dennys401kplan_form11k.htm

 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 11-K

 
(Mark One)
 
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006
 
or
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
 
For the transition period from _____ to _____
 
 
Commission File Number 0−18051
 
A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
Denny's 401(k) Plan
 
B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
Denny's Corporation
203 E. Main Street
Spartanburg, SC 29319-0001
 
 

DENNY’S 401(k) PLAN
 
Financial Statements
 
December 31, 2006 and 2005
 
(With Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Thereon)
 


DENNY’S 401(k) PLAN
 
Financial Statements
 
December 31, 2006 and 2005
 
 
Index
 
 
 
Page
   
   
   
   
Supplemental Schedule:  
     Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
   
Exhibits 
   
Signatures
 
Note:
Schedules not filed herewith are omitted because of the absence of the conditions under which they are required.
 

1

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Retirement Committee
Denny’s 401(k) Plan
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Denny’s 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2006 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. This supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
 
As discussed in Note 1, the Plan adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans, as of December 31, 2006 and 2005.
 

kpmg
Greenville, South Carolina
 
June 29, 2007
 
 
2

 
 
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005
 
   
2006
   
2005
 
Assets:
           
Investments - at fair value (Note 3):
           
Money market funds
  $
1,168,774
     
 
Pooled, common and collective funds
   
47,449,178
     
 
Mutual funds
   
30,939,663
     
 
Denny's Corporation common stock
   
921,638
     
 
Participant Loans
   
1,586,045
     
 
Investments – plan interest in Denny’s 401(k) Plans Master Trust (Notes 1, 2 and 4)
   
     
40,982,423
 
Total investments - at fair value
   
82,065,298
     
40,982,423
 
Receivable - employer contribution (Note 5)
   
65,580
     
 
Total assets
   
82,130,878
     
40,982,423
 
Liabilities:
               
Accrued expenses
   
48,143
     
24,582
 
Excess employer match refundable (Note 5)
   
4,687
     
 
Excess contributions refundable (Note 1)
   
105,764
     
3,957
 
Total liabilities
   
158,594
     
28,539
 
Net assets available for benefits at fair value
   
81,972,284
     
40,953,884
 
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts (Note 1)
   
496,243
     
218,926
 
Net assets available for benefits
  $
82,468,527
     
41,172,810
 
                 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
               

3

 
 
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
Years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
 
   
2006
   
2005
 
Additions:
           
Investment income:
               
Net appreciation in fair value of investments (Note 3)
  $
5,223,401
     
 
Interest and dividends
    683,261          
Investment income – plan interest in Denny’s 401(k) Plans Master Trust investment income (Notes 1, 2 and 4)
   
927,339
     
1,866,787
 
Total investment income
   
6,834,001
     
1,866,787
 
Contributions:
               
Employer's
   
1,522,060
     
818,000
 
Participants’
   
4,282,513
     
2,186,525
 
Total contributions
   
5,804,573
     
3,004,525
 
Total additions
   
12,638,574
     
4,871,312
 
Deductions:
               
Benefits paid to participants
   
12,772,167
     
4,346,604
 
Administrative expenses
   
141,127
     
76,451
 
Total deductions
   
12,913,294
     
4,423,055
 
                 
Transfers of assets to (from) Denny’s 401(k) Plan
   
41,570,437
      (3,790,741 )
Net increase (decrease) in net assets available for benefits
   
41,295,717
      (3,342,484 )
Net assets available for benefits:
               
Beginning of year
   
41,172,810
     
44,515,294
 
End of year
  $
82,468,527
     
41,172,810
 
                 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
               
 
 
 
4

 
DENNY’S 401(k) PLAN
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
December 31, 2006 and 2005

 
(1)     Description of the Plan
 
The following brief description of the Denny’s 401(k) Plan (the Plan) is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for more complete information.
 
(a) Plan Merger
 
On January 31, 2006, the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan was merged into the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan.  The combined plan was renamed the Denny’s 401(k) Plan. In conjunction with this, Denny’s Corporation common stock was removed as an investment option. This transaction was overseen and approved by the Plan’s committee. On February 1, 2006, the Plan transitioned its 401(k) record keeping and trustee duties from Ameriprise Financial to Wells Fargo.
 
(b) General
 
The Plan is a qualified deferred compensation plan, subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Any employee of Denny’s Corporation (Denny’s or the Company), who has attained age 21 and has completed 6 months of service with the Company is eligible to participate in the Plan. The Plan’s committee and plan administrator control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan. For the period from February 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, Wells Fargo served as the Plan’s trustee. Prior to February 1, 2006, Ameriprise Financial served as the Plan’s trustee.
 
