect to the transactions contemplated herein and it has no plans to undertake any action in the future that would trigger additional compliance obligations under the WARN Act.

 

(e) Neither the Company or any Subsidiary has been the subject of any audit, investigation, or enforcement action by any Governmental Authority in connection with any Government Contract. The Company has not been debarred, suspended, or otherwise made ineligible from doing business with the United States government or any government contractor.

 

Section 3.22 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.22 of the Disclosure Schedules:

 

(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Company or any Subsidiary have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Company or any Subsidiary (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid.

 

(b) The Company and each Subsidiary has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, member or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Company or any Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

 

(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(e) The amount of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before the Interim Balance Sheet Dates does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company and each Subsidiary (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).

 

  32  

 

 

(f) Section 3.22(f) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth:

 

(i) the taxable years of the Company and each Subsidiary as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;

 

(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed; and

 

(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.

 

(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.

 

(h) None of the Company or any Subsidiary is a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(i) Sellers have delivered to Buyer copies of all federal, state, local, and foreign income, franchise and similar Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by, the Company or any Subsidiary for all Tax periods ending after December 28, 2012.

 

(j) There are no Liens for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(k) None of the Company or any Subsidiary is a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax-sharing, or Tax allocation agreement.

 

(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into, or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(m) Except as set forth in Section 3.22 (m) of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or any Subsidiary has been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated, or unitary Tax group for Tax purposes. The Company and each Subsidiary has no Liability for Taxes of any other Person under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law), as transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

 

  33  

 

 

(n) Since the date of formation, the Company has been treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and has been so treated in all Tax years since the date of formation. The Company has never made an election to be treated as a C-corporation for U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax purposes.

 

(o) The Company or any Subsidiary will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:

 

(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;

 

(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;

 

(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or

 

(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

(p) Neither Seller is a “foreign person” as that term is used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(q) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(r) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).

 

(s) There is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).

 

(t) Section 3.22(t) of the Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business, or has a permanent establishment. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.

 

  34  

 

 

(u) No property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(A) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.

 

Section 3.23 Books and Records. The minute books of the Company and each Subsidiary have been made available to Buyer, are complete and correct, and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. The minute books of the Company and each Subsidiary contain accurate and complete records of all meetings, and actions taken by written consent of, the members and the managers, and no meeting, or action taken by written consent, of any such members or managers has been held for which minutes have not been prepared and are not contained in such minute books. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Company.

 

Section 3.24 Brokers. Except for Trinity Capital LLC no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Assignment or any other Transaction Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Sellers.

 

ARTICLE IV

Representations and warranties of buyer

 

Buyer represents and warrants to Sellers that the statements contained in this ARTICLE IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

Section 4.01 Organization and Authority of Buyer. Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. Buyer has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Buyer is a party, to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement and any other Transaction Document to which Buyer is a party, the performance by Buyer of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer, and (assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery by Sellers) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms. When each other Transaction Document to which Buyer is or will be a party has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto), such Transaction Document will constitute a legal and binding obligation of Buyer enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

  35  

 

 

Section 4.02 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the Organizational Documents of Buyer; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Buyer; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Buyer is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Buyer in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for such filings as may be required under the HSR Act.

 

Section 4.03 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Buyer.

 

Section 4.04 Sufficiency of Funds. Buyer has sufficient cash on hand or other sources of immediately available funds to enable it to make payment of the Purchase Price and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.05 Legal Proceedings. There are no Actions pending or, to Buyer’s knowledge, threatened against or by Buyer or any Affiliate of Buyer that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.

 

ARTICLE V

Covenants

 

Section 5.01 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing. From the date hereof until the Closing, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or consented to in writing by Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company and each Subsidiary to, (x) conduct the business of the Company and each Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (y) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact the current organization, business and franchise of the Company and each Subsidiary and to preserve the rights, franchises, goodwill and relationships of its employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, regulators and others having business relationships with the Company and each Subsidiary. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, Sellers shall:

 

(a) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to preserve and maintain all of its Permits;

 

(b) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to generally pay its debts, Taxes and other obligations when due to the extent it did so in accordance with past practice, it being recognized that the Interim Balance Sheet includes certain liabilities and payables that were not paid when due;

 

  36  

 

 

(c) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to maintain the properties and assets owned, operated or used by the Company and each Subsidiary in the same condition as they were on the date of this Agreement, subject to reasonable wear and tear;

 

(d) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to continue in full force and effect without modification all Insurance Policies, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(e) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to defend and protect its properties and assets from infringement or usurpation;

 

(f) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to perform all of its obligations under all Contracts relating to or affecting its properties, assets or business;

 

(g) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to maintain its books and records in accordance with past practice;

 

(h) cause the Company and each Subsidiary to comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws; and

 

(i) cause the Company and each Subsidiary not to take or permit any action that would cause any of the changes, events, or conditions described in Section 3.08 to occur.

 

Section 5.02 Access to Information. From the date hereof until the Closing, Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company and each Subsidiary to, (a) afford Buyer and its Representatives full and free access to and the right to inspect all of the Real Property, properties, assets, premises, books and records, Contracts and other documents and data related to the Company; (b) furnish Buyer and its Representatives with such financial, operating and other data and information related to the Company as Buyer or any of its Representatives may reasonably request; and (c) instruct the Representatives of Sellers and the Company to cooperate with Buyer in its investigation of the Company. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall be conducted in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of Sellers or the Company. No investigation by Buyer or other information received by Buyer shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty, or agreement given or made by Sellers in this Agreement.

 

Section 5.03 No Solicitation of Other Bids.

 

(a) Sellers shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Affiliates (including the Company or any Subsidiary) or any of its or their Representatives to, directly or indirectly, (i) encourage, solicit, initiate, facilitate or continue inquiries regarding an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) enter into discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to, any Person concerning a possible Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into any agreements or other instruments (whether or not binding) regarding an Acquisition Proposal. Sellers shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated, and shall cause their respective Affiliates (including the Company and each Subsidiary) and all of its and their Representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated, all existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons conducted heretofore with respect to, or that could lead to, an Acquisition Proposal. For purposes hereof, “Acquisition Proposal” shall mean any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person (other than Buyer or any of its Affiliates) concerning (i) a merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization or other business combination transaction involving the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) the issuance or acquisition of membership interests or other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iii) the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of any significant portion of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s properties or assets.

 

  37  

 

 

(b) In addition to the other obligations under this Section 5.03, Sellers shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days after receipt thereof by Sellers or their Representatives) advise Buyer orally and in writing of any Acquisition Proposal, any request for information with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry with respect to or which could reasonably be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and conditions of such request, Acquisition Proposal or inquiry, and the identity of the Person making the same.

 

(c) Sellers agree that the rights and remedies for noncompliance with this Section 5.03 shall include having such provision specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach shall cause irreparable injury to Buyer and that money damages would not provide an adequate remedy to Buyer.

 

Section 5.04 Notice of Certain Events.

 

(a) From the date hereof until the Closing, Sellers shall promptly notify Buyer in writing of:

 

(i) any fact, circumstance, event or action the existence, occurrence or taking of which (A) has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (B) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, any representation or warranty made by Sellers hereunder not being true and correct or (C) has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, the failure of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.02 to be satisfied;

 

(ii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(iii) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

 

  38  

 

 

(iv) any Actions commenced or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.17 or that relates to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b) Buyer’s receipt of information pursuant to this Section 5.04 shall not operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by Sellers in this Agreement (including Section 8.02 and Section 9.01(b)) and shall not be deemed to amend or supplement the Disclosure Schedules.

 

Section 5.05 Resignations. Sellers shall deliver to Buyer written resignations, effective as of the Closing Date, of all Metromedia Company employees from any officers and managers positions they hold with the Company or its Subsidiaries. .

 

Section 5.06 Confidentiality. From and after the Closing, Sellers shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, hold, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its or their respective Representatives to hold, in confidence any and all information, whether written or oral, concerning the Company, except to the extent that Sellers can show that such information (a) is generally available to and known by the public through no fault of Sellers, any of their respective Affiliates or their respective Representatives; or (b) is lawfully acquired by Sellers, any of their respective Affiliates or their respective Representatives from and after the Closing from sources which are not prohibited from disclosing such information by a legal, contractual or fiduciary obligation. If any Seller or its Affiliates or Representatives are compelled to disclose any information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law, such Seller shall promptly notify Buyer in writing and shall disclose only that portion of such information which such Seller is advised by its counsel in writing is legally required to be disclosed, provided that such Seller shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reasonable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such information.

