U.S. Department of Justice Drops All Charges Against Andrew Wiederhorn, FAT Brands, William Amon, and Rebecca Hershinger
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has dropped all charges against CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, the company, and executives Rebecca Hershinger and William Amon. The legal team maintained throughout that the case involved no criminal conduct, victims, or financial losses.
FAT Brands, a global restaurant franchising company, operates 18 restaurant concepts with over 2,300 locations worldwide. The company is positioned for continued growth with over 1,000 units in development, approximately 120 signed development agreements year-to-date, and more than 100 new store openings planned this year.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) ha annunciato che il Dipartimento di Giustizia degli Stati Uniti ha ritirato tutte le accuse contro il CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, la società e i dirigenti Rebecca Hershinger e William Amon. Il team legale ha sempre sostenuto che il caso non coinvolgeva alcuna condotta criminale, vittime o perdite finanziarie.
FAT Brands, una società globale di franchising nel settore della ristorazione, gestisce 18 concept di ristoranti con oltre 2.300 sedi in tutto il mondo. L'azienda è pronta per una crescita continua con oltre 1.000 unità in fase di sviluppo, circa 120 accordi di sviluppo firmati dall'inizio dell'anno e più di 100 nuove aperture previste per quest'anno.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) anunció que el Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos ha retirado todos los cargos contra el CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, la empresa y los ejecutivos Rebecca Hershinger y William Amon. El equipo legal sostuvo en todo momento que el caso no involucraba ninguna conducta criminal, víctimas ni pérdidas financieras.
FAT Brands, una compañía global de franquicias de restaurantes, opera 18 conceptos de restaurantes con más de 2,300 ubicaciones en todo el mundo. La empresa está posicionada para un crecimiento continuo con más de 1,000 unidades en desarrollo, aproximadamente 120 acuerdos de desarrollo firmados en lo que va del año y más de 100 nuevas aperturas planeadas para este año.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT)는 미국 법무부가 CEO 앤드류 위더혼, 회사 및 임원인 레베카 허싱거와 윌리엄 에이몬에 대한 모든 혐의를 철회했다고 발표했습니다. 법률팀은 사건이 범죄 행위, 피해자 또는 재정적 손실과 무관하다고 일관되게 주장해 왔습니다.
글로벌 레스토랑 프랜차이징 기업인 FAT Brands는 전 세계에 2,300개 이상의 매장을 가진 18개의 레스토랑 브랜드를 운영하고 있습니다. 회사는 1,000개 이상의 개발 중인 유닛, 올해 현재까지 약 120개의 개발 계약 체결, 그리고 올해 계획된 100개 이상의 신규 매장 오픈으로 지속적인 성장을 준비하고 있습니다.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ : FAT) a annoncé que le ministère de la Justice des États-Unis a abandonné toutes les charges contre le PDG Andrew Wiederhorn, la société, ainsi que les cadres Rebecca Hershinger et William Amon. L'équipe juridique a toujours soutenu que l'affaire ne concernait aucune conduite criminelle, victimes ou pertes financières.
FAT Brands, une entreprise mondiale de franchise de restaurants, exploite 18 concepts de restaurants avec plus de 2 300 emplacements dans le monde. L'entreprise est bien positionnée pour une croissance continue avec plus de 1 000 unités en développement, environ 120 accords de développement signés depuis le début de l'année et plus de 100 nouvelles ouvertures prévues cette année.
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) gab bekannt, dass das US-Justizministerium alle Anklagen gegen CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, das Unternehmen sowie die Führungskräfte Rebecca Hershinger und William Amon fallen gelassen hat. Das juristische Team betonte durchgehend, dass der Fall keine kriminellen Handlungen, Opfer oder finanzielle Verluste beinhaltete.
FAT Brands, ein global tätiges Restaurant-Franchiseunternehmen, betreibt 18 Restaurantkonzepte mit über 2.300 Standorten weltweit. Das Unternehmen ist für weiteres Wachstum gut aufgestellt mit über 1.000 Einheiten in Entwicklung, etwa 120 unterzeichneten Entwicklungsvereinbarungen im laufenden Jahr und mehr als 100 geplanten Neueröffnungen in diesem Jahr.
- Complete dismissal of all DOJ charges against the company and executives
- Strong growth pipeline with over 1,000 units in development
- Approximately 120 signed development agreements year-to-date
- More than 100 new store openings planned for the year
- Company faced legal uncertainty and reputational risk during investigation period
Insights
DOJ dropping charges against FAT Brands executives removes significant legal cloud, enabling business focus without criminal liability concerns.
