ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our performance during the fiscal year, we believe our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this annual report as indexed on page F-1.
Comparisons under this heading refer to the 52-week periods ended September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, respectively. Our MD&A consists of the following sections:
•Overview — a general description of our business.
•Results of Operations — an analysis of our consolidated statements of earnings for fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023.
•Liquidity and Capital Resources — an analysis of our cash flows, including capital expenditures, share repurchase activity, dividends, and known trends that may impact liquidity.
•Critical Accounting Estimates — a discussion of accounting policies that require critical judgments and estimates.
•New accounting pronouncements — a discussion of new accounting pronouncements, dates of implementation and the impact on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, if any.
•Cautionary statements regarding forward-looking statements — a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by management.
We have included in our MD&A certain performance metrics that management uses to assess company performance and which we believe will be useful in analyzing and understanding our results of operations. These metrics include:
•Changes in sales at restaurants open more than one year (“same-store sales”), system restaurant sales, franchised restaurant sales, and average unit volumes (“AUVs”). Same-store sales, restaurant sales, and AUVs are presented for franchised restaurants. Franchise sales represent sales at franchise restaurants and are revenues of our franchisees. We do not record franchise sales as revenues; however, our royalty revenues and percentage rent revenues are calculated based on a percentage of franchise sales. We believe franchise and system same-store sales, franchised and system-wide sales,and AUV information are useful to investors as they have a direct effect on the Company’s profitability.
Same-store sales, system restaurant sales, franchised restaurant sales and AUVs are not measurements determined in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered in isolation, or as an alternative to earnings from operations, or other similarly titled measures of other companies.
A comparison of our results of operations and cash flows for fiscal 2023 compared to fiscal 2022 can be found under Part II, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023.
OVERVIEW
Our Business
Founded in 1951, Jack in the Box Inc. (the “Company”) operates and franchises Jack in the Box® quick-service restaurants. As of September 29, 2024, we operated and franchised 2,191 Jack in the Box quick-service restaurants, primarily in the western and southern United States, including two in Mexico and two in Guam.
On March 8, 2022, we completed the acquisition of Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (“Del Taco”). Founded in 1964, Del Taco offers a unique variety of both Mexican and American favorites such as burritos and fries. Del Taco is the nation’s second largest Mexican quick service restaurant chain by number of restaurants and as of September 29, 2024 has 594 restaurants across 17 states.
We derive revenue from retail sales at company-operated restaurants and rental revenue, royalties (based upon a percent of sales), franchise fees and contributions for advertising and other services from franchisees.
Refranchising of Del Taco
In fiscal year 2024, we continued on our refranchising strategy with three main intentions. First, to create a company-wide asset-light model that will benefit from mitigating exposure to macroeconomic pressures; second, to generate incremental development agreements throughout the refranchising process that provide a more robust unit growth pipeline than otherwise achievable; and third, to provide a more efficient capital structure. Our objective is to be asset-light as we navigate market forces. We refranchised 47 Del Taco restaurants in fiscal year 2024, and added 42 new development commitments as a result of the refranchising effort.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR FISCAL 2024 AND 2023
The following tables summarize changes in same-store sales for Jack in the Box and Del Taco company-operated, franchised, and system restaurants:
Franchise (1.5) % 7.1 %
Company (1.3) % 2.0 %
Franchise (1.6) % 1.4 %
The following tables summarize changes in the number and mix of company and franchise restaurants for our two brands:
Jack in the Box: Company Franchise Total Company Franchise Total
Refranchised — — — (5) 5 —
Del Taco: Company Franchise Total Company Franchise Total
Acquired from franchisees 10 (10) — — — —
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(1)The restaurant count includes 6 cloud kitchens as of the end of fiscal year 2024.
The following tables summarize restaurant sales for company-operated, franchised, and systemwide sales for our two brands (in thousands):
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(1)Franchised restaurant sales represent sales at franchised restaurants and are revenues of our franchisees. Systemwide sales include company and franchised restaurant sales. We do not record franchised sales as revenues; however, our royalty revenues, marketing fees and percentage rent revenues are calculated based on a percentage of franchised sales. We believe franchised and systemwide sales information is useful to investors as they have a direct effect on the Company's profitability.
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Jack in the Box Brand
Company Restaurant Operations
The following table presents company restaurant sales and costs as a percentage of the related sales (dollars in thousands):
Company restaurant costs:
Company restaurant sales increased $13.3 million, or 3.2%, in 2024 as compared with the prior year due to an increase in the average number of restaurants, as well as an increase in average check. The following table presents the approximate impact of these items on company restaurant sales in 2024 (in millions):
AUV increase $ 0.9
Increase in the average number of restaurants 12.3
Total change in company restaurant sales $ 13.3
Same-store sales at company-operated restaurants remained the same in 2024 compared to a year ago. The following table summarizes the changes in company-operated same-store sales:
Transactions (3.4) %
Average check (1) 3.4 %
Change in same-store sales 0.0 %
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(1)Includes price increases of 7.4% in 2024.
Food and packaging costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, decreased to 29.5% in 2024 from 31.6% a year ago, primarily due to a 2.0% impact from pricing leverage and 0.2% from commodity deflation, partially offset by 0.2% unfavorable menu item mix.
Commodity costs decreased in the current fiscal year by approximately 0.7%. The greatest impacts were seen in produce, beef, and poultry.
Payroll and employee benefit costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, increased to 31.5% in 2024 compared with 30.8% a year ago primarily due to a 0.7% impact from wage inflation of approximately 6.9%, and an increase in group insurance, which were partially offset by a decrease in incentive compensation. New regulations, such as AB 1228, which went into effect April 2024, have raised labor costs, particularly given our high concentration of restaurants in California.
Occupancy and other costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, increased to 17.3% in 2024 from 16.7% a year ago primarily due to higher security costs, credit card fees and other operating costs, partially offset by lower maintenance and repair. costs.
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Jack in the Box Franchise Operations
The following table presents franchise revenues and costs in each fiscal year and other information we believe is useful in analyzing the change in franchise operating results (dollars in thousands):
Franchise contributions for advertising and other services 217,757 215,990
Franchise advertising and other services expenses 225,465 227,868
Franchise costs as a percentage of total franchise revenues 59.1 % 58.1 %
Average number of franchise restaurants 2,037 2,035
Royalties as a percentage of total franchise restaurant sales (1) 5.0 % 5.2 %
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(1) Excluding the impact of the $7.3 million termination fee in the first quarter of the prior year, royalties as a percentage of total franchised restaurant sales would be 5.0% for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023.
Franchise rental revenues decreased $4.1 million, or 1.2%, in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in percentage rent of $8.5 million, driven by lower sales, partially offset by increases in minimum rent of $3.3 million and an increase of $2.5 million related to franchise lease terminations.
Franchise royalties and other decreased $8.9 million, or 4.2%, mainly in connection with a $7.3 million termination fee paid by a franchise operator who sold his restaurants to a new franchisee in the prior year, as well as lower royalty income driven by lower sales.
Franchise contributions for advertising and other services increased $1.8 million, or 0.8%, primarily due to increases in digital and technology fees of $3.5 million, partially offset by lower marketing contributions of $2.0 million in connection with lower franchise same store sales of 1.5%.
Franchise occupancy expenses, mainly rent, increased $1.0 million, or 0.5% in 2024, primarily due to higher operating lease costs.
Franchise support and other costs increased $2.7 million, or 26.4% in 2024, mainly related to a $2.0 million increase in bad debt expense due to a rollover of a bad debt reversal in the prior year, as well as higher operating costs in connection with digital fees and brand standard audits.
Franchise advertising and other service expenses decreased $2.4 million, or 1.1% in 2024 primarily due to lower marketing contributions resulting from a decrease in franchise sales.
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Del Taco Brand
Company Restaurant Operations
The following table presents company restaurant sales and costs as a percentage of the related sales (dollars in thousands):
Company restaurant costs:
Company restaurant sales decreased $150.6 million or 34.8%, in 2024 as compared with the prior year primarily due to the refranchising of 47 company-operated restaurants and the closing of 4 company-operated restaurants in fiscal 2024, as well as a decrease in same store sales compared to the prior year.