 (c) Interest in Master Trust
 
For the period ending January 31, 2006 and the 2005 plan year (prior to the merger of the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan into the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan), the Plan’s investments were held in the Denny’s 401(k) Plans Master Trust (the Master Trust) which was established for the investment of assets of the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan and the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan.
 
(d) Contributions
 
Each year, participants may make pre-tax contributions of up to 25% of eligible compensation. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans.
 
In 2006 and 2005, the Company matched 100% of employee pre-tax contributions, up to 3% of compensation for all participating employees of the Company.  Highly compensated employees are not eligible for the employer match.
 
Contributions are subject to certain Internal Revenue Code (IRC) limitations.  Excess contributions to be returned to participants are shown as a liability in the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits.
 
 (e) Participant Accounts
 
Individual accounts are maintained for each plan participant. Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of the Company’s contributions and earnings, and is charged with allocations of plan losses and administrative expenses and benefit payments, if applicable. Allocations are based on earnings and participant account balances, as defined. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
 
5

(f) Vesting
 
All participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company’s matching and discretionary contribution portion of their accounts plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. For each employee whose initial date of employment is on or after January 1, 2002, the Company’s contribution portion of his/her account plus actual earnings thereon will be 100% vested after three years of continuous service unless the following terms provide for more accelerated vesting. For certain employees who were initially employed by the Company or its predecessor companies before January 1, 1999, participants are immediately vested in their contributions and employer contributions plus actual earnings thereon.
 
 (g) Investment Options
 
Participants direct both participant and employer contributions in 1% increments in a combination of any of 18 investment options currently offered by the Plan. Participants may change their investment options at any time via telephone or through the Wells Fargo website.
 
Effective February 1, 2006, the Plan no longer allowed new contributions or transfers into the Denny’s Stock Fund. Additionally, the Denny’s Stock Fund is to be eliminated as an investment option during 2007.  Any balances remaining as of December 15, 2007 will be liquidated and automatically transferred into the Moderate Model Portfolio.
 
(h) Participant Loans
 
Participants may borrow from their fund accounts up to the lesser of 50% of the vested portion of their account balance, or the amount of $50,000 less the highest outstanding loan balance during the prior 12-month period. The minimum loan amount is $1,000, and each participant may have only one loan outstanding at any time. The plan document indicates that a reasonable borrowing rate will be assessed, typically evidenced by the prime rate charged by the Plan’s trustee. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account. The participant also bears any loan administration costs incurred. Loans are repaid through payroll deductions in equal installments with the loan terms ranging from 6 to 54 months. Loan repayments cannot exceed 30% of the participant’s salary. If an employee who has a loan outstanding terminates employment, no benefit will be paid from the Plan to the participant until the outstanding loan balance and accrued interest is paid in full. Loans outstanding at December 31, 2006 have a range of interest rates from 4.00% to 9.25%.
 
(i) Payment of Benefits
 
On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account, or annual installments over a 10-year period. For termination of service due to other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution.
 
 (j) Administrative Expenses
 
Administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Plan.
 
6

(k) Withdrawals
 
Withdrawals during employment are permitted only under hardship circumstances that are determined by the Internal Revenue Service “Safe Harbor” rules. Participants who are age 59-1/2 or older may withdraw from their account at any time, for any reason allowed by law.
 
(l) Forfeited Accounts
 
Forfeitures are used to reduce future employer contributions to the Plan.  In 2006 and 2005, forfeitures of $56,626 and $44,502, respectively, were forfeited and will be used to reduce employer contributions.
 
(m) New Accounting Pronouncements
 
As of December 31, 2006, the Plan adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Staff Position FSP AAG INV-1 and Statement of Position 94-4-1, “Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Held and Welfare and Pension Plans” (the “FSP”).  The FSP requires that the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits present both the fair value of the Plan’s investments and the adjustment from fair value to contract value for the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.  The Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits is prepared on a contract value basis for the fully benefit-responsive investment contracts.  The FSP was applied retroactively to the prior period presented on the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2005.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement on Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS 157 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, sets out a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurement.  SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  Plan Management does not believe the adoption of SFAS 157 will have a material impact on the Plan’s financial statements.
 
 (2)     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
(a) Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
 
 (b) Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of additions and deductions during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
(c) Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
 
The Plan’s interest in Denny’s 401(k) Plans Master Trust is presented at fair value, which has been determined based on the fair value of the underlying investments of the Master Trust. The fair value of mutual funds and Denny’s Corporation common stock is determined by quoted market prices.  The collective trust funds do not have quoted market prices. The fair value of the collective trust funds is determined based on the net asset value of the respective funds, which are based on the estimated fair value of the underlying investments in each fund. Such underlying investments are generally valued based on quoted market prices.
 