 

Section 5.07 Non-competition; Non-solicitation.

 

(a) For a period of three (3) years commencing on the Closing Date (the “Restricted Period”), Sellers shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Affiliates to, directly or indirectly, (i) engage in or assist others in engaging in the Restricted Business in the Territory; (ii) have an interest in any Person that engages directly or indirectly in the Restricted Business in the Territory in any capacity, including as a partner, shareholder, member, franchisor, franchisee, employee, principal, agent, trustee or consultant; or (iii) intentionally interfere in any material respect with the business relationships (whether formed prior to or after the date of this Agreement) between the Company or any Subsidiary and customers or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Sellers may own, directly or indirectly, solely as an investment, securities of any Person traded on any national securities exchange if Sellers are not a controlling Person of, or a member of a group which controls, such Person and does not, directly or indirectly, own 5% or more of any class of securities of such Person.

 

  39  

 

 

(b) During the Restricted Period, Sellers shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Affiliates to, directly or indirectly, hire or solicit any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or encourage any such employee to leave such employment or hire any such employee who has left such employment, except pursuant to a general solicitation which is not directed specifically to any such employees; provided, that nothing in this Section 5.07(b) shall prevent Sellers or any of their Affiliates from hiring (i) any employee whose employment has been terminated by the Company or any Subsidiary or Buyer or (ii) after 180 days from the date of termination of employment, any employee whose employment has been terminated by the employee.

 

(c) During the Restricted Period, Sellers shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Affiliates to, directly or indirectly, solicit or entice, or attempt to solicit or entice, any franchise owner or operator of the Company or any Subsidiary for purposes of diverting their business or services from the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d) Sellers acknowledge that a breach or threatened breach of this Section 5.07 would give rise to irreparable harm to Buyer, for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy, and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by Sellers of any such obligations, Buyer shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to equitable relief, including a temporary restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction (without any requirement to post bond).

 

(e) Sellers acknowledge that the restrictions contained in this Section 5.07 are reasonable and necessary to protect the legitimate interests of Buyer and constitute a material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In the event that any covenant contained in this Section 5.07 should ever be adjudicated to exceed the time, geographic, product or service, or other limitations permitted by applicable Law in any jurisdiction, then any court is expressly empowered to reform such covenant, and such covenant shall be deemed reformed, in such jurisdiction to the maximum time, geographic, product or service, or other limitations permitted by applicable Law. The covenants contained in this Section 5.07 and each provision hereof are severable and distinct covenants and provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any such covenant or provision as written shall not invalidate or render unenforceable the remaining covenants or provisions hereof, and any such invalidity or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such covenant or provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

Section 5.08 Governmental Approvals and Consents.

 

(a) Each party hereto shall, as promptly as possible, (i) make, or cause or be made, all filings and submissions (including those under the HSR Act if applicable) required under any Law applicable to such party or any of its Affiliates; and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to obtain, or cause to be obtained, all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from all Governmental Authorities that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents. Each party shall cooperate fully with the other party and its Affiliates in promptly seeking to obtain all such consents, authorizations, orders, and approvals. The parties hereto shall not willfully take any action that will have the effect of delaying, impairing, or impeding the receipt of any required consents, authorizations, orders, and approvals.

 

  40  

 

 

(b) Sellers and Buyer shall use reasonable best efforts to give all notices to, and obtain all consents from, all third parties that are described in Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedules.

 

(c) Without limiting the generality of the parties’ undertakings pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable best efforts to:

 

(i) respond to any inquiries by any Governmental Authority regarding antitrust or other matters with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Assignment or any Transaction Document;

 

(ii) avoid the imposition of any order or the taking of any action that would restrain, alter or enjoin the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Assignment or any Transaction Document; and

 

(iii) in the event any Governmental Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Assignment or any Transaction Document has been issued, to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.

 

(d) If any consent, approval, or authorization necessary to preserve any right or benefit under any Contract to which the Company is a party is not obtained prior to the Closing, Sellers shall, subsequent to the Closing, cooperate with Buyer and the Company in attempting to obtain such consent, approval, or authorization as promptly thereafter as practicable. If such consent, approval, or authorization cannot be obtained, Sellers shall use its reasonable best efforts to provide the Company with the rights and benefits of the affected Contract for the term thereof, and, if Sellers provide such rights and benefits, the Company shall assume all obligations and burdens thereunder.

 

(e) All analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals made by or on behalf of either party before any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not including any interactions between Sellers or the Company with Governmental Authorities in the ordinary course of business, any disclosure which is not permitted by Law or any disclosure containing confidential information) shall be disclosed to the other party hereunder in advance of any filing, submission or attendance, it being the intent that the parties will consult and cooperate with one another, and consider in good faith the views of one another, in connection with any such analyses, appearances, meetings, discussions, presentations, memoranda, briefs, filings, arguments, and proposals. Each party shall give notice to the other party with respect to any meeting, discussion, appearance, or contact with any Governmental Authority or the staff or regulators of any Governmental Authority, with such notice being sufficient to provide the other party with the opportunity to attend and participate in such meeting, discussion, appearance, or contact.

 

  41  

 

 

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.08 shall require, or be construed to require, Buyer or any of its Affiliates to agree to (i) sell, hold, divest, discontinue or limit, before or after the Closing Date, any assets, businesses or interests of Buyer, Sellers or any of their respective Affiliates; (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restrictions in, the operations of any such assets, businesses or interests which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely impact the economic or business benefits to Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (iii) any material modification or waiver of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.09 Books and Records.

 

(a) In order to facilitate the resolution of any claims made against or incurred by Sellers prior to the Closing, or for any other reasonable purpose, for a period of three (3) years after the Closing, Buyer shall:

 

(i) retain the books and records (including personnel files) of the Company and each Subsidiary relating to periods prior to the Closing in a manner reasonably consistent with the prior practices of the Company and such Subsidiary; and

 

(ii) upon reasonable notice, afford the Representatives of Sellers reasonable access (including the right to make, at Sellers’ expense, photocopies), during normal business hours, to such books and records;

 

provided, however, that any books and records related to Tax matters shall be retained pursuant to the periods set forth in ARTICLE VI.

 

(b) In order to facilitate the resolution of any claims made by or against or incurred by Buyer or the Company after the Closing, or for any other reasonable purpose, for a period of three (3) years following the Closing, Sellers shall:

 

(i) retain the books and records (including personnel files) of Sellers which relate to the Company and each Subsidiary and their operations for periods prior to the Closing; and

 

(ii) upon reasonable notice, afford the Representatives of Buyer or the Company reasonable access (including the right to make, at Buyer’s expense, photocopies), during normal business hours, to such books and records;

 

  42  

 

 

provided, however, that any books and records related to Tax matters shall be retained pursuant to the periods set forth in ARTICLE VI.

 

(c) Neither Buyer nor Sellers shall be obligated to provide the other party with access to any books or records (including personnel files) pursuant to this Section 5.09 where such access would violate any Law.

 

Section 5.10 Closing Conditions From the date hereof until the Closing, each party hereto shall, and Sellers shall cause the Company to, use reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary to expeditiously satisfy the closing conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII hereof.

 

Section 5.11 Public Announcements. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or stock exchange requirements (based upon the reasonable advice of counsel), no party to this Agreement shall make any public announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media without the prior written consent of the other party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and the parties shall cooperate as to the timing and contents of any such announcement.

 

Section 5.12 Further Assurances. Following the Closing, each of the parties hereto shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, execute and deliver such additional documents, instruments, conveyances and assurances and take such further actions as may be reasonably required to carry out the provisions hereof and give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VI

Tax matters

 

Section 6.01 Tax Covenants.

 

(a) Without the prior written consent of Buyer, Sellers (and, prior to the Closing, the Company, each Subsidiary, and their Affiliates and their respective Representatives) shall not, to the extent it may affect, or relate to, the Company or any Subsidiary, make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Buyer, the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period.

 

(b) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by Sellers when due. Sellers shall, at its own expense, timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Buyer shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).

