DineEquity, Inc. Reports Significant Progress in Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2013 Results

DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), the parent company of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar® and IHOP® restaurants, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013.

“For DineEquity, 2013 marked the first full year as a 99% franchised company and a year of significant progress. IHOP achieved three consecutive quarters of increasingly positive same-restaurant sales and the highest annual increase since 2006. We are extremely proud of the results that the IHOP team and franchisees have achieved and hope to build on this success going forward. Applebee’s continued to outperform its category, but we know that we can do better,” said Julia A. Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DineEquity, Inc. “We continued to demonstrate our commitment to create value for our shareholders by returning approximately $87 million in cash dividends and share repurchases. We have set the bar high in 2013 and look to carry this momentum into 2014.”

Fourth Quarter 2013 Financial Highlights

• Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $18.6 million, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.98 for the fourth quarter of 2013, which includes approximately $1.7 million in Applebee’s termination, transfer, and extension fees, primarily in connection with a sale between two existing Applebee’s franchisees. This compares to $15.5 million, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.83 for the same period in 2012. The increase in adjusted net income was due to higher segment profit, a decline in cash interest expense, and lower income taxes resulting from the impact of the Company’s restructuring initiative and refranchising. The increase was partially offset by higher general and administrative expenses. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.)
• GAAP net income available to common stockholders was $17.9 million, or earnings per diluted share of $0.94 for the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to $18.0 million, or earnings per diluted share of $0.97, for the fourth quarter of 2012. The slight decline in net income was primarily due to a modest loss on the disposition of assets compared to a gain in the fourth quarter of 2012 and slightly higher general and administrative expenses. These items were partially offset by lower income tax expense and higher segment profit.
• General and administrative expenses were $38.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to $37.6 million for the same period of 2012.

Fiscal 2013 Financial Highlights

• Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $81.2 million for fiscal 2013, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $4.24, which includes a total of approximately $7.8 million in Applebee’s termination, transfer, and extension fees received in 2013. The Company believes these transactions strengthened the Applebee’s franchisee base. The Company expects that the value of any such transactions will be minimal in 2014.

• Adjusted net income available to common stockholders was $78.1 million for fiscal 2012, or adjusted earnings per diluted share of $4.28. The decrease year-over-year was primarily due to the expected lower segment profit resulting from the refranchise and sale of 154 Applebee’s company-operated restaurants in 2012. These items were partially offset by lower cash interest expense and a decline in general and administrative expenses. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.)
• GAAP net income available to common stockholders was $70.8 million for fiscal 2013, or earnings per diluted share of $3.70, compared to $122.5 million, or earnings per diluted share of $6.63 for the same period in 2012. The decrease in net income was primarily due to asset disposition gains from refranchising that occurred in 2012 that did not recur in 2013 and the expected lower segment profit resulting from refranchising. These items were partially offset by lower income tax expense, a decline in general and administrative expenses, and lower interest expense.
• General and administrative expenses were $143.6 million for fiscal 2013 compared to $163.2 million for the same period of 2012. The decrease was due to lower personnel costs as a result of refranchising and the Company’s restructuring initiative. Additionally, there was a non-recurring charge of $9.1 million recorded in fiscal 2012 related to a settlement of litigation.
• EBITDA was $277.1 million for fiscal 2013. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.)
• For fiscal 2013, cash flows from operating activities were $127.8 million, principal receipts from long-term receivables were $14.0 million, capital expenditures were $7.0 million, principal payments on capital lease and financing obligations were $10.0 million, the mandatory 1% repayment on the Term Loan principal balance was $4.7 million, and free cash flow was $120.1 million. (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.)

Potential Refinancing of Indebtedness

The Company continually reviews all available options to efficiently manage its debt portfolio in light of, among other things, prevailing interest rates, the economic environment and its overall business strategy. The Company may seek to refinance some or all of its long-term debt prior to expiration or repayment dates.

Same-Restaurant Sales Performance

Fourth Quarter 2013

• Applebee’s domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales decreased 0.7% for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter of 2012.
• IHOP’s domestic system-wide same restaurant sales increased 4.5% for the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter of 2012.

Fiscal 2013

• Applebee’s domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales decreased 0.3% for fiscal 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
• IHOP’s domestic system-wide same restaurant sales increased 2.4% for fiscal 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.

Financial Performance Guidance for Fiscal 2014

• Applebee’s domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales performance is expected to range between negative 2.0% and positive 1.0%.

• IHOP’s domestic system-wide same-restaurant sales performance is expected to range between positive 0.5% and positive 2.0%.
• Applebee’s franchisees are projected to develop between 40 and 50 new restaurants, the majority of which are expected to be opened in the U.S.
• IHOP franchisees and its area licensee are projected to develop between 40 and 50 new restaurants, the majority of which are expected to be domestic openings.
• Franchise segment profit is expected to be between $323 million and $332 million. Franchisee termination, transfer, and extension fees are expected to be minimal compared to 2013.
• Rental and Financing segments are expected to generate approximately $37 million in combined profit.

• Expectations for general and administrative expenses to between $144 million and $147 million, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense and depreciation of approximately $18 million.
• Expectations for interest expense to be approximately $101 million. Approximately $7 million is expected to be non-cash interest expense. No estimate is made in this number for a potential refinancing of the Company’s debt.

