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Wendy's Co false 0000030697 --12-28 0000030697 2025-11-05 2025-11-05
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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 5, 2025

 

 

THE WENDY’S COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant, as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-2207   38-0471180

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Dave Thomas Boulevard, Dublin, Ohio   43017
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(614) 764-3100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(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 satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $.10 par value   WEN   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 
 


Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On November 7, 2025, The Wendy’s Company (the “Company”) issued a press release reporting its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2025 and other information. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information in this Item 2.02, including the Exhibit 99.1 furnished under Item 9.01, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Furthermore, the information in this Item 2.02, including the Exhibit 99.1 furnished under Item 9.01, shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the filings of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act.

 

Item 5.03

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On November 5, 2025, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, upon the recommendation of the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee, approved and adopted amendments to the Company’s By-Laws (as amended and restated through November 5, 2025, the “By-Laws”) which include updating the By-Laws to: (i) provide for an orderly process for stockholders to request a record date for stockholder action by written consent; (ii) conform the information required with respect to requesting a record date for stockholder action by written consent with the information required in connection with an annual meeting; (iii) provide for certain other mechanical procedures with respect to stockholder action by written consent; (iv) eliminate the requirement to make a stockholder list available for examination at meetings of stockholders, as provided for by amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law; (v) make the Board’s Senior Vice Chair and Vice Chair roles optional, instead of mandatory; and (vi) make certain other technical, conforming, modernizing or clarifying changes. The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the By-Laws, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

3.1    By-Laws of The Wendy’s Company (as amended and restated through November 5, 2025).
99.1    Press release issued by The Wendy’s Company on November 7, 2025.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

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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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

    THE WENDY’S COMPANY
Date:  November 7, 2025     By:  

/s/ Mark L. Johnson

        Mark L. Johnson
        Director – Corporate & Securities Counsel, and Assistant Secretary

 

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EX-3.1 2 d94107dex31.htm EX-3.1 EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

THE WENDY’S COMPANY

BY-LAWS

(as amended and restated through November 5, 2025)

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

SECTION 1. Registered Office in Delaware. The registered office of the Corporation (as defined in Article IX below) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of the resident agent in charge thereof shall be The Corporation Trust Company.

SECTION 2. Executive Offices. The Corporation shall maintain an executive office in New York, New York, or such other location as the Board of Directors shall determine.

SECTION 3. Other Offices. In addition to the registered office in the State of Delaware and the principal executive office, the Corporation may have offices at such other places within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require; provided, however, that the headquarters of the Wendy’s brand will be located in the greater Columbus, Ohio area for a period of ten years from the date of the closing of the Agreement and Plan of Merger among the Corporation, Wendy’s International, Inc., and Green Merger Sub, Inc., dated April 23, 2008, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

ARTICLE II

MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may be brought before the meeting in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined in Article IX below) and these By-Laws shall be held on the date and at the time fixed from time to time within thirteen (13) months after the date of the preceding annual meeting by the Board of Directors, by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors determined from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted pursuant to Section 3 of Article III of these By-Laws. The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall not be called or held otherwise than as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or in these By-Laws.

SECTION 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only (i) at the direction of (a) a majority of the entire Board of Directors, (b) the Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Chairman”), (c) the Senior Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Senior Vice Chairman”) or (d) the Chief Executive Officer or (ii) by the Secretary of the Corporation at the written request of holders of record of at least 20% in voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation, in accordance with and subject to the requirements set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

SECTION 3. Place of Meeting. Annual and special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at the registered office of the Corporation in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, unless some other place within or without the State of Delaware shall have been fixed by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of meeting, if any.

 

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SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of every meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, annual or special, stating the time, place, if any, and, for special meetings, in general terms, the purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given by the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Vice Chairman”), the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. Notice of the time, place, if any, and purposes of any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be dispensed with if every stockholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting shall attend, either in person or by proxy, or if every absent stockholder entitled to such notice and vote shall, in a writing or writings or by electronic transmission filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the holding thereof, waive such notice.

SECTION 5. Means of Giving Notice. A notice of any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be given either personally or by mail or other means of written communication, charges prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation or given by such stockholder to the Corporation for the purpose of notice. Notices given to stockholders may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 6. Time of Notice. Any required notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be sent to each stockholder entitled thereto not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting.

SECTION 7. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or 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 on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) or less than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that 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, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.

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 the adjourned meeting.

 

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Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation, request that the Board of Directors fix a record date, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting (including by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission as permitted by law). Such record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and shall not be not more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted. To be valid, such written notice shall set forth (i) a description of the action that such stockholder proposes to authorize or take by written consent, including the text of any proposal to be submitted to stockholders; (ii) the information required by Article V, Section 5 of the Certificate of Incorporation to be contained in a stockholder’s notice of business to be brought before a meeting of stockholders; and (iii) any other information relating to the stockholder, the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made, or the proposal that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings in connection with the solicitations of proxies or consents relating to the proposed action pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which a valid written notice is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors) with respect to such action. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) days after the date on which a valid written notice is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall be the first date after the expiration of such ten (10) day period on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to the proposed action by written consent of the stockholders, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

SECTION 8. List of Stockholders. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 9. Quorum. At any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business brought before the meeting in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws. When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote shall be required to effect action by stockholders, unless the action is one upon which, by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-Laws, a different vote is required, in which case such provision will establish the vote required to effect such action. The stockholders present at any duly organized meeting of stockholders may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to have less than a quorum.

 

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SECTION 10. Adjournment. Any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be adjourned from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting at which such adjournment is taken, and at any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present any action may be taken that could have been taken at the meeting originally called; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.

SECTION 11. Organization. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, at every meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the Chairman or, in the absence of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, or in the absence of both the Chairman and the Senior Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of all such persons, such individual as shall have been designated by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation or, in the absence of such officer, an Assistant Secretary in attendance or, in the absence of the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep a record of the proceedings of the meeting.

SECTION 12. Agenda and Rules of Order. The chairman of the meeting shall have sole authority to prescribe the agenda and rules of order for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and to determine all questions arising thereat relating to the order of business and the conduct of the meeting, except as otherwise required by law.

SECTION 13. Conduct of Business at Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. Except as otherwise provided in this Article II or in the Certificate of Incorporation, in order to be properly brought before the meeting, such business must have either been:

(A) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given to stockholders of record on the record date for such meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or

(B) brought before the meeting at the direction of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 14. Stockholder Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation may be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by the consent in writing of such stockholders, subject to Article II, Section 7 hereof, or any of them, which writing shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders. A telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder shall be deemed to be in writing for purposes of this section to the extent permitted by law.