The following table presents the approximate impact of these items on company restaurant sales (in millions):
AUV decrease $ (6.1)
Decrease in the average number of restaurants (144.1)
Other (0.4)
Total change in company restaurant sales $ (150.6)
Same-store sales at company-operated restaurants decreased 1.3% in 2024 compared to a year ago. The following table summarizes the increases (decreases) in company-operated same-store sales:
Average check (1) 4.2 %
Transactions (5.5) %
Change in same-store sales (1.3) %
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(1)Includes price increases of approximately 7.3% in 2024.
Food and packaging costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, decreased to 26.0% in 2024 from 27.7% a year ago primarily due to a 1.9% benefit from pricing leverage.
Commodity costs inflation was 0.2% in 2024. The largest sources of inflation in the current year were due to dairy and beverages, and was partially offset by favorability in pork, oil, eggs and cheese.
Payroll and employee benefit costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, increased to 36.7% in 2024 compared with 34.0% a year ago primarily due to a 2.2% impact from labor inflation. Labor inflation was 9.7% in the current year. Additional regulations, such as AB 1228, which went into effect April 2024, have raised labor costs, particularly given our high concentration of restaurants in California.
Occupancy and other costs, as a percentage of company restaurant sales, increased to 23.3% in 2024 from 21.7% a year ago primarily due to higher rent and operating expenses including utilities and information technology costs, partially offset by a change in the mix of restaurants due to refranchising.
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Del Taco Franchise Operations
The following table presents franchise revenues and costs in each period and other information we believe is useful in analyzing the change in franchise operating results (dollars in thousands):
Franchise contributions for advertising and other services 30,915 24,933
Franchise support and other costs 4,551 2,259
Franchise advertising and other services expenses 33,667 25,666
Franchise costs as a percentage of total franchise revenues 72.0 % 63.7 %
Average number of franchise restaurants 429 344
Franchised restaurant AUVs $ 1,573 $ 1,574
Royalties as a percentage of total franchised restaurant sales 4.7 % 4.7 %
Franchise rental revenues increased $14.9 million, or 111.9% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher rental income of $11.0 million resulting from new subleases related to the 142 restaurants refranchised since the second quarter of 2023 and the 11 franchise-operated restaurants opened in fiscal 2024.
Franchise royalties and other increased $6.6 million, or 25.0% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher franchise restaurant sales resulting from the 142 restaurants refranchised since the second quarter of 2023 and the 11 franchise-operated restaurants opened in fiscal 2024.
Franchise contributions for advertising and other services revenues increased $6.0 million, or 24.0% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher marketing contributions related to higher franchise restaurant sales resulting from the 142 restaurants refranchised since the second quarter of 2023 and the 11 franchise-operated restaurants opened in fiscal 2024.
Franchise occupancy expenses, primarily rent, increased $14.8 million, or 112.5% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher rent related to franchise subleases for the 142 restaurants refranchised since the second quarter of 2023 and the 11 franchise-operated restaurants opened in fiscal 2024.
Franchise support and other costs increased $2.3 million, or 101.5% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher franchise development support costs, as well as additional overhead costs.
Franchise advertising and other service expenses increased $8.0 million, or 31.2% in 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to higher franchise restaurant sales resulting from the 142 restaurants refranchised since the second quarter of 2023 and the 11 franchise-operated restaurants opened in fiscal 2024.
Company-Wide Results
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization decreased $2.5 million in 2024 as compared with the prior year. The decreases in depreciation are primarily due to the refranchising of Del Taco restaurants since the prior year, as well as certain Jack in the Box franchise assets becoming fully depreciated. These decreases were partially offset by increases for new technology assets and new company restaurant openings.
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Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses
The following table presents the amounts for SG&A expenses in each fiscal year (in thousands):
Cash surrender value of COLI policies, net (14,390) (5,953)
Advertising costs represent company contributions to our marketing funds and are generally determined as a percentage of company-operated restaurant sales. Advertising costs decreased $3.8 million compared to the prior year primarily due to a decrease in company-operated restaurant sales in the current year which was primarily driven by Del Taco refranchising.
Share-based compensation in 2024 increased by $2.3 million compared to the prior year primarily due to a higher number of executive stock awards outstanding compared to the prior year.
Incentive compensation in 2024 decreased by $10.4 million compared to the prior year primarily due to lower achievement levels compared to the prior year for the Company’s annual incentive plan.
The cash surrender value of our Company-owned life insurance (“COLI”) policies, net of changes in our non-qualified deferred compensation obligation supported by these policies, are subject to market fluctuations. The changes in market values had a favorable impact of $8.4 million as compared to the prior year.
Litigation matters in 2024 decreased by $5.2 million as compared to the prior year due to the timing of litigation developments in each fiscal year. In fiscal 2023, we recorded litigation charges of $8.3 million for Gessele vs. Jack in the Box Inc., partially offset by a $1.6 million reversal in connection with the J&D Restaurant Group legal matter based on the Court’s final ruling. Refer to Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Insurance costs in 2024 decreased $2.8 million as compared to the prior year primarily due to positive development factors related to workers compensation and general liability claims.
Pre-Opening Costs
Pre-opening costs associated with the opening of a new restaurant or the remodeling of an existing restaurant consist primarily of property rent and employee training costs. Pre-opening costs associated with the opening of a restaurant that was closed upon acquisition consist of labor costs, maintenance and repair costs, and property rent.
Goodwill Impairment
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company identified triggering events that indicated the goodwill allocated to the Del Taco reporting unit might be impaired. The triggering events related to i) a recent negative trend in Del Taco same store sales, ii) lower margins due in part to lower sales and wage increases required in California effective April 1, 2024 under AB 1228 and iii) unfavorable changes in the economic environment specifically impacting our industry, including inflation and interest rates. As a result, the Company performed a quantitative test over the Del Taco reporting unit, noting that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than the carrying value, which resulted in an impairment of goodwill of $162.6 million.
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Other Operating Expense, Net
Other operating expense, net is comprised of the following (in thousands):
Integration and strategic initiatives $ 15,631 $ 9,112
Costs of closed restaurants and other 2,975 4,786
Restaurant impairment charges 8,008 4,569
Accelerated depreciation 699 541
Gains on acquisition of restaurants (2,702) —
Losses (gains) on disposition of property and equipment, net 185 (8,171)
Other operating expense, net increased $14.0 million in 2024 versus the prior year primarily due to the decrease in gains on disposition of property and equipment of $8.4 million due to gains recognized in the prior year from a sale of Jack in the Box restaurant properties to franchisees who were leasing the properties from us prior to the sale. The change was also impacted by the increase in integration and strategic initiatives of $6.5 million in the current year, as well as an increase in restaurant impairment charges of $3.4 million relating to under-performing Jack in the Box and Del Taco restaurants. Refer also to Note 9, Other Operating Expense, Net, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Gains on the Sale of Company-Operated Restaurants
In 2024, gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants totaled $3.3 million and were related to the refranchising of 47 Del Taco restaurants. In the prior year, gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants totaled $18.0 million and were related to the refranchising of 111 Del Taco restaurants and five Jack in the Box restaurants. Refer to Note 4, Summary of Refranchisings and Franchise Acquisitions, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Other Pension and Post-Retirement Expenses, Net
Our policy is to fund our pension plans at or above the minimum required by law. As of the date of our last actuarial funding valuation, there was no minimum requirement. We do not anticipate making any contributions to our Qualified Plan in fiscal 2025. For additional information, refer to Note 12, Retirement Plans, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net, is comprised of the following (in thousands):
Interest expense, net, decreased $2.4 million in 2024. The interest expense portion decreased by $2.5 million primarily due to lower average borrowings, as well as lower average interest rates.
Income Taxes
For fiscal year 2024, the Company recorded income tax provisions of $32.4 million resulting in effective tax rate of negative 748.9%. The effective tax rate for such period differed from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the impairment of non-deductible goodwill partially offset by the reversal of state deferred tax liabilities on basis difference of investments in subsidiaries and non-taxable gains from the market performance of insurance products used to fund certain non-qualified retirement plans.
