Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2020 and Provides Business Update

Total restaurant revenue was $368.4 million compared to $365.7 million in the prior year quarter

Aug 6, 2020 - 17:52

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TAST) today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 28, 2020 and provided a business update.

Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2020 versus the Second Quarter of 2019

  • Total restaurant revenue was $368.4 million compared to $365.7 million in the prior year quarter;
  • Comparable restaurant sales for the Company’s Burger King® restaurants decreased 6.4%; June comparable restaurant sales increased 2.5%;
  • Comparable restaurant sales for the Company’s Popeyes® restaurants increased 17.1%; June comparable restaurant sales increased 13.3%;
  • Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $38.0 million from $24.1 million in the prior year quarter;
  • Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA(1) increased to $54.1 million from $41.1 million in the prior year quarter;
  • Net income was $7.8 million, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $(3.7) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, in the prior year quarter;
  • Adjusted Net Income(1) increased to $9.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, from $4.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter; and
  • The Company generated $48.6 million of Free Cash Flow(2) during the second quarter of 2020.
 (1)  

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income/(Loss) are non-GAAP financial measures. Refer to the definitions and reconciliation of these measures to net income (loss) or to income (loss) from operations in the tables at the end of this release.

(2)  

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and is defined as Net cash provided by operating activities less Net cash used for investing activities adjusted to add back cash paid for acquisitions. Refer to the definition and reconciliation of this measure in the tables at the end of this release.

Recent Monthly Comparable Restaurant Sales Trends

Monthly comparable restaurant sales increases / (decreases) for the month ending March 29, 2020 through the month ending July 26, 2020 are as follows:

 

 

Q2 2020

 

Fiscal Month

March 2020

April 2020

May 2020

June 2020

July 2020

Burger King

(16.80)%

(21.70)%

(2.90)%

2.5 %

2.1 %

Popeyes

(2.80)%

1.6 %

20.5 %

13.3 %

13.9 %

Balance Sheet Update

The Company ended the second quarter of 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $46.0 million, and long-term debt (including current portion) and finance lease liabilities of $497.1 million. As of the end of the second quarter of 2020, the Company did not have any outstanding revolving credit borrowings under its $145.8 million revolving credit facility and had $9.7 million of letters of credit issued under such facility.

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company increased its Term Loan (as defined in the senior credit facility) borrowings in the aggregate principal amount of $75 million through the borrowing of an Incremental Term B-1 Loan. The proceeds of the Incremental Term B-1 Loan were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility and general corporate purposes. The maturity date of the Incremental Term B-1 Loan of April 30, 2026 is the same as the maturity of the Term Loan B.

Management Commentary

Daniel T. Accordino, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Carrols, commented, “We believe our robust second quarter results are demonstrative of the agility and efficacy of our business model in providing customers great value and convenience through drive-thru, at-the-counter take-out, and delivery options along with our executional prowess in the face of a challenging operating environment. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we were encouraged by the resiliency in our comparable restaurant sales during the second quarter as well as our ability to generate higher restaurant-level profitability and Adjusted EBITDA in both dollar and margin terms compared to the year-ago period on similar revenue. This was accomplished by successfully managing food waste, optimizing labor, and effectively controlling other restaurant-level and corporate overhead expenses. Although volatility may persist, our underlying trend is undeniably strengthening and absent a major setback, we are hopeful that we can retain and possibly build further momentum in our overall performance.”

Accordino concluded, “In February, and pre-COVID-19 in the US, we expressed our intention to generate up to $25 million in free cash flow in 2020 and reduce our outstanding debt level by year end. Through the second quarter, we have generated $22.9 million of Free Cash Flow. We also now have in excess of $180 million in available liquidity (cash and borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility) which we believe gives us the ability to weather just about any adverse economic situation. For the remainder of 2020, our intention is to remain nimble in our operations, focus on improving profitability within our existing restaurant portfolio, manage capital expenditures, and continue to generate positive Free Cash Flow to reduce our leverage. Longer term, we currently expect to expend approximately $40 million to $50 million annually in capital expenditures over the next three years mainly for maintenance, approximately 25 restaurant remodels per year and system-wide upgrades and initiatives. We also intend to continue our pause on acquisitions and to only develop build-to-suit new restaurants with attractive ROI potential until our adjusted leverage ratio (as defined in our senior credit facility) drops below four times.”

