PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC - Quarter Report: 2017 September (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

☒Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 24, 2017

☐Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number: 0-21660

PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		61-1203323
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization)		number)

2002 Papa John’s Boulevard

Louisville, Kentucky 40299-2367

(Address of principal executive offices)

(502) 261-7272

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒		Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐		Smaller reporting company ☐
		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.☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

At October 24, 2017, there were outstanding 35,042,057 shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

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INDEX

		Page No.

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements

	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 24, 2017 and December 25, 2016	3

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income — Three and Nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016	4

	Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income — Three and Nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016	5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016	6

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	15

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	22

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	23

PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	24

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	24

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	24

Item 6.	Exhibits	25

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


	September 24,		December 25,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2017		2016
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	39,543	$	15,563
Accounts receivable, net		63,266		59,691
Notes receivable, net		3,829		3,417
Income taxes receivable		577		2,372
Inventories		28,369		25,132
Prepaid expenses		14,846		24,105
Other current assets		8,885		9,038
Assets held for sale		8,274		6,257
Total current assets		167,589		145,575
Property and equipment, net		236,812		230,473
Notes receivable, less current portion, net		10,921		10,141
Goodwill		86,825		85,529
Deferred income taxes		289		769
Other assets		48,492		40,078
Total assets	$	550,928	$	512,565

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	38,235	$	42,701
Income and other taxes payable		10,443		8,540
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		69,376		76,789
Current portion of long-term debt		20,000		—
Total current liabilities		138,054		128,030
Deferred revenue		2,987		3,313
Long-term debt, less current portion, net		378,548		299,820
Deferred income taxes		11,823		10,047
Other long-term liabilities		58,898		53,093
Total liabilities		590,310		494,303

Redeemable noncontrolling interests		6,434		8,461

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value per share; no shares issued)		—		—
Common stock ($0.01 par value per share; issued 44,214 at September 24, 2017 and 44,066 at December 25, 2016)		442		441
Additional paid-in capital		182,212		172,573
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,230)		(5,887)
Retained earnings		271,601		219,278
Treasury stock (8,905 shares at September 24, 2017 and 7,383 shares at December 25, 2016, at cost)		(509,323)		(390,316)
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit), net of noncontrolling interests		(59,298)		(3,911)
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		13,482		13,712
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)		(45,816)		9,801
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and stockholders’ equity (deficit)	$	550,928	$	512,565

See accompanying notes.

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Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,		September 24,		September 25,
(In thousands, except per share amounts)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Revenues:
Domestic Company-owned restaurant sales	$	196,267	$	199,041	$	605,919	$	608,968
North America franchise royalties and fees		25,567		24,776		79,762		76,554
North America commissary and other sales		178,083		169,684		539,532		503,623
International		31,792		28,941		90,540		84,856
Total revenues		431,709		422,442		1,315,753		1,274,001
Costs and expenses:
Operating costs (excluding depreciation and amortization shown separately below):
Domestic Company-owned restaurant expenses		161,867		161,750		489,719		486,529
North America commissary and other expenses		168,031		157,552		504,732		466,616
International expenses		19,785		18,594		57,257		53,936
General and administrative expenses		37,330		40,549		117,340		123,419
Depreciation and amortization		11,181		10,614		32,292		30,389
Total costs and expenses		398,194		389,059		1,201,340		1,160,889
Operating income		33,515		33,383		114,413		113,112
Net interest expense		(2,566)		(1,756)		(6,135)		(4,876)
Income before income taxes		30,949		31,627		108,278		108,236
Income tax expense		8,280		8,977		30,728		33,423
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests		22,669		22,650		77,550		74,813
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(852)		(1,183)		(3,767)		(4,623)
Net income attributable to the Company	$	21,817	$	21,467	$	73,783	$	70,190

Calculation of income for earnings per share:
Net income attributable to the Company	$	21,817	$	21,467	$	73,783	$	70,190
Change in noncontrolling interest redemption value		237		(157)		1,419		342
Net income attributable to participating securities		(89)		(87)		(305)		(288)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	21,965	$	21,223	$	74,897	$	70,244

Basic earnings per common share	$	0.61	$	0.57	$	2.05	$	1.88
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.60	$	0.57	$	2.02	$	1.86

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding		36,146		36,989		36,563		37,374
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		36,581		37,359		37,047		37,712

Dividends declared per common share	$	0.225	$	0.200	$	0.625	$	0.550

See accompanying notes.

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Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,		September 24,		September 25,
(In thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016

Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	$	22,669	$	22,650	$	77,550	$	74,813
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		2,894		(2,038)		4,315		(5,551)
Interest rate swaps (1)		641		210		(1,684)		(5,839)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		3,535		(1,828)		2,631		(11,390)
Income tax effect:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(1,071)		754		(1,597)		2,054
Interest rate swaps (2)		(237)		(78)		623		2,160
Income tax effect		(1,308)		676		(974)		4,214
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		2,227		(1,152)		1,657		(7,176)
Comprehensive income before attribution to noncontrolling interests		24,896		21,498		79,207		67,637
Less: comprehensive income, redeemable noncontrolling interests		(352)		(684)		(1,891)		(2,809)
Less: comprehensive income, nonredeemable noncontrolling interests		(500)		(499)		(1,876)		(1,814)
Comprehensive income attributable to the Company	$	24,044	$	20,315	$	75,440	$	63,014

(1)

Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net interest expense included $54 and $378 for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, and $296 and $924 for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016, respectively.

(2)

The income tax effects of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net interest expense were $20 and $140 for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, and $110 and $342 for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016, respectively.

See accompanying notes.

