Brinker International (EAT) 10-Q2022 Q2 Quarterly report

References to “Brinker,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this Form 10-Q refer to Brinker International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and any predecessor companies of Brinker International, Inc. Our Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) as of December 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021, and for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 and December 23, 2020, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We have a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending on the last Wednesday in June. We utilize a 13 week accounting period for quarterly reporting purposes, except in years containing 53 weeks when the fourth quarter contains 14 weeks. Fiscal year 2022 contains 52 weeks and will end on June 29, 2022. Fiscal year 2021 ended on June 30, 2021 and contained 53 weeks.

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements is in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) and requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), and the reported amounts of revenues and costs and expenses in the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals and adjustments) which are, in our opinion, necessary to fairly state the interim operating results, financial position and cash flows for the respective periods. However, these operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, have been omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our June 30, 2021 Form 10-K. We believe the disclosures are sufficient for interim financial reporting purposes. All amounts in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) are presented in millions unless otherwise specified.

The foreign currency translation adjustment included in Comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) represents the unrealized impact of translating the financial statements of our Canadian restaurants from Canadian dollars to United States dollars. This amount is not included in Net income and would only be realized upon disposition of our Canadian restaurants. The related Accumulated other comprehensive loss is presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited).

In March 2020, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was declared a global pandemic and a National Public Health Emergency. The spread of COVID-19 has prompted changes in consumer behavior and social distancing preferences as well as dining room closures and dining room capacity restrictions mandated or encouraged by federal, state and local governments. The number of open dining rooms and the dining room capacity restrictions have fluctuated over the course of the pandemic based on state and local mandates, which has resulted in significant impacts to our guest traffic and sales primarily in fiscal 2021.

We have been carefully assessing the effect of COVID-19 on our business as conditions continue to evolve throughout the communities we serve. At this time, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 cannot be reasonably estimated due to the uncertainty about the extent and the duration of the spread of the virus and could lead to further reduced sales, capacity restrictions, restaurant closures, delays in our supply chain or impair our ability to staff accordingly which could adversely impact our financial results.

We reviewed all accounting pronouncements that became effective for our fiscal 2022 and determined that either they were not applicable or they did not have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited). We also reviewed all recently issued accounting pronouncements to be adopted in future periods and determined that they are not expected to have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

On October 31, 2021, we completed the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities related to 37 previously franchised Chili’s restaurants located in the Great Lakes and Northeast region of the United States, the “Great Lakes Region Acquisition.” Pro-forma financial information of the acquisition is not presented due to the immaterial impact of the financial results of the acquired restaurants in the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

The total purchase price of $56.0 million, excluding post-closing adjustments, was funded with borrowings from our existing credit facility. We accounted for this acquisition as a business combination. The assets and liabilities of these restaurants were recorded at their preliminary fair values and are subject to revision as more detailed analyses are completed and additional information about the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed becomes available. The final purchase price allocation is expected to be completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The results of operations, and assets and liabilities, of these restaurants are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) from the date of acquisition.

On September 2, 2021, we completed the acquisition of certain assets and liabilities related to 23 previously franchised Chili’s restaurants located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the “Mid-Atlantic Region Acquisition.” Pro-forma financial information of the acquisition is not presented due to the immaterial impact of the financial results of the acquired restaurants in the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

The total purchase price of $48.0 million, excluding post-closing adjustments, was funded with borrowings from our existing credit facility and proceeds from a sale leaseback transaction completed simultaneously with the acquisition (refer to Note 9 - Leases for further details on the sale leaseback transaction). We accounted for this acquisition as a business combination. The assets and liabilities of these restaurants were recorded at their preliminary fair values and are subject to revision as more detailed analyses are completed and additional information about the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed becomes available. The final purchase price allocation is expected to be completed during the third quarter of fiscal 2022. The results of operations, and assets and liabilities, of these restaurants are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) from the date of acquisition.