For fiscal year 2023, the Company recorded income tax provisions of $58.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 30.9%. The effective tax rate for such period differed from the U.S. statutory tax rate primarily due to the impact of non-deductible goodwill related to the sale of company-operated restaurants partially offset by non-taxable gains from the market performance of insurance products used to fund certain non-qualified retirement plans.
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
General
Our primary sources of short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resources are cash flows from operations and borrowings available under our credit facilities. Our cash requirements consist principally of working capital, general corporate needs, capital expenditures, income tax payments, debt service requirements, franchise tenant improvement allowance and incentive distributions, dividend payments, and obligations related to our benefit plans. We generally use available cash flows from operations to invest in our business, service our debt obligations, pay dividends and repurchase shares of our common stock.
As of September 29, 2024, the Company had $54.2 million of cash and restricted cash on its consolidated balance sheet and available borrowings of $169.5 million under our $150.0 million Variable Funding Notes and our $75.0 million revolving credit facility. The Company continually assesses the optimal sources and uses of cash for our business. We review our balance sheet for any undervalued assets and pursue opportunities for capital sources, including the sale of our owned Jack in the Box properties and refranchising, primarily for Del Taco in the near term.
Based upon current levels of operations and anticipated growth, we expect that cash flows from operations, combined with our securitized financing facility and revolving credit facility, will be sufficient to meet our capital expenditure, working capital and debt service requirements for at least the next twelve months and the foreseeable future.
Cash Flows
The table below summarizes our cash flows for each of the last two fiscal years (in thousands):
Total cash provided by (used in):
Operating Activities. Operating cash flows decreased $146.2 million compared with a year ago. This decrease is primarily due to an unfavorable change in working capital of $156.1 million, partially offset by higher net income, when adjusted for non-cash items, of $9.9 million. The change in working capital is primarily a result of the payment of income taxes liabilities of $111.9 million (of which $50.3 million was a payment deferred from 2023 in connection with the Southern California winter storm disaster area declaration), an increase in bonus payout, an increase in deferred rent accrual and an increase in the advertising accruals.
Pension and Postretirement Contributions — Our policy is to fund our pension plans at or above the minimum required by law. As of the date of our last actuarial funding valuation for our qualified pension plan, there was no minimum contribution funding requirement. In 2024 and 2023, we contributed $5.9 million and $6.2 million, respectively, to our pension and postretirement plans. We do not anticipate making any contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plan in fiscal 2025. For additional information, refer to Note 12, Retirement Plans, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
Investing Activities.Cash flows used in investing activities increased $111.6 million from 2024 compared to 2023. This increase was primarily due to $65.8 million of additional cash received in 2023 from the sale of Del Taco company-owned restaurants to franchisees, and an increase of $40.5 million for amounts used for the purchase of property and equipment.
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Capital Expenditures— The composition of capital expenditures in each fiscal year is summarized in the table below (in thousands):
Restaurants:
Purchases of assets intended for sale and leaseback 26,455 14,960
Corporate Services:
In 2024, capital expenditures increased by $40.5 million compared to a year ago, primarily due to an increase in information technology for both restaurant and corporate of $16.2 million, new restaurant openings of $14.4 million, and an increase in the purchases of Jack in the Box restaurant properties intended for sale and leaseback of $11.5 million.
Sale and Sale-leaseback Transactions — To optimize our balance sheet and capital structure, we use sales and leaseback financing and provide our franchisees the opportunity to purchase the property that we currently lease to them.
In 2024, we completed one sales-leaseback transaction involving a restaurant property with proceeds of $1.7 million and completed the sale of properties to franchisees and other third parties during the year with proceeds of $25.0 million.
Financing Activities. Cash flows used in financing activities decreased by $76.2 million compared with a year ago, primarily as a result of a decrease in net borrowings of $56.2 million and a $20.0 million decrease in share repurchases compared with a year ago.
Repurchases of Common Stock— In fiscal 2024, the Company repurchased 1.1 million shares of its common stock for an aggregate cost of $70.6 million, including applicable excise tax. As of September 29, 2024, there was $180.0 million remaining under share repurchase programs authorized by the Board of Directors which do not expire.
Dividends — In fiscal 2024, the Board of Directors declared four quarterly cash dividends of $0.44 per share, totaling $34.2 million. Future dividends are subject to approval by our Board of Directors.
Securitized Refinancing Transaction —On February 11, 2022, the Company completed the sale of $550.0 million of its Series 2022-1 3.445% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-I (the “Class A-2-I Notes”) and $550.0 million of its Series 2022-1 4.136% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes, Class A-2-II (the “Class A-2-II” and, together with the Class A-2-I Notes, the “2022 Notes”). Interest payments on the 2022 Notes are payable on a quarterly basis. The anticipated repayment dates of the Class A-2-I Notes and the Class A-2-II Notes will be February 2027 and February 2032, respectively, unless earlier prepaid to the extent permitted.
In 2022, the Company also entered into a revolving financing facility of Series 2022-1 Variable Funding Senior Secured Notes (the “Variable Funding Notes”), which permits borrowings up to a maximum of $150.0 million, subject to certain borrowing conditions, a portion of which may be used to issue letters of credit. As of September 29, 2024, we had $6.0 million of outstanding borrowings and had available borrowing capacity of $94.5 million under our 2022 Variable Funding Notes, net of letters of credits issued of $49.5 million.
The net proceeds from the sale of the 2022 Notes were used to repay in full $570.7 million in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Company’s Series 2019-1 Class A-2-I Notes, together with the applicable make-whole premium and unpaid interest, and was used to fund a portion of the Company’s acquisition of Del Taco Restaurants, Inc.
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The 2022 Notes were issued in a privately placed securitization transaction pursuant to which certain of the Company’s revenue-generating assets, consisting principally of franchise-related agreements, real estate assets, and intellectual property and license agreements for the use of intellectual property, are held by the Master Issuer and certain other limited-purpose, bankruptcy remote, wholly owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company that act as Guarantors of the Notes and that have pledged substantially all of their assets, excluding certain real estate assets and subject to certain limitations, to secure the Notes. The 2022 Notes are subject to the same covenants and restrictions as the Series 2019-1 Notes.
The quarterly principal payment on the Class A-2 Notes may be suspended when the specified leverage ratio, which is a measure of outstanding debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, adjusted for certain items (as defined in the Indenture), is less than or equal to 5.0x. Exceeding the leverage ratio of 5.0x does not violate any covenant related to the Class A-2 Notes.
Restricted Cash — In accordance with the terms of the Indenture, certain cash accounts have been established with the Indenture trustee for the benefit of the note holders and are restricted in their use. As of September 29, 2024, the Master Issuer had restricted cash of $29.4 million, which primarily represented cash collections and cash reserves held by the trustee to be used for payments of interest and commitment fees required for the Class A-2 Notes and Variable Funding Notes.
Covenants and Restrictions— The Notes are subject to a series of covenants and restrictions customary for transactions of this type, including (i) that the Master Issuer maintains specified reserve accounts to be used to make required payments in respect of the Notes, (ii) provisions relating to optional and mandatory prepayments and the related payment of specified amounts, including specified make-whole payments in the case of the Class A-2 Notes under certain circumstances, (iii) certain indemnification payments in the event, among other things, the assets pledged as collateral for the Notes are in stated ways defective or ineffective and (iv) covenants relating to recordkeeping, access to information and similar matters. The Notes are also subject to customary rapid amortization events provided for in the Indenture, including events tied to failure to maintain stated debt service coverage ratios, the sum of gross sales for specified restaurants being below certain levels on certain measurement dates, certain manager termination events, an event of default, and the failure to repay or refinance the Class A-2 Notes on the applicable scheduled maturity date. The Notes are also subject to certain customary events of default, including events relating to non-payment of required interest, principal, or other amounts due on or with respect to the Notes, failure to comply with covenants within certain time frames, certain bankruptcy events, breaches of specified representations and warranties, failure of security interests to be effective, and certain judgments. As of September 29, 2024, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenant requirements and were not subject to any rapid amortization events.
Contractual Obligations
Our cash requirements greater than twelve months from contractual obligations and commitments include:
Debt Obligations and Interest Payments — Refer to Note 7, Indebtedness, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information of our obligations and the timing of expected payments.
