WEN » Topics » Certain Related Person Transactions

This excerpt taken from the WEN DEF 14A filed Apr 14, 2009.

Certain Related Person Transactions

In connection with the 2007 restructuring of the Company into a “pure play” restaurant company (the “Corporate Restructuring”), the Company entered into a series of agreements with Messrs. Peltz and May and Trian Partners, which is a management company for various investment funds and accounts that was formed by Messrs. Peltz, May and Garden. These agreements are described in the paragraphs set forth below.

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The Company entered into a two-year transition services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Trian Partners beginning June 30, 2007 pursuant to which Trian Partners provides the Company with a range of professional and strategic services. Under the Services Agreement, the Company paid Trian Partners $3,000,000 per quarter for the first year of services and is paying $1,750,000 per quarter for the second year of services. The Company incurred a total of $9,500,000 of such service fees for 2008. In addition, effective as of December 28, 2007, the Company and Trian Partners entered into an amendment to the Services Agreement providing for the payment to Trian Partners in 2008 of additional fees of $2,750,000, for services rendered during 2007.

 

 

 

 

In December 2005, the Company invested $75,000,000 in an account (the “Equities Account”) which is managed by Trian Partners and generally co-invests on a parallel basis with a series of equity investment funds managed by Trian Partners or its affiliates. Through June 29, 2007, Trian Partners had agreed not to charge the Company any management fees with respect to the Equities Account. In April 2007, in connection with the Corporate Restructuring, the Company entered into an agreement under which Trian Partners will continue to manage the Equities Account until at least December 31, 2010. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company began to pay management and incentive fees to Trian Partners in an amount customary for unaffiliated third party investors with similarly sized investments. The Company incurred a total of $1,892,359 of such fees for 2008.

 

 

 

 

In July 2007 and July 2008, the Company entered into agreements under which Trian Partners is subleasing (the “Subleases”) office space on two of the floors of the Company’s former New York headquarters. Under the terms of the Subleases, Trian Partners is paying the Company approximately $113,000 and $153,000, respectively, per month which includes an amount equal to the rent the Company pays plus a fixed amount reflecting a portion of the increase in the then fair market value of the Company’s leasehold interest as well as amounts for property taxes and the other costs related to the use of the space. Either Trian Partners or the Company may terminate the Subleases upon sixty days notice. The Company recognized $1,633,000 from Trian Partners under the Subleases for 2008.

 

 

 

 

In August 2007, the Company entered into time share agreements whereby Messrs. Peltz, May and Garden and Trian Partners may use the Company’s corporate aircraft in exchange for payment of certain incremental flight and related costs of such aircraft. Such reimbursements for 2008 amounted to $3,162,000. As of December 28, 2008, the Company was owed $274,000 and $79,000 by Messrs. Peltz, May and Garden and Trian Partners, respectively, which amounts were received in 2009. Other costs, such as pilot and aviation employee salaries, hangar costs, depreciation, maintenance, the costs of deadhead flights (empty pick-up or return flights) and insurance on the aircraft are not included in such reimbursement obligations.

 

 

 

 

Trian Partners assumed the Company’s 25% fractional interest in a helicopter (the “Helicopter Interest”) on October 1, 2008 for $1,860,000, which is the amount the Company would have received under the relevant agreement if the Company had exercised its right to sell the Helicopter Interest on that date. That agreement provides that the selling price shall be equal to the then fair value of the Helicopter Interest, less a remarketing fee charged by the owner of the helicopter. Trian Partners paid the monthly management fee and all other costs related to the Helicopter Interest to the owner on behalf of the Company from July 1, 2007 until October 1, 2008.

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All of the foregoing agreements with Messrs. Peltz and May and Trian Partners were negotiated and approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors, which was advised by independent outside counsel and consulted with the Compensation Committee and the Performance Committee of the Board of Directors and its independent outside counsel and independent compensation consultant.