The fair values of tangible and intangible assets acquired were primarily based on significant inputs not observable in an active market, including estimates of replacement costs, future cash flows and discount rates. These inputs

represent Level 3 fair value measurements as defined under GAAP. The preliminary amounts recorded for the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities at the acquisition date are as follows:

Our deferred franchise and development fees consist of the unrecognized fees received from franchisees. Recognition of these fees in subsequent periods is based on satisfaction of the contractual performance obligations of our active contracts with franchisees. We also expect to earn subsequent period royalties and advertising fees related to our franchise contracts; however, due to the variability and uncertainty of these future revenues based upon a sales-based measure, these future revenues are not yet estimable as the performance obligations remain unsatisfied.

Deferred franchise and development fees are classified within Other accrued liabilities for the current portion expected to be recognized within the next 12 months, and Other liabilities for the long-term portion in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited).

The following table reflects the changes in deferred franchise and development fees between June 30, 2021 and December 29, 2021:

The following table illustrates franchise and development fees expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that were unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of December 29, 2021:

Deferred revenues related to our gift cards include the full value of unredeemed gift card balances less recognized breakage and the unamortized portion of third party fees. The following table reflects the changes in the Gift card liability between June 30, 2021 and December 29, 2021:

Other (gains) and charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) consist of the following:

The federal statutory tax rate for the periods presented was 21.0%. Our effective income tax rate for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 was lower than the federal statutory rate primarily due to the favorable impact from the FICA tip tax credit. The twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2021 also included the favorable impact of excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation.

A reconciliation between the reported Provision (benefit) for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to Income before income taxes is as follows:

Our effective income tax rate for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 23, 2020 was lower than the federal statutory rate due to the favorable impact from the FICA tip tax credit. The twenty-six week period ended December 23, 2020 also included the favorable impact of excess tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation.

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing Net income by the Basic weighted average shares outstanding for the reporting period. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. For the calculation of Diluted net income per share, the Basic weighted average shares outstanding is increased by the dilutive effect of stock options and restricted share awards. Stock options and restricted share awards with an anti-dilutive effect are not included in the Diluted net income per share calculation. Basic weighted average shares outstanding are reconciled to Diluted weighted average shares outstanding as follows:

Company sales for each segment include revenues generated by the operation of Company-owned restaurants including gift card redemptions and revenues from our It’s Just Wings and Maggiano’s Italian Classics virtual brands. Franchise and other revenues for each operating segment include royalties, gift card breakage, Maggiano’s banquet service charge income, delivery income, digital entertainment revenue, franchise advertising fees, franchise and development fees, gift card equalization and gift card discount costs from third-party gift card sales.

We do not rely on any major customers as a source of sales, and the customers and long-lived assets of our operating segments are predominantly located in the United States. There were no material transactions amongst our operating segments.

Our chief operating decision maker uses Operating income as the measure for assessing performance of our segments. Operating income includes revenues and expenses directly attributable to segment-level results of operations. Restaurant expenses during the periods presented primarily included restaurant rent, supplies, utilities, property and equipment maintenance, delivery fees, credit card processing fees, property taxes and worker’s comp and general liability insurance.

The following tables reconcile our segment results to our consolidated results reported in accordance with GAAP:

Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, or the exit price, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Fair value measurements are categorized in three levels based on the types of significant inputs used, as follows:

We review the carrying amounts of long-lived property and equipment including finance lease assets, operating lease assets, reacquired franchise rights and transferable liquor licenses annually or when events or circumstances indicate that the fair value may not substantially exceed the carrying amount. We record an impairment charge for the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value. All impairment charges were included in Other (gains) and charges in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the periods presented.

Intangibles, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) includes both indefinite-lived intangible assets such as transferable liquor licenses and definite-lived intangible assets such as reacquired franchise rights and trademarks. Intangibles, net included accumulated amortization associated with definite-lived intangible assets at December 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021, of $10.8 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

Definite lived assets include property and equipment, including finance lease assets, operating lease assets and reacquired franchise rights. During the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021, no indicators of impairment were identified.

The fair values of transferable liquor licenses are based on prices in the open market for licenses in the same or similar jurisdictions, and are categorized as Level 2. During the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 and December 23, 2020, no indicators of impairment were identified.

We review the carrying amounts of goodwill annually or when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment for our reporting units to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if the result of the qualitative assessment indicates a potential impairment, then the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the carrying amount is not recoverable, we record an impairment charge for the excess of the carrying amount over the implied fair value of the goodwill.

