« Back
Brinker International Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2008 Results
DALLAS, April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) announced fiscal 2008 third quarter earnings per diluted share from continuing operations decreased to $0.17 from $0.37 in the prior year. Before special items, earnings per diluted share from continuing operations decreased to $0.33 from $0.37 in the prior year (reconciliation included in Table 3).
During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the company began presenting Romano's Macaroni Grill as discontinued operations in its financial statements due to management's intent to sell the brand. Before special items, earnings per diluted share from discontinued operations increased from $0.07 in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 to $0.11 in the current quarter primarily driven by a decrease in depreciation expense due to the classification of assets held for sale beginning in fiscal 2008 (reconciliation included in Table 4). All amounts presented in this release are related to continuing operations unless otherwise stated.
During the third quarter, Brinker experienced encouraging trends in comparable restaurant sales which grew 1.1 percent. We have made progress with top-line growth during the past quarter, stated Doug Brooks, Chairman and CEO. Aligning our company on the areas of focus will allow Brinker to grow its business within existing restaurants.
Quarterly Revenues
Brinker reported revenues from continuing operations for the 13-week period of $907.7 million, a decrease of 3.9 percent compared with $944.0 million reported for the same period of fiscal 2007. The company experienced a 1.1 percent increase in comparable restaurant sales (see Table 1) in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. However, this increase was more than offset by a net decline in capacity of 6.7 percent due to sales of restaurants to franchisees and restaurant closures outpacing growth in company-owned restaurants during the past year. In contrast, royalty revenues from franchisees increased approximately 75 percent to $15.7 million from $9.0 million in the prior year.
Table 1: Q3 comparable restaurant sales
Q3 08 and Q3 07, company and three reported brands; percentage
Q3 08 Q3 07 Q3 08
Comparable Comparable Pricing Q3 08
Sales Sales Impact Mix-Shift
Brinker International 1.1% (4.4%) 3.1% 0.3%
Chili's 1.6% (4.4%) 3.2% 0.9%
On The Border (1.8%) (5.7%) 2.8% (1.0%)
Maggiano's (0.4%) (3.0%) 2.9% (2.0%)
Quarterly Operating Performance
Cost of sales, as a percent of revenues, increased from 28.4 percent in the prior year to 28.9 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. During the quarter, cost of sales was negatively impacted by unfavorable commodity prices, primarily beef, ribs, chicken and dairy products, and unfavorable product mix shifts related to new menu items, partially offset by favorable menu price changes and increased revenues from franchisees.
Restaurant expenses, as a percent of revenues, increased to 56.1 percent from 55.5 percent in the prior year primarily driven by increased labor and restaurant supply costs, partially offset by increased revenues from franchisees and lower pre-opening expenses.
Depreciation and amortization increased $1.3 million primarily driven by depreciation expense related to the addition of new restaurants and remodel investments. This increase was partially offset by the sale of 172 company-owned restaurants to franchisees over the past 12 months as well as an increase in fully depreciated assets and restaurant closures.
Compared to the prior year, general and administrative expense decreased $2.5 million for the quarter primarily due to reduced salary and team member related expenses resulting from the company's efforts to evolve its corporate structure to align with the increased mix of franchise restaurants as well as the expected decline in future company-owned restaurant development.
Other gains and charges increased from a gain of $1.0 million a year ago primarily resulting from the sale of a company-owned restaurant to a charge of $26.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2008. During the current quarter, the company evaluated its existing portfolio of assets for strategic fit as well as the infrastructure needed to support its evolving business model. As a result, management made the decision to close or decline lease renewals for 21 restaurants and further refined its planned reduction in domestic restaurant development to approximately 70 in fiscal 2008, approximately 15 in fiscal 2009 and even fewer in fiscal 2010. The charges related to these decisions are primarily comprised of asset impairments and write-offs, lease termination fees and severance costs. Details of the current quarter charge are outlined below:
Table 2: Detail of Other Gains and Charges
Q3 08; $ millions and $ per diluted share after-tax
$ $ $
Before tax After tax EPS
Item
Development-related costs 12.1 7.6 0.07
Restaurant closures 9.0 5.6 0.06
Severance 5.2 3.3 0.03
Total Other Gains and Charges 26.3 16.5 0.16
Interest expense increased $4.4 million primarily due to additional debt outstanding of $400 million borrowed under a three-year term loan used primarily to fund share repurchases in fiscal 2007 and for general corporate purposes.