 

  43  

 

 

(c) Sellers shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company and each subsidiary after the Closing Date with respect to the fiscal year ended December 26, 2016, and all Tax Returns of the Company with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period. Buyer shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, all other Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company and each Subsidiary after the Closing Date with respect to a Pre-Closing Tax Period. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law) and without a change of any election or any accounting method and shall be submitted by Buyer to Sellers (together with schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by Sellers, supporting documentation) at least 30 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Tax Return. If either Seller objects to any item on any such Tax Return, it shall, within ten days after delivery of such Tax Return, notify Buyer in writing that it so objects, specifying with particularity any such item and stating the specific factual or legal basis for any such objection. If a notice of objection shall be duly delivered, Buyer and Sellers shall negotiate in good faith and use their reasonable best efforts to resolve such items. If Buyer and Sellers are unable to reach such agreement within ten days after receipt by Buyer of such notice, the disputed items shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant and any determination by the Independent Accountant shall be final. The Independent Accountant shall resolve any disputed items within twenty days of having the item referred to it pursuant to such procedures as it may require. If the Independent Accountant is unable to resolve any disputed items before the due date for such Tax Return, the Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Buyer and then amended to reflect the Independent Accountant’s resolution. The costs, fees, and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be borne equally by Buyer and Sellers. The preparation and filing of any Tax Return of the Company that does not relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be exclusively within the control of Buyer.

 

Section 6.02 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Company shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date none of the Company, any Subsidiary, Sellers or any of Sellers’ Affiliates and their respective Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.

 

Section 6.03 Tax Indemnification. Sellers shall indemnify the Company, Buyer, and each Buyer Indemnitee and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.22; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in ARTICLE VI; (c) all Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary or relating to the business of the Company or any Subsidiary for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Company or any Subsidiary (or any predecessor of the Company or any Subsidiary) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Company or any Subsidiary arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith. Sellers shall reimburse Buyer for any Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary that are the responsibility of Sellers pursuant to this Section 6.03 within ten Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Buyer or the Company or any Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else to the contrary in this Agreement, it is understood and agreed that Sellers shall not be obligated to indemnify Buyer in respect of (i) accrued and unpaid property Taxes consistent with past practice in respect of restaurant locations (whether open or closed, and whether with respect to pre-Closing or post-Closing periods) and (ii) accrued and unpaid payroll Taxes consistent with past practice

 

  44  

 

 

Section 6.04 Straddle Period. In the case of Taxes that are payable with respect to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (each such period, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that are treated as Pre-Closing Taxes for purposes of this Agreement shall be:

 

(a) in the case of Taxes (i) based upon, or related to, income, receipts, profits, wages, capital or net worth, (ii) imposed in connection with the sale, transfer or assignment of property, or (iii) required to be withheld, deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the taxable year ended with the Closing Date; and

 

(b) in the case of other Taxes, deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

 

Section 6.05 Contests. Buyer agrees to give written notice to Sellers of the receipt of any written notice by the Company or any Subsidiary, Buyer or any of Buyer’s Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Buyer pursuant to this ARTICLE VI (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Buyer’s right to indemnification hereunder , except and only to the extent that the Seller forfeits its rights or defenses by reason of such failure .Sellers shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Buyer shall obtain the prior written consent of Sellers (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that Buyer shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by Buyer.

 

Section 6.06 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. Sellers and Buyer shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the other in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this ARTICLE VI or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of Sellers and Buyer shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Company or any Subsidiary for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by the other party in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Company or any Subsidiary for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, Sellers or Buyer (as the case may be) shall provide the other party with reasonable written notice and offer the other party the opportunity to take custody of such materials.

 

  45  

 

 

Section 6.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this ARTICLE VI shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

Section 6.08 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.22 and this ARTICLE VI shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus 90 days.

 

Section 6.09 Overlap. To the extent that any obligation or responsibility pursuant to ARTICLE VIII may overlap with an obligation or responsibility pursuant to this ARTICLE VI, the provisions of this ARTICLE VI shall govern.

 

ARTICLE VII

Conditions to closing

 

Section 7.01 Conditions to Obligations of All Parties. The obligations of each party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Governmental Order which is in effect and has the effect of making the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal, otherwise restraining or prohibiting consummation of such transactions or causing any of the transactions contemplated hereunder to be rescinded following completion thereof.

 

(b) Sellers shall have received all consents, authorizations, orders and approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedules, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, and no such consent, authorization, order and approval shall have been revoked.

 

(c) The Management Agreements shall have been terminated.

 

Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. The obligations of Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Buyer’s waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) The representations and warranties of Sellers contained in this Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents, and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date, except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects.

 

  46  

 

 

(b) Sellers shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement, the Assignment and each of the other Transaction Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Sellers shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) At the Closing, the Company and each Subsidiary shall be free of (i) Related Party Indebtedness and (ii) accrued salaries and payroll taxes in excess of the Accrued Salary and Payroll Tax Cap.

 

(d) No Action shall have been commenced against Buyer, Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary which would prevent the Closing. No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

(e) All approvals, consents and waivers that are listed on Section 3.05 of the Disclosure Schedules shall have been received, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Buyer at or prior to the Closing.

 

(f) From the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, nor shall any event or events have occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, with or without the lapse of time, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(g) Sellers shall have duly executed and delivered the Assignment to Buyer.

 

(h) Buyer shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Sellers, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.02(a) and Section 7.02(b) have been satisfied.

 

(i) Buyer shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Sellers certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the board of directors or managers of Sellers, as applicable, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

  47  

 

 

(j) Buyer shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Sellers certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Sellers authorized to sign this Agreement, the Assignment and the Transaction Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder.

 

(k) Buyer shall have received resignations of the managers and officers of the Company pursuant to Section 5.05.

 

(l) Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer a good standing certificate (or its equivalent) for the Company and each Subsidiary from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction under the Laws in which the Company and each Subsidiary is organized.

 

(m) Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b) that Sellers are not a foreign person within the meaning of Section 1445 of the Code.

 

(n) Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer such other documents or instruments as Buyer reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of Sellers. The obligations of Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment or Sellers’ waiver, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

 

(a) The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation or warranty qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) or in all material respects (in the case of any representation or warranty not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made at and as of such date, except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as of that specified date in all respects.

 

(b) Buyer shall have duly performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements, covenants and conditions required by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on the Closing Date; provided, that, with respect to agreements, covenants and conditions that are qualified by materiality, Buyer shall have performed such agreements, covenants and conditions, as so qualified, in all respects.

 

(c) No injunction or restraining order shall have been issued by any Governmental Authority, and be in effect, which restrains or prohibits any material transaction contemplated hereby.

 

  48  

 

 

(d) Sellers shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by a duly authorized officer of Buyer, that each of the conditions set forth in Section 7.03(a) and Section 7.03(b) have been satisfied.

 

(e) Sellers shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Buyer certifying that attached thereto are true and complete copies of all resolutions adopted by the board of directors of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

(f) Sellers shall have received a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Buyer certifying the names and signatures of the officers of Buyer authorized to sign this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder.

 

(g) Buyer shall have delivered to Sellers cash in an amount equal to the Purchase Price by wire transfer in immediately available funds, to an account or accounts designated at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date by Sellers in a written notice to Buyer.

 

(h) Buyer shall have delivered to Sellers such other documents or instruments as Sellers reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification

 

Section 8.01 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.22 which are subject to ARTICLE VI) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until one (1) year from the Closing Date; provided, that the representations and warranties in Section 3.01, Section 3.03, Section 4.01 and Section 4.03 shall survive indefinitely. All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in ARTICLE VI which are subject to ARTICLE VI) shall survive the Closing indefinitely or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the non-breaching party to the breaching party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.

 

Section 8.02 Indemnification By Sellers. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this ARTICLE VIII, Sellers shall indemnify and defend each of Buyer and its Affiliates (including the Company) and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Buyer Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Buyer Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

  49  

 

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Sellers contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Sellers pursuant to this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.22, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to ARTICLE VI), as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Sellers pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in ARTICLE VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to ARTICLE VI).

 

Section 8.03Indemnification By Buyer. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this ARTICLE VIII, Buyer shall indemnify and defend each of Sellers and its Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Sellers Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Sellers Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:

 

(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, as of the date such representation or warranty was made or as if such representation or warranty was made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to a specified date, the inaccuracy in or breach of which will be determined with reference to such specified date); or

 

(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement (other than ARTICLE VI, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to ARTICLE VI).