 

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In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by Article II, Section 7 hereof and applicable law, to the Corporation of the requisite written consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the Corporation shall engage independent inspectors of elections for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the consents delivered to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 14 represent at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate action. The action by written consent and without a meeting will take effect as of the date and time of the certification of the written consents and will not relate back to the date the written consents were delivered to the Corporation.

If the Board of Directors shall determine that any request to take stockholder action by written consent was not properly made in accordance with Article II, Section 7 hereof and this Section 14, or the stockholder or stockholders seeking to take such action do not otherwise comply with Article II, Section 7 hereof or this Section 14, or if any request to fix a record date in order to determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting was not properly made in accordance with Article II, Section 7 hereof, then the Board of Directors shall not be required to fix a record date and any such purported action by written consent shall be null and void to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Further, nothing contained in this Section 14 shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. Board of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Qualification of Director. Each director shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age. Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.

SECTION 3. Number of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of not fewer than seven (7) nor more than fifteen (15) individuals, the exact number to be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of directors then in office.

SECTION 4. Election and Term of Office. The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders and each director shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his or her election and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise required by the provisions of any class or series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, each nominee for director shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that nominee’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that if, as of the tenth (10th) day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders of the Corporation, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “Contested Election”), the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast.

 

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If directors are to be elected by the plurality of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee for director. For purposes of Article III of these By-Laws, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a nominee’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that nominee’s election (with “abstentions” and “broker nonvotes” not counted as a vote cast either “for” or “against” that nominee’s election).

SECTION 5. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal or any other cause (including an increase in the number of directors) may be filled solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, whether or not such majority constitutes less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any new director elected to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors will serve for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy occurred. No decrease in the size of the Board of Directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.

SECTION 6. Resignation of Directors. Any director may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing or by electronic transmission and shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event be specified, shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, but no resignation shall discharge any accrued obligation or duty of a director.

SECTION 7. [Deleted.]

SECTION 8. Quorum of Directors. Except as otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, (i) a majority of the directors in office at the time of a duly assembled meeting shall constitute a quorum and be sufficient for the transaction of business, and (ii) any act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9. Place of Meeting. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of this Article III, the Board of Directors may hold any meeting at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as it may determine.

SECTION 10. Organizational Meeting. After each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall meet immediately at the place where such meeting of stockholders was held for the purpose of organization, election of Executive Officers (as defined in Section 1 of Article V), and the transaction of other business.

SECTION 11. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such times and at such places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

 

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SECTION 12. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, or any two directors, and any such meeting shall be held at such time and at such place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be specified in the notice of meeting.

SECTION 13. Notice of Meetings. Subject to the provisions of Section 10 of this Article III, notice of the place, day and hour of every meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director by mailing written notice at least two (2) days before the meeting to his or her last known address or by delivering such notice either by personal delivery, by telegraph, by telephone or by any other lawful means (including electronic transmission) to each director at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.

SECTION 14. Organization. The Chairman or, in the absence of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, or in the absence of both the Chairman and the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, or in the absence of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman and the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, shall call meetings of the Board of Directors to order and shall act as the chairman thereof. In the absence of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, a majority of the directors present may elect as chairman of the meeting any director present. The Secretary of the Corporation or, in the absence of such officer, an Assistant Secretary in attendance or, in the absence of the Secretary and an Assistant Secretary, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as a secretary of the meeting and keep a record of the proceedings of the meeting.

SECTION 15. Order of Business. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors the order of business and rules of order at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting.

SECTION 16. Adjournment. Any meeting of the Board of Directors may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the directors present, whether or not they shall constitute a quorum, and no notice shall be required of any adjourned meeting beyond the announcement of such adjournment at the meeting.

SECTION 17. Action by Board of Directors Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board or the committee, 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 with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

SECTION 18. Action by Conference Telephone. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in such manner shall constitute presence in person at such a meeting.

 

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SECTION 19. Compensation. Each director, in consideration of his or her serving as such, shall be entitled to receive from the Corporation such compensation as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine, together with reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in attending meetings of the Board of Directors. Each director who shall serve as a member of any committee of the Board of Directors, in consideration of his or her serving as such, shall be entitled to such additional compensation as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine, together with reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in attending meetings of such committee. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1. Committees. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more committees, which may include as members directors only or directors and non-directors, as the Board of Directors may from time to time consider desirable, and such committees shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors shall determine and as shall be specified in the resolution of appointment; provided, however, that the powers and duties of any such committee whose members shall include non-directors shall be limited to making recommendations to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Committee Vacancies. Any member of a committee appointed pursuant to this Article IV shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, which Board shall have the power at any time to remove any member, with or without cause, and to fill vacancies in the membership of a committee. No committee appointed pursuant to this Article IV shall have the power to fill any vacancy in the membership of such committee. Any committee appointed pursuant to Section 1 of this Article IV shall exist at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, which Board shall have the power at any time to change the powers and duties of any such committee or to dissolve it.

SECTION 3. Committee Meetings. Regular meetings of a committee appointed pursuant to this Article IV shall be held at such times and at such places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors or the committee shall from time to time determine, and no notice of such regular meetings shall be required. Special meetings of any committee may be called by the chairman of such committee or by the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be called by the Secretary of the Corporation on the written request of any member of such committee. Notice of a special meeting of any committee shall be given to each member thereof by mailing such notice at least forty-eight (48) hours, or by delivering such notice either by personal delivery, by telegraph, by telephone or by any other lawful means (including electronic transmission) at least eighteen (18) hours, before the meeting. It shall not be requisite for the validity of any meeting of any committee that notice thereof shall have been given to any committee member who is present at the meeting or, if absent, waives notice thereof in writing filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the holding thereof. Members of a committee constituting at least fifty percent (50%) of such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of committee business, and the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. A committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and all action taken or resolutions adopted shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board next following such action.

 

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ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 1. Executive Officers. At the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders (the “Organizational Meeting”), the Board of Directors shall elect as executive officers of the Corporation a Chief Executive Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may elect as executive officers of the Corporation a President, a Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. All such executive officers elected by the Board of Directors are referred to in these By-Laws as “Executive Officers.” The Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other officers and agents of the Corporation as the interests of the Corporation may require and may fix their duties and terms of office. To the extent permitted by law, any number of offices may be held by the same person.

SECTION 2. Other Officers. In addition to the Executive Officers elected by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 1 of this Article V, the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time appoint such other officers of the Corporation, including, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Staff Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and Controllers, as the interests of the Corporation may require (the “Other Officers”); provided, however, that no Other Officer may be appointed to the office of President, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer. Each appointment of an Other Officer shall be in writing and shall set forth the duties of the Other Officer being appointed and, subject to Section 3 of this Article V, such officer’s term of office.

