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) January 7, 2005 ----------------------------------------------- APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) DELAWARE 000-17962 43-1461763 ------------------------------ ---------------- ------------------------ (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 4551 W. 107th Street, Overland Park, Kansas 66207 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) (913) 967-4000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) None -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act 17 CFR 230.425) [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") is filing a description of its existing FlexPerx Program and its Stock Ownership Guidelines. The FlexPerx Program is a program by which a small cash benefit award may be paid on an annual basis to qualifying Company officers if they have completed certain requirements related to medical examinations. The Stock Ownership Guidelines generally provide that Company officers may receive a grant of restricted stock under the Company's Amended and Restated 1995 Equity Incentive Plan if they achieve specified levels of ownership of the Company's common stock within the required time frame. Officers must achieve certain levels of ownership within a specified time in order to continue to be eligible to receive equity compensation grants, in accordance with the Guidelines. The descriptions of the FlexPerx Program and the Stock Ownership Guidelines are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2. Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith: 10.1 FlexPerx Program 10.2 Stock Ownership Guidelines 2 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. Date: January 7, 2005 APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. By: /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin ------------------------------- Steven K. Lumpkin Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 3 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description -------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.1 FlexPerx Program 10.2 Stock Ownership Guidelines 4