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Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,
(In thousands)	2017		2016
Operating activities
Net income before attribution to noncontrolling interests	$	77,550	$	74,813
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision (credit) for uncollectible accounts and notes receivable		(353)		153
Depreciation and amortization		32,292		30,389
Deferred income taxes		1,283		4,966
Stock-based compensation expense		8,094		7,525
Other		3,004		2,811
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		(5,131)		3,867
Income taxes receivable		1,795		5,045
Inventories		(3,234)		(2,673)
Prepaid expenses		9,262		4,755
Other current assets		(1,297)		872
Other assets and liabilities		(4,092)		(3,085)
Accounts payable		(2,480)		(6,290)
Income and other taxes payable		1,779		3,381
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(3,229)		(6,484)
Deferred revenue		(326)		1,411
Net cash provided by operating activities		114,917		121,456
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment		(43,195)		(38,954)
Loans issued		(2,376)		(2,216)
Repayments of loans issued		3,151		6,449
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(21)		(11,202)
Other		25		193
Net cash used in investing activities		(42,416)		(45,730)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of term loan		400,000		—
Net (repayments) proceeds of revolving credit facility		(300,575)		56,375
Debt issuance costs		(3,181)		—
Cash dividends paid		(22,886)		(20,523)
Tax payments for equity award issuances		(2,411)		(5,999)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		5,974		5,377
Acquisition of Company common stock		(121,705)		(109,407)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders		(4,606)		(3,830)
Other		580		481
Net cash used in financing activities		(48,810)		(77,526)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		289		(99)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		23,980		(1,899)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		15,563		21,006
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	39,543	$	19,107

See accompanying notes.

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Papa John’s International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

September 24, 2017

1.Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Papa John’s International, Inc. (referred to as the “Company”, “Papa John’s” or in the first person notations of “we”, “us” and “our”) for the year ended December 25, 2016.

2.Significant Accounting Policies

Noncontrolling Interests

Papa John’s has five joint venture arrangements in which there are noncontrolling interests held by third parties. These joint ventures include 222 restaurants at September 24, 2017 and 215 restaurants at September 25, 2016. Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, on September 25, 2017, the Company sold 25 Company-owned restaurants to a current 70% owned joint venture.

We are required to report the consolidated net income at amounts attributable to the Company and the noncontrolling interests. Additionally, disclosures are required to clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the Company and the interests of the noncontrolling owners, including a disclosure on the face of the condensed consolidated statements of income attributable to the noncontrolling interest holder.

The income before income taxes attributable to these joint ventures for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016 was as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,		September 24,		September 25,
	2017		2016		2017		2016

Papa John’s International, Inc.	$	1,469	$	1,879	$	6,172	$	7,168
Noncontrolling interests		852		1,183		3,767		4,623
Total income before income taxes	$	2,321	$	3,062	$	9,939	$	11,791

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The following summarizes the redemption feature, location and related accounting within the condensed consolidated balance sheets for these joint venture arrangements:



Type of Joint Venture Arrangement	Location within the Balance Sheets	Recorded Value

Joint venture with no redemption feature	Permanent equity	Carrying value
Option to require the Company to purchase the noncontrolling interest - currently redeemable	Temporary equity	Redemption value*
Option to require the Company to purchase the noncontrolling interest - not currently redeemable	Temporary equity	Carrying value

*The change in redemption value is recorded as an adjustment to “Redeemable noncontrolling interests” and “Retained earnings” in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Deferred Income Tax Accounts and Tax Reserves

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and several foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and the related assets and liabilities. The provision for income taxes includes income taxes paid, currently payable or receivable and those deferred. We use an estimated annual effective rate based on expected annual income to determine our quarterly provision for income taxes. Discrete items are recorded in the quarter in which they occur.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are also recognized for the estimated future effects of tax loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred taxes of changes in tax rates is recognized in the period in which the new tax rate is enacted. As a result, our effective tax rate may fluctuate. Valuation allowances are established when necessary on a jurisdictional basis to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts we expect to realize.

Tax authorities periodically audit the Company. We record reserves and related interest and penalties for identified exposures as income tax expense. We evaluate these issues on a quarterly basis to adjust for events, such as statute of limitations expirations, court or state rulings or audit settlements, which may impact our ultimate payment for such exposures.

Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures

The Company is required to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the price that would be received to sell the asset or paid to transfer the liability to a market participant. Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity specific measurement. The fair value of certain assets and liabilities approximates carrying value because of the short-term nature of the accounts, including cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable. The carrying value of our notes receivable net of allowances also approximates fair value. The fair value of the amount outstanding under our Credit Agreement and previous Credit Facility approximates its carrying value due to its variable market-based interest rate. These assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 1 as defined below.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are required to be classified and disclosed in one of the following categories:

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

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Our financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 24, 2017 and December 25, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):


	Carrying		Fair Value Measurements
	Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
September 24, 2017
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	27,254	$	27,254	$	—	$	—

Financial liabilities:
Interest rate swaps (b)		2,454		—		2,454		—

December 25, 2016
Financial assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies (a)	$	21,690	$	21,690	$	—	$	—

Financial liabilities:
Interest rate swaps (b)		770		—		770		—

(a)

Represents life insurance policies held in our non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

(b)

The fair value of our interest rate swaps are based on the sum of all future net present value cash flows. The future cash flows are derived based on the terms of our interest rate swaps, as well as considering published discount factors, and projected London Interbank Offered Rates (“LIBOR”).

Our assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of September 24, 2017 and December 25, 2016 include assets and liabilities held for sale. The fair value was determined using a discounted cash flow model with unobservable inputs (Level 3) less any estimated selling costs.

There were no transfers among levels within the fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended September 24, 2017.

Variable Interest Entity

Papa John’s domestic restaurants, both Company-owned and franchised, participate in Papa John’s Marketing Fund, Inc. (“PJMF”), a nonstock corporation designed to operate at break-even for the purpose of designing and administering advertising and promotional programs for all participating domestic restaurants. PJMF is a variable interest entity as it does not have sufficient equity to fund its operations without ongoing financial support and contributions from its members. Based on the ownership and governance structure and operating procedures of PJMF, we have determined that we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of PJMF and therefore are not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, consolidation of PJMF is not appropriate.

Accounting Standards Adopted

Employee Share-Based Payments

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016-09”). The guidance simplified the accounting and financial reporting of the income tax impact of stock-based compensation arrangements. This guidance requires excess tax benefits to be recorded as a discrete item within income tax expense rather than additional paid-in capital. In addition, excess tax benefits are required to be classified as cash from operating activities rather than cash from financing activities.