The effective income tax rate, before special items, decreased to 28.1 percent for the current quarter as compared to 29.7 percent for the same quarter last year. The decrease in the tax rate was primarily due to an increase in federal tax credits, leverage from FICA tip credits and a decrease in incentive stock option expense.
The company incurred a loss from discontinued operations of $56.0 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2008 as compared to income from discontinued operations of $7.5 million in the prior year. The decrease in income is due to charges of $67.1 million, net of tax, primarily related to the write-down of Macaroni Grill assets held for sale to estimated fair value less costs to sell as well as asset write-offs and costs resulting from the company's decision to close 25 restaurants in connection with its efforts to sell the brand.
Income from discontinued operations, before special items, increased to $11.1 million in the current quarter from $8.9 million a year ago (reconciliation included in Table 4). This increase was primarily driven by a decrease in depreciation expense due to the classification of assets held for sale beginning in fiscal 2008, partially offset by a 4.4 percent decline in comparable restaurant sales at Macaroni Grill as well as increased operating costs.
Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
Cash flow from operations for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 decreased to approximately $255.8 million compared to $336.4 million in the prior year due to lower adjusted earnings, reduced income taxes payable and the timing of operational payments and receipts.
Capital expenditures through the third quarter of fiscal 2008 totaled $211.5 million, a reduction of $76.4 million compared to the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in new restaurants developed by the company. Total capital expenditures for fiscal 2008 are currently estimated to be approximately $265 million, with $150 million relating to new restaurants. Growth in fiscal 2009 will be primarily fueled by franchise openings of approximately 75 to 85 restaurants, while domestic company-owned growth will slow to approximately 15 restaurants. Accordingly, fiscal 2009 capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $185 to $190 million with $40 million allocated to new restaurant development, $25 to $30 million attributable to Chili's reimages, $25 to $30 million invested primarily in kitchen technology and the remainder primarily relating to capital expenditure maintenance programs.
The company repurchased 9.1 million common shares during the first nine months of fiscal 2008. At the end of the quarter, approximately $60 million remained available under the company's share authorizations. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the third quarter were reduced over 18 percent to 102.4 million from 125.7 million at the end of the third quarter fiscal 2007.
Special Items
Table 3: Reconciliation of income from continuing operations, before
special items
Q3 08 and Q3 07; $ millions and $ per diluted share after-tax
$ EPS $ EPS
Item Q3 08 Q3 08 Q3 07 Q3 07
Income from Continuing Operations 17.2 0.17 47.1 0.37
Other (Gains) and Charges 16.5 0.16 (0.6) 0.00
Income from Continuing
Operations, before Special Items 33.7 0.33 46.5 0.37
Table 4: Reconciliation of income (loss) from discontinued operations,
before special items
Q3 08 and Q3 07; $ millions and $ per diluted share after-tax
$ EPS $ EPS
Item Q3 08 Q3 08 Q3 07 Q3 07
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations (56.0) (0.55) 7.5 0.06
Other (Gains) and Charges 67.1 0.66 1.4 0.01
Income from Discontinued Operations,
before Special Items 11.1 0.11 8.9 0.07
Table 5: Reconciliation of net income (loss), before special items
Q3 08 and Q3 07; $ millions and $ per diluted share after-tax
$ EPS $ EPS
Item Q3 08 Q3 08 Q3 07 Q3 07
Net Income (Loss) (38.8) (0.38) 54.6 0.43
Other (Gains) and Charges 83.6 0.82 0.8 0.01
Net Income, before Special Items 44.8 0.44 55.4 0.44
Web-cast Information
Investors and interested parties are invited to listen to today's conference call, as management will provide further details of the quarter. The call will be broadcast live on the Brinker Web site (http://www.brinker.com) at 9 a.m. CDT today (April 22). For those who are unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay of the call will be available shortly thereafter and will remain on the Brinker Web site until the end of the day on May 20, 2008.