Related to the qualitative assessment, changes in circumstances existing at the measurement date or at other times in the future, such as declines in our market capitalization, as well as in the market capitalization of other companies in the restaurant industry, declines in sales at our restaurants, and significant adverse changes in the operating environment for the restaurant industry could result in an impairment loss of all or a portion of our goodwill. We performed our annual goodwill impairment analysis in the second quarter of fiscal 2022 using a qualitative approach based on these factors and no indicators of impairment were identified. During the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021, management concluded that no triggering event occurred.

Our ability to operate dining and banquet rooms and generate off-premise sales at our restaurants is critical to avoiding a future triggering event as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Management’s judgments about the impact of the pandemic could change as additional developments occur. We will continue to monitor and evaluate our results in future periods to determine if a more detailed assessment is necessary.

In the first two quarters of fiscal 2022, we completed the acquisition of 60 Chili’s restaurants from two former franchisees. The preliminary fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for these restaurants utilized Level 3 inputs. The fair values of intangible assets acquired were primarily based on significant inputs not observable in an active market, including estimates of replacement costs, future cash flows, and discount rates. Refer to Note 2 - Chili’s Restaurant Acquisitions for further details.

Our financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying amounts because of the short maturity of these items.

The carrying amount of debt outstanding related to our revolving credit facility approximates fair value as the interest rate on this instrument approximates current market rates (Level 2). The fair values of the 3.875% and 5.000% notes are based on quoted market prices and are considered Level 2 fair value measurements.

The carrying amounts and fair values of the 3.875% notes and 5.000% notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs and discounts, are as follows:

We typically lease our restaurant facilities through ground leases (where we lease land only, but construct the building and improvements) or retail leases (where we lease the land/retail space and building). In addition to our restaurant facilities, we also lease our corporate headquarters location and certain equipment.

The components of lease expenses included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) were as follows:

As of the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2022, we have 17 pre-commencement leases for new Chili’s locations with undiscounted fixed payments over the initial term of $25.4 million. These leases are expected to commence in the next 12 months and are expected to have an economic lease term of 20 years. These leases will commence when the landlords make the property available to us for new restaurant construction. We will assess the reasonably certain lease term at the lease commencement date.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, as part of the Chili’s Mid-Atlantic Region Acquisition, we assumed 11 new real estate operating leases included in the balances at December 29, 2021. At December 29, 2021, the balances associated with these new leases in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) include Operating lease assets of $23.3 million, Operating lease liabilities of $0.6 million, and Long-term operating lease liabilities, less current portion of $22.9 million. The leases were recorded net of prepaid rent at the date of acquisition.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2022, as part of the Chili’s Great Lakes Region Acquisition, we assumed 26 new real estate operating leases included in the balances at December 29, 2021. At December 29, 2021, the balances associated with these new leases in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) include Operating lease assets of $47.7 million, Operating lease liabilities of $1.5 million, and Long-term operating lease liabilities, less current

portion of $46.7 million. The leases were recorded net of purchase price accounting adjustments and prepaid rent at the date of acquisition. Refer to Note 2 - Chili’s Restaurant Acquisitions for further details.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2022, simultaneous with the Mid-Atlantic Region Acquisition, we completed sale leaseback transactions on 6 of the acquired restaurants. The properties were sold at their acquisition cost resulting in proceeds of $20.5 million with no gain or loss.

The initial terms of all leases we entered into as part of the sale leaseback transactions are for 15 years, plus renewal options at our discretion. All of the leases were determined to be operating leases. Rent expenses associated with these operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease terms under ASC 842. At December 29, 2021, the balances associated with these new leases in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) include Operating lease assets of $18.1 million, Operating lease liabilities of $0.4 million, and Long-term operating lease liabilities, less current portion of $17.7 million.

Long-term debt consists of the following:

On August 18, 2021, we revised our existing $1.0 billion revolving credit facility to an $800.0 million revolving credit facility to extend the maturity date and provide additional flexibility. In the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2021, net borrowings of $132.5 million were drawn on the revolving credit facility. As of December 29, 2021, $496.2 million of credit was available under the new revolving credit facility.