The Company adopted this guidance as of the beginning of fiscal 2017. The Company elected to apply the cash flow guidance of ASU 2016-09 retrospectively to all prior periods. The impact of retrospectively applying this guidance to the consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 25, 2016 was a $5.5 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities and a corresponding increase in net cash used in financing activities. The

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Company elected to continue to estimate forfeitures, as permitted by ASU 2016-09, rather than electing to account for forfeitures as they occur.

Accounting Standards to be Adopted in Future Periods

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases,” (“ASU 2016-02”), which amends leasing guidance by requiring companies to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all operating and capital leases (financing) with lease terms greater than twelve months. The lease liability will be equal to the present value of lease payments. The lease asset will be based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment, such as for initial direct costs. For income statement purposes, leases will continue to be classified as operating or capital (financing) with lease expense in both cases calculated substantially the same as under the prior leasing guidance. ASU 2016-02 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018 (fiscal 2019 for the Company), and early adoption is permitted. The Company has not yet determined the effect of the adoption on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. This update requires companies to recognize revenue at amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services at the time of transfer. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under existing guidance. Such areas may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Companies can either apply a full retrospective adoption or a modified retrospective adoption. In March and April 2016, the FASB issued the following amendments to clarify the implementation guidance: ASU 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net)” and ASU 2016-10, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing”.

We are required to adopt ASU 2014-09 in the first quarter of 2018. We do not expect the adoption will significantly impact our recognition of revenue from Company-owned restaurants, commissary sales or our continuing royalties or other fees from franchisees that are based on a percentage of the franchise sales. We are continuing to evaluate the impact on other transactions including our loyalty program (including a change to a deferred revenue approach from the incremental cost accrual model), the impact on local cooperative advertising funds (including a change to gross revenue and expense presentation from net presentation), and the timing of recognizing franchise and development fees. We expect to use the modified retrospective method of adoption.

Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (“ASU 2017-12”) which intends to better align an entity's risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships through changes to both the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and the presentation of hedge results. The amendment attempts to simplify the application of hedge accounting guidance. The pronouncement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We plan to early adopt this guidance in the fourth quarter of 2017; we do not anticipate the impact will be material to our consolidated financial statements.

3.Calculation of Earnings Per Share

We compute earnings per share using the two-class method. The two-class method requires an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common shareholders and participating security holders according to dividends declared and participating rights in undistributed earnings. We consider time-based restricted stock awards to

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be participating securities because holders of such shares have non-forfeitable dividend rights. Under the two-class method, undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities are subtracted from net income attributable to the Company in determining net income attributable to common shareholders.

Additionally, the change in the redemption value for the noncontrolling interest of one of our joint ventures increases or decreases income attributable to common shareholders.

The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per common share are as follows (in thousands, except per-share data):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,		September 24,		September 25,
	2017		2016		2017		2016

Basic earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to the Company	$	21,817	$	21,467	$	73,783	$	70,190
Change in noncontrolling interest redemption value		237		(157)		1,419		342
Net income attributable to participating securities		(89)		(87)		(305)		(288)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	21,965	$	21,223	$	74,897	$	70,244

Weighted average common shares outstanding		36,146		36,989		36,563		37,374
Basic earnings per common share	$	0.61	$	0.57	$	2.05	$	1.88

Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$	21,965	$	21,223	$	74,897	$	70,244

Weighted average common shares outstanding		36,146		36,989		36,563		37,374
Dilutive effect of outstanding equity awards (a)		435		370		484		338
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		36,581		37,359		37,047		37,712
Diluted earnings per common share	$	0.60	$	0.57	$	2.02	$	1.86

(a) Excludes 328 and 261 awards for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, and 22 and 598 awards for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016, respectively, as the effect of including such awards would have been antidilutive.

4.Acquisition of Restaurants

In the first quarter of 2016, we completed the acquisition of 20 franchised Papa John’s restaurants located in Alabama, Florida and Kentucky in two separate transactions with an aggregate purchase price of $11.2 million. These acquisitions were accounted for by the purchase method of accounting, whereby operating results subsequent to the acquisition date are included in our consolidated financial results.

The aggregate final purchase price of the 2016 acquisitions has been allocated as follows (in thousands):


Property and equipment	$	1,028
Franchise rights		1,230
Goodwill		8,837
Other		107
Total purchase price	$	11,202

The excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair value of net assets acquired was allocated to goodwill for the domestic Company-owned restaurants segment and is eligible for deduction over 15 years under U.S. tax regulations.

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5.Debt

Long-term debt, net consists of the following (in thousands):


		September 24,		December 25,
		2017		2016
Outstanding debt	$	400,000	$	300,575
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(1,452)		(755)
Current portion of long-term debt		(20,000)		-
Total long term debt, less current portion, net	$	378,548	$	299,820

Our outstanding debt of $300.6 million at December 25, 2016 represented amounts outstanding under a $500 million unsecured revolving line of credit (“previous Credit Facility”) with an expiration date of October 31, 2019. The interest rate charged on outstanding balances was LIBOR plus 75 to 175 basis points. The commitment fee on the unused balance ranged from 15 to 25 basis points.

On August 30, 2017, we entered into a new Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) replacing the previous Credit Facility. This Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $600.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”) and an unsecured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility” and together with the Revolving Facility, the “Facilities”). Additionally, we have the option to increase the Revolving Facility or the Term Loan Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $300.0 million, subject to certain conditions. Our outstanding debt as of September 24, 2017 under the Facilities was $400.0 million, which was comprised entirely of principal amounts due under the Term Loan Facility. Including outstanding letters of credit, the remaining availability under the Facilities was approximately $569.2 million as of September 24, 2017. In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company capitalized $3.2 million of debt issuance costs, which are being amortized into interest expense, over the term of the Facilities. Debt issuance costs attributable to the Term Loan of approximately $1.5 million were netted against debt and the remaining amounts attributable to the Revolving Facility were reported in other long term assets.

