SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant x
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o Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule14a-6(e)(2))
¨ Definitive Proxy Statement
x Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
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CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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BIGLARI HOLDINGS INC.
BIGLARI CAPITAL CORP.
THE LION FUND, L.P.
STEAK N SHAKE OPERATIONS, INC.
SARDAR BIGLARI
PHILIP L. COOLEY
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(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x No fee required.
¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(4) Date Filed:
Item 1: On October 18, 2012, Biglari Holdings Inc.’s counsel delivered the following letter to the General Counsel of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.:
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O L S H A N
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PARK AVENUE TOWER ● 65 EAST 55TH STREET ● NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
TELEPHONE: 212.451.2300 ● FACSIMILE: 212.451.2222
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EMAIL: SWOLOSKY@OLSHANLAW.COM
DIRECT DIAL: 212.451.2333
October 18, 2012
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
305 Hartmann Drive
Lebanon, Tennessee 37087
Attention: Michael Zylstra,Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Dear Mr. Zylstra:
Our client, Biglari Holdings Inc., an Indiana corporation (“Biglari Holdings”), is the beneficial owner of 4,125,037 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the “Company” or “Cracker Barrel”), as of the date hereof. 1,000 shares of Common Stock are held of record by Biglari Holdings, and Cede & Co., as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, is the holder of record of the remainder of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Biglari Holdings.
On behalf of Biglari Holdings, we previously delivered to the Company a letter, dated October 11, 2012 (the “Letter”), in which Biglari Holdings requested, pursuant to Section 48-26-102 of the Tennessee Code (the “Code”), during the usual hours for business, to inspect certain books, records and documents of the Company, and to make and/or receive copies or extracts therefrom, relating, among other things, to material misrepresentations in the Company’s public filings and statements concerning the professed experience of James W. Bradford, the designated Chairman of the Board (the “Request”). A copy of the Letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Biglari Holdings believes the response to the letter received from the Company’s outside counsel, dated October 15, 2012 (the “Company Response”), which repeatedly attempts to recharacterize material misstatements of fact regarding Mr. Bradford’s prior experience as a “misunderstanding,” is wholly inadequate. The Company Response demonstrates the Cracker Barrel Board’s continuing indifference to a matter of vital importance to shareholders, particularly in light of the upcoming election of directors at the Company’s 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting. The Company Response refuses to provide the vast majority of the information included in the Request on the purported grounds that the Request does not comply with Section 48-26-102 of the Code. The Company Response is a transparent attempt to appear reasonable, while ignoring the serious concerns regarding Mr. Bradford’s qualifications and experience, by proffering limited, hand-selected excerpts, which include almost no context, from Board minutes and materials purportedly provided by Mr. Bradford, which are devoid of any identifying notations, including his signature.
It is clear under Section 48-26-102 of the Code that Biglari Holdings is entitled to receive, among other things, minutes of meetings, and other records of action, of the Board and its committees. It is further apparent to Biglari Holdings that any documents, reports and other materials reviewed or considered by the Board, or any committee thereof, in connection with any such meeting regarding Mr. Bradford’s qualifications and experience constitute an integral part of the record thereof and are therefore required to be produced. Moreover, it is entirely evident, even from the extremely limited excerpts made available by the Company, that there was a glaring and material inconsistency between the information purportedly provided by Mr. Bradford and the offending disclosure contained in the Company’s public filings and statements, and that the following information is therefore critical to determine how these materially misleading statements occurred. Accordingly, Biglari Holdings hereby modifies the Request to demand the following information:
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O L S H A N F R O M E W O L O S K Y L L P
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WWW.OLSHANLAW.COM
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October 18, 2012
Page 2
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1.
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Any and all materials provided by or on behalf of, or regarding, James Bradford (whether or not executed) in connection with his candidacy or appointment to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, his designation as incoming Chairman of the Board, or the preparation or filing of any proxy material containing information about Mr. Bradford filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its 2011 or 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting, which materials (including, without limitation, such proxy materials) were considered or reviewed in connection with any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof;
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Any and all reports, background checks, and other materials commissioned or prepared by or on behalf of the Company, the Board or any committee thereof, in connection with the candidacy or appointment of Mr. Bradford to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, or his designation as incoming Chairman of the Board, and considered or reviewed in connection with any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof;
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Any and all minutes, transcripts, notes and other records of, and any related documents and materials provided in connection with, any meetings of the Board, or any committee thereof, discussing Mr. Bradford’s candidacy or appointment to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, his appointment as incoming Chairman of the Board, or any proxy material containing information about Mr. Bradford filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with its 2011 or 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting, including, but not limited to, any transcripts of interviews of Mr. Bradford; and
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Any D&O questionnaires completed by Mr. Bradford, which Cracker Barrel explicitly requires of all nominees standing for election to the Board.