SECTION 3. Term of Office. Each Executive Officer shall hold office until the Organizational Meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding such officer’s election and until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal. Each Other Officer shall hold office for a term to be decided by the Chief Executive Officer; provided, however, that no such term shall be for a period longer than the term of office of the appointing Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 4. Removal of Officers. Any Executive Officer or Other Officer may be removed from office with or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any Other Officer may be removed from office at any time with or without cause by the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 5. Vacancies. A vacancy in any Executive Office or Other Office arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors. A vacancy in any Other Office arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Chief Executive Officer. A vacancy in any of the Chairman, Senior Vice Chairman or Vice Chairman positions arising from any cause may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.

 

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SECTION 6. Compensation of Officers. The salaries or compensation, if any, of the Executive Officers shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (and/or any subcommittee thereof), if there be one. The salaries or compensation of the Other Officers and division officers, if there be any, may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Compensation Committee and/or any subcommittee thereof if there be one), or by the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 7. Chairman of the Board. At the Organizational Meeting, the Board of Directors shall designate one member of the Board of Directors to serve as Chairman of the Board. The Chairman shall also serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee, if any. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation and the Board of Directors at which the Chairman is present. The Chairman shall perform all duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors, and shall enjoy all other powers which are commonly incident to the position of Chairman, or are delegated to the Chairman from time to time by the Board of Directors or are or may at any time be authorized or required by law.

SECTION 8. Senior Vice Chairman of the Board. At the Organizational Meeting, the Board of Directors may designate one member of the Board of Directors to serve as Senior Vice Chairman of the Board. The Senior Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall perform all duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors, and shall enjoy all other powers which are commonly incident to the position of Senior Vice Chairman, or are delegated to the Senior Vice Chairman from time to time by the Board of Directors or are or may at any time be authorized or required by law. The Senior Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall be deemed to constitute the Vice Chairman for purposes of Section 10 and Section 15 of Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation, and these By-Laws (including, without limitation, Section 2 and Section 11 of Article II of these By-Laws) shall be construed in accordance therewith. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, in the absence of the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation and the Board of Directors at which the Senior Vice Chairman is present.

SECTION 9. Vice Chairman of the Board. At the Organizational Meeting, the Board of Directors may designate one member of the Board of Directors to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall perform all duties as are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors, and shall enjoy all other powers which are commonly incident to the position of Vice Chairman, or are delegated to the Vice Chairman from time to time by the Board of Directors or are or may at any time be authorized or required by law. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, in the absence of the Chairman and the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the Vice Chairman is present.

SECTION 10. Chief Executive Officer.

 

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The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general charge and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation with power and authority, when acting in the ordinary course of business of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its seal attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, or otherwise, to (i) execute and deliver agreements, contracts, certificates and other instruments, (ii) purchase and accept delivery of stocks, bonds, evidences of interest and indebtedness, rights and options to acquire the same, and all other securities, whether negotiable or non-negotiable, (iii) sell, assign, transfer and deliver all stocks, bonds, evidence of interest and indebtedness, rights and options to acquire the same, and all other securities, corporate or otherwise, now or hereafter standing in the name of or owned beneficially by the Corporation, (iv) open and maintain accounts with banking institutions, including investment banks and brokerage firms, and (v) borrow from banks and other financial institutions, including investment banks and brokerage firms, such sums of money for such periods of time and upon such terms as such officer shall deem necessary or appropriate, and execute and deliver notes, other evidences of indebtedness and agreements for the repayment of any sums so borrowed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation; provided, however, that no borrowing pursuant to this clause (v) shall have an original maturity of more than one year. Such officer shall perform all other duties and enjoy all other powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer, or are delegated to such officer from time to time by the Board of Directors or are or may at any time be authorized or required by law.

SECTION 11. Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer, if there be one, shall be responsible for directing, administering and coordinating the business operations of the Corporation in accordance with policies, goals and objectives established by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer with power and authority, when acting in the ordinary course of business of the Corporation, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its seal attested by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, or otherwise, to, (i) execute and deliver agreements, contracts, certificates and other instruments, (ii) purchase and accept delivery of stocks, bonds, evidences of interest and indebtedness, rights and options to acquire the same, and all other securities, whether negotiable or non-negotiable, (iii) sell, assign, transfer and deliver stocks, bonds, evidences of interest and indebtedness, rights and options to acquire the same, and all other securities, corporate or otherwise, now or hereafter standing in the name of or owned beneficially by the Corporation, (iv) open and maintain accounts with banking institutions, including investment banks and brokerage firms, and (v) borrow from banks and other financial institutions, including investment banks and brokerage firms, such sums of money for such periods of time and upon such terms as such officer shall deem necessary or appropriate, and execute and deliver notes, other evidences of indebtedness and agreements for the repayment of any sums so borrowed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation; provided, however, that no borrowing pursuant to this clause (v) shall have an original maturity of more than one year. Such officer shall perform all other duties and enjoy all other powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chief Operating Officer or which are delegated to such officer by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer shall perform all duties and may exercise all powers of the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 12. President, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents Elected by the Board. The President, the Executive Vice Presidents, the Senior Vice Presidents and the Vice Presidents elected by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 1 of this Article V, if there be any, shall have such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

11


SECTION 13. Secretary. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors which such officer attends in a book or books to be kept for that purpose. Such officer shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices on behalf of the Corporation, shall have custody of the records and the seal of the Corporation and shall affix the seal to any instrument which requires the seal of the Corporation. Such officer shall, in general, perform all the duties and functions incident to the office of Secretary and shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 14. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody and control of all funds and securities of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors. Such officer shall keep full and accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements of the Corporation in books to be kept for that purpose, shall deposit all money and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer or the Board of Directors, whenever any of them may require it, an account of all such officer’s transactions as Treasurer and an account of the financial condition of the Corporation. Such officer shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 15. Powers and Duties of Other Officers. The Other Officers shall have such powers and perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

ARTICLE VI

CAPITAL STOCK

SECTION 1. Certificates. Each holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman, the Senior Vice Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the President, an Executive Vice President or a Senior Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by such stockholder. Any or all of the signatures on the certificates may be a facsimile.

In case any officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he, she or it was such officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar at the date of issue.

All certificates of each class or series shall be consecutively numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Every certificate shall certify the name of the Person owning the shares represented thereby, with the number of shares and the date of issue. The names and addresses of all Persons owning shares of the Corporation, with the number of shares owned by each and the date or dates of issue of the shares held by each, shall be entered in the books of the Corporation kept for that purpose by the proper officers, agents or employees of the Corporation.