Loans under the Facilities accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 75 to 200 basis points or a base rate (generally determined by a prime rate, federal funds rate or a LIBOR rate plus 1.00%) plus a margin ranging from 0 to 100 basis points. In each case, the actual margin is determined according to a ratio of the Company’s total indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA“) for the then most recently ended four quarter period (the “Leverage Ratio”). An unused commitment fee at a rate ranging from 15 to 30 basis points per annum, determined according to the Leverage Ratio, applies to the unutilized commitments under the Revolving Facility. Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty, subject to customary breakage costs in the case of borrowings for which a LIBOR rate election is in effect. Up to $35.0 million of the Revolving Facility may be advanced in certain agreed foreign currencies, including Euros, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Yen, and Mexican Pesos.

The Facilities mature on August 30, 2022. Quarterly amortization payments are required to be made on the Term Loan Facility in the amount of $5.0 million beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017. The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain direct and indirect material subsidiaries of the Company.

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including financial covenants requiring the maintenance of specified fixed charges and leverage ratios. At September 24, 2017, we were in compliance with these covenants.

We attempt to minimize interest risk exposure by fixing our rate through the utilization of interest rate swaps, which are derivative financial instruments. Our swaps are entered into with financial institutions that participate in our Credit Agreement. By using a derivative instrument to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, we expose ourselves to credit risk. Credit risk is due to the possible failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract.

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As of September 24, 2017, we have the following interest rate swap agreements, including three forward starting swaps executed in 2015 that become effective in 2018 upon expiration of the two existing swaps for $125 million:


Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt			Fixed Rates
July 30, 2013 through April 30, 2018	$	75	million	1.42	%
December 30, 2014 through April 30, 2018	$	50	million	1.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	55	million	2.33	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35	million	2.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35	million	2.34	%

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, in October 2017, we executed the following additional interest rate swaps for $275 million, which are forward starting swaps that become effective in 2018.

Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt			Fixed Rates
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	100	million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75	million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75	million	2.00	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	25	million	1.99	%

The weighted average interest rates on our debt, including the impact of the interest rate swap agreements, were 2.7% and 2.4% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, and 2.1% for both the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016. Interest paid, including payments made or received under the swaps, was $2.0 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively, and $5.9 million and $5.3 million for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively. As of September 24, 2017, the portion of the aggregate $2.5 million interest rate swap liability that would be reclassified into earnings during the next twelve months as interest expense approximates $210,000.

6.Segment Information

We have five reportable segments: domestic Company-owned restaurants, North America commissaries, North America franchising, international operations and “all other” units. The domestic Company-owned restaurant segment consists of the operations of all domestic (“domestic” is defined as contiguous United States) Company-owned restaurants and derives its revenues principally from retail sales of pizza and side items, including breadsticks, cheesesticks, chicken poppers and wings, dessert items and canned or bottled beverages. The North America commissary segment consists of the operations of our regional dough production and product distribution centers and derives its revenues principally from the sale and distribution of food and paper products to domestic Company-owned and franchised restaurants in the United States and Canada. The North America franchising segment consists of our franchise sales and support activities and derives its revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and collection of royalties from our franchisees located in the United States and Canada. The international operations segment principally consists of Company-owned restaurants in China and distribution sales to franchised Papa John’s restaurants located in the United Kingdom, Mexico and China and our franchise sales and support activities, which derive revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and the collection of royalties from our international franchisees. International franchisees are defined as all franchise operations outside of the United States and Canada. All other business units that do not meet the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments, which are not operating segments, we refer to as our “all other” segment, which consists of operations that derive revenues from the sale, principally to Company-owned and franchised restaurants, of printing and promotional items, and information systems and related services used in restaurant operations, including our point-of-sale system, online and other technology-based ordering platforms.

Generally, we evaluate performance and allocate resources based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes and intercompany eliminations. Certain administrative and capital costs are allocated to segments based upon predetermined rates or actual estimated resource usage. We account for intercompany sales and transfers as if the sales or transfers were to third parties and eliminate the activity in consolidation.

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Our reportable segments are business units that provide different products or services. Separate management of each segment is required because each business unit is subject to different operational issues and strategies. No single external customer accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues.

Our segment information is as follows (in thousands):


(In thousands)
	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,		September 24,		September 25,
	2017		2016		2017		2016

Revenues from external customers:
Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	196,267	$	199,041	$	605,919	$	608,968
North America commissaries		164,028		155,208		495,427		462,057
North America franchising		25,567		24,776		79,762		76,554
International		31,792		28,941		90,540		84,856
All others		14,055		14,476		44,105		41,566
Total revenues from external customers	$	431,709	$	422,442	$	1,315,753	$	1,274,001

Intersegment revenues:
North America commissaries	$	60,364	$	59,811	$	181,302	$	175,859
North America franchising		709		688		2,224		2,140
International		71		64		202		196
All others		3,716		4,129		12,826		12,301
Total intersegment revenues	$	64,860	$	64,692	$	196,554	$	190,496

Income (loss) before income taxes:
Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	8,449	$	11,576	$	39,486	$	47,088
North America commissaries		10,087		11,311		34,418		34,539
North America franchising		22,858		21,856		71,732		67,881
International		3,909		3,083		11,518		8,996
All others		9		392		(135)		868
Unallocated corporate expenses		(14,336)		(16,360)		(48,294)		(49,771)
Elimination of intersegment profit and losses		(27)		(231)		(447)		(1,365)
Total income before income taxes	$	30,949	$	31,627	$	108,278	$	108,236

Property and equipment:
Domestic Company-owned restaurants	$	231,543
North America commissaries		136,270
International		18,246
All others		56,794
Unallocated corporate assets		188,631
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(394,672)
Net property and equipment	$	236,812

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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Papa John’s International, Inc. (referred to as the “Company,” “Papa John’s” or in the first person notations of “we,” “us” and “our”) began operations in 1984. As of September 24, 2017, there were 5,101 Papa John’s restaurants (742 Company-owned and 4,359 franchised) operating in all 50 states and 43 international countries and territories. Our revenues are principally derived from retail sales of pizza and other food and beverage products to the general public by Company-owned restaurants, franchise royalties, sales of franchise and development rights, sales to franchisees of food and paper products, printing and promotional items, and information systems and related services used in their operations.

The results of operations are based on the preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to select accounting policies for critical accounting areas and make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. Significant changes in assumptions and/or conditions in our critical accounting policies could materially impact our operating results. See “Notes 1 and 2” of “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” for a discussion of the basis of presentation and the significant accounting policies.