The dismissal of all charges by the U.S. Attorney's Office represents a complete legal victory for Andrew Wiederhorn, FAT Brands, and the other named defendants. This type of dismissal is relatively rare in federal prosecutions, particularly after an indictment has been issued, suggesting prosecutors concluded their case had fundamental weaknesses.
What's particularly notable is the comprehensive nature of the dismissal – covering all defendants and all charges without any settlement agreements, fines, or admissions. The legal team's argument that the case involved "no victims, no losses, and no crimes" appears to have ultimately prevailed with prosecutors.
From a corporate governance perspective, this resolution removes a significant legal cloud that had been hanging over FAT Brands. The company can now operate without the distraction and expense of criminal proceedings or the reputational damage of ongoing litigation. The presence of Nick Hanna, the former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, on Wiederhorn's defense team likely provided valuable insight into the prosecution's approach.
This dismissal eliminates potential corporate criminal liability and the associated risks of regulatory sanctions or shareholder derivative lawsuits that often follow criminal charges. Without the legal uncertainty, the company is in a stronger position to execute its business strategy and growth plans outlined in the release.
Legal resolution eliminates significant uncertainty for FAT Brands, enabling focus on impressive growth pipeline of 1,000+ units.
The dismissal of all charges against FAT Brands and its executives removes a major risk factor that likely constrained the company's valuation and strategic flexibility. With this legal cloud lifted, management can redirect resources from legal defense to business operations, potentially accelerating the company's already substantial growth plans.
FAT Brands' operational metrics are particularly impressive in the current market: 1,000+ units in the development pipeline, 120 signed development agreements year-to-date, and 100+ anticipated new store openings this year. These numbers represent significant scale in the restaurant franchising space.
The company's portfolio diversity across 18 restaurant concepts and 2,300+ locations provides built-in risk mitigation through brand diversification. Their franchising model is capital-light, allowing for faster expansion with less direct operational risk than company-owned models.
From a financial perspective, the resolution of legal uncertainty typically leads to multiple expansion as the risk premium investors demand decreases. This could potentially unlock shareholder value as the market reassesses FAT Brands with legal issues behind it. The company's growth trajectory through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions demonstrates a clear path to increased scale, which should drive franchise fee and royalty revenue growth.
The co-branding opportunities mentioned represent an additional growth vector that can increase location profitability while expanding brand reach with minimal incremental investment – a strategy that has proven successful in the restaurant space.
LOS ANGELES, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Attorney for the Central District of California has filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Andrew “Andy” Wiederhorn, FAT Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FAT), Rebecca Hershinger, and William Amon.
Mr. Wiederhorn and his legal team have consistently maintained his innocence, and that the events described involved no criminal conduct, no victims, and no financial losses.
“From day one, we have maintained Andy’s innocence,” said Nick Hanna, of Gibson Dunn, counsel for Mr. Wiederhorn and the former U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. “We are extremely grateful that the U.S. Attorney’s Office listened to our arguments and determined, in the interests of justice, that all charges should be dropped.”
“We have said from the beginning that this is a case with no victims, no losses, and no crimes,” added Douglas Fuchs of Gibson Dunn and counsel to Mr. Wiederhorn. “Today, the U.S. Attorney took the appropriate step of dismissing the indictment.”
“I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for taking a fresh look at this case and to the attorneys who worked tirelessly on my behalf and on behalf of the other defendants,” said Andy Wiederhorn. “With this indictment behind us, I look forward to focusing on the continued growth and success of FAT Brands.”
FAT Brands Inc. is a global restaurant franchising company with a portfolio of 18 restaurant concepts and over 2,300 locations worldwide. With the DOJ matter closed, FAT Brands is poised to continue to build on recent growth, with over 1,000 units in its development pipeline, approximately 120 signed development agreements year-to-date, and more than 100 new store openings anticipated this year. The company’s franchising model, co-branding options, and well-established restaurant concepts – including Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Round Table Pizza, and Twin Peaks, a subsidiary of Twin Hospitality Group Inc. (NASDAQ: TWNP) – position it as a leader in the global dining landscape.
About FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands
FAT Brands (NASDAQ: FAT) is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets and develops fast casual, casual and polished casual dining restaurant concepts around the world. The Company currently owns 18 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza®, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Smokey Bones, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Native Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide. For more information on FAT Brands, please visit http://www.fatbrands.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the timing and performance of new store openings and FAT Brands’ pipeline of new store locations. These statements are subject to significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. We refer you to the documents filed by FAT Brands from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our current expectations and from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Mandzik, FAT Brands
emandzik@fatbrands.com
860-212-6509
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