 

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The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock of the Corporation as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, 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 Persons, whether or not it has actual or other notice thereof, except as provided by law.

SECTION 2. Cancellation of Certificates. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation shall be cancelled and, except in the case of lost, stolen or destroyed certificates, no new certificates shall be issued until the former certificate or certificates for the same number of shares of the same class of stock have been surrendered and cancelled.

SECTION 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates or one or more uncertificated shares (as applicable) to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of the fact by the Person claiming the certificate or certificates to be lost, stolen or destroyed. In its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance of any such new certificate or certificates or one or more uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may require that the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or such Person’s legal representative, advertise the same in such manner as the Board shall require and/or give the Corporation and its Transfer Agent or Agents, Registrar or Registrars a bond in such form and amount as the Board of Directors may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation and its Transfer Agent or Agents, Registrar or Registrars, and that the owner requesting such new certificate or certificates or one or more uncertificated shares obtain a final order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as such owner’s right to receive such new certificate or certificates or one or more uncertificated shares.

SECTION 4. Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof, in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon the surrender for cancellation of the certificate or certificates representing the shares to be transferred, properly endorsed, with such proof or guarantee of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require.

Upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares (as applicable) shall be made to the stockholder entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation.

SECTION 5. Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Corporation may have one or more Transfer Agents and one or more Registrars of its stocks, whose respective duties the Board of Directors may define from time to time. No certificate representing shares of stock shall be valid until countersigned by a Transfer Agent, if the Corporation shall have a Transfer Agent, or until registered by the Registrar, if the Corporation shall have a Registrar. The duties of Transfer Agent and Registrar may be combined.

 

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ARTICLE VII

CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DRAFTS, PROXIES

SECTION 1. Execution of Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any Executive Officer or Other Officer, agent or employee of the Corporation to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name or on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, and, unless so authorized by the Board of Directors, no Executive Officer or Other Officer, agent or employee except the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, or any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or to pledge its credit or to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or to any amount.

SECTION 2. Loans. Except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, no loan shall be contracted in the name or on behalf of the Corporation, and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued, endorsed or accepted in its name, or on its behalf, unless authorized by the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. When so authorized, the Executive or Other Officer, agent or employee thereunto authorized may effect loans and advances at any time for the Corporation from any Person (including any bank, trust company or other institution) and for such loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, and, when authorized as aforesaid, as security for the payment of any and all loans and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness and liabilities of the Corporation, may mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or transfer any real or personal property at any time owned or held by the Corporation, and to that end execute instruments of mortgage or pledge or otherwise transfer such property.

SECTION 3. Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts, bills of exchange or other orders for the payment of money, obligations, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, bills of lading, warehouse receipts and insurance certificates of the Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or such other Executive Officer or Other Officer, agent, attorney, or employee of the Corporation as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Operating Officer.

SECTION 4. Proxies in Respect of Securities of Other Corporations. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President, and such other Executive Officers or Other Officers as are designated by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Operating Officer are authorized to vote by casting a ballot in person or by voting by proxy on behalf of the Corporation the shares owned by the Corporation of the stock or other securities in any other corporation at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other corporation, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such other corporation.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 1. To the extent not prohibited by law, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who is or was made, or threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (a “Proceeding”), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person of whom such person is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving in any capacity at the request of the Corporation for any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (an “Other Entity”), against judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid in settlement and costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements). Persons who are not directors or officers of the Corporation may be similarly indemnified in respect of service to the Corporation or to an Other Entity at the request of the Corporation to the extent the Board of Directors at any time specifies that such persons are entitled to the benefits of this Article VIII.

SECTION 2. The Corporation shall, from time to time, reimburse or advance to any director or officer or other person entitled to indemnification hereunder the funds necessary for payment of expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred in connection with any Proceeding, in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding; provided, however, that, if required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, such expenses incurred by or on behalf of any director or officer or other person may be paid in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding only upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer (or other person indemnified hereunder), to repay any such amount so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that such director, officer or other person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.

SECTION 3. The rights to indemnification and reimbursement or advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses may have or hereafter be entitled under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

SECTION 4. The rights to indemnification and reimbursement or advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer (or other person indemnified hereunder) and shall inure to the benefit of the executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

SECTION 5. 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 an Other Entity, against any liability asserted against such person and 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 provisions of this Article VIII, the Certificate of Incorporation or under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any other provision of law.

SECTION 6. The provisions of this Article VIII shall be a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and each director and officer who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article VIII is in effect and any other person indemnified hereunder, on the other hand, pursuant to which the Corporation and each such director, officer, or other person intend to be legally bound. No repeal or modification of this Article VIII shall affect any rights or obligations with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or thereafter arising or any proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.

 

15


SECTION 7. The rights to indemnification and reimbursement or advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall be enforceable by any person entitled to such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses in any court of competent jurisdiction. The burden of proving that such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is not appropriate shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, its independent legal counsel and its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, its independent legal counsel and its stockholders) that such person is not entitled to such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses shall constitute a defense to the action or create a presumption that such person is not so entitled. Such a person shall also be indemnified for any expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding.

SECTION 8. Any director or officer of the Corporation serving in any capacity (a) another corporation of which a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of its directors is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (b) any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any corporation referred to in clause (a) shall be deemed to be doing so at the request of the Corporation.

SECTION 9. Any person entitled to be indemnified or to reimbursement or advancement of expenses as a matter of right pursuant to this Article VIII may elect to have the right to indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses interpreted on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the applicable Proceeding, to the extent permitted by law, or on the basis of the applicable law in effect at the time such indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is sought. Such election shall be made, by a notice in writing to the Corporation, at the time indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is sought; provided, however, that if no such notice is given, the right to indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses shall be determined by the law in effect at the time indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is sought.

ARTICLE IX

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of these By-Laws, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Certificate of Incorporation” shall mean the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as from time to time amended.

 

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“Corporation” shall mean The Wendy’s Company.

“Delaware Law” shall mean the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time.

“Executive Officers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of Article V of these By-Laws.

“Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of Article VIII of these By-Laws.

“Other Officers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 of Article V of these By-Laws.

“Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity.

“Proceeding” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1 of Article VIII of these By-Laws.

“Voting Shares” shall mean any issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 1. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The stock record books and the blank stock certificate books shall be kept by the Secretary or by any other officer or agent designated by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. Dividends and Reserves. The Board of Directors, from time to time, may determine whether any, and, if any, what part of the net profits of the Corporation, or of its net assets in excess of its capital, available therefor pursuant to law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be declared by it as dividends on the stock of the Corporation. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, in lieu of declaring any such dividend, may use and apply any of such net profits or net assets as a reserve for working capital, to meet contingencies, for the purpose of maintaining or increasing the property or business of the Corporation or for any other lawful purpose which it may think conducive to the best interests of the Corporation.