Operating and Finance Leases — Refer to Note 8, Leases, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information of our obligations and the timing of expected payments.
Purchase Commitments — Purchase obligations includes non-cancelable purchase commitments related to information technology agreements and volume commitments for beverage products. Refer to Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, for further detail of our obligations and the timing of expected future payments.
Benefit Obligations — Refer to Note 12, Retirement Plans, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further information regarding our obligations and the timing of expected payments under our non-qualified defined benefit plan and postretirement healthcare plans.
DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
We have identified the following as our most critical accounting estimates, which are those that are most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and that require management’s most subjective and complex judgments. Information regarding our other significant accounting estimates and policies are disclosed in Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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Long-Lived Assets — We review our long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are grouped for recognition and measurement of impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. The impairment test for long-lived assets requires us to assess the recoverability of long-lived asset groups by comparing their net carrying value to the sum of undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to be generated through leases and/or subleases or by our individual company-operated restaurants. If the carrying amount of a long-lived asset group exceeds the sum of related undiscounted future cash flows, we recognize an impairment loss by the amount that the carrying value of the assets exceeds fair value. Our estimates of cash flows used to assess impairment are subject to a high degree of judgment and may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, changes in our business plans, operating performance, and economic conditions.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets — We evaluate goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment in the third quarter of each year, or more frequently, if indicators of impairment are present. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment by determining whether the fair value of our reporting units exceed their carrying values. Our reporting units are our two restaurant brands, Jack in the Box and Del Taco.
Our impairment analyses first include a qualitative assessment to determine whether events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value. Significant factors considered in this assessment include, but are not limited to, macro-economic conditions, market and industry conditions, cost considerations, the competitive environment, share price fluctuations, overall financial performance, and results of past impairment tests. If the qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying value, we perform a quantitative impairment test.
In performing a quantitative test for impairment of goodwill, we primarily use the income approach method of valuation that includes the discounted cash flow method and the market approach that includes the guideline public company method to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. Significant assumptions made by management to estimate fair value under the discounted cash flow method include future cash flow assumptions, which may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, economic conditions, or changes in operating performance. The discount rate is our estimate of the required rate of return that a third-party buyer would expect to receive when purchasing a business from us that constitutes a reporting unit. We believe the discount rate is commensurate with the risk and uncertainty inherent in the forecasted cash flows. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the guideline public company method include the selection of guideline companies and the valuation multiples applied.
In the process of a quantitative test, if necessary, of the Del Taco trademark intangible asset, we primarily use the relief from royalty method under the income approach method of valuation. Significant assumptions used to determine fair value under the relief from royalty method include future trends in sales, a royalty rate, an estimated income tax rate, and a discount rate to be applied to the forecast revenue stream.
Self-Insurance — We are self-insured for a portion of our losses related to workers’ compensation, general liability and other legal claims, and health benefits. In estimating our self-insurance accruals, we utilize independent actuarial estimates of expected losses and assumptions related to the loss development factors, which are based on statistical analysis of historical data. These assumptions are closely monitored and adjusted when warranted by changing circumstances. Should a greater number of claims occur compared to what was estimated, or should medical costs increase beyond what was expected, accruals might not be sufficient, and additional expense may be recorded.
Legal Accruals — The Company is subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of its business. A determination of the amount accrued, if any, for these contingencies is made after analysis of each matter. We continually evaluate such accruals and may increase or decrease accrued amounts as we deem appropriate. Because lawsuits are inherently unpredictable, and unfavorable resolutions could occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgment about future events. As a result, the amount of ultimate loss may differ from those estimates.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the impact of new accounting pronouncements on our consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk — We would be exposed to interest rate risk on borrowings under our $150.0 million Variable Funding Notes and our $75.0 million revolving credit facility. As of September 29, 2024, we had $6.0 million of outstanding variable rate borrowings.
39
Commodity Price Risk —The Company is also exposed to the impact of commodity and utility price fluctuations. Many of the ingredients we use are commodities or ingredients that are affected by the price of other commodities, weather, seasonality, production, availability, and various other factors outside our control. In order to minimize the impact of fluctuations in price and availability, we monitor the primary commodities we purchase and may enter into purchasing contracts and pricing arrangements when considered to be advantageous. However, certain commodities remain subject to price fluctuations. We are exposed to the impact of utility price fluctuations related to unpredictable factors such as weather and various other market conditions outside our control. Our ability to recover increased costs for commodities and utilities through higher prices is limited by the competitive environment in which we operate.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements, related financial information, and the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm required to be filed are indexed on page F-1 and are incorporated herein.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
a.Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Based on an evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended September 29, 2024, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively) have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
b.Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
c.Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions; (2) provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with appropriate authorizations; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
Management, under the oversight of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and Audit Committee, assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2024. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in 2013 by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Management has concluded that, as of September 29, 2024, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective, at a reasonable assurance level, based on these criteria.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, which follows.
40
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Jack in the Box Inc.:
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Jack in the Box Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, cash flows and stockholders’ deficit for each of the fifty-two week periods ended September 29, 2024, October 1, 2023 and October 2, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated November 20, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
San Diego, California
November 20, 2024
41
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
During the last fiscal quarter, no director or officer of the Company adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
On August 16, 2024, the Company adopted a Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $15.0 million. This Rule10b5-1 trading arrangement subsequently terminated on September 27, 2024.
ITEM 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the captions “Election of Directors,” “Director Qualifications and Biographical Information,” and “Committees of the Board” to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after September 29, 2024 and to be used in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
Information regarding our executive officers is set forth in Part I of this Report under the caption “Information about our Executive Officers.”
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Committees of the Board - Audit Committee,” relating to the members of the Company’s Audit Committee and the members of the Audit Committee who qualify as financial experts, is also incorporated herein by reference.
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Stockholder Recommendations and Board Nominations,” relating to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend candidates for director to the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors, is also incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a Code of Ethics, which applies to all Jack in the Box Inc. directors, officers, and employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Controller, and all of the financial team. The Code of Ethics is posted on the Company’s corporate website, www.jackintheboxinc.com (under the “Investors — Governance — Governance Documents — Code of Conduct” caption) and is available in print free of charge to any stockholder upon request. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement regarding any amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of the Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Controller or persons performing similar functions, by posting such information on our corporate website. No such waivers have been issued during fiscal 2024.
We have also adopted a set of Corporate Governance Principles and Practices for our Board of Directors and charters for all of our Board Committees, including the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance Committees. The Corporate Governance Principles and Practices and committee charters are available on our corporate website at www.jackintheboxinc.com and in print free of charge to any shareholder who requests them. Written requests for our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Principles and Practices and committee charters should be addressed to Jack in the Box Inc., 9357 Spectrum Center Blvd., San Diego, California 92123, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Executive Compensation,” “Director Compensation and Stock Ownership Requirements,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation,” and “Compensation Committee Report” to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after September 29, 2024 and to be used in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after September 29, 2024 and to be used in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is hereby incorporated by reference. Information regarding equity compensation plans under which Company common stock may be issued as of September 29, 2024 is set forth in Item 5 of this Report.
42
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Directors’ Independence,” if any, to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after September 29, 2024 and to be used in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
That portion of our definitive Proxy Statement appearing under the caption “Independent Registered Public Accountants Fees and Services” to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after September 29, 2024 and to be used in connection with our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is hereby incorporated by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15(a) (1) Financial Statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1 of this Report.
ITEM 15(a) (2) Financial Statement Schedules. None.
ITEM 15(a) (3) Exhibits.
Number Description Form Filed with SEC
43
Number Description Form Filed with SEC
10.3* Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan 10-Q 2/18/2009
10.4* Amended and Restated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan 10-Q 2/18/2009
44
Number Description Form Filed with SEC
10.8.17* Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice - Officer 10-Q 5/17/2023
10.8.18* Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice - Non-Officer 10-Q 5/17/2023
10.8.19* Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice - Director 10-Q 5/17/2023
10.8.20* Performance Stock Unit Award Grant Notice - Officer 10-Q 5/17/2023
19.1 Insider Trading Policy _____ Filed herewith
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant _____ Filed herewith
101.INS iXBRL Instance Document
101.SCH iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE iXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File formatted in iXBRL
* Management contract or compensatory plan
1 Certain of the exhibits and schedules in this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) and 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted exhibits and schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.