Restaurant Progression


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 24, 2017		September 25, 2016		September 24, 2017		September 25, 2016

North America Company-owned:
Beginning of period		705		734		702		707
Opened		2		3		4		10
Closed		(2)		(1)		(2)		(1)
Acquired		—		—		1		20
End of period		705		736		705		736
International Company-owned:
Beginning of period		39		42		42		45
Closed		(2)		—		(5)		(3)
End of period		37		42		37		42
North America franchised:
Beginning of period		2,723		2,668		2,739		2,681
Opened		30		25		73		66
Closed		(17)		(18)		(75)		(52)
Divested		—		—		(1)		(20)
End of period		2,736		2,675		2,736		2,675
International franchised:
Beginning of period		1,621		1,491		1,614		1,460
Opened		52		47		139		117
Closed		(50)		(20)		(130)		(59)
End of period		1,623		1,518		1,623		1,518
Total restaurants - end of period		5,101		4,971		5,101		4,971

The 2017 International franchise closures include 33 India closures in the third quarter and 66 India closures for the nine months ended. As of the end of the third quarter of 2017, the India market was closed, which had no significant impact on our operating results.

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Results of Operations

Review of Consolidated Operating Results

Revenues. Domestic Company-owned restaurant sales decreased $2.8 million, or 1.4% and $3.0 million, or 0.5% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively. These decreases were primarily due to a reduction of 4.1% and 3.3% in equivalent units for the three and nine month periods, respectively, from the refranchising of 42 restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2016. This was somewhat offset by increases of 1.7% and 2.3% in comparable sales for the three and nine month periods, respectively. “Comparable sales” represents the change in year-over-year sales for the same base of restaurants for the same fiscal periods. “Equivalent units” represents the number of restaurants open at the beginning of a given period, adjusted for restaurants opened, closed, acquired or sold during the period on a weighted average basis.

North America franchise royalties and fees increased approximately $800,000, or 3.2% and $3.2 million, or 4.2% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, primarily due to comparable sales increases of 0.7% and 1.2% for the three and nine months, respectively, and equivalent units increases of 2.5% for both the three and nine month periods primarily due to the refranchising of 42 restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2016.

North America franchise restaurant sales increased 3.6% to $544.5 million and 3.8% to $1.7 billion for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively. The increases are primarily due to the increases in comparable sales and equivalent units noted above. North America franchise restaurant sales are not included in Company revenues; however, our North America franchise royalties are derived from these sales.

North America commissary and other sales increased $8.4 million or 4.9% and increased $35.9 million, or 7.1% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively. The increases were primarily due to higher commissary sales from increases in volumes. The nine months ended September 24, 2017 also include higher sales from commodity price increases.

International revenues increased $2.9 million, or 9.9% and $5.7 million, or 6.7%, for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively. The increases were primarily due to a higher number of franchised restaurants and comparable sales of 5.3% and 5.0% for the three and nine month periods, respectively, calculated on a constant dollar basis. For the nine month period, these increases were somewhat offset by lower China company-owned restaurant revenues due to fewer restaurants. The unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates was approximately $300,000 and $5.9 million on international revenues for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, which was primarily attributable to our operations in the United Kingdom (“UK”).

International franchise restaurant sales increased 14.4% to $188.8 million and 13.4% to $545.8 million in the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, due to higher comparable sales and an increase in equivalent units. International franchise restaurant sales are not included in Company revenues; however, our international royalty revenue is derived from these sales.

Costs and expenses. The operating margin for domestic Company-owned restaurants was 17.5% and 19.2% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, compared to 18.7% and 20.1% in the corresponding 2016 periods, and consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):


	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 24, 2017			September 25, 2016			September 24, 2017			September 25, 2016

Restaurant sales	$	196,267		$	199,041		$	605,919		$	608,968

Cost of sales		45,781	23.3%		45,768	23.0%		138,895	22.9%		139,298	22.9%
Other operating expenses		116,086	59.1%		115,982	58.3%		350,824	57.9%		347,231	57.0%
Total expenses	$	161,867	82.5%	$	161,750	81.3%	$	489,719	80.8%	$	486,529	79.9%

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Margin

34,400

17.5%

37,291

18.7%

116,200

19.2%

122,439

20.1%

Domestic Company-owned restaurants margin, as a percentage of restaurant sales, decreased 1.2% and 0.9% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively. The margin decrease for the three and nine months was primarily attributable to higher delivery costs, including higher non-owned automobile insurance costs.

North America commissary and other operating margins were 5.6% and 6.5% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, compared to 7.1% and 7.3% for the corresponding 2016 periods and consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):


		Three months ended
	September 24, 2017							September 25, 2016
	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %
North America commissary	$	164,028	$	155,572	$	8,456	5.2%	$	155,208	$	144,704	$	10,504	6.8%
All others		14,055		12,459		1,596	11.4%		14,476		12,848		1,628	11.2%
North America commissary and other	$	178,083	$	168,031	$	10,052	5.6%	$	169,684	$	157,552	$	12,132	7.1%

		Nine months ended
		September 24, 2017							September 25, 2016
	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %
North America commissary	$	495,427	$	465,001	$	30,426	6.1%	$	462,057	$	428,893	$	33,164	7.2%
All others		44,105		39,731		4,374	9.9%		41,566		37,723		3,843	9.2%
North America commissary and other	$	539,532	$	504,732	$	34,800	6.5%	$	503,623	$	466,616	$	37,007	7.3%

North America commissary operating margins were 1.6% and 1.1% lower for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, primarily due to start-up and higher operating costs related to our new commissary in Georgia that opened in the third quarter of 2017.

