Investments

12 Months Ended

Jan. 01, 2023

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


	Year End
	January 1, 2023		January 2, 2022
Equity method investments	$	33,921	$	39,870
Other investments in equity securities	12,107		10,000
	$	46,028	$	49,870

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 during 2020. The Brazil JV ceased operations in 2021 and no income or loss was recorded during 2022 and 2021. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Wendy’s has loans outstanding related to the Brazil JV totaling $16,975 and $17,125 as of January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, 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 1, 2023, $12,775 was due primarily in the fourth quarter of 2020 and $4,200 is due primarily in 2024. As of January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, the Company had reserves of $4,640 on the past due loans 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 $16,423 and $20,532 as of January 1, 2023 and January 2, 2022, 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 1, 2023, January 2, 2022 and January 3, 2021.


	Year Ended
	2022		2021		2020
Balance at beginning of period	$	39,870	$	44,574	$	45,310

Equity in earnings for the period	12,267		14,329		8,389
Amortization of purchase price adjustments (a)	(2,845)		(3,126)		(2,293)
	9,422		11,203		6,096
Distributions received	(12,612)		(16,337)		(8,376)
Foreign currency translation adjustment included in “Other comprehensive income” and other	(2,759)		430		1,544
Balance at end of period	$	33,921	$	39,870	$	44,574

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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.

Other Investments in Equity Securities

During 2021, the Company made an investment in equity securities of $10,000. During the year ended January 1, 2023, the Company recognized a gain of $2,107 as a result of an observable price change for a similar investment of the same issuer.