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
 
7

(d) Payment of Benefits
 
Benefit payments to participants are recorded upon distribution.
 
(e) Investment Risk
 
The Plan provides for investments that are exposed to risk, such as interest rate, credit, and market volatility risk. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is possible that changes in the value of investment securities may occur in the near future and that changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
 
 (3)     Investments
 
The following tables present the fair value of investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31, 2006.  Prior to the merger of the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan into the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan on January 31, 2006, the investment assets of the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan were held in a master trust account.  See Note 4.
 
   
 2006
 
Investments at fair value:
     
   Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund N (contract value of $35,010,258)
  $
34,514,015
 
   Wells Fargo Russell 2000 Index Fund G
   
9,804,824
 
   Wells Fargo Advantage Index Fund
   
10,023,099
 

 
During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in value by $5,223,401 as follows:
 
   
2006
 
Net appreciation in fair value of investments:
     
   Pooled, common and collective funds
 
2,568,679
 
   Mutual funds
   
2,477,463
 
   Denny's Corporation common stock
   
177,259
 
   
5,223,401
 

 (4)     Master Trust
 
For the period ending January 31, 2006 and for the 2005 plan year (prior to the merger of the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan into the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan), all of the investment assets of Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan were held in a trust account at Ameriprise Financial and consisted of an undivided interest in an investment account of the Denny’s 401(k) Plans Master Trust, a master trust established by the Company and administered by Ameriprise Financial, the Plan’s trustee.
 
Prior to the merger of the Denny’s Hourly/HCE 401(k) Plan into the Denny’s Salaried 401(k) Plan on January 31, 2006, use of the Master Trust permitted the commingling of trust assets for the two plans for investment and administrative purposes. Although the assets of both plans were commingled in the Master Trust, the trustee maintained supporting records for the purpose of allocating the net gain or loss of the investment account to the participating plans. The net investment income or loss of the investment assets were allocated by Ameriprise Financial to each participating plan based on the relationship of the interest of each plan to the total of the interest of the participating plans.
 
8

The investments of the Master Trust at December 31, 2005, are summarized as follows:
 
 
   
2005
 
Collective trust funds, at estimated fair value:      
Fully benefit-responsive
     
RiverSource Income Fund II
  $ 45,776,791  
Non benefit-responsive
       
RiverSource Emerging Growth Fund II
    6,071,327  
RiverSource Equity Index Fund II
    9,901,657  
RiverSource International Equity Index Fund II
    573,466  
RiverSource Money Market Fund I
    51,614  
RiverSource Small Cap Equity Index Fund II
    798,922  
Total
    63,173,777  
Mutual funds, at quoted market price:
       
RiverSource New Dimensions Fund Y
    1,429,753  
Allianz NFJ Small Capital Value Fund
    6,318,756  
Templeton Foreign Fund
    6,711,541  
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund I
    763,104  
Washington Mutual Investors Fund
    1,427,704  
Total
    16,650,858  
Denny’s Corporation common stock at quoted market price
    1,716,055  
Loans to participants, at estimated fair value
    1,037,611  
Total investments at fair value
    82,578,301  
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts     441,116  
Total investments
   83,019,417  
Plan’s investment in the Master Trust   40,982,423  
Plan’s investment in the Master Trust as a percentage of total
    49.63 %
 
The net investment income for the Master Trust for the period ended January 31, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005 is summarized below:
 
   
2006
   
2005
 
Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments:
       
Collective trust funds
  $
1,019,587
     
2,460,850
 
Mutual funds
   
679,724
     
1,407,996
 
Denny's Corporation common stock
   
34,035
      (159,888 )
     
1,733,346
     
3,708,958
 
Interest and dividend income
   
     
44,950
 
Total investment income
  $
1,733,346
     
3,753,908
 
 
The Plan’s share of the Master Trust investment income for the period ended January 31, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005 was 53.5% and 49.7%, respectively.
 
9

 (5)     Employer Match Contributions
 
During 2006, it was noted that several employees did not properly receive the employer matching contribution for various periods beginning in 1999. Based on the Company’s analysis, it was determined that the Company owed approximately $66,000 to these participants, which is shown as a receivable to the Plan in the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits. In addition, some employees improperly received the employer matching contribution for various periods beginning in 2002.  Based on the Company’s analysis, it was determined that these participants owed approximately $5,000 to the Company, which is shown as a liability in the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits. On June 1, 2007, the applicable amounts were paid to and received from the Plan.
 
