SEC Form SC 13D/A filed by Bloomin' Brands Inc. (Amendment)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 1)¹

Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

094235108

(CUSIP Number)

JEFFREY C. SMITH

STARBOARD VALUE LP

777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor

New York, New York 10017

(212) 845-7977

ANDREW FREEDMAN, ESQ.

MEAGAN REDA, ESQ.

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

September 5, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

* Includes 525,663 Shares underlying certain forward purchase contracts exercisable within 60 days hereof.

The following constitutes Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 1”). This Amendment No. 1 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 2 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

(a)       This statement is filed by:

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

(b)       The address of the principal office of each of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard R LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard L GP, Starboard R GP, Starboard X Master, Starboard Value LP, Starboard Value GP, Principal Co and Principal GP is 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The address of the principal office of each of Messrs. Smith and Feld is c/o Starboard Value LP, 201 E Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1000, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. The principal business address of Mr. George is 215 Ardsley Lane, Alpharetta, Georgia, 30005. The officers and directors of Starboard V&O Fund and Starboard X Master and their principal occupations and business addresses are set forth on Schedule A to the Schedule 13D and are incorporated by reference in this Item 2.

(c)       The principal business of Starboard V&O Fund is serving as a private investment fund. Starboard V&O Fund has been formed for the purpose of making equity investments and, on occasion, taking an active role in the management of portfolio companies in order to enhance shareholder value. Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master and Starboard X Master have been formed for the purpose of investing in securities and engaging in all related activities and transactions. Starboard Value LP provides investment advisory and management services and acts as the investment manager of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard X Master and the Starboard Value LP Account and the manager of Starboard S LLC. The principal business of Starboard Value GP is providing a full range of investment advisory, pension advisory and management services and serving as the general partner of Starboard Value LP. The principal business of Principal Co is providing investment advisory and management services. Principal Co is a member of Starboard Value GP. Principal GP serves as the general partner of Principal Co. Starboard R LP serves as the general partner of Starboard C LP. Starboard L GP serves as the general partner of Starboard L Master. Starboard R GP serves as the general partner of Starboard R LP and Starboard L GP. Messrs. Smith and Feld serve as members of Principal GP and the members of each of the Management Committee of Starboard Value GP and the Management Committee of Principal GP. Mr. George is a retired restaurant executive and currently provides investment advisory services.

(d)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A to the Schedule 13D, annexed thereto, has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A to the Schedule 13D, annexed thereto, has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Messrs. Smith, Feld and George are citizens of the United States of America. The citizenship of the persons listed on Schedule A to the Schedule 13D is set forth therein.

Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The Shares purchased by each of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard X Master and held in the Starboard Value LP Account were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business) in open market purchases, except as otherwise noted, as set forth in Schedule A, which is incorporated by reference herein. The aggregate purchase price of the 4,396,059 Shares beneficially owned by Starboard V&O Fund is approximately $114,345,568, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the entered into over-the-counter forward purchase contracts providing for the purchase of 525,663 Shares by Starboard V&O Fund is approximately $12,253,138, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 594,559 Shares beneficially owned by Starboard S LLC is approximately $15,260,820, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 454,456 Shares beneficially owned by Starboard C LP is approximately $11,662,259, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 256,331 Shares beneficially owned by Starboard L Master is approximately $6,578,216, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,243,200 Shares beneficially owned by Starboard X Master is approximately $32,011,813, excluding brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 870,732 Shares held in the Starboard Value LP Account is approximately $23,043,919, excluding brokerage commissions.

The Shares purchased by Mr. George were purchased in the open market with personal funds. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,196 Shares beneficially owned by Mr. George is approximately $31,984, excluding brokerage commissions.

Items 5(a) – (c) are hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 87,097,283 Shares outstanding, as of July 27, 2023, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2023.

Percentage: Approximately 5.7%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Less than 1%

Percentage: Approximately 1.4%

Percentage: Approximately 9.6%

Percentage: Approximately 9.6%

Percentage: Approximately 9.6%

Percentage: Approximately 9.6%

Percentage: Approximately 9.6%

Percentage: Less than 1%

The filing of this Schedule 13D shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer that he or it does not directly own. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:

After discussions with Mr. George and in view of Mr. George’s unique skill set, broad restaurant industry experience and extensive restaurant industry knowledge, Starboard Value LP determined to retain Mr. George as an advisor in connection with its investment in the Issuer. On September 5, 2023, Starboard Value LP entered into an advisor agreement (the “Advisor Agreement”) with Mr. George (the “Advisor”). Pursuant to the Advisor Agreement and in consideration for the performance of certain consulting and advisory services by the Advisor, Starboard Value LP agreed to pay the Advisor an upfront fee equal to $50,000 in cash. The Advisor agreed to use the after-tax proceeds from such compensation, or an equivalent amount of other funds, to acquire securities of the Issuer, no later than ten (10) business days after receipt of such compensation, except in certain limited circumstances.

As previously disclosed, Starboard V&O Fund entered into forward purchase contracts with Morgan Stanley as the counterparty providing for the purchase of an aggregate of 875,663 Shares having an aggregate purchase price of approximately $20,816,725 (each a “MS Forward Contract”). Each of the MS Forward Contracts has a final valuation date of March 27, 2024, however, Starboard V&O Fund has the ability to elect early settlement after serving notice to the counter-party of such intention at least two scheduled trading days in advance of the desired early final valuation date. Starboard V&O Fund has exercised certain of the MS Forward Contracts and thereby acquired 350,000 Shares. Accordingly, Starboard V&O Fund is a party to the remaining MS Forward Contracts providing for the purchase of an aggregate of 525,663 Shares.

On September 6, 2023, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibits:

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: September 6, 2023

SCHEDULE A

Transactions in Securities of the Issuer Since the Filing of the Schedule 13D

STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD

STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY S LLC

STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY C LP

STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND L LP

STARBOARD X MASTER FUND LTD

STARBOARD VALUE LP

(Through the Starboard Value LP Account)

DAVID C. GEORGE