The $800.0 million revolving credit facility matures on August 18, 2026 and bears interest of LIBOR plus an applicable margin of 1.500% to 2.250% and an undrawn commitment fee of 0.250% to 0.350%, both based on a function of our debt-to-cash-flow ratio. As of December 29, 2021, our interest rate was 1.875% consisting of LIBOR of 0.125% plus the applicable margin of 1.750%.

In the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2021, we incurred and capitalized $3.1 million of debt issuance costs associated with the new revolver, which are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited).

Other accrued liabilities consist of the following:

The changes in Total shareholders’ deficit during the twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 and December 23, 2020, respectively, were as follows:

Our share repurchase program is used to return capital to shareholders and to minimize the dilutive impact of stock options and other share-based awards. We evaluate potential share repurchases under our plan based on several factors, including our cash position, share price, operational liquidity, proceeds from divestitures, borrowings and

planned investment and financing needs. Repurchased shares are reflected as an increase in Treasury stock within Shareholders’ deficit in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited).

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, our share repurchase program was suspended in response to the business downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2021, our Board of Directors reinstated the share repurchase program, allowing for a total available repurchase authority of $300.0 million. In the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2021, we repurchased 1.6 million shares of our common stock for $74.7 million, including 1.5 million shares purchased as part of our share repurchase program and 0.1 million shares purchased from team members to satisfy tax withholding obligations on the vesting of restricted shares. As of December 29, 2021, approximately $230.0 million was available under our share repurchase authorizations.

The following table presents the restricted share awards granted and related weighted average fair value per share amounts.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, our Board of Directors voted to suspend the quarterly cash dividend in response to liquidity needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 and December 23, 2020, dividends paid were solely related to the accrued dividends for restricted share awards that were granted prior to the suspension and vested in the period. Restricted share award dividends are accrued in Other accrued liabilities for the current portion to vest within 12 months, and Other liabilities for the portion that will vest after one year.

Cash paid for income taxes and interest is as follows:

We have, in certain cases, divested brands or sold restaurants to franchisees and have not been released from lease guarantees for the related restaurants. As of December 29, 2021 and June 30, 2021, we have outstanding lease guarantees or are secondarily liable for an estimated $31.9 million and $29.2 million, respectively. These amounts represent the maximum potential liability of rent payments under the leases. These leases have been assigned to the buyers and expire at the end of the respective lease terms, which range from fiscal 2022 through fiscal 2027.

We have received notices of default and have been named a party in lawsuits pertaining to some of these leases in circumstances where the current lessee did not pay its rent obligations. In the event of default under a lease by a franchisee or owner of a divested brand, the indemnity and default clauses in our agreements with such third parties and applicable laws govern our ability to pursue and recover amounts we may pay on behalf of such parties. As of December 29, 2021, we have recorded contingent liabilities of $4.0 million for our estimated exposure of the lease defaults related to these lease guarantees. These contingent liabilities are classified within Other accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited).

We provide letters of credit to various insurers to collateralize obligations for outstanding claims. As of December 29, 2021, we had $5.8 million in undrawn standby letters of credit outstanding. All standby letters of credit are renewable within the next 10 months.

In fiscal 2018, we discovered malware at certain Chili’s restaurants that may have resulted in unauthorized access or acquisition of customer payment card data. We settled all claims from payment card companies related to this incident and do not expect material claims in the future. The Company was also named as a defendant in a putative class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (the “Litigation”) relating to this incident. In the Litigation, plaintiffs assert various claims at the Company’s Chili’s restaurants involving customer payment card information and seek monetary damages in excess of $5.0 million, injunctive and declaratory relief, and attorney’s fees and costs.

We believe we have defenses and intend to continue defending the Litigation. As such, as of December 29, 2021, we have concluded that a loss, or range of loss, from this matter is not determinable, therefore, we have not recorded a liability related to the Litigation. We will continue to evaluate this matter based on new information as it becomes available.