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Alternatively, Biglari Holdings is willing to further refine its Request if Mr. Bradford provides a satisfactory answer to the following questions:
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Did Mr. Bradford read his biographical information contained in (a) the Company’s preliminary, revised preliminary and definitive proxy statements for both its 2011 and 2012 annual shareholders’ meetings filed with the SEC on October 11, 2011, October 25, 2011, November 8, 2011, September 11, 2012, September 28, 2012, and October 4, 2012, (b) CEO Sandra Cochran’s letter to shareholders dated October 4, 2012, and (c) the investor presentation Ms. Cochran delivered to the Wells Fargo Retail & Restaurants Conference on October 2, 2012?
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If so, why did Mr. Bradford not correct the material inaccuracy in each of the foregoing public documents claiming that he was CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-listed company?
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Biglari Holdings anticipates Mr. Bradford’s prompt response to the foregoing inquiries. In the event Mr. Bradford declines to address these concerns, please advise as promptly as practicable where and when the items demanded above will be made available.
October 18, 2012
Page 3
Biglari Holdings has designated and authorized the undersigned and Michael R. Neidell of Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP and any other persons designated by them or by Biglari Holdings, acting singly or in any combination, to conduct the inspection and copying herein requested. Pursuant to Section 48-26-102 of the Code, you are required to respond to this demand within five business days of the date hereof. Accordingly, please advise the undersigned, at (212) 451-2333, as promptly as practicable within the requisite timeframe, when and where the items requested above will be made available to Biglari Holdings.
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Very truly yours,
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/s/ Steve Wolosky
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Steve Wolosky
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October 18, 2012
Page 4
State of New York )
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County of New York )
SARDAR BIGLARI, being sworn, states: The information and facts stated in the attached letter regarding Biglari Holdings Inc.’s ownership and the purpose of this demand for inspection are true and correct. Such inspection is reasonably related to Biglari Holdings Inc.’s interest as a shareholder and is not desired for a purpose which is in the interest of a business or object other than the business of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
| /s/ Sardar Biglari |
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Sardar Biglari
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SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED
before me this 18th day of
October, 2012
/s/ Helen May Posner
NOTARY PUBLIC
My commission expires: December 14, 2014
Exhibit 1
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O L S H A N
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PARK AVENUE TOWER ● 65 EAST 55TH STREET ● NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
TELEPHONE: 212.451.2300 ● FACSIMILE: 212.451.2222
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EMAIL: SWOLOSKY@OLSHANLAW.COM
DIRECT DIAL: 212.451.2333
October 11, 2012
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
305 Hartmann Drive
Lebanon, Tennessee 37087
Attention: Michael Zylstra,Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Dear Mr. Zylstra:
Our client, Biglari Holdings Inc., an Indiana corporation (“Biglari Holdings”), is the beneficial owner of 4,091,037 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., a Tennessee corporation (the “Company” or “Cracker Barrel”), as of the date hereof. 1,000 shares of Common Stock are held of record by Biglari Holdings, and Cede & Co., as the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, is the holder of record of the remainder of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Biglari Holdings.
As the beneficial owner of shares of Common Stock, Biglari Holdings hereby demands, pursuant to Section 48-26-102 of the Tennessee Code (the “Code”), during the usual hours for business, to inspect the books, records and documents of the Company described below and to make and/or receive copies or extracts therefrom. Biglari Holdings is demanding this information for the following purposes:
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To investigate wrongdoing or possible mismanagement by Cracker Barrel’s management and/or any member(s) or committee(s) of the Board of Directors of Cracker Barrel (the “Board”) in connection with the statements made by Cracker Barrel in its proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 4, 2012 (the “2012 Proxy Statement”) with respect to the Company’s 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting (the “2012 Annual Meeting”), as well as its proxy statement filed with the SEC on November 8, 2011 (the “2011 Proxy Statement”) with respect to the Company’s 2011 annual shareholders’ meeting (the “2011 Annual Meeting”), regarding the qualifications of designated Chairman James W. Bradford as “President and Chief Executive Officer of AFG Industries Inc., which during his tenure was North America’s largest vertically integrated glass manufacturing and fabrication company and was traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the ‘NYSE’).”