SECTION 3. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal of the Corporation shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name of the Corporation and the year and state of its incorporation.

SECTION 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the Sunday that is closest to December 31 of each year unless the Board of Directors shall determine otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE XI

AMENDMENTS

All By-laws of the Corporation shall be subject to alteration, amendment or repeal, in whole or in part, and new By-laws not inconsistent with Delaware law or any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation may be made by a vote of two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors that would be in office if no vacancy existed, whether or not present at a meeting; provided, however, that any By-laws made, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed, and any By-laws may be made, by the stockholders of the Corporation by vote of a majority of the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Corporation.

 

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EX-99.1 3 d94107dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

THE WENDY’S COMPANY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2025 RESULTS

 

   

Global systemwide sales were $3.5 billion, a decrease of 2.6%

 

   

International systemwide sales grew 8.6% with growth across all regions

 

   

Opened 54 new restaurants, bringing total additions to 172 through the end of the third quarter

 

   

Net income was $44.3 million and adjusted EBITDA increased 2.1% to $138.0 million

 

   

Reported diluted earnings per share was $0.23 and adjusted earnings per share decreased 4.0% to $0.24

 

   

Returned $40.7 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases

 

   

Increased free cash flow outlook by $35 million at the midpoint of the expected range

Dublin, Ohio (November 7, 2025) - The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) today reported unaudited results for the third quarter ended September 28, 2025.

“Third quarter results were in line with our expectations, reflecting continued strength in our international business with 8.6% systemwide sales growth, the addition of 54 new restaurants globally and adjusted EBITDA growth,” said Ken Cook, Interim CEO.

“In the U.S. our actions to drive operational excellence at Company-operated restaurants are delivering meaningful results. Comparable sales at Company-operated restaurants outperformed the system by 4% during the third quarter and a renewed focus on execution resulted in the successful launch of our new chicken tenders. We also launched Project Fresh, a comprehensive turnaround plan structured around brand revitalization, operational excellence, system optimization and capital allocation. We are acting with urgency to execute the operational and brand initiatives to drive AUV growth in the U.S., creating value for our franchisees and shareholders.”

 

Operational Highlights    2024   2025
Third Quarter    US   Intl   Global   US   Intl  

Global

Systemwide Sales Growth (1) (2)

   0.9%   7.7%   1.8%   (4.4)%   8.6%   (2.6)%

Same-Restaurant Sales Growth (1) (2)

   0.2%   0.7%   0.2%   (4.7)%   3.0%   (3.7)%

Systemwide Sales (In US$ Millions) (2) (3)

   $3,141.0   $495.2   $3,636.2   $3,004.1   $534.0   $3,538.1

Restaurant Openings - Total / Net

   22 / (2)   42 / 33   64 / 31   23 / 12   31 / 17   54 / 29

Quarter End Restaurant Count

   6,011   1,281   7,292   5,979   1,384   7,363
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year-to-Date    US   Intl   Global   US   Intl  

Global

Systemwide Sales Growth (1) (2)

   1.4%   8.3%   2.3%   (3.4)%   8.7%   (1.8)%

Same-Restaurant Sales Growth (1) (2)

   0.5%   2.1%   0.7%   (3.7)%   2.4%   (2.9)%

Systemwide Sales (In US$ Millions) (2) (3)

   $9,374.7   $1,438.6   $10,813.3   $9,051.5   $1,536.0   $10,587.5

Restaurant Openings - Total / Net

   65 / (19)   98 / 71   163 / 52   72 / 46   100 / 77   172 / 123

(1) Systemwide sales growth and same-restaurant sales growth are calculated on a constant currency basis and include sales by both Company-operated and franchise restaurants.

(2) Excludes Argentina.

(3) Systemwide sales include sales at both Company-operated and franchise restaurants.

 

1


Financial Highlights    Third Quarter     Year-to-Date  
     2024     2025     B / (W)     2024     2025     B / (W)  
($ In Millions Except Per Share Amounts)    (Unaudited)  

Total Revenues

   $ 566.7     $ 549.5       (3.0 )%    $ 1,672.2     $ 1,633.9       (2.3 )% 

Adjusted Revenues (1)

   $ 443.6     $ 442.5       (0.2 )%    $ 1,329.1     $ 1,315.2       (1.0 )% 

U.S. Company-Operated Restaurant Margin

     15.6     13.1     (2.5 )%      15.8     14.7     (1.1 )% 

General and Administrative Expense

   $ 62.8     $ 57.9       7.8   $ 188.0     $ 185.6       1.3

Operating Profit

   $ 94.7     $ 92.0       (2.9 )%    $ 275.3     $ 279.4       1.5

Net Income

   $ 50.2     $ 44.3       (11.8 )%    $ 146.9     $ 138.6       (5.7 )% 

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

   $ 135.2     $ 138.0       2.1   $ 406.1     $ 409.2       0.8

Reported Diluted Earnings Per Share

   $ 0.25     $ 0.23       (8.0 )%    $ 0.71     $ 0.71      

Adjusted Earnings Per Share (1)

   $ 0.25     $ 0.24       (4.0 )%    $ 0.75     $ 0.73       (2.7 )% 

Cash Flow from Operations

         $ 286.7     $ 275.3       (4.0 )% 

Free Cash Flow (1) (2)

         $ 213.0     $ 195.6       (8.2 )% 

(1)  See “Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the reconciliation tables that accompany this release for a discussion and reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release.

(2)  Beginning with the three months ended March 30, 2025, the Company modified its definition of free cash flow to reflect expenditures related to its franchise development fund. The prior period has been revised to conform to the current year presentation.

Third Quarter Financial Highlights

Systemwide Sales

Global systemwide sales decreased due to lower same-restaurant sales in the U.S. segment, partially offset by contributions from net new restaurant openings and same-restaurant sales growth in the International segment.

Total Revenues

The decrease in total revenues resulted primarily from lower advertising funds revenue and lower franchise royalty revenue, partially offset by an increase in franchise fees.

U.S. Company-Operated Restaurant Margin

The decrease in U.S. Company-operated restaurant margin was primarily due to commodity inflation, a decline in traffic, and labor rate inflation, partially offset by an increase in average check and labor efficiencies.

General and Administrative Expense

The decrease in general and administrative expense was primarily due to lower share-based compensation.

