Item 8.01               Other Events.

On April 24, 2008, Triarc Companies, Inc. (“Triarc”), issued a joint press release with Wendy’s International, Inc. (“Wendy’s”), announcing the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 23, 2008, by and among Triarc, Green Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Triarc and Wendy’s. A copy of the joint press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.  On April 24, 2008, Triarc also circulated a letter from Roland C. Smith to Arby's employees, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,’ “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Triarc’s and Wendy’s expectations with respect to the synergies, efficiencies, overhead savings, costs and charges and capitalization, anticipated financial impacts of the merger transaction and related transactions; approval of the merger transaction and related transactions by shareholders; the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the merger transaction and related transactions; and the timing of the completion of the merger transaction and related transactions.

 

These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside our control and difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the possibility that the expected synergies will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period, due to, among other things: (1) changes in the quick service restaurant industry; (2) prevailing economic, market and business conditions affecting Triarc and Wendy’s; (3) conditions beyond Triarc’s or Wendy’s control such as weather, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics impacting Triarc’s and/or Wendy’s customers or food supplies or acts of war or terrorism; (4) changes in the interest rate environment; (5) changes in debt, equity and securities markets; (6) changes in the liquidity of markets in which Triarc or Wendy’s participates; (7) the availability of suitable locations and terms for the sites designated for development; (8) cost and availability of capital; (9) adoption of new, or changes in, accounting policies and practices; and (10) other factors discussed from time to time in Triarc’s and Wendy’s news releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), especially the “Risk Factors” sections of Triarc’s and Wendy’s Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Other factors include the possibility that the merger does not close, including due to the failure to receive required stockholder or regulatory approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions. Triarc cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Triarc, Wendy’s, the merger, the related transactions or other matters and attributable to Triarc or Wendy’s or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Triarc and Wendy’s do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, relating to the matters discussed in this news release.

 

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It

 

In connection with the proposed merger, Triarc will file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Triarc and Wendy’s and that also constitutes a prospectus of Triarc. Triarc and Wendy’s each will mail the proxy statement/prospectus to its stockholders. Triarc and Wendy’s urge investors and security holders to read the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available because it will contain important information. You may obtain copies of all documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC’s website (sec.gov). You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Triarc’s website (www.triarc.com) under the heading “Investor Relations” and then under the item “SEC Filings and Annual Reports.”. You may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Wendy’s website (www.wendys.com) under the tab “Investor” and then under the heading “SEC Filings.”

 

Proxy Solicitation

Triarc, Wendy’s and their respective directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be soliciting proxies from Triarc and Wendy’s stockholders in favor of the stockholder approvals required in connection with the merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the Triarc and Wendy’s stockholders in connection with the stockholder approvals required in connection with the proposed merger will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find

 

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information about Triarc’s executive officers and directors in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, as it will be amended, to be filed with the SEC on April 25, 2008. You can find information about Wendy’s executive officers and directors in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 12, 2007 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2008. You can obtain free copies of these documents from Triarc and Wendy’s using the contact information above.

 

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibits:

	Exhibit 99.1:	Joint press release of Triarc and Wendy’s, issued on April 24, 2008, regarding the execution of the Merger Agreement
	Exhibit 99.2:	Letter from Roland C. Smith, dated April 24, 2008

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

	TRIARC COMPANIES, INC.
Date: April 24, 2008	By:	/ /s/ Stephen E Hare
		Stephen E Hare
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION
99.1		Joint press release of Triarc and Wendy’s, issued on April 24, 2008, regarding the execution of the Merger Agreement
99.2		Letter from Roland C. Smith, dated April 24, 2008