On November 5, 2008, Trian Partners and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Trian”) commenced a cash tender offer for Wendy’s/Arby’s Class A Common Stock. On December 11, 2008, Trian announced that as a result of the tender offer it had purchased 49,395,394 shares of Wendy’s/Arby’s Class A Common Stock at a purchase price of $4.15 per share, for a total purchase price of $204,990,885. On November 5, 2008, in connection with the tender offer and as consideration for the granting of prior approval by the Board of Directors under Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) such that the consummation of the tender offer and the subsequent acquisition by Trian of beneficial ownership of up to 25% of the outstanding shares of the Class A Common Stock would not be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL, the Company entered into an agreement with Trian, Mr. Peltz, Mr. May and Mr. Garden (the “Standstill Agreement”). The Standstill Agreement, among other things, contractually replicates the anti-takeover restrictions of Section 203 of the DGCL for Trian, except that the relevant beneficial ownership percentage that would trigger the DGCL Section 203 restrictions under the Standstill Agreement is a percentage in excess of 25%, while it is 15% under the DGCL. The Standstill Agreement terminates upon the earliest to occur of (i) Trian beneficially owning less than 15% of the Class A Common Stock, (ii) November 5, 2011, and (iii) at such time as any person not affiliated with Trian makes an offer to purchase an amount of shares of Class A Common Stock which when added to the shares of Class A Common Stock already beneficially owned by such person and its affiliates and associates equals or exceeds 50% or more of the shares of Class A Common Stock or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or solicits proxies with respect to a majority slate of directors. As a condition to the Board of Directors’ approval of the repeal of the business combination provision in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as described in Proposal 6 below, on April 1, 2009, the Company entered into an amendment to the Standstill Agreement. The amendment to the Standstill Agreement provides that the sections of the Standstill Agreement that contractually replicate the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL for Trian will not automatically terminate, if not earlier terminated, on November 5, 2011. Instead, those provisions will terminate on the earliest to occur of the events described in clauses (i) and (iii) above.

During 2008, the Company paid $500,000 of expenses on behalf of The Arby’s Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit charitable foundation in which the Company has non-controlling representation on the board of directors. Members of the board of directors of the Arby’s Foundation, Inc., include Thomas A. Garrett, the President and Chief Executive Officer of ARG, and Sharron L. Barton, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Company. Also in 2008, the Company pledged $1,000,000 to be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a not-for-profit charitable foundation that was created by Wendy’s founder, Dave Thomas, in which the Company also has non-controlling representation on the board of directors. The pledge is expected to be funded in equal annual installments over a five-year period. Members of the board of directors of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption include Roland Smith, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and John D. Barker, the Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of the Company.

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On September 29, 2008, J. David Karam, a minority shareholder, director and former president of Cedar Enterprises, Inc. (which directly or through affiliates is a Wendy’s franchisee and operator of 133 Wendy’s restaurants), was appointed President of Wendy’s and became an executive officer of the Company. In connection with Mr. Karam’s employment, Mr. Karam resigned as a director and president of Cedar Enterprises, Inc. but retained his minority ownership. After the Wendy’s merger, the Company recorded $1,772,000 in royalties and $1,318,000 in advertising fees from Cedar Enterprises and its affiliates as a franchisee of Wendy’s. Cedar Enterprises, Inc. and its affiliates also received $225,000 in remodeling incentives in 2008 from Wendy’s pursuant to a program generally available to Wendy’s franchisees. Mr. Karam was also a minority investor in two other Wendy’s franchisee operators, Emerald Food, Inc. and Diamond Foods, L.L.C., which are operators of 44 and 16 Wendy’s restaurants, respectively. Mr. Karam disposed of his interests in those franchise operators effective November 5, 2008.

 

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This excerpt taken from the WEN DEF 14A filed Apr 30, 2007.

Certain Related Person Transactions

As part of its overall retention efforts, the Company provided certain of its officers and employees with the opportunity to co-invest in some of the investment opportunities available to the Company. In connection therewith, prior to the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company advanced a portion of the funds for the purchases by certain of its officers and employees in four co- investments, EBT Holding Company, LLC (“EBT”), 280 KPE Holdings, LLC (“280 KPE”), K12 Inc. and 280 BT Holdings LLC (“280 BT”). In 2006, only the notes relating to the investments in K12 Inc. and 280 BT (in the aggregate principal amount of $1,889,776) remained outstanding. Each of these notes matured in 2006. One half of the principal amount of these notes was non-recourse. The notes bore interest at the prime rate adjusted annually. During 2006, the largest outstanding principal amount owed to the Company by Messrs. Peltz and May pursuant to the notes was $888,888 and $888,888, respectively, in connection with these investments. Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company may not make any new loans to its executive officers and the Company’s co-investment policy no longer permits loans.