Operating Profit

The decrease in operating profit was primarily due to a decrease in U.S. Company-operated restaurant margin, lower franchise royalty revenue, and higher impairment of long-lived assets. These were partially offset by a decrease in the Company’s funding of incremental advertising spend and a decrease in general and administrative expense.

Net Income

The decrease in net income was primarily due to a decrease in other income and a decrease in operating profit.

 

2


Adjusted EBITDA

The increase in adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by a decrease in the Company’s funding of incremental advertising spend, lower general and administrative expense, and higher other operating income. These were partially offset by a decrease in U.S. Company-operated restaurant margin and a decrease in franchise royalty revenue.

Adjusted Earnings Per Share

The decrease in adjusted earnings per share was primarily driven by an increase in depreciation and cloud computing amortization expenses, a higher tax rate, and lower other income. These were partially offset by fewer shares outstanding as a result of the Company’s share repurchase program and an increase in adjusted EBITDA.

Year to Date Free Cash Flow

The decrease in free cash flow was primarily driven by an increase in capital expenditures and investments associated with the Company’s franchise development fund.

Company Declares Quarterly Dividend

The Company announced today the declaration of its regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share. The dividend is payable on December 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2025.

Share Repurchases

The Company repurchased 1.4 million shares for $14.0 million in the third quarter of 2025. As of October 30, approximately $35.0 million remained available under the Company’s existing share repurchase authorization that expires in February 2027.

2025 Outlook

The Company Reaffirms:

 

Global systemwide sales growth

     (5.0) to (3.0) percent  

Adjusted EBITDA

     $505 to $525 million  

Adjusted earnings per share

     $0.82 to $0.89  

Global net new unit growth

     2 to 3 percent  

The Company Now Expects:

 

    

Current

  

Previous

Capital expenditures and franchise development fund investments

   $135 to $145 million    $165 to $175 million

Free cash flow

   $195 to $210 million    $160 to $175 million

As previously disclosed, the Company modified its definition of free cash flow to reflect expenditures related to its franchise development fund beginning with its first quarter 2025 results.

Conference Call and Webcast Scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Today, November 7

The Company will host a conference call on Friday, November 7 at 8:30 a.m. ET, with a simultaneous webcast from the Company’s Investor Relations website at www.irwendys.com. The related presentation materials will also be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website. The live conference call will be available by telephone at (844) 200-6205 for domestic callers and (929) 526-1599 for international callers, both using event ID 182945. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website.

 

3


About Wendy’s

The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) and Wendy’s® franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide. Founded in 1969, Wendy’s is committed to the promise of Fresh Famous Food, Made Right, For You, delivered to customers through its craveable menu including made-to-order square hamburgers using fresh beef*, and fan favorites like the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and nuggets, Baconator®, and the Frosty® dessert. Wendy’s supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, established by its founder, which seeks to dramatically increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster care system. Learn more about Wendy’s at www.wendys.com. For details on franchising, visit www.wendys.com/franchising. Connect with Wendy’s on X, Instagram and Facebook.

*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S. and Alaska, as well as Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, the UK, and other select international markets.

Investor Contact:

Aaron Broholm

Head of Investor Relations

(614) 764-3345; aaron.broholm@wendys.com

Media Contact:

Heidi Schauer

Vice President – Communications, Public Affairs & Customer Care This release contains certain statements that are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”).

(614) 764-3368; heidi.schauer@wendys.com

 

4


Forward-Looking Statements

Generally, forward-looking statements include the words “may,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimate,” “goal,” “upcoming,” “outlook,” “guidance” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions. In addition, all statements that address future operating, financial or business performance, strategies or initiatives, future efficiencies or savings, anticipated costs or charges, future capitalization, anticipated impacts of recent or pending investments or transactions and statements expressing general views about future results or brand health are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s expectations at the time such statements are made, speak only as of the dates they are made and are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. For all such forward-looking statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. The Company’s actual results, performance and achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements.

Many important factors could affect the Company’s future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the impact of competition or poor customer experiences at Wendy’s restaurants; (2) adverse economic conditions or disruptions, including in regions with a high concentration of Wendy’s restaurants; (3) changes in discretionary consumer spending and consumer tastes and preferences; (4) impacts to the Company’s corporate reputation or the value and perception of the Company’s brand; (5) the Company’s ability to successfully implement strategic initiatives and business strategies, including its Project Fresh plan, as well as effectiveness of the Company’s marketing and advertising programs and new product development; (6) the Company’s ability to manage the impact of social or digital media; (7) the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property; (8) food safety events or health concerns involving the Company’s products; (9) our ability to deliver global sales growth and maintain or grow market share across our dayparts; (10) the Company’s ability to achieve its growth strategy through new restaurant development; (11) the Company’s ability to effectively manage the acquisition and disposition of restaurants or successfully implement other strategic initiatives; (12) risks associated with leasing and owning significant amounts of real estate, including environmental matters; (13) risks associated with the Company’s international operations, including the ability to execute its international growth strategy; (14) changes in commodity and other operating costs; (15) shortages or interruptions in the supply or distribution of the Company’s products and other risks associated with the Company’s independent supply chain purchasing co-op; (16) the impact of increased labor costs or labor shortages; (17) the continued succession and retention of key personnel and the effectiveness of the Company’s leadership and organizational structure; (18) risks associated with the Company’s digital commerce strategy, platforms and technologies, including its ability to adapt to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences; (19) the Company’s dependence on computer systems and information technology, including risks associated with the failure or interruption of its systems or technology or the occurrence of cyber incidents or deficiencies; (20) risks associated with the Company’s securitized financing facility and other debt agreements, including compliance with operational and financial covenants, restrictions on its ability to raise additional capital, the impact of its overall debt levels and the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its debt service obligations and operate its business; (21) risks associated with the Company’s capital allocation policy, including the amount and timing of equity and debt repurchases and dividend payments; (22) risks associated with complaints and litigation, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and an increased focus on environmental, social and governance issues; (23) risks associated with the availability and cost of insurance, changes in accounting standards, the recognition of impairment or other charges, changes in tax rates or tax laws and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (24) conditions beyond the Company’s control, such as adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, hostilities, social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics or other catastrophic events; (25) risks associated with the Company’s predominantly franchised business model; and (26) other risks and uncertainties cited in the Company’s releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those identified in the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and factors that the Company currently deems immaterial may become material, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect the Company.

 

5


The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by federal securities laws, although the Company may do so from time to time. The Company does not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.

Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial measures presented in this release in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release, including adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow.

