SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 24, 2003

 

IHOP CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

(818) 240-6055

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

Not applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Item 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

 

 

On October 23, 2003 IHOP Corp. issued a press release announcing its third quarter 2003 financial results. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Also on Ocotober 23, 2003, IHOP Corp. held a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2003 financial results. A copy of the prepared remarks of management is attached as Exhibit 99.2, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The prepared remarks of management and the slide presentation accompanying management’s discussion during the conference call include references to the non-GAAP financial measure “free cash flow.”  The Company defines “free cash flow” for a given period as cash provided by operating activities for such period, less capital expenditures for such period.  Management utilizes free cash flow as a measure of operating efficiency to determine the amount of cash remaining for general corporate and strategic purposes after funding operating activities and capital expenditures.  Management believes this information is helpful to investors to determine the Company’s cash available for these purposes.  Free cash flow for any given period may be affected by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, changes in assets and liabilities and the timing of purchases and payments.  Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP measure and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

The following table reconciles the Company’s guidance with respect to free cash flow for the year ending December 31, 2003, to the Company’s projected cash provided by operating activities for the year ending December 31, 2003:

 

		Year Ending December 31, 2003
		(dollars in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:		$  75,000 - $  75,000
Capital expenditures		(90,000) - (100,000)
Free cash flow		$ (15,000) -  $ (25,000)

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press release of Registrant, dated October 23, 2003.
99.2		Prepared remarks of management of Registrant for conference call held on October 23, 2003.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

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

 

	IHOP CORP.
Date: October 24, 2003	By:   /s/ THOMAS CONFORTI
		Thomas Conforti
		Viice President, Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX TO CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K

 

Exhibit Number		Description
99.1		Press release of Registrant, dated October 23, 2003.
99.2		Prepared remarks of management of Registrant for conference call held on October 23, 2003.

 

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