The international operating margins were 37.8% and 36.8% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, compared to 35.8% and 36.4% for the corresponding 2016 periods and consisted of the following (dollars in thousands):


	Three months ended
	September 24, 2017								September 25, 2016
	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %
Franchise royalties and fees	$	8,756	$	-	$	8,756		$	7,749	$	-	$	7,749
Restaurant, commissary and other		23,036		19,785		3,251	14.1%		21,192		18,594		2,598	12.3%
Total international	$	31,792	$	19,785	$	12,007	37.8%	$	28,941	$	18,594	$	10,347	35.8%

		Nine months ended
		September 24, 2017							September 25, 2016
	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %	Revenues		Expenses		Margin $		Margin %
Franchise royalties and fees	$	24,887	$	-	$	24,887		$	22,014	$	-	$	22,014
Restaurant, commissary and other		65,653		57,257		8,396	12.8%		62,842		53,936		8,906	14.2%
Total international	$	90,540	$	57,257	$	33,283	36.8%	$	84,856	$	53,936	$	30,920	36.4%

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The increases in international operating margins of 2.0% and 0.4% for the three and nine month periods, respectively, were due to higher franchise royalties due to an increase in the number of restaurants and comparable sales of 5.3% and 5.0% for the three and nine month periods, respectively. For the three month period, the International margin also increased due to the 2016 results including a non-recurring expense of approximately $800,000 to record UK head lease arrangements on a straight line basis.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses were $37.3 million, or 8.6% of revenues for the three months ended September 24, 2017 compared to $40.5 million, or 9.6% of revenues for the same period in 2016. G&A expenses were $117.3 million, or 8.9% of revenues for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $123.4 million, or 9.7% of revenues for the same period in 2016. The decreases of $3.2 million and $6.1 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively, were primarily due to lower management incentive costs and lower restaurant supervisor bonuses.

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization was $11.2 million, or 2.6% of revenues for the three months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $10.6 million, or 2.5% of revenues for the same period in 2016, and $32.3 million, or 2.5% of revenues for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $30.4 million, or 2.4% of revenues for the same period in 2016.

Net interest expense. Net interest expense increased approximately $800,000 and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, primarily due to higher interest rates on higher average outstanding debt balances.

Total income before income taxes. Total income before income taxes decreased approximately $700,000, or 2.1% for the three months ended September 24, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, and was flat for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016.

Income tax expense. The effective income tax rates were 26.8% and 28.4% for the three and nine months ended September 24, 2017, respectively, representing decreases of 1.6% and 2.5% from the prior year comparable periods, respectively. During the third quarter of 2017, the decrease in the effective tax rates was primarily attributable to a reduction in required state and local income tax reserves. 2017 also includes the favorable impact of adopting the new guidance for share-based compensation. This guidance requires excess tax benefits recognized on stock based awards to be recorded as a reduction of income tax expense rather than equity. The impact of this adoption decreased our effective tax rate by 0.5% and 1.8% for the three and nine month periods, respectively.

Diluted earnings per share. Diluted earnings per share increased 5.3% to $0.60 for the three months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $0.57 in the corresponding prior year period. Diluted earnings per share increased 8.6% to $2.02 for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $1.86 in the corresponding prior year period. These increases were primarily due to increases in net income attributable to common shareholders and decreases in shares outstanding from share repurchases. Diluted earnings per share was also favorably impacted by the adoption of the new guidance for accounting for share-based compensation by approximately $0.05 for the nine months ended September 24, 2017; the impact for the three month period was not significant. Excluding the impact of this adoption, diluted earnings per share would have increased 5.9% for the nine months ended September 24, 2017.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Debt

Our outstanding debt of $300.6 million at December 25, 2016 represented amounts outstanding under a $500 million unsecured revolving line of credit (“previous Credit Facility”) with a maturity date of October 31, 2019. The interest rate charged on outstanding balances was LIBOR plus 75 to 175 basis points. The commitment fee on the unused balance ranged from 15 to 25 basis points

On August 30, 2017, we entered into a new Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) replacing the previous Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of

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$600.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”) and an unsecured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility” and together with the Revolving Facility, the “Facilities”). Our outstanding balance was $400.0 million as of September 24, 2017, all under the Term Loan Facility.

Loans under the Facilities accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to, at the Company’s election, either a LIBOR rate plus a margin ranging from 75 to 200 basis points or a base rate (generally determined by a prime rate, federal funds rate or a LIBOR rate plus 1.00%) plus a margin ranging from 0 to 100 basis points. In each case, the actual margin is determined according to a ratio of the Company’s total indebtedness to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) for the then most recently ended four quarter period (the “Leverage Ratio”). An unused commitment fee at a rate ranging from 15 to 30 basis points per annum, determined according to the Leverage Ratio, applies to the unutilized commitments under the Revolving Facility. Loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement may be prepaid at any time without premium or penalty, subject to customary breakage costs in the case of borrowings for which a LIBOR rate election is in effect. Up to $35.0 million of the Revolving Facility may be advanced in certain agreed foreign currencies, including Euros, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Yen, and Mexican Pesos. The remaining availability under the Credit Facility, reduced for outstanding letters of credit, was approximately $569.2 million as of September 24, 2017. In connection with the new Credit agreement, the Company capitalized $3.2 million of debt issuance costs, which are being amortized into interest expense, over the term of the Facilities.


Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt		Fixed Rates
July 30, 2013 through April 30, 2018	$	75 million	1.42	%
December 30, 2014 through April 30, 2018	$	50 million	1.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	55 million	2.33	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35 million	2.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35 million	2.34	%

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, in October 2017, we executed the following additional interest rate swaps for $275 million, which are forward starting swaps that become effective in 2018.

Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt		Fixed Rates
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	100 million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75 million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75 million	2.00	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	25 million	1.99	%

Our Credit Agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants, including the following financial covenants, as defined by the Credit Agreement:


		Actual Ratio for the
		Quarter Ended
	Permitted Ratio	September 24, 2017
Leverage Ratio	Not to exceed 4.5 to 1.0	2.0 to 1.0

Interest Coverage Ratio	Not less than 2.75 to 1.0	4.8 to 1.0

As stated above, our leverage ratio is defined as outstanding debt divided by consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarters. The Leverage Ratio permitted by the Credit Agreement will decrease over time to 3.75 to 1.00. Our interest coverage ratio is defined as the sum of consolidated EBITDA and consolidated rental expense for the most recent four fiscal quarters divided by the sum of consolidated interest expense and consolidated rental expense for the most recent four fiscal quarters. We were in compliance with all covenants as of September 24, 2017.

