UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 29, 2004
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Applebee's International, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 000-17962 43-1461763
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
4551 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
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(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(913) 967-4000
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
None
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satiify the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): 1
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 17a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On November 29, 2004, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued
a press release entitled "Applebee's International Reports November Comparable
Sales; Company to Present at NASDAQ Consumer and Financials Forum." The release
contained the following information.
The company will be presenting at the NASDAQ Consumer and Financials Forum to be
held in London on Friday, December 3, 2004, at 4:15 a.m. Central Time. A webcast
of the presentation will be available over the Internet at
http://www.wallstreetwebcasting.com/webcast/nasdaq3/appb. The presentation will
also be available at the Investor Relations section of the company's website
(www.applebees.com). The archived webcast will be available for two weeks
following the presentation.
Item 8.01 Other Events
The November 29 2004, release also contained the following information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol DiRaimo,
Vice President of Investor Relations
(913) 967-4109
Applebee's International Reports November Comparable Sales;
Company to Present at NASDAQ Consumer and Financials Forum
Overland Park, Kan., November 29, 2004 -- Applebee's International, Inc.
(Nasdaq:APPB) today reported comparable sales for the four-week period ended
November 21, 2004.
System-wide comparable sales increased 4.1 percent for the November period, and
comparable sales for franchise restaurants increased 4.8 percent. Comparable
sales for company restaurants increased 1.9 percent, reflecting an increase in
guest traffic of between zero and 0.5 percent, combined with a higher average
check.
System-wide comparable sales for the quarter-to-date period through November
(eight weeks) have increased 2.9 percent, with company and franchise restaurant
comparable sales up 0.7 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively.
The company reaffirmed its guidance for diluted earnings per share of $0.28 to
$0.30 for the fourth quarter of 2004 and $1.30 to $1.32 for fiscal year 2004.
Applebee's International, Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops,
franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill &
Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. There are currently
1,648 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states and ten
international countries. Additional information on Applebee's International can
be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com).
-- more --
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Certain statements contained in this release, including fourth quarter and
fiscal year 2004 earnings per share guidance, are forward-looking and based on
current expectations. There are several risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those described, including but not
limited to the ability of the company and its franchisees to open and operate
additional restaurants profitably, the ability of its franchisees to obtain
financing, the continued growth of its franchisees, and its ability to attract
and retain qualified franchisees, the impact of intense competition in the
casual dining segment of the restaurant industry, and its ability to control
restaurant operating costs which are impacted by market changes, minimum wage
and other employment laws, food costs and inflation. For additional discussion
of the principal factors that could cause actual results to be materially
different, the reader is referred to the company's current report on Form 8-K
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2004. The
company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: November 29, 2004 By: /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin
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Steven K. Lumpkin
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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