• The income tax rate expected to be approximately 38%.
• Cash from operations is expected to range between $98 million and $116 million.
• The structural run-off of the Company’s long-term receivables is expected to be approximately $15 million.
• Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $10 million.
• Principal payments on capital leases and financing obligations are expected to be approximately $12 million.
• A mandatory annual repayment of 1% on the current outstanding Term Loan principal balance is expected to be approximately $5 million.
• Free cash flow (See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.) is expected to range between $86 million and $104 million. Free cash flow is defined as cash from operations, plus principal receipts from long-term receivables, less principal payments on capital leases and financing obligations, capital expenditures, and the mandatory annual repayment of 1% on our Term Loan principal balance.
• Net income allocated to unvested participating restricted stock is expected to total approximately $1.5 million.
• Weighted average diluted shares outstanding are expected to be approximately 19.0 million.

Investor Conference Call Today

The Company will host an investor conference call on Wednesday, February 26, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2013 financial results. To participate on the call, please dial (888) 713-4205 and reference pass code 21990918. International callers, please dial (617) 213-4862 and reference pass code 21990918. Participants may also pre-register to obtain a unique pin number to join the live call without operator assistance by visiting the following Web site:

https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=P8VAMLHFA

A live webcast of the call will be available on DineEquity's Web site at www.dineequity.com, and may be accessed by visiting Calls & Presentations under the site’s Investors section. Participants should allow approximately ten minutes prior to the call's start time to visit the site and download any streaming media software needed to listen to the webcast. A telephonic replay of the call may be accessed through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on March 5, 2014 by dialing (888) 286-8010 and referencing pass code 35972678. International callers, please dial (617) 801-6888 and reference pass code 35972678. An online archive of the webcast also will be available on the Investors section of DineEquity's Web site.

About DineEquity, Inc.

Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc., through its subsidiaries, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP brands. With more than 3,600 restaurants combined in 19 countries, over 400 franchisees and approximately 200,000 team members (including franchisee- and company-operated restaurant employees), DineEquity is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information on DineEquity, visit the Company's Web site located at www.dineequity.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the effect of general economic conditions; the Company's indebtedness; risk of future impairment charges; trading volatility and the price of the Company’s common stock; the Company's results in any given period differing from guidance provided to the public; the highly competitive nature of the restaurant business; the Company's business strategy failing to achieve anticipated results; risks associated with the restaurant industry; risks associated with locations of current and future restaurants; rising costs for food commodities and utilities; shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of food; ineffective marketing and guest relationship initiatives and use of social media; changing health or dietary preferences; our engagement in business in foreign markets; harm to our brands' reputation; litigation; Fourth-party claims with respect to intellectual property assets; environmental liability; liability relating to employees; failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations; failure to effectively implement restaurant development plans; our dependence upon our franchisees; concentration of Applebee's franchised restaurants in a limited number of franchisees; credit risk from IHOP franchisees operating under our previous business model; termination or non-renewal of franchise agreements; franchisees breaching their franchise agreements; insolvency proceedings involving franchisees; changes in the number and quality of franchisees; inability of franchisees to fund capital expenditures; heavy dependence on information technology; the occurrence of cyber incidents or a deficiency in our cybersecurity; failure to execute on a business continuity plan; inability to attract and retain talented employees; risks associated with retail brand initiatives; failure of our internal controls; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release includes references to the Company's non-GAAP financial measures "adjusted net income available to common stockholders (adjusted EPS)," "EBITDA," "free cash flow," and "segment EBITDA." "Adjusted EPS" is computed for a given period by deducting from net income (loss) available to common stockholders for such period the effect of any closure and impairment charges, any gain or loss related to debt extinguishment, any intangible asset amortization, any non-cash interest expense, any debt modification costs, any one-time litigation settlement charges, any general and administrative restructuring costs, net of savings, any gain or loss related to the disposition of assets, and any income tax impact of deferred taxes due to restructuring/refranchising incurred in such period. This is presented on an aggregate basis and a per share (diluted) basis. The Company defines "EBITDA" for a given period as income before income taxes less interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, depreciation and amortization, closure and impairment charges, non-cash stock-based compensation, gain/loss on disposition of assets and other charge backs as defined by its credit agreement. "Free cash flow" for a given period is defined as cash provided by operating activities, plus receipts from notes and equipment contracts receivable ("long-term notes receivable"), less principal payments on capital lease and financing obligations, the mandatory 1% of Term Loan principal balance repayment, and capital expenditures. "Segment EBITDA" for a given period is defined as gross segment profit plus depreciation and amortization as well as interest charges related to the segment. Management utilizes EBITDA for debt covenant purposes and free cash flow to determine the amount of cash remaining for general corporate and strategic purposes after the receipts from long-term receivables, and the funding of operating activities, capital expenditures and dividends. Management believes this information is helpful to investors to determine the Company's adherence to debt covenants and the Company's cash available for these purposes. Adjusted EPS, EBITDA, free cash flow and segment EBITDA are supplemental non-GAAP financial measures and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Restaurant Data

The following table sets forth, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the number of "Effective Restaurants" in the Applebee’s and IHOP systems and information regarding the percentage change in sales at those restaurants compared to the same periods in the prior year. Sales at restaurants that are owned by franchisees and area licensees are not attributable to the Company. However, we believe that presentation of this information is useful in analyzing our revenues because franchisees and area licensees pay us royalties and advertising fees that are generally based on a percentage of their sales, and, where applicable, rental payments under leases that may be partially based on a percentage of their sales. Management also uses this information to make decisions about future plans for the development of additional restaurants as well as evaluation of current operations.