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To investigate wrongdoing or possible mismanagement by Cracker Barrel’s management and/or any member(s) or committee(s) of its Board in connection with the statements by Cracker Barrel’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Sandra B. Cochran, on October 2, 2012 and October 4, 2012 that Jim Bradford was “the former CEO of [a] New York Stock Exchange company” and “former NYSE company CEO,” respectively.
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To investigate wrongdoing or possible mismanagement by any member(s) or committee(s) of the Board in connection with the nomination of Mr. Bradford to the Board, his appointment as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating Committee”), and his designation as incoming Chairman of the Board.
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O L S H A N F R O M E W O L O S K Y L L P
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WWW.OLSHANLAW.COM
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October 11, 2012
Page 2
Overview of Wrongdoing, Mismanagement and Corporate Governance Failures
In connection with the election of directors at the 2012 Annual Meeting and the 2011 Annual Meeting, certain public filings and statements were made by the Company, including statements contained in the 2012 Proxy Statement and the 2011 Proxy Statement, as well as statements made by CEO Sandra B. Cochran, highlighting designated Chairman James W. Bradford’s professed prior experience as CEO of a New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)-listed company. However, a public search reveals that Mr. Bradford has never been CEO of a NYSE company.
Specifically, Cracker Barrel’s 2012 Proxy Statement and 2011 Proxy Statement contain the following statement regarding the qualifications of Mr. Bradford:
“An experienced corporate executive, Mr. Bradford previously served … from 1992 to 1999 as President and Chief Executive Officer of AFG Industries Inc., which during his tenure was North America’s largest vertically integrated glass manufacturing and fabrication company and was traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the ‘NYSE’).”
This assertion was repeated to investors at the Wells Fargo Retail & Restaurants Conference on October 2, 2012 by Ms. Cochran, who stated that “Jim Bradford, who was the former CEO of [a] New York Stock Exchange company, and he’s now the Dean of the Business School at Vanderbilt….” Then on October 4, 2012, Ms. Cochran wrote a letter to shareholders highlighting the changes to the Board by stressing the experience of the incoming Chairman: “[Michael Woodhouse] will be succeeded by Jim Bradford, a former NYSE company CEO ….”
As the largest shareholder of the Company, beneficially owning approximately 17.3% of the Company’s outstanding shares, Biglari Holdings felt it was important to understand Mr. Bradford’s performance as a purportedly former CEO of a public company, in view of his recent appointment as the incoming Chairman of the Board, as well as Ms. Cochran’s statements underlining his position as “a former NYSE company CEO.” Accordingly, Biglari Holdings conducted a public search of Mr. Bradford’s background, which revealed that he has never been CEO of a NYSE company, contrary to the Company’s disclosures in filings made with the SEC and the statements made by Ms. Cochran.
On October 8, 2012, Biglari Holdings sent a letter to the Board informing them of the misrepresentations in the Company’s SEC filings, investor presentation and letter to shareholders regarding Mr. Bradford’s purported experience as former CEO of a NYSE company. In the letter, Biglari Holdings demanded the Board to conduct immediately an independent investigation to understand whether Mr. Bradford misrepresented his prior position to the Board and thereby led Ms. Cochran to misrepresent Mr. Bradford’s credentials to the public and to determine whether the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics has been violated. The letter also requested a separate review to be conducted to understand fully the process by which background checks and the vetting are conducted by the Nominating Committee, which bears responsibility for the accuracy of the credentials of Board members.
On October 9, 2012, the Company issued a press release on October 9, 2012 responding to Biglari Holdings’ inquiries in which it asserted that the public filings and statements made by Cracker Barrel, including those by Ms. Cochran, highlighting designated Chairman Mr. Bradford’s ostensible prior experience as CEO of a NYSE-listed company, were a “misunderstanding.”
Biglari Holdings believes that Cracker Barrel’s response inadequately explains such a materially misleading inaccuracy in Cracker Barrel’s public filings and statements which reflects poorly on the entire Board’s governance process. The inaccurate disclosure in Mr. Bradford’s biography was contained in both the 2012 Proxy Statement and 2011 Proxy Statement and has been repeated by Ms. Cochran during the proxy contest with respect to the 2012 Annual Meeting. Because the 2011 Proxy Statement had the same claim on Mr. Bradford’s credentials, Biglari Holdings find it quite troubling that this embellishment has been left uncorrected.
