Investments

12 Months Ended

Jan. 03, 2021

The following is a summary of the carrying value of our investments:


	Year End
	January 3, 2021		December 29, 2019
Equity method investments	$	44,574	$	45,310
Other investments in equity securities	—		639
	$	44,574	$	45,949

Equity Method Investments

Wendy’s has a 50% share in the TimWen real estate joint venture and a 20% share in the Brazil JV, both of which are accounted for using the equity method of accounting, under which our results of operations include our share of the income (loss) of the investees in “Other operating income, net.”

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Wendy’s entered into the Brazil JV during the second quarter of 2015 for the operation of Wendy’s restaurants in Brazil. Wendy’s, Starboard International Holdings B.V. and Infinity Holding E Participações Ltda. contributed $1, $2 and $2, respectively, each receiving proportionate equity interests of 20%, 40% and 40%, respectively. The Company did not receive any distributions and our share of the Brazil JV’s net losses was $417, $1,022 and $1,344 during 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Wendy’s has loans outstanding related to the Brazil JV totaling $17,125 and $15,920 as of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, respectively. The loans are denominated in U.S. Dollars, which is also the functional currency of the subsidiary; therefore, there is no exposure to changes in foreign currency rates. The loans bear interest at rates ranging from 3.25% to 6.5% per year. Of the total loans outstanding as of January 3, 2021, $12,775 was due primarily in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $4,350 is due in 2024. As of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, the Company had reserves of $4,640 on the past due loans and $5,720 on the current loans outstanding, respectively, related to the Brazil JV. The Company is currently pursuing collection of certain of the past due amounts. See Note 7 for further information.

The carrying value of our investment in TimWen exceeded our interest in the underlying equity of the joint venture by $23,433 and $25,160 as of January 3, 2021 and December 29, 2019, respectively, primarily due to purchase price adjustments from the 2008 merger of Triarc Companies, Inc. and Wendy’s International, Inc. (the “Wendy’s Merger”).

Presented below is activity related to our portion of TimWen and the Brazil JV included in our consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations as of and for the years ended January 3, 2021, December 29, 2019 and December 30, 2018.


	Year Ended
	2020		2019		2018
Balance at beginning of period	$	45,310	$	47,021	$	55,363

Investment	—		—		13

Equity in earnings for the period	8,389		10,943		10,402
Amortization of purchase price adjustments (a)	(2,293)		(2,270)		(2,326)
	6,096		8,673		8,076
Distributions received	(8,376)		(13,400)		(13,390)
Foreign currency translation adjustment included in “Other comprehensive income (loss), net” and other	1,544		3,016		(3,041)
Balance at end of period	$	44,574	$	45,310	$	47,021

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(a)Purchase price adjustments that impacted the carrying value of the Company’s investment in TimWen are being amortized over the average original aggregate life of 21 years.

Indirect Investment in Inspire Brands

In connection with the sale of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (“Arby’s”) during 2011, Wendy’s Restaurants obtained an 18.5% equity interest in ARG Holding Corporation (“ARG Parent”) (through which Wendy’s Restaurants indirectly retained an 18.5% interest in Arby’s). The carrying value of our investment was reduced to zero during 2013 in connection with the receipt of a dividend that was determined to be a return of our investment.

Our 18.5% equity interest was diluted to 12.3% in February 2018, when a subsidiary of ARG Parent acquired Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. As a result of the acquisition, our diluted ownership interest included both the Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings brands under the newly formed combined company, Inspire Brands, Inc. (“Inspire Brands”). In August 2018, the Company sold its remaining 12.3% ownership interest to Inspire Brands for $450,000 and incurred transaction costs of $55, which were recorded to “Investment (loss) income, net.” The Company recorded income tax expense of $97,501 on the transaction, of which $95,038 was paid during the fourth quarter of 2018.

Other Investments in Equity Securities

In October 2019, the Company received a $25,000 cash settlement related to a previously held investment. As a result, the Company recorded $24,366 to “Investment (loss) income, net” and $634 to “General and administrative” for the reimbursement of related costs during the fourth quarter of 2019.