As of December 31, 2006, the Company owned 63.6% of the capital interests and of the membership interests of at least 52.5% in future profits (the “Profit Interests”) in D&C. As discussed

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above (see “Equity Arrangements”) in November 2005, the Compensation Committee authorized the Company to enter into equity arrangements pursuant to which members of the Company’s management subscribed for equity interests in the Company’s holding in D&C. In addition to the interests subscribed for by the Named Officers (see “Equity Arrangements” above), interests were subscribed for by Messrs. Essner, Rosen and Schaefer and Ms. Tarbell. The remaining economic interests in D&C were owned directly or indirectly by executives of Deerfield, including approximately 24.9% by Mr. Sachs. In connection with the acquisition of D&C, commencing July 22, 2009, the Company will have certain rights to acquire the economic interests of D&C owned by Mr. Sachs and another executive officer of Deerfield, which aggregate 35.5% of the capital interests and 34.3% of the Profit Interests. In addition, commencing July 22, 2007, Mr. Sachs, and another executive officer of Deerfield will have certain rights to require the Company to acquire their economic interests. In each case, the rights are generally exercisable at a price equal to the then current fair market value of those interests and are subject to acceleration under certain circumstances.

In November 2005 the Compensation Committee authorized the Company to enter into equity arrangements pursuant to which members of the Company’s management subscribed for equity interests in the Company’s holdings in Jurlique. In addition to the interests subscribed for by the Named Officers (see “Equity Arrangements” above), interests were subscribed for by Messrs. Essner, Rosen and Schaefer and Ms. Tarbell.

In connection with the July 2004 acquisition by the Company of its interest in D&C, the Company agreed to invest $100 million in Deerfield Opportunities Fund, LLC, an investment fund managed by Deerfield (the “Opportunities Fund”), and Mr. Sachs, through an affiliate, agreed to invest approximately $4.3 million in the Opportunities Fund. The Opportunities Fund commenced operations in October 2004. In February 2005, the Company withdrew approximately $4.8 million from the Opportunities Fund and effective as of March 1, 2005, such funds were invested in DM Fund, LLC, a newly formed investment fund managed by Deerfield (the “Macro Fund”). Certain executives of Deerfield, including Mr. Sachs who, through an affiliate, invested approximately $200,000, also invested in the Macro Fund. The Company redeemed its interest in the Opportunities Fund on September 29, 2006 and its investment in the Macro Fund on December 31, 2006.

Pursuant to his employment agreement, when traveling for business purposes Mr. Sachs is entitled to be reimbursed by Deerfield for up to $4,000 for each actual hour of flying time on an aircraft owned or leased by Mr. Sachs or an entity controlled by him (the “Aircraft”) or, if the Aircraft is not available, up to $4,000 for documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Mr. Sachs for each hour of actual flying time on a substitute aircraft, plus, in the case of either the Aircraft or a substitute aircraft, the reasonable cost of any food consumed on board and any overnight meals and lodging for aircraft crew members. In 2006, Deerfield reimbursed Mr. Sachs for $478,000 of such expenses.

Prior to the July 2004 acquisition by the Company of its interest in D&C, certain members of D&C’s management, including Mr. Sachs and his affiliates (who invested an aggregate of approximately $1.5 million in three transactions), acquired all or a portion of the equity tranche of securities issued in connection with the formation of certain of the CDOs (collateralized debt obligations) that are currently managed by Deerfield.

Prior to November 2006, Mr. May and the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Sybra, Inc., had an interest in a franchisee that owned one Arby’s restaurant. That franchisee was a party to a standard Arby’s franchise license agreement and paid to Arby’s fees and royalty payments that unaffiliated third-party franchisees pay. Mr. May acquired his interest in the franchisee prior to the acquisition by the

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Company of Sybra in December 2002. Under an arrangement that pre-dated the Sybra acquisition, Mr. May contributed all of the capital in the franchisee and Sybra managed the restaurant for the franchisee. Under the pre-existing arrangement, Sybra Inc. agreed to waive its management fee until Mr. May’s capital was returned. In November 2006, Sybra, Inc. acquired the assets of the franchise for $121,000 in cash, which was entirely used to satisfy the outstanding liabilities of the franchisee. Mr. May did not receive any portion of the proceeds from the sale.