 

Section 8.04 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Section 8.02 and Section 8.03 shall be subject to the following limitations:

 

(a) Sellers shall not be liable to the Buyer Indemnitees for indemnification under Section 8.02(a) until the aggregate amount of all Losses in respect of indemnification under Section 8.02(a) exceeds 0.5% of the Purchase Price (the “Basket”), in which event Sellers shall be required to pay or be liable for all such Losses in excess of the Basket. The aggregate amount of all Losses for which Sellers shall be liable pursuant to Section 8.02(a) shall not exceed 10% of the Purchase Price (the “Cap”).

 

  50  

 

 

(b) Buyer shall not be liable to the Sellers Indemnitees for indemnification under Section 8.03(a) until the aggregate amount of all Losses in respect of indemnification under Section 8.03(a) exceeds the Basket, in which event Buyer shall be required to pay or be liable for all such Losses in excess of the Basket. The aggregate amount of all Losses for which Buyer shall be liable pursuant to Section 8.03(a) shall not exceed the Cap.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations set forth in Section 8.04(a) and Section 8.04(b) shall not apply to Losses based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation or warranty in Section 3.01, Section 3.03, Section 4.01 and Section 4.03.

 

(d) Losses subject to indemnification pursuant to this Article VIII shall be calculated after giving effect to insurance recoveries (subject to the insurer’s right of subrogation) and tax benefits, if any. During the one-year period following the Closing, Buyer covenants and agrees to maintain liability insurance in amounts at least comparable to that maintained by the Company prior to the Closing.

 

Section 8.05 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this ARTICLE VIII is referred to as the “Indemnified Party,” and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this ARTICLE VIII is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party.”

 

(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is Sellers, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 8.05(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal, or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (A) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (B) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 8.05(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. Sellers and Buyer shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available (subject to the provisions of Section 5.06) records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

  51  

 

 

(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 8.05(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within ten days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 8.05(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

  52  

 

 

(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than 30 days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have 30 days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such 30 day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.22 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in ARTICLE VI) shall be governed exclusively by ARTICLE VI hereof.

 

Section 8.06 Payments. Once a Loss is agreed to by the Indemnifying Party or finally adjudicated to be payable pursuant to this ARTICLE VIII, the Indemnifying Party shall satisfy its obligations within 15 Business Days of such final, non-appealable adjudication by wire transfer of immediately available funds. The parties hereto agree that should an Indemnifying Party not make full payment of any such obligations within such 15 Business Day period, any amount payable shall accrue interest from and including the date of agreement of the Indemnifying Party or final, non-appealable adjudication to but excluding the date such payment has been made at a rate per annum equal to 10%. Such interest shall be calculated daily on the basis of a 365 day year and the actual number of days elapsed, without compounding.

 

Section 8.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

  53  

 

 

Section 8.08 Effect of Investigation. The representations, warranties and covenants of the Indemnifying Party, and the Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification with respect thereto, shall not be affected or deemed waived by reason of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party (including by any of its Representatives) or by reason of the fact that the Indemnified Party or any of its Representatives knew or should have known that any such representation or warranty is, was or might be inaccurate or by reason of the Indemnified Party’s waiver of any condition set forth in Section 7.02 or Section 7.03, as the case may be.

 

Section 8.09Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 5.07 and Section 10.11, the parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or willful misconduct on the part of a party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in ARTICLE VI and this ARTICLE VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in ARTICLE VI and this ARTICLE VIII. Nothing in this Section 8.09 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.

 

ARTICLE IX

Termination

 

Section 9.01Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a) by the mutual written consent of Sellers and Buyer;

 

(b) by Buyer by written notice to Sellers if:

 

(i) Buyer is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Sellers pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in ARTICLE VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Sellers within ten days of Sellers’ receipt of written notice of such breach from Buyer; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by June 15, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Buyer to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

  54  

 

 

(c) by Sellers by written notice to Buyer if:

 

(i) Sellers are not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in ARTICLE VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Buyer within ten days of Buyer’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Sellers; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by June 15, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Sellers to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing; or

 

(iii) the Sellers deliver a notice of termination to the Buyer subsequent to April 14, 2017, unless prior to the date of such notice of termination the SPAC Proxy has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

(d) by Buyer or Sellers in the event that (i) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable.

 

Section 9.02 Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Article, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto except:

 

(a) as set forth in this ARTICLE IX and Section 5.06 and ARTICLE X hereof; and

 

(b) that nothing herein shall relieve any party hereto from liability for any willful breach of any provision hereof.

 

ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous

 

Section 10.01 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred.

 

  55  

 

 

Section 10.02 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by facsimile or email of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient or (d) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.02):

 

If to Sellers or either Seller:

810 Seventh Avenue, 29th Floor

New York, New York 10019

Facsimile: 212 606-4317

Email: skessel@metromediacompany.com

Attention: Silvia Kessel

 

with a copy to:

General Counsel

Facsimile: 212 606-4317

 

If to Buyer:

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500
Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Facsimile: (310) 319-1863

Email: Andy.Wiederhorn@fccgi.com

Attention: Andrew Wiederhorn

 

with a copy to:

Loeb & Loeb LLP

10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2200

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Facsimile: (310) 919-3934

Email: asussman@loeb.com

Attention: Allen Z. Sussman, Esq.

 

Section 10.03 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.

 

  56  

 

 

Section 10.04 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.05 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Except as provided in Section 5.07(e), upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 10.06 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Assignment and the other Transaction Documents constitute the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement and those in the Assignment, the other Transaction Documents, the Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control.

 

Section 10.07 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that prior to the Closing Date, Buyer may, without the prior written consent of Sellers, assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to one or more of its direct or indirect subsidiaries. No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 10.08 No Third-party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 6.03 and ARTICLE VIII, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 10.09 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. This Agreement may only be amended, modified, or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto. No waiver by any party of any of the provisions hereof shall be effective unless explicitly set forth in writing and signed by the party so waiving. No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after that waiver. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power, or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power, or privilege.

 

  57  

 

 

Section 10.10 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction). Each party hereby (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Assignment or the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) agrees that no such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought by it except in such court, and (iii) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert (by way of motion, defense or otherwise), in any such action, suit or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that such action, suit or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such action, suit or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement may not be enforced in or by the Delaware Chancery Court. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of law to be illegal or unenforceable, then such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible and the other provisions will remain fully effective and enforceable.

 

(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.10(c).

 

Section 10.11 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

Section 10.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, email or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.

 

[signature page follows]

 

  58  

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  METROMEDIA COMPANY
     
  By: /s/ Silvia Kessel
  Name: Silvia Kessel
  Title: Senior Vice President and CFO
     
  JWK ENTERPRISES LLC
     
  By: /s/ David Gassler
  Name: David Gassler
  Title: Manager
     
  FOG CUTTER CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Andrew Wiederhorn
  Name: Andrew Wiederhorn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature page to Membership Interest Purchase Agreement]

 

(Homestyle Dining LLC)

 

     

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

(HOMESTYLE DINING LLC)

 

This Amendment No. 3 dated as of May 23, 2017 to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of March 10, 2017 by and between Metromedia Company, a Delaware general partnership, and JWK Enterprises LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, a “Seller” and together, the “Sellers”), on the one hand, and Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, on the other hand (“Buyer”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of April 14, 2017 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of May 4, 2017 (as so amended, the “Purchase Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, Sellers and Buyer desire to amend the Purchase Agreement as set forth below:

 

  1. Article I of the Purchase Agreement is amended by deleting the definitions “SPAC Definitive Agreement” and “SPAC Proxy.”
     
  2. Section 2.02 of the Purchase Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Section 2.02 Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) for the Membership Interests shall be (i) Nine Million Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($9,450,000) if the Closing occurs on or before May 30, 2017, (v) Nine Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($9,500,000) if the Closing occurs on May 31, 2017 or (vi) Ten Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($10,550,000.00) if the Closing occurs on or after June 1, 2017. At Closing, the Company may be sold free of any cash, and will have (i) no Related Party Indebtedness and (ii) no accrued salaries and payroll taxes in excess of One Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($135,000) (the “Accrued Salary and Payroll Tax Cap”).

 

  3. Section 9.01 is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Section 9.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

  (a) by the mutual written consent of Sellers and Buyer;
     
  (b) by Buyer by written notice to Sellers if:

 

(i) Buyer is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Sellers pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Sellers within ten days of Sellers’ receipt of written notice of such breach from Buyer; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by August 10, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Buyer to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

  (c) by Sellers by written notice to Buyer if:

 

(i) Sellers are not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Buyer within ten days of Buyer’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Sellers; or

 

  1  
 

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by August 10, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Sellers to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing

 

(d) by Buyer or Sellers in the event that (i) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable.”