Second Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Total restaurant revenue was $368.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $365.7 million in the second quarter of 2019. Comparable restaurant sales for the Company’s Burger King restaurants decreased 6.4%. Comparable restaurant sales for the Company’s Popeyes restaurants increased 17.1%.

Adjusted Restaurant-level EBITDA(1) increased to $54.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 from $41.1 million in the prior year period. Adjusted Restaurant-level EBITDA margin was 14.7% of restaurant sales and increased 350 basis points from the second quarter of 2019, reflecting lower cost of sales despite higher beef prices, wage and related expenses, and other restaurant operating expenses. The Company demonstrated its ability to rationalize all ongoing expenses, and where possible, reduced food waste, optimized restaurant labor to reflect revised restaurant hours and accessibility, and thoughtfully managed other operating expenses.

General and administrative expenses declined to $18.6 million in the second quarter of 2020, including $1.4 million in certain expenses primarily for development abandonment charges and acquisition and integration costs, compared to $20.6 million in the prior year period, which included $2.3 million of primarily acquisition and integration costs. The second quarter 2020 total includes the impact of many corporate cost efficiency initiatives such as streamlining of the Company’s regional management structure, re-engineering of the training process and a 10% temporary reduction in non-restaurant wages. The reduction in non-restaurant wages have since been restored as of the start of the third quarter of 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased to $38.0 million in the second quarter of 2020 from $24.1 million in the second quarter of 2019. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 10.3% of total restaurant sales and increased 380 basis points from the second quarter of 2019 due to the factors discussed above.

Income from operations increased to $14.3 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $2.1 million in the prior year quarter.

Interest expense decreased to $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 from $6.9 million in the second quarter of 2019, reflecting the Company’s lower cost of indebtedness.

Net income was $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2020, or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to net loss of $(3.7) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. Net income in the second quarter of 2020 included $2.9 million of impairment and other lease charges, $0.3 million of acquisition and integration costs, $0.9 million in abandoned development costs, and a $2.2 million in gains related to property damage recoveries and gains on sale leaseback transactions. Net loss in the second quarter of 2019 included a $7.4 million loss on extinguishment of debt due to the 2019 refinancing and write-off of previously deferred financing costs, $0.4 million in impairment and other lease charges, and $2.6 million of acquisition and integration costs.

Adjusted net income(1) was $9.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $4.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.

About the Company

Carrols is one of the largest restaurant franchisees in the United States, and currently operates approximately 1,092 restaurants. It is the largest BURGER KING® franchisee in the United States currently operating 1,027 BURGER KING® restaurants and also operating 65 POPEYES® restaurants. It has operated BURGER KING® restaurants since 1976.

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended (a)

 

Six Months Ended (a)

 

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant sales

 

$

368,418

 

 

$

365,674

 

 

$

719,936

 

 

$

656,463

 

Other revenue

 

 

 

2,885

 

 

 

 

2,885

 

Total revenue

 

368,418

 

 

368,559

 

 

719,936

 

 

659,348

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

104,703

 

 

109,157

 

 

207,630

 

 

191,732

 

Restaurant wages and related expenses

 

111,888

 

 

121,140

 

 

236,463

 

 

221,332

 

Restaurant rent expense

 

28,984

 

 

26,690

 

 

58,438

 

 

48,606

 

Other restaurant operating expenses

 

54,310

 

 

56,308

 

 

112,288

 

 

101,913

 

Advertising expense

 

14,416

 

 

14,677

 

 

28,292

 

 

26,549

 

General and administrative expenses (b) (c)