October 11, 2012
Page 3
Accordingly, Biglari Holdings believes that the material inaccuracy in Cracker Barrel’s public statements and filings regarding Mr. Bradford’s experience creates significant doubt as to the thoroughness of the entire Board nomination process and oversight of the accuracy of the Company’s public filings and statements.
The time period covered by this demand is from June 2011 through the present. Biglari Holdings is prepared to execute a confidentiality agreement with terms reasonably satisfactory to Biglari Holdings and the Company in connection with the requests below and will abide by the terms of that agreement, to facilitate the provision of the information requested hereby.
The Books and Records to be made available for inspection and copying are as follows:
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Any and all materials provided by or on behalf of James Bradford (whether or not executed) in connection with his candidacy or appointment to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, or his designation as incoming Chairman of the Board;
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Any and all communications between Mr. Bradford and the Company, the Board or any committee thereof concerning (i) Mr. Bradford’s designation as incoming Chairman of the Board, (ii) Mr. Bradford’s appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, or (iii) Mr. Bradford’s candidacy or appointment to the Board;
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Any and all reports, background checks, and other materials commissioned or prepared by or on behalf of the Company, the Board or any committee thereof, in connection with the candidacy or appointment of Mr. Bradford to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, or his designation as incoming Chairman of the Board;
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Any and all minutes, transcripts, notes and other records of any meetings (including, without limitation, telephone conferences), and any and all e-mail communications, discussing Mr. Bradford’s candidacy or appointment to the Board, his appointment as a member or as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, or his appointment as incoming Chairman of the Board, including, but not limited to, interviews of Mr. Bradford;
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Any D&O questionnaires completed by Mr. Bradford, which Cracker Barrel explicitly requires of all nominees standing for election to the Board;
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All documents concerning the Board’s or Nominating Committee’s decision to appoint Mr. Bradford as the incoming Chairman to the Board; and
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All communications with Mr. Bradford regarding his biography contained in the Company’s public filings with the SEC, investor presentations and communications to shareholders.
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Biglari Holdings demands that modifications, additions or deletions to any and all information referred to in paragraphs (1) through (7) be immediately furnished as such modifications, additions or deletions become available to the Company or its agents or representatives.
October 11, 2012
Page 4
Please advise as promptly as practicable where and when the items demanded above will be made available. If the Company has not responded within five business days of the date of this demand, Biglari Holdings will assume the Company does not intend to comply and will proceed accordingly.
Biglari Holdings has designated and authorized the undersigned and Michael R. Neidell of Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP and any other persons designated by them or by Biglari Holdings, acting singly or in any combination, to conduct the inspection and copying herein requested. Pursuant to Section 48-26-102 of the Code, you are required to respond to this demand within five business days of the date hereof. Accordingly, please advise the undersigned, at (212) 451-2333, as promptly as practicable within the requisite timeframe, when and where the items requested above will be made available to Biglari Holdings. If the Company contends that this demand is incomplete or is otherwise deficient in any respect, please notify Biglari Holdings immediately in writing, with a copy to the undersigned, by facsimile at (212) 451-2222, setting forth the facts that the Company contends support its position and specifying any additional information believed to be required. In the absence of such prompt notice, Biglari Holdings will assume that the Company agrees that this demand complies in all respects with the requirements of the Code. Biglari Holdings reserves the right to withdraw or modify this demand at any time.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Steve Wolosky
Steve Wolosky
October 11, 2012
Page 5
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State of Texas
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County of Bexar
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SARDAR BIGLARI, being sworn, states: The information and facts stated in the attached letter regarding Biglari Holdings Inc.’s ownership and the purpose of this demand for inspection are true and correct. Such inspection is reasonably related to Biglari Holdings Inc.’s interest as a shareholder and is not desired for a purpose which is in the interest of a business or object other than the business of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
| /s/ Sardar Biglari | |
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Sardar Biglari
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SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED
before me this 11th day of
October, 2012
/s/ Vilma Amell
NOTARY PUBLIC
My commission expires: 2/25/2014
Item 2: The following materials were posted by Biglari Holdings Inc. to http://www.enhancecrackerbarrel.com:
