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 22, 2003 -------------------------------- 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) Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure On October 22, 2003, Applebee's International, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release entitled "Applebee's International to Broadcast Third Quarter 2003 Earnings Conference Call Over the Internet." The press release is included below. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol DiRaimo, Executive Director of Investor Relations (913) 967-4109 Applebee's International to Broadcast Third Quarter 2003 Earnings Conference Call Over the Internet Overland Park, Kan., October 22, 2003 -- Applebee's International, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPB) will be releasing third quarter 2003 earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, October 29, 2003, and will be hosting a conference call to review the results on Thursday morning, October 30, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time). The conference call will be broadcast live over the Internet. To listen to the conference call, please go to the Investor Relations section of the company's website (www.applebees.com) at least 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the call to register, download, and install any necessary audio software. A replay will be available shortly after the call. Applebee's International, Inc., headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., develops, franchises and operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand, the largest casual dining concept in the world. There are currently 1,554 Applebee's restaurants operating system-wide in 49 states and nine 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 23, 2003 By:/s/ Steven K. Lumpkin --------------------- --------------------- Steven K. Lumpkin Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 3