 

18,581

 

 

20,620

 

 

39,368

 

 

40,344

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,296

 

 

17,121

 

 

41,327

 

 

32,413

 

Impairment and other lease charges

 

2,941

 

 

367

 

 

5,822

 

 

1,277

 

Other expense (income), net (d)

 

(2,003

)

 

376

 

 

(1,947

)

 

(1,753

)

Total costs and expenses

 

354,116

 

 

366,456

 

 

727,681

 

 

662,413

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

14,302

 

 

2,103

 

 

(7,745

)

 

(3,065

)

Interest expense

 

6,370

 

 

6,900

 

 

13,510

 

 

12,847

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

7,443

 

 

 

 

7,443

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

7,932

 

 

(12,240

)

 

(21,255

)

 

(23,355

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

90

 

 

(8,508

)

 

(6,888

)

 

(8,154

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,842

 

 

$

(3,732

)

 

$

(14,367

)

 

$

(15,201

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share (e)(f)

 

$

0.13

 

 

$

(0.09

)

 

$

(0.28

)

 

$

(0.39

)

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

 

50,917

 

 

41,051

 

 

50,869

 

 

38,548

 

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

60,332

 

 

41,051

 

 

50,869

 

 

38,548

 

(a)  

The Company uses a 52 or 53 week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday closest to December 31. The three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 each included thirteen and twenty-six weeks, respectively.

 
(b)  

General and administrative expenses include acquisition and integration costs of $0.3 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 respectively and of $0.4 million and $4.8 million for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.

 
(c)  

General and administrative expenses include stock-based compensation expense of $1.1 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively and $2.2 million and $2.8 million for the six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.

 
(d)  

Other expense (income), net, for the three months ended June 28, 2020, included a gain of $1.3 million due to property damage of the Company's restaurants, a gain on three sale-leaseback transactions of $0.8 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.1 million. Other expense (income), net, for the six months ended June 28, 2020, included a gain of $1.6 million due to property damage at four of the Company's restaurants, a net gain on ten sale-leaseback transactions of $0.6 million, and loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million. Other expense (income), net, for the six months ended June 30, 2019 included a $1.9 million gain related to a settlement with Burger King Corporation for the approval of new restaurant development by other franchisees which unfavorably impacted our restaurants.

 
(e)  

Basic net income (loss) per share was computed excluding income (loss) attributable to preferred stock and non-vested restricted shares unless the effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

 
(f)  

Diluted net income (loss) per share was computed including shares issuable for convertible preferred stock and non-vested restricted shares unless their effect would have been anti-dilutive for the periods presented.

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.

Supplemental Information

 

The following table sets forth certain unaudited supplemental financial and other data for the periods indicated (in thousands, except number of restaurants, percentages and average weekly sales per restaurant):

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended (a)

 

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burger King restaurant sales

 

$

345,649

 

 

$

353,714

 

 

$

675,286

 

 

$

644,503

 

Popeyes restaurant sales

 

22,769

 

 

11,960

 

 

44,650

 

 

11,960

 

Total restaurant sales

 

368,418

 

 

365,674

 

 

719,936

 

 

656,463

 

Other revenue

 

 

 

2,885

 

 

 

 

2,885

 

Total revenue

 

$

368,418

 

 

$

368,559

 

 

$

719,936

 

 

$

659,348

 

Change in Comparable Burger King Restaurant Sales (a)

 

(6.4

)%

 

0.1

%

 

(6.0

)%

 

1.2

%

Change in Comparable Popeyes Restaurant Sales (a)

 

17.1

%

 

 

 

17.1

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Weekly Sales per Burger King Restaurant (b)

 

$

26,777

 

 

$

28,499

 

 

$

25,675

 

 

$

27,575

 

Average Weekly Sales per Popeyes Restaurant (b)

 

$

27,509

 

 

$

24,505

 

 

$

26,737

 

 

$

24,505

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA (c)

 

$

54,127

 