ITEM 15(b) All required exhibits are filed herein or incorporated by reference as described in Item 15(a)(3).
ITEM 15(c) All schedules have been omitted as the required information is inapplicable, immaterial or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
45
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
JACK IN THE BOX INC.
By: /s/ DAWN HOOPER
Dawn HooperInterim Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Darin Harris and Dawn Hooper, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this report, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Signature Title Date
Darin Harris
Dawn Hooper
/s/ DAVID L. GOEBEL Director and Chairman of the Board November 20, 2024
David L. Goebel
/s/ GUILLERMO DIAZ, JR. Director November 20, 2024
Guillermo Diaz, Jr.
/s/ SHARON P. JOHN Director November 20, 2024
Sharon P. John
/s/ MADELEINE A. KLEINER Director November 20, 2024
Madeleine A. Kleiner
/s/ ENRIQUE RAMIREZ MENA Director November 20, 2024
Enrique Ramirez Mena
/s/ MICHAEL W. MURPHY Director November 20, 2024
Michael W. Murphy
/s/ JAMES M. MYERS Director November 20, 2024
James M. Myers
/s/ VIVIEN M. YEUNG Director November 20, 2024
Vivien M. Yeung
46
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Consolidated Balance Sheets F-4
Consolidated Statements of Operations F-5
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income F-6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-7
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit F-8
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-9
Schedules not filed: All schedules have been omitted as the required information is inapplicable, immaterial, or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Jack in the Box Inc.:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Jack in the Box Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss) income, cash flows, and stockholders’ deficit for each of the fifty-two week periods ended September 29, 2024, October 1, 2023 and October 2, 2022, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the fifty-two week periods ended September 29, 2024, October 1, 2023 and October 2, 2022, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 29, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated November 20, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Valuation of goodwill related to the Del Taco brand
As discussed in Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the goodwill balance as of September 29, 2024 was $25.4 million related to the Del Taco brand. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment by determining whether the fair value of the Company’s reporting units exceed their carrying values. The Company’s reporting units are their two restaurant brands, Jack in the Box and Del Taco.
We identified the evaluation of the goodwill impairment analysis for the Del Taco brand reporting unit as a critical audit matter. Evaluating the estimated fair value of the reporting unit involved a high degree of subjective auditor judgment. Specifically, the revenue growth rate assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the Del Taco brand reporting unit were challenging to evaluate as changes in these assumptions could have had a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the impairment of the goodwill of that reporting unit.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment
F-2
process, which included a control related to the review of the revenue growth rate assumptions used in the projected financial information. We evaluated the reasonableness of the revenue growth rate assumptions for the Del Taco brand reporting unit by comparing the revenue growth rate assumptions to industry reports. We also compared the Company’s revenue growth rate assumptions to historical revenue growth rate trends to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast. In addition, we performed sensitivity analyses over the Company’s revenue growth rate assumptions to assess the impact any changes to those assumptions could have had on the Company’s fair value estimate.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1986.
San Diego, California
November 20, 2024
F-3
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Property and equipment, at cost:
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (848,491) (846,559)
Other assets:
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 35,880 $ 29,964
Long-term liabilities:
Stockholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock $0.01 par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, none issued — —
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (57,475) (51,790)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Fiscal Year
Revenues:
Operating costs and expenses, net:
Goodwill impairment 162,624 — —
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants (3,255) (17,998) (3,878)
Other pension and post-retirement expenses, net 6,843 6,967 303
Net (loss) earnings per share — basic $ (1.87) $ 6.35 $ 5.46
Net (loss) earnings per share — diluted $ (1.87) $ 6.30 $ 5.45
Cash dividends declared per common share $ 1.76 $ 1.76 $ 1.76
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year
Other comprehensive income:
Actuarial (losses) gains arising during the period (9,856) 823 24,249
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes (5,685) 2,192 20,272
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year
Cash flows from operating activities:
Loss on extinguishment of debt — — 7,700
Excess tax deficiency from share-based compensation arrangements 51 71 123
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants (3,255) (17,998) (3,878)
Gains on acquisition of restaurants (2,702) — —
Changes in assets and liabilities, excluding acquisitions and dispositions:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (297) (1,422) (3,275)
Operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities 22,705 2,364 2,593
Pension and postretirement contributions (5,937) (6,241) (6,690)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of Del Taco, net of cash acquired — — (580,793)
Proceeds from the sale of company-operated restaurants 19,400 85,221 6,391
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities 6,000 — 68,000
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facilities — (50,000) (18,000)
Proceeds from issuance of debt — — 1,100,000
Debt issuance costs — — (20,599)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 2 263 51
Payroll tax payments for equity award issuances (3,323) (1,593) (1,223)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-7
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(Dollars in thousands)
Shares issued under stock plans, including tax benefit 44,540 1 50 — — — 51
Share-based compensation — — 7,122 — — — 7,122
Purchases of treasury stock — — — — — (25,000) (25,000)
Shares issued under stock plans, including tax benefit 65,215 — 263 — — — 263
Purchases of treasury stock — — — — — (90,731) (90,731)
Other comprehensive income — — — — 2,192 — 2,192
Shares issued under stock plans, including tax benefit 180,037 2 — — — — 2
Purchases of treasury stock — — — — — (70,592) (70,592)
Other comprehensive loss — — — — (5,685) — (5,685)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-8
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of operations — Jack in the Box Inc. (the “Company”), together with its consolidated subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick-service restaurants under the Jack in the Box® and Del Taco® restaurant brands.
On March 8, 2022, the Company acquired Del Taco Restaurants, Inc. (“Del Taco”) for cash according to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 5, 2021. Del Taco is a nationwide operator and franchisor of restaurants featuring fresh and fast Mexican and American inspired cuisines. Refer to Note 3, Business Combination, for further details.
As of September 29, 2024, there were150 company-operated and 2,041franchise-operated Jack in the Box restaurants and 133 company-operated and 461 franchise-operated Del Taco restaurants.
References to the Company throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements are made using the first-person notations of “we,” “us,” and “our.”
Basis of presentation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Fiscal year — The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending the Sunday closest to September 30. In fiscal 2023, Del Taco operated on a fiscal year ending the Tuesday closest to September 30. Beginning fiscal 2024, Del Taco’s fiscal year shifted to align with Jack in the Box. As a result, Del Taco’s fiscal 2024 results include two fewer days. Comparisons throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements refer to the 52-week periods ended September 29, 2024, October 1, 2023, and October 2, 2022 for fiscal years 2024, 2023, and 2022.
Principles of consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Jack in the Box Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Use of estimates — In preparing the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management is required to make certain assumptions and estimates that affect reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and the disclosure of contingencies. In making these assumptions and estimates, management may from time to time seek advice and consider information provided by actuaries and other experts in a particular area. Actual amounts could differ materially from these estimates.
Restricted cash — In accordance with the terms of our securitized financing facility, certain cash balances are required to be held in trust. Such restricted cash primarily represents cash collections and cash reserves held by the trustee to be used for payments of quarterly interest and commitment fees required for the Class A-2 Notes and Variable Funding Notes. As of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, restricted cash balances were $29.4 million and $28.3 million, respectively.
Accounts and other receivables, net — Our accounts and other receivables, net is primarily comprised of receivables from franchisees, tenants, credit card processors, and insurance receivables. Franchisee receivables primarily include rents, property taxes, royalties, marketing, sourcing and technology support fees associated with lease and franchise agreements, and notes from certain of our franchisees. Tenant receivables relate to subleased properties where we are on the master lease agreement. We accrue interest on notes receivable based on the contractual terms.
The Company closely monitors the financial condition of our franchisees and estimates the allowance for credit losses based on the lifetime expected loss on receivables. These estimates are based on historical collection experience with our franchisees as well as other factors, including current market conditions and events. Credit quality is monitored through the timing of payments compared to predefined aging criteria and known facts regarding the financial condition of the franchisee or customer. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after recovery efforts have ceased. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts has not historically been material. The following table summarizes the activity in our allowance for doubtful accounts (in thousands):
Balance as of beginning of period $ (4,146) $ (5,975)
Reversal (provision) for expected credit losses, net (372) 1,788
Write-offs charged against the allowance 6 41
Balance as of end of period $ (4,512) $ (4,146)
F-9
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Inventories — Our inventories consist principally of food, packaging, and supplies, and are valued at the lower of cost or market on a first-in, first-out basis.
