DineEquity, Inc. Announces Solid First Quarter 2012 Results

DineEquity, Inc. DIN +9.47% , the parent company of Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and IHOP Restaurants, reported financial results for the first quarter of 2012. "We are pleased with our first quarter performance. At DineEquity, we continue to work closely with IHOP and Applebee's on their respective brand-building strategies to innovate the menu, drive operational performance, and provide value for our guests," said Julia A. Stewart, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DineEquity. "Our business fundamentals remain healthy and our unique, highly franchised business model is generating strong free cash flow and enabling debt reduction, which are key measures of our success." First Quarter 2012 Financial Highlights -- Total debt was reduced by $85.9 million in the first quarter of 2012 as a result of net cash proceeds and financing obligation reductions from the refranchise and sale of Applebee's company-operated restaurants and free cash flow. The Company reduced Term Loan balances by $69.0 million, Senior Notes by $4.5 million, and financing and capital lease obligations by $12.4 million.