 

$

41,114

 

 

$

76,924

 

 

$

69,811

 

Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA margin (c)

 

14.7

%

 

11.2

%

 

10.7

%

 

10.6

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (c)

 

$

38,017

 

 

$

24,133

 

 

$

41,989

 

 

$

37,481

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (c)

 

10.3

%

 

6.5

%

 

5.8

%

 

5.7

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (c)

 

$

9,574

 

 

$

4,570

 

 

$

(9,743

)

 

$

(5,626

)

Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share (c)

 

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

$

(0.19

)

 

$

(0.15

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Burger King restaurants:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants at beginning of period

 

1,028

 

 

845

 

 

1,036

 

 

849

 

New restaurants (including offsets)

 

3

 

 

4

 

 

6

 

 

6

 

Restaurants acquired

 

 

 

178

 

 

 

 

178

 

Restaurants closed (including offsets)

 

(4

)

 

(4

)

 

(15

)

 

(10

)

Restaurants at end of period

 

1,027

 

 

1,023

 

 

1,027

 

 

1,023

 

Average Number of Burger King restaurants:

 

993.0

 

 

954.7

 

 

1,011.6

 

 

899.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Popeyes restaurants:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Restaurants at beginning of period

 

65

 

 

 

 

65

 

 

 

New restaurants

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

3

 

Restaurants acquired

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

55

 

Restaurants at end of period

 

65

 

 

58

 

 

65

 

 

58

 

Average Number of Popeyes restaurants:

 

63.7

 

 

37.6

 

 

64.2

 

 

18.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 6/28/2020

 

At 12/29/2019

Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (d)

$

497,140

 

 

$

471,149

 

Cash and cash equivalents

45,978

 

 

2,974

 

(a)  

Restaurants we acquire are included in comparable restaurant sales after they have been operated by us for 12 months. Sales from restaurants we develop are included in comparable sales after they have been open for 15 months. The calculation of changes in comparable restaurant sales is based on the comparable 13-week or 26-week period.

 
(b)  

Average weekly sales per restaurant are derived by dividing restaurant sales for the comparable 13-week or 26-week period by the average number of restaurants operating during such period.

 
(c)  

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA margin and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) are non-GAAP financial measures and may not necessarily be comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation. Refer to the Company's reconciliation of net income (loss) to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss), and to the Company's reconciliation of income (loss) from operations to Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA for further detail. Both Adjusted EBITDA margin and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA margin are calculated as a percentage of restaurant sales. Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share is calculated based on Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and reflects the dilutive impact of shares, where applicable, based on Adjusted Net Income (Loss).

 
(d)  

Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (including current portion and excluding deferred financing costs and original issue discount) at June 28, 2020 included $420,750 of Term Loan B borrowings under our senior credit facility, $75,000 of Term Loan B-1 borrowings under our senior credit facility and $1,390 of finance lease liabilities. Long-term debt and finance lease liabilities (including current portion and excluding deferred financing costs and original issue discount) at December 29, 2020 included $422,875 of Term Loan B under our senior credit facility, $45,750 of outstanding revolving borrowings under our senior credit facility and $2,524 of finance lease liabilities.

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,842

 

 

$

(3,732

)

 

$

(14,367

)

 

$

(15,201

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

90

 

 

(8,508

)

 

(6,888

)

 

(8,154

)

Interest expense

 

6,370

 

 

6,900

 

 

13,510

 

 

12,847

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,296

 

 

17,121

 

 

41,327

 

 

32,413

 

EBITDA

 

34,598

 

 

11,781

 

 

33,582

 

 

21,905

 

Impairment and other lease charges

 

2,941

 

 

367

 

 

5,822

 

 

1,277

 

Acquisition and integration costs (b)

 

274

 

 

2,573

 

 

355

 

 

5,229

 

Abandoned development costs (c)

 

869

 

 

54

 

 

1,557

 

 

111

 

Pre-opening costs (d)

 

10

 

 

121

 

 

