First IHOP® Restaurant Opens In India

"With the ongoing growth of IHOP restaurants and the introduction of our world-famous dining experience in India, this is a proud moment for us," said Daniel del Olmo, president, international, DineEquity, Inc. "The family friendly atmosphere, warm hospitality and delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner options at IHOP restaurants translate to any country and culture the world over, and we look forward to delighting guests in India as we have in our more than 1,700 restaurants spanning 12 countries."

The menu for this and other India IHOP restaurants will include the beloved American favorites the brand is known for, with numerous modifications to appeal to local palates and dietary preferences; 50 percent of the menu will be vegetarian, the pancakes will be eggless, and additional lunch and dinner options will be available – including lamb. The kid's menu has an extra special "create a face pancake" option, encouraging kids to express their creativity through food.

The design of the India restaurants will also be unique to reflect the brand's 'spreading happiness since 1958' positioning.  Guests will notice key elements of the California Heritage design, including the pancake station, an open kitchen and fresh juice bar along with design elements reflecting IHOP's heritage.

"From my very first experience with IHOP's food and atmosphere, I felt that this was a concept that belonged in India," said Sameer Lamba, managing director of Kwal's Group. "Since becoming an IHOP franchisee and getting to know the restaurant culture even better, my belief in the brand has been strengthened due to the high-quality standards and exceptional friendliness I've experienced at every IHOP restaurant. We look forward to bringing this unique experience to the guests of our first India restaurant, and the many others to come throughout the country."

The anticipated addition of 20 IHOP restaurants in India is expected to generate at least one thousand jobs, and benefit the local economy from the initial construction and ongoing purchase of goods and services.

In 2014, DineEquity consolidated the Applebee's and IHOP international brand teams into one business unit and created a new strategic plan based on robust consumer insights and franchisee feedback. As a result, the company implemented a 360-degree brand evolution resulting in new brand positioning, marketing, food and beverage choices, plate presentation, restaurant design and an improved service culture, all of which have been embraced by franchisees.

2016 was the third consecutive year of record international growth for DineEquity. With an international development pipeline of nearly 200 planned restaurants, the company is actively pursuing the goal established in 2016 of doubling its international presence to over 500 locations by 2021. International growth has been largely focused on three key regions: Latin America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, increasing the number of restaurants in existing markets while entering new ones.

ABOUT DINEEQUITY, INC.

Based in Glendale, California, DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries, franchises restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand and franchises and operates restaurants under the IHOP brand. With more than 3,700 restaurants combined in 19 countries and U.S. territories and approximately 400 franchisees, DineEquity is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information on DineEquity, visit the company's web site at www.dineequity.com.

ABOUT IHOP RESTAURANTS

For nearly 59 years, IHOP has been a leader, innovator and expert in all things breakfast, any time of day. The chain offers 65 different signature, fresh, made-to-order breakfast options, a wide selection of popular lunch and dinner items as well as meals under 600 calories. IHOP restaurants offer guests an affordable, everyday dining experience with warm and friendly service. Today, there are more than 1,700 IHOP restaurants around the world, including restaurants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam as well as Canada, India, Mexico, Guatemala, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and The Philippines. IHOP restaurants are franchised and operated by Glendale, Calif.-based DineEquity, Inc. (NYSE: DIN) and its affiliates.

About Kwal's Group

A company with over six decades of proven knowledge and experience, Kwal's Group is India's premium food service company involved in operating and managing food courts for office complexes and all large malls. Kwal's Group currently has 26 food courts in operation and over 50 signed food courts due to open in a span of 6-8 months. Kwal's Group has partnered with several major QSR brands on a Pan Indian basis in addition to having a large catering infrastructure in New Delhi/NCR, Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Pathankot.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied in such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the effect of general economic conditions; the Company's indebtedness; risk of future impairment charges; trading volatility and the price of the Company's common stock; the Company's results in any given period differing from guidance provided to the public; the highly competitive nature of the restaurant business; the Company's business strategy failing to achieve anticipated results; risks associated with the restaurant industry; risks associated with locations of current and future restaurants; rising costs for food commodities and utilities; shortages or interruptions in the supply or delivery of food; ineffective marketing and guest relationship initiatives and use of social media; changing health or dietary preferences; our engagement in business in foreign markets; harm to our brands' reputation; litigation; third-party claims with respect to intellectual property assets; environmental liability; liability relating to employees; failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations; failure to effectively implement restaurant development plans; our dependence upon our franchisees; concentration of Applebee's franchised restaurants in a limited number of franchisees; credit risk from IHOP franchisees operating under our previous business model; termination or non-renewal of franchise agreements; franchisees breaching their franchise agreements; insolvency proceedings involving franchisees; changes in the number and quality of franchisees; inability of franchisees to fund capital expenditures; heavy dependence on information technology; the occurrence of cyber incidents or a deficiency in our cybersecurity; failure to execute on a business continuity plan; inability to attract and retain talented employees; risks associated with retail brand initiatives; failure of our internal controls; and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements.

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