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First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. Announces Secondary Offering of Common Stock

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First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG) announces an underwritten secondary offering of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock by Selling Stockholders managed by Advent International, L.P. Barclays is the sole underwriter, with an option for an additional 900,000 shares. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Offering.
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The announcement of a secondary offering by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG) indicates a notable liquidity event for the Selling Stockholders, in this case, funds managed by Advent International, L.P. From a market research perspective, this event can lead to several implications for the stock's trading dynamics. Firstly, the introduction of additional shares into the market could potentially dilute the stock's value in the short term, as the increase in available shares may lead to downward pressure on the stock price.

It is also important to consider the timing and rationale behind such a decision. Secondary offerings are often executed to capitalize on a strong share price performance or to allow early investors to realize gains. The market's reception to this news will be influenced by the company's recent performance and growth prospects. Investors will be closely monitoring the impact of this offering on the company's stock performance, as well as the future strategic moves by Advent International concerning their remaining stake in FWRG.

From a financial standpoint, the secondary offering of 6,000,000 shares, with an option for an additional 900,000, does not directly affect the company's capital structure since the proceeds will go to the Selling Stockholders and not to FWRG's corporate coffers. However, it is essential to analyze the underwriter's role, in this case, Barclays and the terms of the offering. The underwriter's confidence in being able to sell these shares can be a testament to the company's valuation and market sentiment.

Investors should assess the potential impact of this offering on the company's earnings per share (EPS), as the secondary offering may lead to changes in the shareholder base and potentially affect the stock's liquidity. Additionally, the use of a shelf registration statement suggests that FWRG is positioning itself for flexibility in capital raising, which could be advantageous for future growth initiatives or acquisitions.

In the context of regulatory compliance, the use of a shelf registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a strategic move that facilitates the process of selling shares over a period of time without the need for multiple registrations. This method is compliant with SEC regulations and allows the company to act quickly in response to market conditions or capital needs. Investors should be aware of the legal framework governing such offerings, as they indicate a company's readiness to access capital markets efficiently while adhering to regulatory standards.

It's also important to note that the prospectus and other SEC filings provide critical information that can affect investor decisions. These documents often contain details about the company's financial health, risk factors and strategic direction, which are crucial for making informed investment decisions.

BRADENTON, Fla., March 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (“FWRG” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: FWRG), a leading Daytime Dining concept serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, today announced the launch of an underwritten secondary offering (the “Offering”) by certain funds managed by Advent International, L.P. (the “Selling Stockholders”) of 6,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”).

The underwriter has a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the Offering. The Company is not selling any shares of Common Stock in the Offering and will not receive any proceeds from the Offering.

Barclays is acting as the sole underwriter of the Offering.

The underwriter proposes to offer the shares of Common Stock from time to time for sale in one or more transactions on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market, through negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

The Offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the shelf registration statement and other documents the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. The Offering will be made only by means of a free writing prospectus, a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement relating to the Offering, copies of which may be obtained from Barclays Capital Inc. c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 Barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com, (888) 603-5847. A copy of the free writing prospectus, the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement relating to the Offering may also be obtained free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from the statements made herein. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial position, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to any historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “outlook,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “plan,” “seek,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “can have,” “likely,” the negatives thereof and other similar expressions. You should evaluate all forward looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties disclosed herein, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investors Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.firstwatch.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include the following: uncertainty regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas war and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions, including inflation, as a result of such conflicts or other related events; our vulnerability to changes in economic conditions and consumer preferences; our inability to successfully open new restaurants or establish new markets; our inability to effectively manage our growth; potential negative impacts on sales at our and our franchisees’ restaurants as a result of our opening new restaurants; a decline in visitors to any of the retail centers, lifestyle centers, or entertainment centers where our restaurants are located; lower than expected same-restaurant sales growth; unsuccessful marketing programs and limited time new offerings; changes in the cost of food; unprofitability or closure of new restaurants or lower than previously experienced performance in existing restaurants; our inability to compete effectively for customers; unsuccessful financial performance of our franchisees; our limited control over our franchisees’ operations; our inability to maintain good relationships with our franchisees; conflicts of interest with our franchisees; the geographic concentration of our system-wide restaurant base in the southeast portion of the United States; damage to our reputation and negative publicity; our inability or failure to recognize, respond to and effectively manage the accelerated impact of social media; our limited number of suppliers and distributors for several of our frequently used ingredients and shortages or disruptions in the supply or delivery of such ingredients; information technology system failures or breaches of our network security; our failure to comply with federal and state laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection, or the expansion of current or the enactment of new laws or regulations relating to privacy, data protection, advertising and consumer protection; our potential liability with our gift cards under the property laws of some states; our failure to enforce and maintain our trademarks and protect our other intellectual property; litigation with respect to intellectual property assets; our dependence on our executive officers and certain other key employees; our inability to identify, hire, train and retain qualified individuals for our workforce; our failure to obtain or to properly verify the employment eligibility of our employees; our failure to maintain our corporate culture as we grow; unionization activities among our employees; employment and labor law proceedings; labor shortages or increased labor costs or health care costs; risks associated with leasing property subject to long-term and non-cancelable leases; risks related to our sale of alcoholic beverages; costly and complex compliance with federal, state and local laws; changes in accounting principles applicable to us; our vulnerability to natural disasters, unusual weather conditions, pandemic outbreaks, political events, war and terrorism; our inability to secure additional capital to support business growth; our level of indebtedness; failure to comply with covenants under our credit facility; and the interests of our majority stockholder may differ from those of public stockholders. For additional discussion of factors that could impact our operational and financial results, please refer to our filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investors Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.firstwatch.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual financial condition, results of operations, future performance and business may vary in material respects from the performance projected in these forward-looking statements.

About First Watch
First Watch (NASDAQ: FWRG) is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients across its network of neighborhood restaurants. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with specialties such as the Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation, Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was recognized as the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2023 and 2022, First Watch was named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet and recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award. There are more than 520 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, L.P., one of the world’s largest private-equity firms.

Investor Contact:
Steven L. Marotta
941-500-1918
investors@firstwatch.com

Media Contact:
FirstWatch@icrinc.com

 


FAQ

What is the recent announcement made by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG)?

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG) announced the launch of an underwritten secondary offering of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock by Selling Stockholders managed by Advent International, L.P.

How many shares of Common Stock are being offered in the secondary offering?

6,000,000 shares of Common Stock are being offered in the secondary offering by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG).

Who is acting as the sole underwriter for the Offering?

Barclays is acting as the sole underwriter for the Offering by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG).

Will the Company receive any proceeds from the Offering?

The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Offering of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock by First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc. (FWRG).

What is the option available to the underwriter in the Offering?

The underwriter has a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 900,000 shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.

NASDAQ:FWRG

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1.51B
32.13M
1.58%
90.17%
7.48%
Full-Service Restaurants
Accommodation and Food Services
Link
United States of America
BRADENTON

About FWRG

at first watch, we believe in putting our customers first. we begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing and juicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins and whipping up our french toast batter from scratch. freshness is never compromised — as we use only the finest ingredients available for the freshest taste possible. when you arrive, we welcome you with a pot—not just a cup—of our sunrise select® premium blend coffee, along with complimentary newspapers and wifi internet access. we want to provide every customer with an extraordinary dining experience. it's all part of our "you first®" service philosophy—doing whatever it takes to make your visit memorable. our history back in 1983, there was no breakfast restaurant–focused category, really. then the original first watch opened from 7 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. with the idea that people want a breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant that doesn't moonlight with steaks or anything else later in the day. word about this