99

 

 

189

 

Litigation costs (e)

 

219

 

 

136

 

 

280

 

 

272

 

Other expense (income), net (f)(g)

 

(2,003

)

 

376

 

 

(1,947

)

 

(1,753

)

Stock-based compensation expense

 

1,109

 

 

1,282

 

 

2,241

 

 

2,808

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

7,443

 

 

 

 

7,443

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

38,017

 

 

$

24,133

 

 

$

41,989

 

 

$

37,481

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA: (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

$

14,302

 

 

$

2,103

 

 

$

(7,745

)

 

$

(3,065

)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses

 

18,581

 

 

20,620

 

 

39,368

 

 

40,344

 

Restaurant integration costs (b)

 

 

 

406

 

 

 

 

406

 

Pre-opening costs (d)

 

10

 

 

121

 

 

99

 

 

189

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

20,296

 

 

17,121

 

 

41,327

 

 

32,413

 

Impairment and other lease charges

 

2,941

 

 

367

 

 

5,822

 

 

1,277

 

Other expense (income), net (f)(g)

 

(2,003

)

 

376

 

 

(1,947

)

 

(1,753

)

Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA

 

$

54,127

 

 

$

41,114

 

 

$

76,924

 

 

$

69,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss): (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

7,842

 

 

$

(3,732

)

 

$

(14,367

)

 

$

(15,201

)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment and other lease charges

 

2,941

 

 

367

 

 

5,822

 

 

1,277

 

Acquisition and integration costs (b)

 

274

 

 

2,573

 

 

355

 

 

5,229

 

Abandoned development costs (c)

 

869

 

 

54

 

 

1,557

 

 

111

 

Pre-opening costs (d)

 

10

 

 

121

 

 

99

 

 

189

 

Litigation costs (e)

 

219

 

 

136

 

 

280

 

 

272

 

Other expense (income), net (f)(g)

 

(2,003

)

 

376

 

 

(1,947

)

 

(1,753

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

 

7,443

 

 

 

 

7,443

 

Income tax effect on above adjustments (h)

 

(578

)

 

(2,768

)

 

(1,542

)

 

(3,193

)

Adjusted Net Income (Loss)

 

$

9,574

 

 

$

4,570

 

 

$

(9,743

)

 

$

(5,626

)

Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share

 

$

0.16

 

 

$

0.08

 

 

$

(0.19

)

 

$

(0.15

)

Adjusted diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

 

60,332

 

 

58,208

 

 

50,869

 

 

38,548

 

Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

 

June 28, 2020

 

June 30, 2019

Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow: (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

51,682

 

 

$

2,844

 

 

$

47,892

 

 

$

10,832

 

Net cash used for investing activities

 

(3,038

)

 

(150,562

)

 

(25,006

)

 

(166,312

)

Add: cash paid for acquisitions

 

 

 

127,980

 

 

 

 

127,980

 

Total Free Cash Flow

 

$

48,644

 

 

$

(19,738

)

 

$

22,886

 

 

$

(27,500

)

(a)  

Within our press release, we make reference to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) which are non-GAAP financial measures. EBITDA represents net income (loss) before income taxes, interest expense and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA as adjusted to exclude impairment and other lease charges, acquisition and integration costs, stock-based compensation expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, restaurant pre-opening costs, non-recurring litigation costs and other non-recurring income or expense. Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA represents income (loss) from operations as adjusted to exclude general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, impairment and other lease charges, restaurant-level integration costs, pre-opening costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, and other non-recurring income or expense. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) represents net income (loss) as adjusted, net of tax, to exclude impairment and other lease charges, acquisition costs and integration costs, gain on bargain purchase, pre-opening costs, non-recurring litigation costs and other non-recurring income or expense.