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Cash Flows

Cash flow provided by operating activities was $114.9 million for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $121.5 million for the same period in 2016. The decrease of approximately $6.6 million was primarily due to unfavorable changes in working capital, partially offset by higher net income.

Our free cash flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, was as follows for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016 (in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended
	September 24,		September 25,
	2017		2016

Net cash provided by operating activities	$	114,917	$	121,456
Purchases of property and equipment		(43,195)		(38,954)
Free cash flow (a)	$	71,722	$	82,502

(a)

Free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as net cash provided by operating activities (from the consolidated statements of cash flows) less the purchases of property and equipment. We view free cash flow as an important liquidity measure because it is one factor that management uses in determining the amount of cash available for investment, however, it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures. Free cash flow is not a term defined by GAAP and as a result our measure of free cash flow might not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Free cash flow should not be construed as a substitute for or a better indicator of our liquidity than the Company’s GAAP measures.

Cash flow used in investing activities was $42.4 million for the nine months ended September 24, 2017, compared to $45.7 million for the same period in 2016, or a decrease of $3.3 million. The nine month period in 2016 included the acquisition of 20 restaurants from franchisees in the first quarter of that year. The nine month period in 2017 included the construction costs for our new domestic commissary in Georgia, which opened in July of this year.

We also require capital for share repurchases and the payment of cash dividends, which are funded by cash flow from operations and borrowings from our Credit Agreement. We had net proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $99.4 million and $56.4 million for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively. These proceeds were partially offset by repurchases of $121.7 million and $109.4 million of common stock for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively. Subsequent to September 24, 2017, through October 24, 2017, we repurchased an additional $29.7 million of common stock. Approximately $485.9 million of the Company’s share repurchase authorization was remaining as of October 24, 2017.

The Company expects to repurchase the remaining authorization by early to mid-2019. The timing and volume of share repurchases may be executed at the discretion of management on an opportunistic basis, or pursuant to trading plans or other arrangements. Any share repurchase under this program may be made in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, and may depend upon prevailing market conditions and other factors. The Company expects to implement an accelerated share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of 2017 for a portion of the share repurchase authorization. Repurchases under the Company’s share repurchase program may be commenced or suspended from time to time at the Company’s discretion without prior notice.

We paid cash dividends of $22.9 million ($0.625 per common share) and $20.5 million ($0.55 per common share) for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively. Subsequent to the third quarter on October 27, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.225 per common share (approximately $7.9 million based on current shareholders of record). The dividend will be paid on November 17, 2017 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 7, 2017. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to the Company’s financial results, cash requirements, and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

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Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this report, including information within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Generally, the use of words such as “expect,” “intend”, “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “will,” “forecast,” “plan,” “project,” or similar words identify forward-looking statements that we intend to be included within the safe harbor protections provided by the federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements may relate to projections or guidance concerning business performance, revenue, earnings, cash flow, contingent liabilities, resolution of litigation, commodity costs, profit margins, unit growth, unit level performance, capital expenditures, other financial and operational measures and our plans to increase our existing credit facility or enter into new debt facilities to finance the increased capital return program. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

aggressive changes in pricing or other marketing or promotional strategies by competitors, which may adversely affect sales and profitability; and new product and concept developments by food industry competitors;

changes in consumer preferences or consumer buying habits, including changes in general economic conditions or other factors that may affect consumer confidence and discretionary spending;

changes in our liquidity or changes in the debt markets in general, including adverse changes in interest rates, and our ability to meet debt service requirements;

the adverse impact on the company or our results caused by product recalls, food quality or safety issues, incidences of foodborne illness, food contamination and other general public health concerns about our company-owned or franchised restaurants or others in the restaurant industry;

failure to maintain our brand strength, quality reputation and consumer enthusiasm for our better ingredients marketing and advertising strategy;

the ability of the company and its franchisees to meet planned growth targets and operate new and existing restaurants profitably, including difficulties finding qualified franchisees, store level employees or suitable sites;

increases in food costs or sustained higher other operating costs. This could include increased employee compensation, benefits, insurance, tax rates, new regulatory requirements or increasing compliance costs;

increases in insurance claims and related costs for programs funded by the company up to certain retention limits, including medical, owned and non-owned automobiles, workers’ compensation, general liability and property;

disruption of our supply chain or commissary operations which could be caused by our sole source of supply of cheese or limited source of suppliers for other key ingredients or more generally due to weather, natural disasters including drought, disease, or geopolitical or other disruptions beyond our control;

increased risks associated with our international operations, including economic and political conditions, instability or uncertainty in our international markets, especially emerging markets, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, difficulty in meeting planned sales targets and new store growth;

the impact of current or future claims and litigation, including labor and employment-related claims;

current, proposed or future legislation that could impact our business;

failure to effectively execute succession planning, and our reliance on the multiple roles of our founder, chairman and chief executive officer, who also serves as our brand spokesperson;

disruption of critical business or information technology systems, or those of our suppliers, and risks associated with systems failures and data privacy and security breaches, including theft of confidential company, employee and customer information, including payment cards; and

changes in GAAP, including new standards for accounting for share-based compensation that may result in changes to our net income.

For a discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, refer to “Part I. Item 1A. – Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016, as well as subsequent filings. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future events, new information or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk

Our outstanding debt of $300.6 million at December 25, 2016 represented amounts outstanding under the $500 million unsecured revolving line of credit (“previous Credit Facility”) with a maturity date of October 31, 2019. The interest rate charged on outstanding balances was LIBOR plus 75 to 175 basis points. The commitment fee on the unused balance ranged from 15 to 25 basis points.

On August 30, 2017, we entered into a new Credit Agreement (“the Credit Agreement”) replacing the previous Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $600.0 million (the “Revolving Facility”) and an unsecured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million (the “Term Loan Facility” and together with the Revolving Facility, the “Facilities”). Our outstanding balance was $400.0 million as of September 24, 2017, all under the Term Loan Facility. In connection with the new Credit Agreement, the Company capitalized $3.2 million of debt issuance costs, which are being amortized into interest expense, over the term of the Facilities.