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 3 to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  METROMEDIA COMPANY
     
  By /s/ Silvia Kessel
  Name: Silvia Kessel
  Title: Senior Vice President
     
  JWK ENTERPRISES LLC
     
  By

/s/ David Gassler

  Name: David Gassler
  Title: Manager
     
  FOG CUTTER CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
     
  By /s/ Andrew Wiederhorn
  Name: Andrew Wiederhorn
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  2  
 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 4

TO

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

(HOMESTYLE DINING LLC)

 

This Amendment No. 4, dated as of August 2, 2017, to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of March 10, 2017 by and between Metromedia Company, a Delaware general partnership, and JWK Enterprises LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (each, a “Seller” and together, the “Sellers”), on the one hand, and Fog Cutter Capital Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, on the other hand (“Buyer”), as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of April 14, 2017, Amendment No. 2 dated as of May 4, 2017, and Amendment No. 3 dated as of May 23, 2017 (as so amended, the “Purchase Agreement”).

 

WHEREAS, Sellers and Buyer desire to amend the Purchase Agreement as set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual execution hereof and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

  1. Section 9.01 is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Section 9.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

  (a) by the mutual written consent of Sellers and Buyer;
     
  (b) by Buyer by written notice to Sellers if:

 

(i) Buyer is not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Sellers pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Sellers within ten days of Sellers’ receipt of written notice of such breach from Buyer; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by October 7, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Buyer to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing;

 

  (c) by Sellers by written notice to Buyer if:

 

(i) Sellers are not then in material breach of any provision of this Agreement and there has been a breach, inaccuracy in or failure to perform any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement that would give rise to the failure of any of the conditions specified in Article VII and such breach, inaccuracy or failure has not been cured by Buyer within ten days of Buyer’s receipt of written notice of such breach from Sellers; or

 

(ii) any of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 shall not have been, or if it becomes apparent that any of such conditions will not be, fulfilled by October 7, 2017, unless such failure shall be due to the failure of Sellers to perform or comply with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions hereof to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing

 

(d) by Buyer or Sellers in the event that (i) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement illegal or otherwise prohibited or (ii) any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order restraining or enjoining the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Governmental Order shall have become final and non-appealable.

 

  1  
 

 

(e) In the event of a termination of this Agreement by Sellers pursuant to Section 9.01 (c) (ii), the Buyer shall pay to the Sellers the liquidated sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), which amount the parties agree is a reasonable, good-faith approximation of the damages to be incurred by Sellers as a result of the failure of the Closing to occur. Payment of said Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,00.00) is guaranteed by Fat Burger North America, Inc. pursuant to its Guaranty dated as of May 17, 2017.

 

  2. A new Section 8.10 is added to the Purchase Agreement as follows:

 

Section 8.10 Rogers v. Homestyle. Sellers shall indemnify and defend each of the Buyer Indemnitees against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Buyer Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of the following litigation, and any other Actions arising out of or related in substantial part to the factual background or causes of action asserted in such litigation: Jeff Rogers and Steve Wiborg, v. Homestyle Dining, LLC, Bold Flavors, LLC, Tom Sacco, Jason Head, and Craig T. Weichmann, in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, 160th Judicial District, Cause No. DC-17-03215. The indemnification and defense provided by Sellers under this Section 8.10 shall not be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.04, nor count towards or be subject to the Basket or Cap provided for in Section 8.04.

 

  3. Except as specifically amended above, the Purchase Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

  2  
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment No. 4 to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

  METROMEDIA COMPANY
     
  By /s/ Silvia Kessel
  Name: Silvia Kessel
  Title: Senior Vice President
     
  JWK ENTERPRISES LLC
     
  By /s/ David Gassler
  Name: David Gassler
  Title: Manager
     
  FOG CUTTER CAPITAL GROUP, INC.
   
  By /s/ Andrew Wiederhorn
  Name: Andrew Wiederhorn
  Titlke: Chief Executive Officer

 

  3  
 

 

CLOSING ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

This CLOSING ESCROW AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of this ___ day of ____________ 2017 by and among FAT Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), having an address at 9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 Beverly Hills, CA 90212; TriPoint Global Equities, LLC, having an address at 1450 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10018 (“Placement Agent”), and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Escrow Agent”), with its principal corporate trust office at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.

 

All capitalized terms not herein defined shall have the meaning ascribed to them in that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of or about September __, 2017, as amended or supplemented from time-to-time, including all attachments, schedules and exhibits thereto (the “Subscription Agreement”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to sell (the “Financing Transaction”) a maximum of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 (“Common Stock”), at an offering price of $12.00 per share (the “Shares”) for an offering amount of up to $24,000,000 in a public offering (the “Offering”) to investors (each, an “Investor”); and

 

WHEREAS, subject to all conditions to closing being satisfied or waived, the closing(s) of the Offering shall take place from time to time until the earlier of (a) the date which is one year after this Offering being qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC” or the “Commission”), or (b) the date on which this Offering is earlier terminated by the Company in its sole discretion (the “Termination Date”) (the earlier of (a) or (b), the “Final Termination Date”); and

 

WHEREAS, there is no minimum offering amount and all funds shall only be returned to the potential Investors in the event the Offering is not consummated or if the Company, in its sole discretion, rejects all or a part of a particular potential Investor’s subscription; and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Financing Transaction contemplated by the Subscription Agreement, the Company entered into a Placement Agent Agreement between the Company and the Placement Agent, and certain other agreements, documents, instruments and certificates necessary to carry out the purposes thereof, including without limitation the Subscription Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Placement Agent desire to establish an escrow account with the Escrow Agent into which the Company and Placement Agent shall instruct the Investors to deposit checks and other instruments for the payment of money made payable to the order of “WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A. as Escrow Agent for FAT Brands Escrow,” and the Escrow Agent is willing to accept said checks and other instruments for the payment of money in accordance with the terms hereinafter set forth; and

 

   
 

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Placement Agent represent and warrant to the Escrow Agent that they have not stated to any individual or entity that the Escrow Agent’s duties will include anything other than those duties stated in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Placement Agent represent and warrant to the Escrow Agent that a copy of each document that has been delivered to the Investor and third parties that include Escrow Agent’s name and duties, has been attached hereto as Schedule I.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1. Delivery of Escrow Funds.

 

(a) Placement Agent and the Company shall instruct the Investor to deliver to Escrow Agent checks made payable to the order of “WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A. as Escrow Agent for FAT Brands Escrow,” or wire transfer to:

 

Wilmington Trust Company

ABA #: 031100092

A/C #: []

A/C Name: FAT Brands Escrow

Attn: Boris Treyger

 

International Wires:

 

M&T

Buffalo, New York

ABA: 022000046

SWIFT: MANTUS33

Beneficiary Bank: Wilmington Trust

Beneficiary ABA: 031100092

A/C #: []

A/C Name: FAT Brands Escrow

 

All such checks and wire transfers remitted to the Escrow Agent shall be accompanied by information identifying each Investor, subscription, the Investor’s social security or taxpayer identification number and address. In the event the Investor’s address and/or social security number or taxpayer identification number are not provided to Escrow Agent by the Investor, then Placement Agent and/or the Company agree to promptly upon request provide Escrow Agent with such information in writing. The checks or wire transfers shall be deposited into a non interest-bearing account at WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION entitled “WILMINGTON TRUST, N.A. as Escrow Agent for FAT Brands Escrow” (the “Escrow Account”).

 

(b) The collected funds deposited into the Escrow Account are referred to as the “Escrow Funds.”

 

   
 

 

(c) The Escrow Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to enforce the collection or demand payment of any funds deposited into the Escrow Account. If, for any reason, any check deposited into the Escrow Account shall be returned unpaid to the Escrow Agent, the sole duty of the Escrow Agent shall be to return the check to the Investor and advise the Company and Placement Agent promptly thereof.

 

2. Release of Escrow Funds. The Escrow Funds shall be paid by the Escrow Agent in accordance with the following:

 

(a) In the event that the Company advises the Escrow Agent in writing that the Offering has been terminated (the “Termination Notice”), the Escrow Agent shall promptly return the funds paid by each Investor to such Investor without interest or offset.