 
   

We are presenting Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) because we believe that they provide a more meaningful comparison than EBITDA and net income (loss) of the Company's core business operating results, as well as with those of other similar companies. Additionally, we present Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA because it excludes the impact of general and administrative expenses such as salaries and expenses associated with corporate and administrative functions that support the development and operations of our restaurants, legal, auditing and other professional fees, acquisition costs, restaurant pre-opening costs and stock-based compensation expense. Although these costs are not directly related to restaurant-level operations, these expenses are necessary for the profitability of our restaurants. Additionally, this financial measure may not be comparable to a similarly titled caption for other companies. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (loss), when viewed with the Company's results of operations in accordance with GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations in the table above, provide useful information about operating performance and period-over-period growth, and provide additional information that is useful for evaluating the operating performance of the Company's core business without regard to potential distortions. Additionally, management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA permit investors to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our ongoing cash earnings, from which capital investments are made and debt is serviced.

 
   

However, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) are not measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and, accordingly, should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) from operations or cash flow from operating activities as indicators of operating performance or liquidity. Also, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled captions of other companies. The tables above provide reconciliations between net income (loss) and EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and between income (loss) from operations and Adjusted Restaurant-Level EBITDA.

 
(b)  

Acquisition costs for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 mostly includes legal and professional fees incurred in connection with the acquisition of 165 Burger King and 55 Popeyes restaurants from Cambridge Franchise Holdings, LLC, which were included in general and administrative expense. Integration costs were $1.2 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and included certain professional fees, corporate payroll, and other costs related to the integration of this acquisition, of which $0.4 million of one-time repairs and maintenance costs were restaurant-level expenses and $0.8 million were recorded in general and administrative expense.

 
(c)  

Abandoned development costs for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 represents the write-off of capitalized costs due to the abandoned development of future restaurant locations.

 
(d)  

Pre-opening costs for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 include training, labor and occupancy costs incurred during the construction of new restaurants.

 
(e)  

Legal costs for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 include litigation expenses pertaining to an ongoing lawsuit with one of the Company's former vendors as well as other non-recurring professional service expenses.

 
(f)  

Other income, net for the three months ended June 28, 2020 included gains related to insurance recoveries from property damage at four of its restaurants of $1.3 million, a net gain on three sale-leaseback transactions of $0.8 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.1 million. For the six months ended June 28, 2020 other income, net included gains related to insurance recoveries from property damage at four of its restaurants of $1.6 million, net gain on ten sale-leaseback transactions of $0.6 million and a loss on disposal of assets of $0.2 million.

 
(g)  

Other expense, net for the three months ended June 30, 2019 included a loss on disposal of assets of $0.5 million and a gain on one sale-leaseback transaction of $0.1 million. Other income, net for the six months ended June 30, 2019 included a $1.9 million gain related to a settlement with Burger King Corporation for the approval of new restaurant development by other franchisees which unfavorably impacted our restaurants, a gain on two sale-leaseback transactions of $0.1 million, and a gain related to an insurance recovery from property damage at one of our restaurants of $0.1 million.

 
(h)  

The income tax effect related to the adjustments to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) during the periods presented was calculated using an incremental income tax rate of 25% for the three and six months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019, respectively.

 
(i)  

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure and may not necessarily be comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to differences in methods of calculation. Free Cash Flow is defined as cash provided by operating activities less cash used for investing activities, adjusted to add back cash paid for acquisitions. Management believes that Free Cash Flow, when viewed with the Company's results of operations in accordance with GAAP and the accompanying reconciliations in the table above, provides useful information about the Company's cash flow for liquidity purposes and to service the Company's debt. However, Free Cash Flow is not a measure of liquidity under GAAP, and, accordingly should not be considered as an alternative to the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows and net cash provided by operating activities, net cash used for investing activities and net cash provided by financing activities as indicators of liquidity or cash flow. Free Cash Flow for the three months ended June 28, 2020 and June 30, 2019 is derived from the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows for the respective six month periods to be presented in the Company’s Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in its Form 10-Q for the period ended June 28, 2020 and the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows for the previously reported three month periods ended March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively, contained in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the period ended March 29, 2020.