Evaluating contingencies related to litigation is a process involving judgment on the potential outcome of future events, and the ultimate resolution of litigated claims may differ from our current analysis. Accordingly, we review the adequacy of accruals and disclosures pertaining to litigated matters each quarter in consultation with legal counsel and we assess the probability and range of possible losses associated with contingencies for potential accrual in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We are engaged in various legal proceedings and have certain unresolved claims pending. Liabilities have been established based on our best estimates of our potential liability in certain of these matters. Based upon consultation with legal counsel, management is of the opinion that there are no matters pending or threatened which are expected to have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) is intended to help you understand our Company, our operations, and our current operating environment. For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our performance during the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2021 and December 23, 2020, the MD&A should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and related Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) included in this quarterly report. All amounts within the MD&A are presented in millions unless otherwise specified.

In March 2020, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was declared a global pandemic and a National Public Health Emergency. The spread of COVID-19 has prompted changes in consumer behavior and social distancing preferences as well as dining room closures and dining room capacity restrictions mandated or encouraged by federal, state and local governments. The number of open dining rooms and the dining room capacity restrictions have fluctuated over the course of the pandemic based on state and local mandates, which has resulted in significant impacts to our guest traffic and sales primarily in fiscal 2021.

Chili’s and Maggiano’s ability to continue serving guests during the COVID-19 pandemic is the result of our strategic decision to invest in technology, virtual brands, and off-premise capabilities including online ordering, mobile app ordering, curbside service and third-party delivery.

We have experienced limited material shortages and service disruptions in our supply chain and in the availability of labor to operate our restaurants. We also experienced an increase in employee turnover in the first two quarters of fiscal 2022. We recognize there is significant demand for talent and are actively working to safeguard, engage, attract and retain our employees. It is possible that shortages or disruptions could increase during fiscal 2022 as demand for goods, transportation and labor increases.

The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be reasonably estimated due to the uncertainty about the extent and duration of the spread of the virus, the availability, acceptance and efficacy of preventative vaccines, the emergence and impact of new COVID-19 variants and changing government restrictions. Additional impacts to the business may arise that we are not aware of currently. We will continue to closely monitor and adapt to the evolving situation.

We are committed to strategies and a Company culture that we believe will improve guest traffic, grow sales and profits, and engage team members. Our strategies and culture are intended to differentiate our brands from the competition and to focus on the guest experience. We are effectively and efficiently managing our restaurants to establish a lasting presence for our brands in key markets around the world. Our primary strategy is to make our guests feel special through great food and quality service so that they return to our restaurants.

In dining rooms, we use tabletop devices to engage our guests at the table. These devices allow guests to pay at the table, reordering, digital entertainment, guest feedback and interaction with our My Chili’s Rewards program. Our My Chili’s Rewards loyalty program offers free chips and salsa or a non-alcoholic beverage to members based on their visit frequency. We customize offerings for these guests based on their purchase behavior, and we continue to shift more of our overall marketing spend to these customized channels and promotions. We believe this strategy gives us a sustained competitive advantage over independent restaurants and the majority of our competitors.

Chili’s off-premise dining options, including our virtual brands It’s Just Wings and Maggiano’s Italian Classics, are also a critical part of our strategy. In the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2021, Chili’s off-premise sales, including both to-go and delivery, were approximately 35% of Company sales, with approximately 53% coming from To-Go and 47% from delivery. We regularly evaluate our processes and menu at Chili’s to identify opportunities where we can improve our service quality and food. We continue to focus on our core equities and improving guest satisfaction with our food and service by improving execution of our operations standards.

It’s Just Wings, launched on June 23, 2020, is an offering consisting of chicken wings available in a variety of different sauces and rubs, curly fries, ranch dressing, fried Oreos and hand pies for a value price. Maggiano’s Italian Classics offers a select group of items from the full menu of Maggiano’s Little Italy including several appetizers, salads, pastas, entrées, mac & cheese and hand pies.

They are available for purchase through DoorDash, Google Food Ordering and their respective websites - itsjustwings.com and maggianosclassics.com. The operating results for the virtual brands are included in the results of our Chili’s and Maggiano’s brands, based on the restaurants that prepared and processed the food orders. We plan to continue to test and strategically launch additional virtual brands in the future to further drive our growth.

existing franchise partners. We are also supporting our franchise partners with opportunities to expand sales through our virtual brand offerings.