The Company uses adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share as internal measures of business operating performance and as performance measures for benchmarking against the Company’s peers and competitors. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by the Company in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The Company believes its presentation of adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share provides a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of our current business and enables investors to better understand and evaluate our historical and prospective operating performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are important supplemental measures of operating performance because they eliminate items that vary from period to period without correlation to our core operating performance and highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. Due to the nature and/or size of the items being excluded, such items do not reflect future gains, losses, expenses or benefits and are not indicative of our future operating performance. The Company believes investors, analysts and other interested parties use adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted earnings per share in evaluating issuers, and the presentation of these measures facilitates a comparative assessment of the Company’s operating performance in addition to the Company’s performance based on GAAP results.

This release also includes disclosure regarding the Company’s free cash flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company as an internal measure of liquidity. Free cash flow is also used by the Company in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flows from operations minus (i) capital expenditures, (ii) expenditures related to the Company’s franchise development fund and (iii) the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities of the advertising funds and any excess/deficit of advertising funds revenue over advertising funds expense included in net income, as reported under GAAP. The impact of our advertising funds is excluded because the funds are used solely for advertising and are not available for the Company’s working capital needs. The Company may also make additional adjustments for certain non-recurring or unusual items to the extent identified in the reconciliation tables that accompany this release. The Company believes free cash flow is an important liquidity measure for investors and other interested persons because it communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing shares, paying dividends, repaying or refinancing debt, financing possible acquisitions or investments or other uses of cash.

Adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow are not recognized terms under GAAP, and the Company’s presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures does not replace the presentation of the Company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP. Because all companies do not calculate adjusted revenue, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, and free cash flow (and similarly titled financial measures) in the same way, those measures as used by other companies may not be consistent with the way the Company calculates such measures. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this release should not be construed as substitutes for or better indicators of the Company’s performance than the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. See the reconciliation tables that accompany this release for additional information regarding certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included herein.

In addition, this release includes forward-looking projections for certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow. The Company excludes certain expenses and benefits from adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow, such as the impact from our advertising funds, including the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities and any excess or deficit of advertising fund revenues over advertising fund expenses, impairment of long-lived assets, reorganization and realignment costs, system optimization gains, net, amortization of cloud computing arrangements, gain on early extinguishment of debt, net, and the timing and resolution of certain tax matters. Due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of those expenses and benefits, the Company is unable without unreasonable effort to provide projections of net income, earnings per share or net cash provided by operating activities, or a reconciliation of those projected measures.

 

6


Key Business Measures

The Company tracks its results of operations and manages its business using certain key business measures, including same-restaurant sales, systemwide sales and Company-operated restaurant margin, which are measures commonly used in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance.

Same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales each include sales by both Company-operated and franchise restaurants. The Company reports same-restaurant sales for new restaurants after they have been open for 15 continuous months and for reimaged restaurants as soon as they reopen. Restaurants temporarily closed for more than one fiscal week are excluded from same-restaurant sales.

Franchise restaurant sales are reported by our franchisees and represent their revenues from sales at franchised Wendy’s restaurants. Sales by franchise restaurants are not recorded as Company revenues and are not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. However, the Company’s royalty revenues are computed as percentages of sales made by Wendy’s franchisees and, as a result, sales by franchisees have a direct effect on the Company’s royalty revenues and profitability.

Same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales exclude sales from Argentina due to the highly inflationary economy of that country.

The Company calculates same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales growth on a constant currency basis. Constant currency results exclude the impact of foreign currency translation and are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. The Company believes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation provides better year over year comparability.

U.S. Company-operated restaurant margin is defined as sales from U.S. Company-operated restaurants less cost of sales divided by sales from U.S. Company-operated restaurants. Cost of sales includes food and paper, restaurant labor and occupancy, advertising and other operating costs. Cost of sales excludes certain costs that support restaurant operations that are not allocated to individual restaurants, which are included in “General and administrative.” Cost of sales also excludes depreciation and amortization expense and impairment of long-lived assets. Therefore, as restaurant margin as presented excludes certain costs as described above, its usefulness may be limited and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry.

 

7


The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     2024     2025     2024     2025  

Revenues:

        

Sales

   $ 230,403     $ 233,154     $ 693,081     $ 685,517  

Franchise royalty revenue

     132,601       127,812       394,599       381,720  

Franchise fees

     21,267       24,198       63,439       71,738  

Franchise rental income

     59,314       57,339       177,938       176,204  

Advertising funds revenue

     123,154       107,013       343,162       318,738  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     566,739       549,516       1,672,219       1,633,917  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

        

Cost of sales

     195,638       204,259       587,637       588,949  

Franchise support and other costs

     16,047       17,519       47,011       51,184  

Franchise rental expense

     32,237       30,941       96,405       94,272  

Advertising funds expense

     129,732       107,681       357,923       320,583  

General and administrative

     62,794       57,909       188,047       185,598  

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)

     36,996       38,393       110,006       111,932  

Amortization of cloud computing arrangements

     3,576       5,226       10,637       13,449  

System optimization gains, net

     (420     (29     (573     (326

Reorganization and realignment costs

     354       316       8,479       (202

Impairment of long-lived assets

     178       2,257       2,873       5,364  

Other operating income, net

     (5,068     (7,005     (11,564     (16,321
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     472,064       457,467       1,396,881       1,354,482  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit

     94,675       92,049       275,338       279,435  

Interest expense, net

     (31,270     (31,543     (92,800     (93,965

Investment income (loss), net

     —        —        11       (1,718

Other income, net

     6,246       2,730       19,382       10,301  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     69,651       63,236       201,931       194,053  

Provision for income taxes

     (19,427     (18,984     (55,071     (55,459
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 50,224     $ 44,252     $ 146,860     $ 138,594  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income per share:

        

Basic

   $ .25     $ .23     $ .72     $ .71  

Diluted

     .25       .23       .71       .71  

Number of shares used to calculate basic income per share

     203,264       190,794       204,518       194,462  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Number of shares used to calculate diluted income per share

     204,254       191,253       205,803       195,195  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

8


The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands Except Par Value)

(Unaudited)

 

     December 29,
2024
    September 28,
2025
 

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 450,512     $ 291,408  

Restricted cash

     34,481       34,346  

Accounts and notes receivable, net

     99,926       128,460  

Inventories

     6,529       6,935  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     45,563       55,114  

Advertising funds restricted assets

     99,129       124,593  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     736,140       640,856  

Properties

     907,787       923,513  

Finance lease assets

     244,954       302,331  

Operating lease assets

     679,777       660,709  

Goodwill

     771,468       774,784  

Other intangible assets

     1,192,264       1,177,436  

Investments

     29,006       25,851  

Net investment in sales-type and direct financing leases

     288,048       283,929  

Other assets

     185,399       186,766  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 5,034,843     $ 4,976,175  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 78,163     $ 425,336  