Internal-use Software Costs — The Company capitalizes costs incurred to implement software solely for its internal use, including (i) hosted applications used to deliver the Company's support services, and (ii) certain implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract when the preliminary project stage is complete, management with the relevant authority authorizes and commits to the funding of the software project, and it is probable the project will be completed and used to perform the intended function. Software implementation costs are capitalized to either other current assets or other long-term assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheet and amortized over the estimated useful life of the developed software. Hosted software implementation costs capitalized were $11.1 million and $7.9 million as of the end of fiscal year 2024 and 2023, respectively. Related amortization expense for software implementation costs was $4.5 million, $5.0 million and $5.1 million during fiscal years 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Assets held for sale — Our assets held for sale typically includes property and restaurants we plan to sell within the next year, including amounts relating to i) company-owned restaurants to be refranchised, ii) operating restaurant properties which we intend to sell to franchisees and/or sell and leaseback with a third party, and iii) closed restaurant properties which we are marketing for sale. If the determination is made that we no longer expect to sell an asset within the next year, the asset is reclassified out of assets held for sale. Long-lived assets that meet the held for sale criteria are reported at the lower of their carrying value or fair value, less estimated costs to sell.
Property and equipment, net — Expenditures for new facilities and equipment, and those that substantially increase the useful lives of the property, are capitalized. Facilities leased under finance leases are stated at the present value of minimum lease payments at the beginning of the lease term, not to exceed fair value. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and gains or losses on the dispositions are included in “Other operating expense, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.
Buildings, equipment, and leasehold improvements are generally depreciated using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the assets, over the initial lease term for certain assets acquired in conjunction with the lease commencement for leased properties, or the remaining lease term for certain assets acquired after the commencement of the lease for leased properties. In certain situations, one or more option periods may be used in determining the depreciable life of assets related to leased properties if we deem that an economic penalty would be incurred otherwise. In either circumstance, our policy requires lease term consistency when calculating the depreciation period, in classifying the lease and in computing straight-line rent expense. Building, leasehold improvement assets and equipment are assigned lives that range from 1 to 35 years. Depreciation expense related to property and equipment was $59.2 million, $61.7 million, and $55.8 million in fiscal year 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Impairment of long-lived assets — We evaluate long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and operating lease right-of-use assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets are grouped for recognition and measurement of impairment at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets. The impairment test for long-lived assets requires us to assess the recoverability of long-lived assets by comparing their net carrying value to the sum of undiscounted estimated future cash flows directly associated with and arising from our use and eventual disposition of the assets. If the carrying amount of a long-lived asset group exceeds the sum of related undiscounted future cash flows, we recognize an impairment loss by the amount that the carrying value of the assets exceeds fair value. Refer to Note 9, Other Operating Expense, Net, for additional information.
Goodwill and trademarks — Goodwill is the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired, if any. We generally record goodwill in connection with the acquisition of restaurants from franchisees or the acquisition of another business. Likewise, upon the sale of restaurants to franchisees, goodwill is decremented. The amount of goodwill written-off is determined as the fair value of the business disposed of as a percentage of the fair value of the reporting unit retained. If the business disposed of was never fully integrated into the reporting unit after its acquisition, and thus the benefits of the acquired goodwill were never realized, the current carrying amount of the acquired goodwill is written off. Goodwill is not amortized and has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing. Our two restaurant brands, Jack in the Box and Del Taco, are both operating segments and reporting units.
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JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually during the third quarter of each year, or more frequently if indicators of impairment are present. We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances lead to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived asset is less than its carrying amount. If the qualitative factors indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value is less than the carrying amount, we perform a single-step impairment test. To perform our impairment analysis, we estimate the fair value of the reporting unit and compare it to the carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the excess.
We evaluate our indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis or more often if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate impairments might exist. We perform our annual test for impairment of our indefinite-lived intangible assets during the third quarter. We may elect to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying value. If a qualitative assessment is not performed, or if as a result of a qualitative assessment it is not more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its carrying value, then the asset's fair value is compared to its carrying value. Fair value is an estimate of the price a willing buyer would pay for the intangible asset and is estimated by discounting the expected future after-tax cash flows associated with the intangible asset.
During the third quarter of 2024, we had performed quantitative tests over the Del Taco reporting unit noting that the fair value of the reporting unit was less than the carrying value, which resulted in an impairment of goodwill of $162.6 million. Refer also to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, in the notes to the consolidated financial statements for results of these tests and for additional information.
Intangible assets, net — Intangible assets primarily include franchise contracts, reacquired franchise rights and sublease assets. Franchise contracts, which represent the fair value of franchise agreements based on the projected royalty revenue stream as of the acquisition date, are amortized on a straight-line basis to “Depreciation and amortization expense” in the consolidated statements of earnings over the remaining term of the franchise agreements. Reacquired franchise rights are recorded in connection with our acquisition of franchised restaurants and are amortized on a straight-line basis to “Depreciation and amortization expense” in the consolidated statements of earnings over the term of the former franchise agreement. Sublease assets, which represent subleases with stated rent above comparable market rents, are amortized on a straight-line basis to “Franchise rental revenues” in the consolidated statements of earnings over the term of the related sublease.
Company-owned life insurance — We have purchased company-owned life insurance (“COLI”) policies to support our non-qualified benefit plans. The cash surrender values of these policies were $129.7 million and $113.2 million as of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, respectively, and are included in “Other assets, net”, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Changes in cash surrender values are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings. These policies reside in an umbrella trust for use only to pay plan benefits to participants or to pay creditors if the Company becomes insolvent.
Leases— We evaluate the contracts entered into by the Company to determine whether such contracts contain leases. A contract contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, and equipment for a period of time in exchange for consideration. At commencement, contracts containing a lease are further evaluated for classification as an operating or finance lease where the Company is a lessee, or as an operating, sales-type, or direct financing lease where the Company is a lessor, based on their terms.
The lease term and incremental borrowing rate for each lease requires judgement by management and can impact the classification of our leases as well as the value of our lease assets and liabilities. When determining the lease term, we consider option periods available, and include option periods in the measurement of the lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and lease liability where the exercise is reasonably certain to occur. As our leases do not provide an implicit discount rate, we have determined it is appropriate to use our estimated collateralized incremental borrowing rate, based on the yield curve for the respective lease terms, in calculating our lease liabilities.
Revenue recognition — “Company restaurant sales” include revenue recognized upon delivery of food and beverages to the customer at company-operated restaurants, which is when our obligation to perform is satisfied. Company restaurant sales exclude taxes collected from the Company’s customers. Gift cards, upon customer purchase, are recorded as deferred income and are recognized in revenue as they are redeemed.
The Company operates loyalty programs in which members earn points primarily for food purchases. Points can then be redeemed for special reward offers. The Company allocates the consideration received on loyalty orders between the food purchased and the loyalty points earned, taking into consideration the expected redemption rate of loyalty points. The consideration allocated to the food is recognized as revenue at the time of sale. The consideration allocated to the loyalty points earned is deferred until the loyalty points are redeemed or expire.
F-11
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
“Franchise rental revenues” received from franchised restaurants based on fixed rental payments are recognized as revenue over the term of the lease. Rental revenue from properties owned and leased by the Company and leased or subleased to franchisees is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective term of the lease. Certain franchise rents, which are contingent upon sales levels, are recognized in the period in which the contingency is met.
“Franchise royalties and other” primarily includes royalties and franchise fees received from our franchisees. Royalties are based upon a percentage of sales of the franchised restaurant and are recognized as earned. Franchise royalties are billed on a monthly or weekly basis. Franchise fees when a new restaurant opens or at the start of a new franchise term are recorded as deferred revenue when received and recognized as revenue over the term of the franchise agreement.
