Wendy's 2009 Annual Report Download - page 8

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PART 1
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Projections
Effective September 29, 2008, in conjunction with the merger with Wendy’s International, Inc.
(“Wendy’s”), the corporate name of Triarc Companies, Inc. (“Triarc”) was changed to Wendy’s/Arby’s Group,
Inc. (“Wendy’s/Arby’s” or, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “we”). This Annual Report on
Form 10-K and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may contain or
incorporate by reference certain statements that are not historical facts, including, most importantly,
information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. Those statements, as
well as statements preceded by, followed by, or that include the words “may,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,”
“anticipates,” or the negation thereof, or similar expressions, constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”). All statements that
address future operating, financial or business performance; strategies or expectations; future synergies,
efficiencies or overhead savings; anticipated costs or charges; future capitalization; and anticipated financial
impacts of recent or pending transactions are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform
Act. The forward-looking statements are based on our expectations at the time such statements are made, speak
only as of the dates they are made and are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. Our
actual results, performance and achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. For all of our forward-looking
statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform
Act. Many important factors could affect our future results and could cause those results to differ materially
from those expressed in, or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such factors, all of
which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately, and many of which are beyond our control, include, but
are not limited to, the following:
•competition, including pricing pressures, aggressive marketing and the potential impact of
competitors’ new unit openings on sales of Wendy’sand Arby’srestaurants;
•consumers’ perceptions of the relative quality, variety, affordability and value of the food products
we offer;
•success of operating initiatives, including advertising and promotional efforts and new product and
concept development by us and our competitors;
•development costs, including real estate and construction costs;
•changes in consumer tastes and preferences, including changes resulting from concerns over
nutritional or safety aspects of beef, poultry, French fries or other foods or the effects of food-borne
illnesses such as “mad cow disease” and avian influenza or “bird flu,” and changes in spending
patterns and demographic trends, such as the extent to which consumers eat meals away from
home;
•certain factors affecting our franchisees, including the business and financial viability of key
franchisees, the timely payment of such franchisees’ obligations due to us or to national or local
advertising organizations, and the ability of our franchisees to open new restaurants in accordance
with their development commitments, including their ability to finance restaurant development
and remodels;
•availability, location and terms of sites for restaurant development by us and our franchisees;
•delays in opening new restaurants or completing remodels of existing restaurants;
•the timing and impact of acquisitions and dispositions of restaurants;
•our ability to successfully integrate acquired restaurant operations;
•anticipated or unanticipated restaurant closures by us and our franchisees;
•our ability to identify, attract and retain potential franchisees with sufficient experience and
financial resources to develop and operate Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants successfully;
•availability of qualified restaurant personnel to us and to our franchisees, and the ability to retain
such personnel;
1