On November 1, 2005, Messrs. Peltz, May and Garden (collectively, the “Principals”) started a series of equity investment funds (the “Funds”) that are separate and distinct from the Company and that are being managed by the Principals and other senior officers of the Company (the “Employees”) through a management company (the “Management Company”) formed by the Principals. The Principals and the Employees continue to serve as officers of, and receive compensation from, the Company. The Company is making available the services of the Principals and the Employees, as well as certain support services including investment research, legal, accounting and administrative services, to the Management Company. The Company is currently being reimbursed by the Management Company for the allocable cost of these services, including an allocable portion of salaries, rent and various overhead costs for periods both before and after the launch of the Funds. Such reimbursement with respect to 2006 amounted to $4,345,000. In addition, the Management Company paid directly to the Employees or reimbursed the Company for approximately $4,200,000, in the aggregate, of incentive compensation with respect to 2006. The Special Committee and the Compensation Committee, each of which is comprised of independent members of the Company’s Board of Directors, have reviewed and considered these arrangements and unanimously approved the allocation of costs and reimbursement for 2006. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above, in connection with the corporate restructuring, the Management Company has agreed to provide certain strategic transition services to the Company commencing June 30, 2007.

In December 2005, the Company invested $75,000,000 in an account which is managed by the Management Company and co-invests on a parallel basis with the Funds. The Principals and certain Employees have invested in the Funds and certain Employees may invest additional amounts in the Funds or in an account to be managed by the Management Company. The Management Company has agreed not to charge the Company, the Principals or the Employees any management fees with respect to their investments. Further, the Principals and the Employees will not pay any incentive fees and the Company will not pay any incentive fees for the first two years and, thereafter, will pay lower incentive fees than those generally charged to other investors in the Funds. The Company is entitled to withdraw its investment quarterly upon 65 days’ prior written notice. The Special Committee unanimously recommended the Company’s investment on these terms to the executive committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, which in turn unanimously approved such investment, with the Executives abstaining from the vote. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis above, as part of the overall agreement with Messrs. Peltz and May in connection with the corporate restructuring, the Company has agreed, commencing January 1, 2008, that it will be subject to standard withdrawal restrictions and will pay to the Management Company the standard management fee and incentive fee charges paid by any unaffiliated, third party investors with a similarly sized investment in the Funds.

In connection with the RTM Acquisition, the Company provided certain management services to certain affiliates of RTM that the Company did not acquire in July 2005 (the “RTM Affiliates”) including information technology, risk management, accounting, tax and other management services. Mr. Umphenour has an equity interest in such RTM Affiliates. The Company charged a monthly fee of $36,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses for such services which aggregated $150,000 during 2006. This

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services agreement was terminated on May 7, 2006. In addition, the Company continued to have limited transactions with certain of the RTM Affiliates, which during 2006, resulted in the Company receiving rental income of $22,000 for a restaurant leased to one of the RTM Affiliates and paying royalties of $10,000 related to the use of a brand owned by one of the RTM Affiliates in four Company- owned restaurants. RTM remains contingently liable for certain lease obligations aggregating approximately $33,000,000 that it had guaranteed prior to the RTM Acquisition on behalf of certain affiliates, including entities in which Mr. Umphenour has an equity interest. However, the Company has been indemnified by the selling stockholders of RTM, including Mr. Umphenour, for any future payments the Company may be required to make under such guarantees.

In 2006, the Company made charitable contributions of $100,000 to The Arby’s Foundation, Inc., a not-for-profit charitable foundation in which the Company has non-controlling representation on the board of directors, and ARG paid $502,000 of expenses on behalf of the foundation. ARG was reimbursed for $500,000 of those expenses pursuant to the terms of a supply contract with a third party vendor.

In 2006, the Company made contributions aggregating $157,915 to certain not-for-profit entities of which Mr. Peltz is a director or trustee, $160,000 to certain not-for-profit entities of which Mr. May (or a member of his immediate family) is a director, trustee or officer, and $25,000 to a not-for-profit entity of which both Mr. Peltz and Mr. May serve as trustees.

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