“Franchise contributions for advertising and other services” includes franchisee contributions to our marketing funds billed on a monthly or weekly basis and sourcing and technology fees, as required under the franchise agreements. Contributions to our marketing funds are based on a percentage of sales and recognized as earned. Sourcing and technology services are recognized when the goods or services are transferred to the franchisee.
Gift cards — We sell gift cards to our customers in our restaurants and through selected third parties. The gift cards sold to our customers have no stated expiration dates and are subject to actual or potential escheatment rights in several of the jurisdictions in which we operate. We recognize income from gift cards when redeemed by the customer. Deferred gift card income totaled $2.7 million and $2.9 million as of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, respectively, and are included in “Accrued liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
While we will continue to honor all gift cards presented for payment, we may determine the likelihood of redemption to be remote for certain card balances due to, among other things, long periods of inactivity. In these circumstances, to the extent we determine there is no requirement for remitting balances to government agencies under unclaimed property laws, card balances may be recognized as income in our consolidated statements of operations. Amounts recognized on unredeemed gift card balances were $0.8 million, $1.6 million, and $0.7 million in fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
Pre-opening costs — Pre-opening costs associated with the opening of a new restaurant or the remodeling of an existing restaurant consist primarily of property rent and employee training costs. Pre-opening costs associated with the opening of a restaurant that was closed upon acquisition consist of labor costs, maintenance and repair costs, and property rent.
Self-insurance — We are self-insured for a portion of our workers’ compensation, general liability, employee medical and dental, and automotive claims. We utilize a paid-loss plan for our workers’ compensation, general liability, and automotive programs, which have predetermined loss limits per occurrence and in the aggregate. We establish our undiscounted insurance liability and reserves using independent actuarial estimates of expected losses based on a statistical analysis of historical claims data. As of September 29, 2024 and October 1, 2023, our estimated self-insurance liability was $27.9 million and $31.3 million, respectively, and is included in “Accrued liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Advertising costs — We administer marketing funds at each of our restaurant brands that include contractual contributions. In 2024, 2023 and 2022, marketing fund contributions from Jack in the Box franchise and company-operated restaurants were approximately 5.0% of sales. In 2024, 2023, and 2022, marketing fund contributions from Del Taco franchise and company-operated restaurants were approximately 4.0% of sales.
Production costs of commercials, programming, and other marketing activities are charged to the marketing funds when the advertising is first used for its intended purpose, and the costs of advertising are charged to operations as incurred. When contributions to the marketing fund exceed the related advertising expenses, advertising costs are accrued up to the amount of revenues on an annual basis since we are contractually obligated to spend these funds. When advertising costs are greater than the contributions to the marketing fund resulting in a deficit, the excess costs are covered by marketing fund contributions in the following year. As of September 29, 2024, and October 1, 2023, the Jack in the Box marketing fund ended the year with a surplus and the additional amounts accrued were $0.8 million and $9.5 million, respectively. As of September 29, 2024, and October 1, 2023, the Del Taco marketing fund ended the year with a $0.8 million deficit and a $0.8 million surplus, respectively. Total contributions made by the Company and marketing fund deficits, if any, are included in “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings. In fiscal 2024, 2023, and 2022 consolidated advertising costs were $35.0 million, $38.9 million, and $32.6 million, respectively.
Share-based compensation — We account for our share-based compensation under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on stock compensation, which generally requires, among other things, that all employee share-based compensation be measured using a fair value method and that the resulting compensation cost be recognized in the financial statements. Compensation expense for our share-based compensation awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the vesting period or the period from the date of grant to the date the employee becomes eligible to retire. Refer to Note 13, Share-based Employee Compensation, for additional information.
F-12
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Income taxes — Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, as well as tax loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We recognize interest and, when applicable, penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of our income tax provision.
Authoritative guidance issued by the FASB prescribes a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. Refer to Note 11, Income Taxes, for additional information.
Contingencies — We recognize liabilities for contingencies when we have an exposure that indicates it is probable that an asset has been impaired or that a liability has been incurred and the amount of impairment or loss can be reasonably estimated. Our ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such matters cannot be estimated with certainty and requires the use of estimates. When the reasonable estimate is a range, the recorded loss will be the best estimate within the range. We record legal settlement costs when those costs are probable and reasonably estimable. Refer to Note 16, Commitments and Contingencies, for additional information.
Business combinations — We account for acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their estimated fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, including the amount assigned to identifiable intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill.
Effect of accounting pronouncements adopted in 2024 and those to be adopted in future periods — We reviewed the accounting pronouncements adopted in 2024, as well as all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and concluded that they were either not applicable or not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
2.REVENUE
Nature of products and services — We derive revenue from retail sales at Jack in the Box and Del Taco company-operated restaurants and rental revenue, royalties, advertising, and franchise and other fees from franchise-operated restaurants.
Our franchise arrangements generally provide for an initial franchise fee per restaurant for a 20-year term, and generally require that franchisees pay royalty and marketing fees based upon a percentage of gross sales. The agreements also require franchisees to pay technology fees, as well as sourcing fees for Jack in the Box franchise agreements.
Disaggregation of revenue — The following table disaggregates revenue by segment and primary source for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2024 (in thousands):
Jack in the Box Del Taco Total
F-13
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The following table disaggregates revenue by segment and primary source for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2023 (in thousands):
Jack in the Box Del Taco Total
The following table disaggregates revenue by segment and primary source for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2022 (in thousands):
Jack in the Box Del Taco Total
In October 2022, a Jack in the Box franchise operator paid the Company $7.3 million in order to sell his restaurants to a new franchisee at the current standard royalty rate, which is lower than the royalty rate in the existing franchise agreements. The payment represented the difference between the existing royalty rate and the new royalty rate based on projected future sales for the remaining term of the existing agreements. The payment was non-refundable and not subject to any adjustments based on actual future sales. The Company determined the transaction represented the termination of the existing agreement rather than the transfer of an agreement between franchisees. As such, the $7.3 million was recognized in franchise royalty revenue during the first quarter of 2023.
Contract liabilities — Our contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue resulting from initial fees received from franchisees for new restaurant openings or new franchise terms, which are generally recognized over the franchise term. We classify these contract liabilities within “Accrued liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheets.
A summary of significant changes in our contract liabilities is presented below (in thousands):
Deferred franchise and development fees at beginning of period $ 50,474 $ 46,449
Revenue recognized during the period (5,854) (5,469)
Deferred franchise and development fees at end of period $ 51,990 $ 50,474
As of September 29, 2024, approximately $9.2 million of development fees related to unopened stores are included in deferred revenue. Timing of revenue recognition is dependent upon the timing of store openings and are recognized over the franchise term at the date of opening.
F-14
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The following table reflects the estimated franchise fees to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied at the end of the period (in thousands):
We have applied the optional exemption, as provided for under ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which allows us to not disclose the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations when the transaction price is a sales-based royalty.
3.BUSINESS COMBINATION
On March 8, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding equity interest of Del Taco for cash according to the terms and conditions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 5, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”). The acquisition of Del Taco has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, with the Company treated as the accounting acquirer, which requires, among other things, that the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed be recognized at their acquisition date fair value. Jack in the Box acquired Del Taco as a part of the Company’s goal to gain greater scale and accelerate growth.
In connection with the transaction, the Company repaid Del Taco's existing debt of $115.2 million related to a syndicated credit facility and Del Taco entered into a new syndicated credit facility.
The total purchase consideration for Del Taco was $593.3 million. Each share of Del Taco common stock issued and outstanding was converted into the right to receive $12.51 in cash without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes (“Merger Consideration”). Additionally, in connection with the transaction, each Del Taco equity award granted under Del Taco’s equity compensation plans was either (i) converted into the right to receive Merger Consideration or (ii) converted into equity awards with respect to Jack in the Box common stock. Other components of purchase consideration include cash paid to settle Del Taco’s existing debt and $7.1 million of seller transaction costs funded by Jack in the Box.