 

(b) Intentionally left blank

 

(c) At each Closing, the Company and the Placement Agent shall provide the Escrow Agent with written instructions regarding the disbursement of the Escrow Funds in accordance with Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof and signed by the Company and the Placement Agent (the “Disbursement Instructions”).

 

(d) Intentionally left blank

 

(e) If by 5:00 P.M. Eastern time on the Final Termination Date, the Escrow Agent has not received written Disbursement Instructions from the Company and Placement Agent regarding the disbursement of the Escrow Funds in the Escrow Account, if any, then the Escrow Agent shall promptly return such Escrow Funds, if any, to the Investors without interest or offset. The Escrow Funds returned to the Investors shall be free and clear of any and all claims of the Escrow Agent.

 

(f) The Escrow Agent shall not be required to pay any uncollected funds or any funds that are not available for withdrawal.

 

(g) Intentionally left blank

 

(h) The Placement Agent or the Company will provide the Escrow Agent with the payment instructions for each Investor, to whom the funds should be returned in accordance with this section.

 

3. Acceptance by Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent hereby accepts and agrees to perform its obligations hereunder, provided that:

 

(a) The Escrow Agent may act in reliance upon any signature reasonably believed by it to be genuine, and may assume that any person who has been designated by Placement Agent or the Company to give any written instructions, notice or receipt, or make any statements in connection with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so. Escrow Agent shall have no duty to make inquiry as to the genuineness, accuracy or validity of any statements or instructions or any signatures on statements or instructions. The names and true signatures of each individual authorized to act singly on behalf of the Company and Placement Agent are stated in Schedule II, which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. The Company and Placement Agent may each remove or add one or more of its authorized signers stated on Schedule II by notifying the Escrow Agent in writing of such change in accordance with this Agreement, which notice shall include the true signature for any new authorized signatories. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any order, judgment, opinion, or other writing delivered to it in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement without being required to determine the authenticity or the correctness of any fact stated therein or the propriety or validity of service thereof.

 

   
 

 

(b) The Escrow Agent may act relative hereto in reliance upon advice of counsel in reference to any matter connected herewith. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any mistake of fact or error of judgment or law, or for any acts or omissions of any kind, unless caused by its willful misconduct or gross negligence.

 

(c) Placement Agent and the Company agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent and its employees, officers, directors and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, costs, liabilities, damages, suits, demands, judgments or expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees) claimed against or incurred by Escrow Agent arising out of or related, directly or indirectly, to this Escrow Agreement unless caused by the Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Placement Agent and the Company agree, jointly and severally, to pay or reimburse the Escrow Agent upon request for any transfer taxes or other taxes relating to the Escrow Funds incurred in connection herewith and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Escrow Agent with respect to any amounts that it is obligated to pay in the way of such taxes. Escrow Agent shall not incur any liability for performing or not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of Escrow Agent, including, without limitation, war (whether declared or existing), revolution, insurrection, riot, civil commotion, accident, fire, explosion, stoppage of labor, strikes and other differences with employees; the act, failure or neglect of the parties hereto (other than Escrow Agent) or any of their agents; any delay, error, omission or default of any mail, courier, facsimile or wireless agency or operator; or the acts or edicts of any government or governmental agency or other group or entity exercising governmental powers. The terms of this paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

(d) In the event that the Escrow Agent shall be uncertain as to its duties or rights hereunder, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to (i) refrain from taking any action other than to keep safely the Escrow Funds until it shall be directed otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) deliver the Escrow Funds to a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(e) The Escrow Agent shall have no duty, responsibility or obligation to interpret or enforce the terms of any agreement other than Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder, and the Escrow Agent shall not be required to make a request that any monies be delivered to the Escrow Account, it being agreed that the sole duties and responsibilities of the Escrow Agent shall be to the extent not prohibited by applicable law (i) to accept checks or other instruments for the payment of money and wire transfers delivered to the Escrow Agent for the Escrow Account and deposit said checks and wire transfers into the non-interest bearing Escrow Account, and (ii) to disburse or refrain from disbursing the Escrow Funds as stated above, provided that the checks received by the Escrow Agent have been collected and are available for withdrawal. The Escrow Agent makes no representation as to the validity, value, genuineness or collectability of any security or other document or instrument held by or delivered to it.

 

   
 

 

(f) The Escrow Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. No implied covenants or obligations shall be inferred from this Agreement against the Escrow Agent, nor shall the Escrow Agent be bound by the provisions of any agreement by the Company beyond the specific terms hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, the Escrow Agent shall dispose of the Escrow Funds in accordance with the express provisions of this Agreement, and has not reviewed and shall not make, be required to make or be liable in any manner for its failure to make, any determination under the Transaction Documents, or any other agreement, including, without limitation, any determination of whether (i) the Company has complied with the terms of the Transaction Documents, (ii) an investment in the Shares is suitable for the proposed Investors, or (iii) the Transaction Documents complies with applicable securities laws.

 

(g) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Escrow Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder. The Escrow Agent is acting under this Agreement as a stakeholder only and shall be considered an independent contractor with respect to each party. No term or provision of this Agreement is intended to create, nor shall any such term or provision be deemed to have created, any trust, joint venture, partnership, or debtor/creditor relationship between or among the Escrow Agent and any of the parties.

 

(h) In no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for any lost profits, lost savings or other special, exemplary, consequential or incidental damages even if the Escrow Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

 

4. Resignation and Termination of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice of such resignation to Placement Agent and the Company. Upon providing such notice, the Escrow Agent shall have no further obligation hereunder except to hold as depositary the Escrow Funds that it receives until the end of such 30-day period. In such event, the Escrow Agent shall not take any action, other than receiving and depositing the Investor’s checks and wire transfers in accordance with this Agreement, until the Company has designated a banking corporation, trust company, attorney or other person as successor. Upon receipt of such written designation signed by Placement Agent and the Company, the Escrow Agent shall promptly deliver the Escrow Funds to such successor and shall thereafter have no further obligations hereunder. If such instructions are not received within 30 days following the effective date of such resignation, then the Escrow Agent may deposit the Escrow Funds held by it pursuant to this Agreement with a clerk of a court of competent jurisdiction pending the appointment of a successor. In either case provided for in this paragraph, the Escrow Agent shall be relieved of all further obligations and released from all liability thereafter arising with respect to the Escrow Funds.

 

   
 

 

5. Termination. The Company and Placement Agent may terminate the appointment of the Escrow Agent hereunder upon written notice specifying the date upon which such termination shall take effect, which date shall be at least 30 days from the date of such notice. In the event of such termination, the Company and Placement Agent shall, within 30 days of such notice, appoint a successor escrow agent and the Escrow Agent shall, upon receipt of written instructions signed by the Company and Placement Agent, turn over to such successor escrow agent all of the Escrow Funds; provided, however, that if the Company and Placement Agent fail to appoint a successor escrow agent within such 30-day period, such termination notice shall be null and void and the Escrow Agent shall continue to be bound by all of the provisions hereof. Upon receipt of the Escrow Funds, the successor escrow agent shall become the escrow agent hereunder and shall be bound by all of the provisions hereof and the Escrow Agent shall be relieved of all further obligations and released from all liability thereafter arising with respect to the Escrow Funds and under this Agreement.

 

6. Investment. All funds received by the Escrow Agent shall be held only in non-interest bearing bank accounts at WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

7. Compensation. Escrow Agent shall be entitled, for the duties to be performed by it hereunder, to a fee of $2,500.00, which fee shall be paid by the Company upon the signing of this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be obligated to reimburse Escrow Agent for all fees, costs and expenses incurred or that become due in connection with this Agreement or the Escrow Account, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Neither the modification, cancellation, termination or rescission of this Agreement nor the resignation or termination of the Escrow Agent shall affect the right of Escrow Agent to retain the amount of any fee which has been paid, or to be reimbursed or paid any amount which has been incurred or becomes due, prior to the effective date of any such modification, cancellation, termination, resignation or rescission. To the extent the Escrow Agent has incurred any such expenses, or any such fee becomes due, prior to any closing, the Escrow Agent shall advise the Company and the Company shall direct all such amounts to be paid directly at any such closing. The terms of this paragraph shall survive termination of this Agreement.

 

8. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if sent by hand-delivery, by facsimile (followed by first-class mail), by nationally recognized overnight courier service or by prepaid registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the addresses set forth below:

 

If to Placement Agent:

 

TriPoint Global Equities, LLC

1450 Broadway, 26th Floor

NY, NY 10018

Phone: (240) 864-0449

EMail: mark@tpglobal.com

 

   
 

 

If to the Company:

 

Andrew Wiederhorn

Chief Executive Officer

FAT Brands, Inc.

