UNITED STATES

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):   July 22, 2018

Papa John’s International, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

2002 Papa John’s Boulevard

Louisville, Kentucky 40299-2367

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(502) 261-7272

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On July 22, 2018, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Papa John’s International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), authorized and declared a dividend to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 2, 2018 (the “Record Date”) of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company. Each Right entitles the holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth (subject to adjustment) of one share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”) of the Company at an exercise price of $250.00 per one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”). The complete terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of July 22, 2018, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).

Generally, the Rights Agreement works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group (including a group of persons that are acting in concert with each other) that acquires fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a tender or exchange offer or other acquisition of the Company’s Common Stock that is not approved by the Board. The Rights Agreement does not prevent the Board from considering any offer that it considers to be in the best interest of its stockholders.

The following is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Distribution and Transfer of Rights; Rights Certificates

The Board has declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below:

·                  the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the shares of Common Stock (or, with respect to any uncertificated Common Stock registered in book-entry form, by notation in book-entry), and no separate rights certificates will be distributed;

·                  new certificates for shares of Common Stock issued after the Record Date will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference (for uncertificated shares of Common Stock registered in book-entry form, this legend will be contained in a notation in book-entry);

·                  the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or the surrender for transfer of any uncertificated shares of Common Stock registered in book-entry form) will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such Common Stock; and

·                  the Rights will accompany any new shares of Common Stock that are issued after the Record Date.

Distribution Date

Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable following the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) business day after a public announcement (or, if the tenth (10th) business day after such public announcement occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date) that either discloses that a person or a group of related persons has acquired beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock other than as a result of repurchases of Common Stock by the Company or certain inadvertent acquisitions (an “Acquiring Person”) or information which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person, or (ii) the tenth (10th) business day (or, if such tenth (10th) business day occurs before the Record Date, the close of business on the Record Date), or such later date as may be determined by the Board, after a person or a group of related persons announce or commence a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or a group of related persons becoming an Acquiring Person. For purposes of the Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership is defined to include the ownership of derivative securities.

2

The date on which the Rights separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable is referred to as the “Distribution Date.”

After the Distribution Date, the Company will mail Rights certificates to the Company’s stockholders as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and the Rights will become transferable apart from the Common Stock. Thereafter, such Rights certificates alone will represent the Rights.

Exempt Persons

The Rights Agreement provides that an Acquiring Person does not include the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any person holding shares of Common Stock for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan of the Company. In addition, certain inadvertent acquisitions will not trigger the occurrence of the Distribution Date. The Rights Agreement also provides that any person that would otherwise be deemed an Acquiring Person as of the date of the adoption of the Rights Agreement will be exempted but only for so long as neither it nor any of its Related Persons (as defined in the Rights Agreement) acquire or are deemed to acquire, without the prior approval of the Board, beneficial ownership of any additional Common Stock following the adoption of the Rights Agreement.

Grandfathered Persons

The Rights Agreement provides that John H. Schnatter, his spouse, lineal descendants or his affiliates and associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act) or any trusts or other entities whose principal beneficiary is John H. Schnatter, his spouse,  his lineal descendants, or his affiliates and associates shall not be considered an Acquiring Person; provided, however, that if they acquire Beneficial Ownership of 31% or more of the shares of Common Stock in the Company, then they shall become an Acquiring Person, subject to certain exemptions for (i) any unilateral grant of any security by the Company, (ii) the exercise of any options, warrants, rights or similar interests, (iii) the grant of stock options pursuant to any written agreement with the Company and (iv) any increase in the percentage of stock ownership as a result of any Company stock repurchases.

Preferred Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights

After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock having economic and other terms similar to that of one share of Common Stock. This portion of a share of Preferred Stock is intended to give a stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as would one share of Common Stock.

Flip-In Trigger

If a person or group of related persons becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a then-current market value of twice the Purchase Price. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the foregoing event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, as further described below.

Following the occurrence of an event set forth in the preceding paragraph, all Rights that are or, under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or certain of its transferees will be null and void.

Flip-Over Trigger

If, after an Acquiring Person obtains fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock, (i) the Company merges into another entity, (ii) an acquiring entity merges into the Company and in connection with such transaction all or part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted into stock or other securities of another entity, cash, or other property or (iii) the Company sells or transfers fifty percent (50%) or more of its assets or earning power,

3

then each Right (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Purchase Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, a number of shares of common stock of the person engaging in the transaction having a then-current market value of twice the Purchase Price.

Redemption of the Rights

The Rights will be redeemable at the Board’s sole discretion for $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time ending on the earlier of (i) the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that a person has acquired beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock and (ii) the final expiration date of the Rights Agreement. Until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, the Rights are not exercisable. Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price. The redemption price will be adjusted if the Company undertakes a stock dividend, a stock split or similar transaction.

Exchange Provision

At any time after the date on which a person beneficially owns fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by the person of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or any Related Person, which would have become void), in whole or in part, for Common Stock at an exchange ratio (subject to adjustment) of one share of Common Stock per Right (or, if insufficient shares are available, the Company may issue preferred stock, cash, debt or equity securities, property or a combination thereof in exchange for the Rights).

Expiration of the Rights

The Rights expire at or prior to the earlier of (i) July 22, 2019 or (ii) the redemption or exchange of the Rights as described above.

Amendment of Terms of Rights Agreement and Rights

The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended by action of the Board in any respect without the consent of the holders of the Rights on or prior to the time a person becomes an Acquiring Person. Thereafter, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.

Rights of Holders

Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

Anti-Dilution Provisions

The Board may adjust the Purchase Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock.

With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Purchase Price will be made until the cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price.

Taxes

The distribution of Rights should not be taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, following an event that renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income.

4

Certain Anti-Takeover Effects

The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board. However, the Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock (which includes for this purpose stock referenced in derivative transactions and securities).

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on July 23, 2018, the Company will file a Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Certificate of Designation sets forth the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Stock.

The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

A copy of the Certificate of Designation is filed as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On July 22, 2018, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of the Rights Agreement and the declaration of the dividend of the Rights. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

5

SIGNATURES

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.

6