 (6)     Party-in-Interest Transactions
 
For the year ended December 31, 2006, certain Plan investments consist of common stock of the Company and pooled, common and collective funds managed by Wells Fargo, the trustee and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  Fees paid by the Plan to Wells Fargo for the year ended December 31, 2006 amounted to approximately $37,000.
 
For the period ended January 31, 2006 and the year ended December 31, 2005, certain Plan investments consist of common stock of the Company and collective trust funds managed by Ameriprise Financial, the trustee and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. There were no fees paid by the Plan to Ameriprise Financial for the year ended December 31, 2006. Fees paid by the Plan to Ameriprise Financial for the year ended December 31, 2005 amounted to approximately $47,000.
 
The trust also invests in common stock of the Plan’s sponsor. These transactions also qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
 
 (7)     Plan Termination
 
Although it has not expressed any intention to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions set forth in ERISA. In the event that the Plan is terminated participants would become 100% vested in their accounts.
 
 (8)     Tax Status
 
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated January 17, 2003, that the Plan is designed in accordance with the applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).
 
The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, however, the Company believes that the Plan in currently designed and being operated in compliance with applicable requirements of the IRC and Plan document.
 
10

 (9)     Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
 
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
   
2006
   
2005
 
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $
82,468,527
      41,172,810  
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
    (496,243 )      
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
  $
81,972,284
      41,172,810  

The following is a reconciliation of investment income per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
   
2006
 
Total investment income per the financial statements
  $
6,834,001
 
Adjustment from fair value to contract value for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
    (496,243 )
Total investment income per the Form 5500
  $
6,337,758
 

Fully benefit-responsive contracts are recorded on the Form 5500 at fair value versus contract value on the financial statements.
 
11

 
DENNY’S 401(k) PLAN
 
Schedule H, line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
 
December 31, 2006
 
 
Identity of issuer, borrower or similar party
 
Description of Investment
 
Market Value
 
           
Money Market Funds
         
Wells Fargo Short-Term Investment Fund G*
 
1,168,774 shares
  $
1,168,774
 
         
1,168,774
 
Pooled, Common and Collective Funds
           
Fully benefit-responsive
           
Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund N*
 
882,724 shares
   
34,514,015
 
Non benefit-responsive
           
Wells Fargo International Equity Index Fund G*
 
209,949 shares
   
3,130,339
 
Wells Fargo Russell 2000 Index Fund G*
 
618,991 shares
   
9,804,824
 
         
47,449,178
 
Mutual Funds
           
PIMCO Real Return Bond Fund
 
300,960 shares
   
3,205,459
 
PIMCO Total Return Fund - Admin
 
311,427 shares
   
3,231,309
 
American Europacific Growth Fund
 
32,649 shares
   
1,501,223
 
American Growth Fund of America
 
60,195 shares
   
1,965,968
 
Goldman Sachs Growth Opportunities Fund
 
50,073 shares
   
1,088,076
 
Harbor International Fund
 
57,541 shares
   
3,543,350
 
Ivy Small Cap Growth Fund
 
6,811 shares
   
94,537
 
Janus Mid-Cap Value Fund
 
74,040 shares
   
1,762,887
 
Royce Pennsylvania Mutual Fund
 
30,143 shares
   
348,750
 
T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund
 
96,609 shares
   
2,849,971
 
Vanguard Total Stock Market Index
 
38,869 shares
   
1,325,034
 
Wells Fargo Advantage Index Fund*
 
179,819 shares
   
10,023,099
 
          30,939,663   
             
Denny’s Stock Fund - common stock at quoted market price *
 
195,677 shares
   
921,638
 
             
Loans to participants, at estimated fair value
 
Interest rates ranging from 4.00% to 9.25% & maturity dates of 2007 through 2011
   
1,586,045
 
             
Total
      $
82,065,298
 
             
* - Party-in-interest
           

See accompanying report of independent registered public accounting firm.
 
12

 
EXHIBITS
 
     
Number
 
Description
23
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
 

 
 
SIGNATURES
 
 
The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
  Denny's 401(k) Plan  
       
Date: June 29, 2007
By:
/s/  Jay C. Gilmore  
    Jay C. Gilmore  
    Vice President,  
    Chief Accounting Officer and  
    Corporate Controller and as member  
    of the Retirement Plan Committee  
    (administrator of Denny's 401(k) Plan)  
 

 
13