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Phone: (310) 492-0601

Email: andy.wiederhorn@fccgi.com

 

Copy:

 

Allen Z. Sussman

Loeb & Loeb LLP

10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2200 |

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Direct Dial: 310.282.2375

Fax: 310.919.3934

Email: asussman@loeb.com

 

If to Escrow Agent:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

166 Mercer Street, Suite 2R

New York, New York

Attention: Boris Treyger

Phone: (212) 941-4416

Fax: (212) 343-1079

 

9. General.

 

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be entirely performed within such State, without regard to choice of law principles and any action brought hereunder shall be brought in the courts of the State of Delaware, located in the County of New Castle. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection on the grounds of venue, forum non-conveniens or any similar grounds and irrevocably consents to service of process by mail or in any manner permitted by applicable law and consents to the jurisdiction of said courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

   
 

 

(b) This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the matters contained herein and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings relating thereto.

 

(c) All of the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the parties hereto, as well as their respective successors and assigns.

 

(d) This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or canceled, and any of the terms or conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument executed by each party hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of any party at any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver of any party of any condition, or of the breach of any term contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach or a waiver of any other condition or of the breach of any other term of this Agreement. No party may assign any rights, duties or obligations hereunder unless all other parties have given their prior written consent.

 

(e) If any provision included in this Agreement proves to be invalid or unenforceable, it shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.

 

(f) This Agreement and any modification or amendment of this Agreement may be executed in several counterparts or by separate instruments and all of such counterparts and instruments shall constitute one agreement, binding on all of the parties hereto.

 

10. Form of Signature. The parties hereto agree to accept a facsimile or email PDF transmission copy of their respective actual signatures as evidence of their actual signatures to this Agreement and any modification or amendment of this Agreement; provided, however, that each party who produces a facsimile or email PDF signature agrees, by the express terms hereof, if requested by another party hereto, to place, promptly after transmission of his or her signature by fax, a true and correct original copy of his or her signature in overnight mail to the address of the other party.

 

11. Termination. This Agreement will terminate upon the Final Termination Date.

 

12. Automatic Succession. Any business entity into which the Escrow Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Escrow Agent shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Escrow Agent, shall be the successor of the Escrow Agent hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

 

   
 

 

13. Anti-Terrorism/Anti-Money Laundering Laws.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT - To help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism or money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens a new account. What this means for the parties to this Agreement: the Escrow Agent will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Escrow Agent to identify you (e.g., your social security number or tax identification number.) The Escrow Agent may also ask to see your driver’s license or other identifying documents (e.g., passport, evidence of formation of corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, etc., certificate of good standing.)

 

Each party to this Agreement hereby agrees to provide the Escrow Agent, prior to the establishment of the Escrow Account, with the information identified above pertaining to it by completing the form attached as Exhibit B and returning it to the Escrow Agent. Exhibit B includes one form for individuals and another form for entities.

 

[The balance of this page intentionally left blank – signature page follows]

 

   
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

FAT Brands Inc.   Tri-Point Global Equities, LLC
     
By:   By:  
Name: Andrew Wiederhorn   Name: Mark Elenowitz
Title: CEO   Title: CEO
     
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION    
     
By:    
Name: Boris Treyger    
Title: Vice President    

 

   
 

 

Schedule I

Form 1 a

 

   
 

 

 

 

Schedule II

 

The Escrow Agent is authorized to accept instructions signed or believed by the Escrow Agent to be signed by any one of the following on behalf of the Company and the Placement Agent.

 

FAT Brands, Inc.

 

Name   True Signature
     
Andrew Wiederhorn  

 

 

TriPoint Global Equities, LLC

 

Name   True Signature
     
Mark Elenowitz    

 

   
 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF ESCROW DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

AND RELEASE NOTICE

 

Date:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware 19890

Attention: Boris Treyger

 

Dear Mr./Ms _______:

 

In accordance with the terms of paragraph 2(c) of a Closing Escrow Agreement dated as of __________, 2017 (the “Escrow Agreement”), by and between FAT Brands, Inc (the “Company”), TriPoint Global Equities, LLC (“Placement Agent”) and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Escrow Agent”), the Company and Placement Agent hereby direct the Escrow Agent to distribute all of the Escrow Funds (as defined in the Escrow Agreement) in accordance with the following wire instructions:

 

: $  
       
: $  
       
: $  

 

Very truly yours,  
   
FAT Brands Inc.  
   
By:  
Name: Andrew Wiederhorn  
Title: CEO  
   
TriPoint Global Equities, LLC  
   
By:  
Name: Mark Elenowitz  
Title: CEO  

 

   
 

 

 

 

Consent of Independent Auditor

 

We consent to the use, in this Offering Statement on Form 1-A of FAT Brands Inc. of our reports dated May 5, 2017, relating to our audits of the financial statements of Fatburger North America, Inc. for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

 

Glendale, California

September 6, 2017

 

     
     

 

Consent of Independent Auditor

 

We consent to the use, in this Offering Statement on Form 1-A of FAT Brands Inc. of our reports dated May 5, 2017, relating to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary for the years ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.

 

 

Glendale, California

September 6, 2017

 

     
     

 

 

Consent of Independent Auditor

 

We consent to the use, in this Offering Statement on Form 1-A of FAT Brands Inc., of our reports dated February 6, 2017, relating to our audits of the financial statements of Ponderosa Franchising Company and the financial statements of Bonanza Restaurant Company each for the years ended December 26, 2016, December 28, 2015, and December 29, 2014, respectively.

 

 

Dallas, Texas

September 5, 2017

 

     
 

 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

     
 

 

 

Via EDGAR

 

FAT Brands Inc.

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

 

August 9, 2017

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, NE

Washington, DC 20549

 

  Re: FAT Brands Inc.
    Draft Offering Circular on Form 1-A (DOS)
    Submitted August 3, 2017 (the “Form 1-A”)
    CIK No. 0001705012

 

Dear Mr. Dobbie:

 

I am writing in connection with above-referenced filing submitted confidentially on EDGAR by FAT Brands Inc. (the “Company”). As the Staff has recently discussed with our attorney Allen Sussman of Loeb & Loeb, the Company has decided not to proceed with the draft Registration Statement on Form S-1, which we confidentially submitted on May 5, 2017 and amended on June 23 and June 27, 2017 (“Amendment No. 2”).

 

This letter responds to your correspondence dated July 10, 2017, providing comments on Amendment No. 2. Although the Form 1-A is a different format than Amendment No. 2, we have substantially adopted the Form S-1 disclosure format in the Form 1-A. We will separately provide you with a courtesy copy of the Form 1-A that is redlined against Amendment No. 2 for your convenience in reviewing our responses.

 

Prospectus Summary, page 1

 

Our Company, page 1

 

1. In the first paragraph on page 1, you refer to your combined financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in the prospectus; however, we were unable to find the combined financial statements and related notes in the filing. We note similar references elsewhere in the document as well. Please advise and/or revise your disclosures accordingly.

 

Response: We have changed the reference to our historical financial statements as “combined” rather than “consolidated” throughout the filing, while keeping future and pro forma financial statements as “consolidated”. This is to reflect the fact that FBNA and BFCI are combined historically as stand-alone entities, while going forward they will be consolidated under the common ownership of FAT Brands Inc.

 

     
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 2

 

2. We note inconsistent disclosures throughout your filing which state that you will either combine or consolidate FAT Brands LLC within your financial statements. For example, the second paragraph on page 6 you indicate you will combine FAT Brands LLC in your financial statements immediately following the offering; whereas, on page 61 under the Effects of the Recapitalization Transactions section you state that you will consolidate the financial results of FAT Brands LLC in your combined financial statements. In this regard, please clarify for us the basis for your planned presentation of FAT Brands LLC within your financial statements and revise all relevant disclosures throughout the filing to ensure they are consistently stated. Additionally, please explain why your financial statements will be presented on a combined basis, if this is to be the case.

 

Response: All references to combined or consolidated financial statements have been revised to be consistent throughout the filing, per our response to comment #1 above.

 

3. We note your response to our prior comment 4 that you have plans to enter development agreements with former franchisees in “markets where [your] brands previously had a presence.” Please revise here to disclose the number of countries in which you “previously had a presence” and include a risk factor regarding the risks of investing in former franchisees in countries in which you “previously had a presence” or tell us why you believe such disclosure is unnecessary.

