Our share repurchase authorization does not have an expiration date, does not require us to purchase a specific number of shares and may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time. Shares may be repurchased in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions at times and prices considered appropriate by us. Future decisions to repurchase shares are at the discretion of the Board and are based on several factors, including current and forecasted operating cash flows, capital needs associated with new restaurant development and maintenance of existing locations, dividend payments, debt levels and cost of borrowing, obligations associated with the acquisitions of North Italia and FRC (the "Acquisition "), our share price and current market conditions. The timing and number of shares repurchased are also subject to legal constraints and financial covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement that limit share repurchases based on a defined ratio. (See Note 5 for further discussion of our long-term debt.)
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
On April 20, 2020, to increase our liquidity given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations, we issued 200,000 shares of Series A preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200 million, or $1,000 per share. In connection with the issuance, we incurred direct and incremental costs of $10.3 million, including financial advisory fees, closing costs, legal expenses, a commitment fee and other offering-related expenses. These direct and incremental costs reduced the Series A preferred stock balance at the issuance date and were recognized through retained earnings on June 30, 2020, the first measurement date.
The Series A preferred stock ranks senior to our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions on liquidation, winding-up and dissolution upon which each share of Series A preferred stock will be entitled to receive an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) the purchase price (without giving effect to the commitment fee), plus all accrued and unpaid dividends (the “Liquidation Preference”) and (ii) the amount that the holder of the Series A preferred stock would have been entitled to receive at such time if the Series A preferred stock were converted into common stock. At March 30, 2021, the Liquidation Preference was $1,067.42 per share.
Dividend Rights
The holders of Series A preferred stock are entitled to dividends on the Liquidation Preference at the rate of 9.5% per annum, payable in cash or, at our option, paid in-kind. Such holders are also entitled to participate in dividends declared or paid on our common stock on an as-converted basis. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we declared a cash dividend of $5.1 million, or $25.35 per share.
Conversion Rights
Each holder has the right, at its option, to convert its Series A preferred stock, in whole or in part, into fully paid and non-assessable shares of our common stock at a conversion price equal to $22.23 per share, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, including in the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar events and certain anti-dilutive offerings if they occur on or prior to April 19, 2021. At March 30, 2021, the number of common shares that would be required to be issued upon conversion of the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock was 9.6 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designations, unless and until approval of our stockholders is obtained as contemplated by Nasdaq listing rules (the “Stockholder Approval”), no holder may convert shares of Series A preferred stock through either an optional or a mandatory conversion into shares of common stock if and solely to the extent that such conversion would result in the holder beneficially owning in excess of 19.9% of the then outstanding common stock. We have the right to settle any conversion in cash. As of March 30, 2021, the Series A preferred stock was convertible into approximately 17.1% of our outstanding common stock, on an as-converted basis.
After April 20, 2023 and subject to certain conditions, we may, at our option, require conversion of all of the outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock to common stock if, for at least 20 trading days during the 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date we notify the holders of Series A preferred stock of the election to convert, the closing price of the common stock is at least 200% of the conversion price. We will not exercise our right to mandatorily convert all outstanding shares of Series A preferred stock unless certain liquidity conditions with regard to the shares of common stock to be issued upon such conversion are satisfied.
Upon adoption of ASU 2020-06 in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we recorded a $4.8 million cumulative adjustment to retained earnings to reverse previously recorded beneficial conversion features.