We attempt to minimize interest risk exposure by fixing our rate through the utilization of interest rate swaps, which are derivative financial instruments. Our swaps are entered into with financial institutions that participate in our Credit Agreement. By using a derivative instrument to hedge exposures to changes in interest rates, we expose ourselves to credit risk. Credit risk is the failure of the counterparty to perform under the terms of the derivative contract.


Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt		Fixed Rates
July 30, 2013 through April 30, 2018	$	75 million	1.42	%
December 30, 2014 through April 30, 2018	$	50 million	1.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	55 million	2.33	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35 million	2.36	%
April 30, 2018 through April 30, 2023	$	35 million	2.34	%

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, in October 2017, we executed the following additional interest rate swaps for $275 million, which are forward starting swaps that become effective in 2018.

Effective Dates	Floating Rate Debt		Fixed Rates
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	100 million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75 million	1.99	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	75 million	2.00	%
January 30, 2018 through August 30, 2022	$	25 million	1.99	%

The weighted average interest rate on the debt, including the impact of the interest rate swap agreements, was 2.4% as of September 24, 2017. An increase in the present interest rate of 100 basis points on the debt balance outstanding as of September 24, 2017, including the impact of the interest rate swaps, would increase annual interest expense by $2.8 million.

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Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations from our operations outside of the United States, which can adversely impact our revenues, net income and cash flows. Our international operations principally consist of Company-owned restaurants in China and distribution sales to franchised Papa John’s restaurants located in the United Kingdom, Mexico and China and our franchise sales and support activities, which derive revenues from sales of franchise and development rights and the collection of royalties from our international franchisees. For each of the periods presented, between 6% and 7% of our revenues were derived from these operations.

We have not historically hedged our exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations had a negative impact on our revenues of approximately $300,000 and $3.7 million for the three months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively, and $5.9 million and $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 24, 2017 and September 25, 2016, respectively. Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations had no significant impact on income before income taxes for the three and nine month periods ended September 24, 2017. Foreign currency exchange rates had a negative impact on our income before income taxes of $400,000 and $1.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 25, 2016, respectively.

The referendum in the United Kingdom, known as Brexit, the outcome of which was a vote to leave the European Union has resulted in exchange rate fluctuations. The future impact of Brexit on our franchise operations included in the European Union could also include but may not be limited to additional currency volatility and future trade, tariff, and regulatory changes. As of September 24, 2017, six of our 43 international country operations are included in the European Union.

Commodity Price Risk

In the ordinary course of business, the food and paper products we purchase, including cheese (our largest individual food cost item), are subject to seasonal fluctuations, weather, availability, demand and other factors that are beyond our control. We have pricing agreements with some of our vendors, including forward pricing agreements for a portion of our cheese purchases for our domestic Company-owned restaurants, which are accounted for as normal purchases; however, we still remain exposed to on-going commodity volatility.

The following table presents the actual average block price for cheese by quarter through the third quarter of 2017 and the projected average block price for cheese for the fourth quarter of 2017 (based on the October 24, 2017 Chicago Mercantile Exchange cheese futures market prices):


	2017			2016
	Projected			Actual
	Block Price			Block Price

Quarter 1	$	1.613		$	1.473
Quarter 2		1.566			1.405
Quarter 3		1.642			1.691
Quarter 4		1.672			1.610
Full Year	$	1.623	*	$	1.545

*The full year estimate is based on futures prices and does not include the impact of forward pricing agreements we have for a portion of our cheese purchases for our domestic Company-owned restaurants. Additionally, the price charged to restaurants can vary somewhat by quarter from the actual block price based upon our monthly pricing mechanism.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon this evaluation, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

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During the most recently completed fiscal quarter, there was no change made in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in a number of lawsuits, claims, investigations and proceedings consisting of intellectual property, employment, consumer, commercial and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 450, “Contingencies”, the Company has made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. We review these provisions at least quarterly and adjust these provisions to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular case.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Our Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $2.075 billion of common stock under a share repurchase program that began on December 9, 1999 and expires on February 27, 2019. This includes an additional $500 million authorized on July 27, 2017. Through September 24, 2017, a total of 111.1 million shares with an aggregate cost of $1.6 billion and an average price of $14.03 per share have been repurchased under this program. Subsequent to September 24, 2017, through October 24, 2017, we acquired an additional 418,000 shares at an aggregate cost of $29.7 million. As of October 24, 2017, approximately $485.9 million remained available for repurchase of common stock under this authorization.

The following table summarizes our repurchases by fiscal period during the three months ended September 24, 2017 (in thousands, except per-share amounts):


				Total Number	Maximum Dollar
	Total	Average		of Shares Purchased	Value of Shares
	Number	Price		as Part of Publicly	that May Yet Be
	of Shares	Paid per		Announced Plans	Purchased Under the
Fiscal Period	Purchased	Share		or Programs	Plans or Programs

6/26/2017 - 7/23/2017	153	$	73.97	110,175	$	591,966
7/24/2017 - 8/20/2017	367	$	77.34	110,542	$	563,620
8/21/2017 - 9/24/2017	632	$	75.94	111,174	$	515,596

The Company utilizes a written trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act from time to time to facilitate the repurchase of shares of our common stock under this share repurchase program. There can be no assurance that we will repurchase shares of our common stock either through a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan or otherwise.

During the fiscal quarter ended September 24, 2017, the Company acquired approximately 1,800 shares of its common stock from employees to satisfy minimum tax withholding obligations that arose upon (i) vesting of restricted stock granted pursuant to approved plans and (ii) distribution of shares of common stock issued pursuant to deferred compensation obligations.

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Item 6. Exhibits

Exhibit
Number		Description


10.1		Credit Agreement, dated August 30, 2017, by and among Papa John’s International, Inc., as borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lending institutions that are parties thereto, as Lenders. Exhibit 10.1 to our Report on Form 8-K as filed on August 30, 2017 is incorporated herein by reference.
31.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), As Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1		Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101		Financial statements from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Papa John’s International, Inc. for the quarter ended September 24, 2017, filed on October 31, 2017, formatted in XBRL: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

		PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		(Registrant)


Date: October 31, 2017		/s/ Lance F. Tucker
		Lance F. Tucker
		Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
		and Chief Administrative Officer