 

Response: The disclosure on page 1 has been revised to distinguish between the 18 countries where we have restaurants that are open and operational, and the additional 14 countries in which we have development agreements in place and re-development plans for former franchisee relationships (total of 32 countries). We believe that it is appropriate to group the additional 14 countries in this way, since we manage development opportunities in new markets in substantially the same manner whether or not we previously had a presence in the market.

 

In addition, we do not believe that a new risk factor is necessary, because we are not investing in former franchisees, but rather in new franchisees in markets where we previously had a presence. Also, as a franchisor, we do not incur a great deal of risk to capital or earnings by expanding in new markets, but in any event this risk is not materially different in countries where we previously had a presence. We continue to include development related risk factors in the offering circular, including “We may not achieve our target development goals and the addition of new franchised restaurants may not be profitable.” and “Termination of development agreements with certain franchisees could adversely impact our revenues.”

 

4. We note your revised disclosure on page 1 that FCCG intends to complete the acquisitions of the franchisor of Ponderosa and Bonanza and to contribute the companies to your company. In an appropriate section of your prospectus, please describe the material terms of your agreement with FCCG regarding Ponderosa and Bonanza, including whether the contribution is a condition to completing the offering. In addition, please file this agreement as an exhibit to your registration statement pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K if required.

 

   2  
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 3

 

Response: We will include the description of the material terms of the acquisition agreement and file a copy of the agreement in the next amendment to the Form 1-A. The contribution is not a condition to completing the offering, but the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza is an intended use of proceeds.

 

Growth Strategy, page 3

 

5. We note your revised disclosure on page 3 regarding your “actionable pipeline of potential acquisition opportunities.” Please disclose whether you are currently negotiating with third-parties regarding any acquisitions, whether you have agreed to any term sheets regarding acquisitions and whether you have signed any acquisition agreements other than with FCCG regarding Ponderosa and Bonanza.

 

Response: We are currently negotiating with third parties and have entered into a non-binding letter of intent to acquire an additional franchised restaurant chain, separate from the planned acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza. We will include, in the next amendment to the Form 1-A, updated disclosure regarding these negotiations and the status of the proposed acquisition contemplated by the aforementioned letter of intent.

 

6. We note your response to our prior comment 8 and reissue in part. Please revise to disclose your recent overall same-store sales growth in order to better place your expectation of improved same-stores sales growth in 2017 and 2018 into context.

 

Response: The reference to expected same-store sales growth in 2017 and 2018 has been deleted in this section. We continue to disclose recent same-store sales growth and recent statistical data elsewhere in the Offering Circular.

 

Summary Historical and Pro Forma Combined Financial Data, page 13

 

7. Please revise to reflect the correct combined income from operations for the 13 weeks ended March 27, 2016.

 

Response: The disclosure has been corrected.

 

Use of Proceeds, page 41

 

8. We note your response to our prior comment 18 and reissue in part. If known, please disclose the extent to which Mr. Wiederhorn will benefit from the proceeds of your offering.

 

   3  
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 4

 

Response: The transactions that will precede the offering been revised to eliminate the “Up-C” reorganization structure and the need for an intermediate LLC holding company. Accordingly, the expected purchase of LLC Interests from FCCG has been eliminated. The current structure is disclosed on pages 35-36 under “The Reorganization Transactions.”

 

In “Use of Proceeds,” we describe the payments that will be made to FCCG from the proceeds of the offering, and the fact that Mr. Wiederhorn is also an officer of FCCG and will indirectly benefit, along with the other stockholders of FCCG, from this offering. However Mr. Wiederhorn will not receive any proceeds from the offering, since the proceeds will be used only to acquire Homestyle Dining and repay indebtedness of FCCG owed to a third-party that was incurred to acquire Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts.

 

Dividend Policy, page 43

 

9. Your revised disclosure on page 43 that you intend to distribute a pro rata share of distributed earnings to FCCG in connection with any distributions made by FAT Brands Inc. to the holders of Class A common stock appears to contradict your disclosure on page 38 that FCCG “will have no economic interests in FAT Brands Inc. despite its ownership of Class B common stock (where “economic interests” means the right to receive any distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock, in connection with common stock) unless and until it elects to redeem LLC Interests for newly issued shares of Class A common stock.” Please revise for clarity and consistency.

 

Response: This disclosure has been eliminated due to the revised structure of the “Reorganization Transactions” described in the offering circular.

 

Selected Historical Combined Financial and other Data, page 45

 

10. We refer you to the first paragraph on page 45 for which the audited financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary are described as combined when they are in fact presented on a consolidated basis. Please revise to correct your reference to the audited financial statements of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary herein and elsewhere in the filing, accordingly.

 

Response: The reference to the audited financial statement of Buffalo’s Franchise Concepts, Inc. and Subsidiary has been revised to state that they are “consolidated”.

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Information, page 54

 

11. We note the heading of the unaudited pro forma information is described as combined; however, the financial information on pages 56-58 ultimately result in pro forma consolidated financial information. Please revise to correct the discrepancy.

 

   4  
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 5

 

Response: All references to the unaudited pro forma information have been revised to state that they are “consolidated”.

 

12. Please provide a summary of the recapitalization transactions or include a cross-reference to page 38. Please include a bullet points to your introductory paragraph to clearly state that you are also presenting pro forma adjustments to give effect to the contribution from FCCG of Ponderosa and Bonanza concurrent with the completion of the offering. Your revised disclosure should include emphasis that in exchange for LLC Interests, FCCG will use the proceeds it receives from you to consummate the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza.

 

Response: The disclosure has been revised to include a summary of the Reorganization Transactions.

 

13. Please consider reordering your columns to present “The Offering” before “Acquisition Adjustments” in light of the fact that you will use proceeds from the offering to purchase LLC interests from FCCG who will in turn use such proceeds to consummate the acquisition of Ponderosa and Bonanza.

 

Response: The columns have been re-ordered.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis, page 60

 

14. We note your response to our prior comment 26. Please revise your MD&A section to include the information provided in your response. The level of detail in your revised disclosure should be similar to that provided in your response.

 

Response: The relevant disclosure regarding transfer of administrative functions and operational personnel to FAT Brands has been added to MD&A.

 

Business, page 68

 

Restaurant Concepts, page 73

 

Fatburger Territories, page 74

 

15. Please enlarge the graph on page 75 as it is difficult to read.

 

Response: The graph has been made clearer, and will be enlarged by our financial printers when the offering circular is typeset for printing.

 

Franchise Program – FAT Brands, page 83

 

   5  
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 6

 

16. We note your response to our prior comment 38 and reissue. Please revise your disclosure on page 84 to address the remaining duration of your Type A development agreements by disclosing the dates or a ranges of dates in order to illustrate how far into the future your pipeline extends.

 

Response: The table on page 87 has been revised to include the remaining duration of Type A development agreements.

 

Index to Financial Statements, page 119

 

17. Please include page references for the interim financial statements of Buffalo Franchise Concepts in your index.

 

Response: The index has been revised to include page references to the interim financial statements of Buffalo Franchise Concepts.

 

Fat Burger North America, Inc., page F-13

 

Notes to the Financial Statements, page F-18

 

Segment Information, page F-19

 

18. We note your response to our prior comment 48; however, your current segment footnote does not fully comply with the disclosure requirements of ASC 280-10-50. Please revise your segment footnote to include the disclosures outlined in paragraphs ASC 280-10-50-40 to 42 with respect to the entity-wide information. Refer to ASC 280-10-50-38 for guidance.

 

Response: The current segment footnotes have been revised to include detail regarding major franchisees that constitute more than 10% of total revenues for a given period, in accordance with ASC 280-10-50.

 

* * * * *

 

If you require any additional information on these issues, or if the Company can provide you with any other information that will facilitate your continued review of this filing, please advise us at your earliest convenience. Please contact Allen Sussman of Loeb & Loeb LLP at asussman@loeb.com or (310) 282-2375 if you have any questions or require additional information.

 

   6  
   

 

Justin Dobbie, Legal Branch Chief

Securities and Exchange Commission

August 9, 2017

Page 7

 

Sincerely,  
   
FAT Brands Inc.  
     
By: /s/ Andrew A. Wiederhorn  
Name: Andrew A. Wiederhorn  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

   7