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) October 1, 2002 -------------------------------- Commission File Number: 000-17962 Applebee's International, Inc. ---------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 43-1461763 ---------------------------- ------------------------------------ (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 4551 W. 107th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, Kansas 66207 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices and zip code) (913) 967-4000 ---------------------------------------------------- (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) None ------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) 1 Item 5. Other Events On October 1, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release entitled "Applebee's International Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Certain Secured Debt of Apple Capitol." The press release contained the following information. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol DiRaimo, Director of Investor Relations (913) 967-4109 APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE CERTAIN SECURED DEBT OF APPLE CAPITOL OVERLAND PARK, KAN., October 1, 2002 -- Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire certain secured debt of Apple Capitol Group, LLC owed to Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. for $34.3 million. This agreement is subject to the consummation of Applebee's International's previously announced potential acquisition of 21 franchise restaurants located in the Washington, D.C. area from Apple Capitol, an existing franchisee. The company continues to expect to close under its negotiated purchase agreement to acquire the 21 restaurants in the fourth quarter of 2002, subject to normal bankruptcy court bidding procedures, obtaining operating licenses and other third-party consents. Applebee's International, Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. There are currently 1,459 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states and eight international countries. Additional information on Applebee's International can be found at the company's website (www.applebees.com). # # # 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, thereunto duly authorized. APPLEBEE'S INTERNATIONAL, INC. (Registrant) Date: October 1, 2002 By: /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin --------------------- ----------------------- Steven K. Lumpkin Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 3