Current portion of finance lease liabilities

     22,509       25,921  

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

     50,068       51,223  

Accounts payable

     28,455       27,195  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     118,224       138,381  

Advertising funds restricted liabilities

     100,212       125,670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     397,631       793,726  

Long-term debt

     2,662,130       2,298,622  

Long-term finance lease liabilities

     575,363       637,459  

Long-term operating lease liabilities

     704,333       679,684  

Deferred income taxes

     263,420       291,336  

Deferred franchise fees

     88,387       87,964  

Other liabilities

     84,227       78,191  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,775,491       4,866,982  

Commitments and contingencies

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $0.10 par value; 1,500,000 shares authorized;
470,424 shares issued; 203,834 and 190,311 shares outstanding, respectively

     47,042       47,042  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,982,102       2,981,420  

Retained earnings

     399,700       435,290  

Common stock held in treasury, at cost; 266,590 and 280,113 shares, respectively

     (3,094,739     (3,287,119

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (74,753     (67,440
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     259,352       109,193  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 5,034,843     $ 4,976,175  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

9


The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Month Periods Ended September 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     2024     2025  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 146,860     $ 138,594  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of
cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)

     110,006       111,932  

Amortization of cloud computing arrangements

     10,637       13,449  

Share-based compensation

     18,491       9,770  

Impairment of long-lived assets

     2,873       5,364  

Deferred income tax

     (465     26,808  

Non-cash rental expense, net

     31,973       34,670  

Change in operating lease liabilities

     (36,461     (36,882

Net receipt of deferred vendor incentives

     1,449       6,568  

System optimization gains, net

     (573     (326

Distributions received from joint ventures, net of equity in earnings

     2,055       2,363  

Long-term debt-related activities, net

     5,609       5,602  

Cloud computing arrangements expenditures

     (10,583     (16,433

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other, net

     4,810       (26,216
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     286,681       275,263  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (52,361     (64,043

Franchise development fund

     (21,040     (23,096

Acquisitions

     —        (16,854

Dispositions

     3,222       1,485  

Notes receivable, net

     1,383       1,949  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (68,796     (100,559
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from long-term debt

     —        23,500  

Repayments of long-term debt

     (21,937     (30,437

Repayments of finance lease liabilities

     (15,421     (18,064

Repurchases of common stock

     (60,056     (200,766

Dividends

     (153,411     (102,954

Proceeds from stock option exercises

     4,651       1,916  

Payments related to tax withholding for share-based compensation

     (4,395     (2,827
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (250,569     (329,632
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operations before effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (32,684     (154,928

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (1,603     3,335  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

     (34,287     (151,593

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     588,816       503,608  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

   $ 554,529     $ 352,015  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

10


The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliations of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Revenues to Adjusted Revenues

Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     2024     2025     2024     2025  

Net income

   $ 50,224     $ 44,252     $ 146,860     $ 138,594  

Provision for income taxes

     19,427       18,984       55,071       55,459  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     69,651       63,236       201,931       194,053  

Other income, net

     (6,246     (2,730     (19,382     (10,301

Investment (income) loss, net

     —        —        (11     1,718  

Interest expense, net

     31,270       31,543       92,800       93,965  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating profit

     94,675       92,049       275,338       279,435  

Plus (less):

        

Advertising funds revenue

     (123,154     (107,013     (343,162     (318,738

Advertising funds expense (a)

     122,963       106,840       342,510       318,281  

Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of amortization of cloud computing arrangements shown separately below)

     36,996       38,393       110,006       111,932  

Amortization of cloud computing arrangements

     3,576       5,226       10,637       13,449  

System optimization gains, net

     (420     (29     (573     (326

Reorganization and realignment costs

     354       316       8,479       (202

Impairment of long-lived assets

     178       2,257       2,873       5,364  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 135,168     $ 138,039     $ 406,108     $ 409,195  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Revenues

   $ 566,739     $ 549,516     $ 1,672,219     $ 1,633,917  

Less:

        

Advertising funds revenue

     (123,154     (107,013     (343,162     (318,738
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted revenues

   $ 443,585     $ 442,503     $ 1,329,057     $ 1,315,179  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Excludes advertising funds expense of $6,599 and $14,773 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2024, respectively, and $191 and $533 for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2025, respectively, related to the Company’s funding of incremental advertising. In addition, excludes other international-related advertising deficit of $170 and $640 for the three and nine months ended months ended September 29, 2024, respectively, and $650 and $1,769 for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2025, respectively.

 

11


The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share to

Adjusted Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share

Three and Nine Month Periods Ended September 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     2024     2025     2024     2025  

Net income

   $ 50,224     $ 44,252     $ 146,860     $ 138,594  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Plus (less):

        

Advertising funds revenue

     (123,154     (107,013     (343,162     (318,738

Advertising funds expense (a)

     122,963       106,840       342,510       318,281  

System optimization gains, net

     (420     (29     (573     (326

Reorganization and realignment costs

     354       316       8,479       (202

Impairment of long-lived assets

     178       2,257       2,873       5,364  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments

     (79     2,371       10,127       4,379  

Income tax impact on adjustments (b)

     (5     (628     (2,253     (1,208
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total adjustments, net of income taxes

     (84     1,743       7,874       3,171  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted income

   $ 50,140     $ 45,995     $ 154,734     $ 141,765  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

   $ .25     $ .23     $ .71     $ .71  

Total adjustments per share, net of income taxes

     —        .01       .04       .02  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted earnings per share

   $ .25     $ .24     $ .75     $ .73  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Excludes advertising funds expense of $6,599 and $14,773 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2024, respectively, and $191 and $533 for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2025, respectively, related to the Company’s funding of incremental advertising. In addition, excludes other international-related advertising deficit of $170 and $640 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2024, respectively, and $650 and $1,769 for the three and nine months ended September 28, 2025, respectively.

(b)

Adjustments relate to the tax effect of non-GAAP adjustments, which were determined based on the nature of the underlying non-GAAP adjustments and their relevant jurisdictional tax rates.

 

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The Wendy’s Company and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

Nine Month Periods Ended September 29, 2024 and September 28, 2025

(In Thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     2024     2025  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 286,681     $ 275,263  

Plus (less):

    

Capital expenditures

     (52,361     (64,043

Franchise development fund

     (21,040     (23,096

Advertising funds impact (a)

     (244     7,481  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ 213,036     $ 195,605  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a)

Represents the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities of our advertising funds, which is included in “Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other, net,” and the excess of advertising funds expense over advertising funds revenue, which is included in “Net income.”

 

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