As part of the Merger Agreement, on the Closing Date, the Company assumed Del Taco’s historical equity compensation plans. The awards under Del Taco’s historical equity compensation plans that were not subject to accelerated vesting were exchanged for replacement awards of the Company, which included Del Taco’s non-accelerating restricted stock awards (“non-accelerating RSAs”). Immediately following the Merger, these replacement awards were modified to accelerate the remaining vesting period to be one year following the Closing Date, other than the awards already scheduled to vest on June 30, 2022. The portion of the fair value of the replacement awards associated with pre-acquisition service of Del Taco’s employees represented a component of the total purchase consideration. The remaining fair value of these replacement awards are subject to the recipients’ continued service and thus were excluded from the purchase price. The awards which are subject to continued service will be recognized ratably as stock-based compensation expense over the requisite service period.
The acquisition of Del Taco was funded by cash on hand and borrowings under our 2022 Class A-2 Notes and 2022 Variable Funding Notes. The Company recognized transaction costs of $12.3 million in fiscal 2022. These costs were associated with advisory, legal, and consulting services and are presented in “Other operating expense, net” in the consolidated statement of operations.
F-15
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Purchase consideration— The following summarizes the purchase consideration paid to Del Taco shareholders (in thousands, except per share data):
Amount
Del Taco shares outstanding as of March 8, 2022 36,442
Del Taco RSAs subject to accelerated vesting 805
Del Taco RSUs subject to accelerated vesting 70
Del Taco options subject to accelerated vesting 292
Total Del Taco shares outstanding 37,610
Merger Consideration (per Del Taco share) $ 12.51
Total cash consideration paid to selling shareholders $ 470,500
Del Taco transaction costs paid by Jack in the Box (1) 7,141
Del Taco closing indebtedness settled by Jack in the Box (2) 115,219
Replacement share-based payment awards pre-combination vesting expense 449
Total aggregate purchase consideration $ 593,309
_____________________
(1)Represents the portion of Del Taco merger-related transaction costs that were paid at the Closing Date by the Company.
(2)Represents the closing indebtedness of Del Taco’s existing debt that was paid at the Closing Date by the Company.
Purchase price allocation— The final allocation of the purchase consideration was as follows (in thousands):
Total aggregate purchase consideration, net of $12,068 cash acquired $ 581,241
Assets:
Accounts and other receivables 4,583
Prepaid expenses 2,950
Other current assets 105
Operating lease right-of-use assets 350,289
Liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt 22
Current operating lease liabilities 21,991
Long-term debt, net of current maturities 349
Long-term operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 303,488
Deferred tax liabilities 75,355
Other long-term liabilities 13,080
Net assets acquired, excluding goodwill $ 261,519
F-16
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The excess of the total consideration over the tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets, and assumed liabilities is recorded as goodwill. The goodwill of $319.7 million arising from the acquisition was primarily attributable to the market position and future growth potential of Del Taco for both company-operated and franchised restaurants related to future store openings, expansion into new markets, and expected synergies. None of the goodwill resulting from the acquisition is deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill arising from the Del Taco acquisition was allocated to the Company’s reporting units as follows (in thousands):
Jack in the Box brand 89,000
Total acquisition date goodwill $ 319,722
Refer to Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets, for further details and for the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill.
Identifiable intangible assets—The identifiable intangible assets acquired consist of trademarks, franchise and development agreements, and favorable subleases. The Company amortizes the fair value of the franchise and development agreements and favorable and unfavorable sublease assets and liabilities on a straight-line basis over their respective useful lives.
The trademarks were valued using the relief from royalty method of the income approach, which was applied by discounting the after-tax royalties avoided by owning the trademark to present value. The key inputs and assumptions included the Company's estimates of the projected system wide sales, royalty rate and discount rate applicable to the trademark.
The franchise and development agreements were valued using the income approach, which was applied by discounting the projected after-tax cash flows associated with the agreements to present value. The key inputs and assumptions included the Company's estimates of the projected royalties received under the existing franchise and development agreements (including the impact of franchise churn) and the applicable discount rate.
The favorable and unfavorable sublease assets and liabilities were valued using the income approach, which was applied by discounting the differential between the market rent and contract rent to present value. The key inputs and assumptions included the Company's estimates of the market rent, contract rent and discount rate applicable to the favorable and unfavorable subleases.
The values allocated to intangible assets and the useful lives are as follows (in thousands):
Amount Weighted Average Useful Life (Years)
Trademarks $ 283,500 Indefinite
Estimated fair value of acquired intangible assets $ 295,871
The estimated values of sublease liabilities totaled approximately $6.0 million. These liabilities have an estimated weighted-average useful life of approximately 15 years and are included in “Other long-term liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Unaudited pro forma results — The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information presents the Company’s results as though Del Taco and the Company had been combined as the beginning of fiscal year 2021 (in thousands):
F-17
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The unaudited pro forma financial information for all periods presented includes the business combination accounting effects resulting from this acquisition, mainly including adjustments to reflect additional amortization expense from acquired intangibles, incremental depreciation expense from the fair value property and equipment, elimination of historical interest expense associated with both Del Taco’s and the Company’s historical indebtedness, additional interest expense associated with the new Del Taco revolving credit facility and the Company’s new borrowings as part of the refinancing to fund the acquisition, adjusted rent expense reflecting the acquired right-of-use assets and liabilities to their estimated acquisition-date values based upon valuation of related lease intangibles and remaining payments, as well as the fair value adjustments made to leasehold improvements, certain material non-recurring adjustments and the tax-related effects as though Del Taco was combined as of the beginning of fiscal 2021. The unaudited pro forma financial information as presented above is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of fiscal 2021, nor is it necessarily an indication of trends in future results for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, differences between the assumptions used to prepare the pro forma information, cost savings from operating efficiencies, potential synergies, and the impact of incremental costs incurred in integrating the two brands.
For the periods subsequent to the acquisition that are included in 2022, Del Taco had total revenues of $316.9 million and net earnings of $6.5 million.
4.SUMMARY OF REFRANCHISINGS AND FRANCHISE ACQUISITIONS
Refranchisings — The following table summarizes the number of restaurants sold to franchisees and gains recognized in each fiscal year (dollars in thousands):
Restaurants sold to Jack in the Box franchisees — 5 15
Restaurants sold to Del Taco franchisees 47 111 —
Broker commissions — (1,614) —
Net assets sold (primarily property and equipment) (5,310) (17,101) (1,565)
Sublease liabilities, net (140) (8,559) —
Lease termination (225) (393) —
Gains on the sale of company-operated restaurants $ 3,255 $ 17,998 $ 3,878
________________________
(1)Amounts in 2024, 2023, and 2022 include additional proceeds of $1.5 million, $0.9 million, and $1.4 million, respectively, related to the extension of the underlying franchise and lease agreements from the sale of restaurants in prior years.
(2)Amount in 2024 is primarily comprised of a $2.2 million loss on sale of assets related to a Del Taco refranchising transaction that closed in the second quarter of 2024. Amount in 2023 is primarily related to charges for a restaurant that was closed due to refranchising the related market.
Franchise acquisitions — In 2024, Del Taco purchased 10 franchise-operated restaurants for $86 thousand as part of three separate transactions, and recognized related gains of $2.7 million. In 2022, Jack in the Box acquired 13 franchise restaurants for total consideration of $0.3 million, comprised of franchise receivables owed to the Company as of the acquisition date. There were no such acquisitions in 2023. We account for the acquisition of franchised restaurants using the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations. The purchase price allocations were based on fair value estimates determined using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
F-18
JACK IN THE BOX INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The following table provides detail of the combined acquisitions in the following periods (dollars in thousands):
Restaurants acquired from Jack in the Box franchisees — — 13
Restaurants acquired from Del Taco franchisees 10 — —
Purchase price (1) (86) — (297)
Closing and acquisition costs (31) — —
Intangible assets 167 — 66
Operating lease right-of-use assets 3,479 — —
Operating lease liability (4,772) — —
Gain on the acquisition of franchise-operated restaurants $ 2,702 $ — $ 309
(1)The amounts related to outstanding receivables from franchisee forgiven upon acquisition
Assets held for sale — Assets classified as held for sale consisted of the following at each fiscal year-end (in thousands):
Jack in the Box restaurant properties (1) $ 14,567 $ 11,097
Other property and equipment (2) 199 766
Del Taco restaurants to be refranchised:
________________________