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) December 12, 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 December 12, 2002, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release entitled "Applebee's International Declares Increased Annual Dividend." The press release contained the following information. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol DiRaimo, Director of Investor Relations (913) 967-4109 Applebee's International Declares Increased Annual Dividend Overland Park, Kan., December 12, 2002 -- Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) has declared an annual dividend of 6 cents per share. The dividend is payable January 30, 2003, to shareholders of record as of December 27, 2002. This is the company's 13th consecutive annual dividend and represents an increase of 12.5 percent over last year's dividend of 5 cents per share (adjusted for a three-for-two stock split in June 2002). 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 1,489 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: December 12, 2002 By: /s/ Steven K. Lumpkin --------------------- ----------------------- Steven K. Lumpkin Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 3