Forward Calendar
-- Third quarter SEC Form 10-Q filing on or before May 5, 2008; and
-- Fourth quarter earnings release, before market opens, on Aug. 5, 2008.
At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2008, Brinker International either owned, operated, or franchised 1,868 restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar (1,439 restaurants), Romano's Macaroni Grill (224 restaurants), On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina (163 restaurants), and Maggiano's Little Italy (42 restaurants).
The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and, consequently, could be affected by general business and economic conditions, the impact of competition, the impact of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic transactions, the seasonality of the company's business, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, fuel and utility costs and availability, terrorists acts, consumer perception of food safety, changes in consumer taste, health epidemics or pandemics, changes in demographic trends, availability of employees, unfavorable publicity, the company's ability to meet its growth plan, acts of God, governmental regulations, and inflation.
BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Week Thirty-Nine Week
Periods Ended Periods Ended
March 26, March 28, March 26, March 28,
2008 2007 2008 2007
Revenues $907,664 $944,028 $2,670,956 $2,712,882
Operating Costs and Expenses:
Cost of sales 262,565 267,680 753,466 757,996
Restaurant expenses 509,169 523,936 1,498,193 1,498,070
Depreciation and
amortization 39,958 38,653 117,582 119,708
General and administrative 39,618 42,164 120,176 135,277
Other gains and charges (a) 26,273 (966) 4,837 (2,176)
Total operating costs and 877,583 871,467 2,494,254 2,508,875
expenses
Operating income 30,081 72,561 176,702 204,007
Interest expense 10,800 6,446 36,191 19,297
Other, net (1,368) (995) (3,470) (2,627)
Income before provision for
income taxes 20,649 67,110 143,981 187,337
Provision for income taxes 3,417 20,011 41,987 59,176
Income from continuing 17,232 47,099 101,994 128,161
operations
Income (loss) from
discontinued operations,
net of taxes (b) (56,050) 7,472 (48,732) 18,241
Net income (loss) $(38,818) $54,571 $53,262 $146,402
Basic net income (loss) per
share:
Income from continuing
operations $0.17 $0.39 $0.98 $1.04
Income (loss) from
discontinued operations $(0.55) $0.06 $(0.47) $0.15
Net income (loss) per share $(0.38) $0.45 $0.51 $1.19
Diluted net income per share:
Income from continuing
operations $0.17 $0.37 $0.97 $1.02
Income (loss) from
discontinued operations $(0.55) $0.06 $(0.47) $0.14
Net income (loss) per share $(0.38) $0.43 $0.50 $1.16
Basic weighted average
shares outstanding 101,175 122,019 103,713 123,213
Diluted weighted average
shares outstanding 102,377 125,712 105,624 126,144
a) Current year other gains and charges includes charges in the third
quarter of fiscal 2008 of $12.1 million related to asset write-offs
resulting from the company's reduced development schedule, $9.0 million
related to the impairment of long-lived assets and $5.2 million of
severance. During the second quarter of fiscal 2008, the company
recorded a $29.2 million gain on the sale of 76 restaurants to a
franchisee and $7.3 million of charges primarily related to the
impairment of long-lived assets. Prior year other gains and charges
primarily includes a $1.7 million gain on the sale of company-owned
restaurants in the third quarter of fiscal 2007, $2.0 million of
impairment charges associated with restaurant closures in the second
quarter of fiscal 2007 and a gain on the termination of interest rate
swaps of $3.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2007.
b) Current year loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, includes
other gains and charges resulting from the expected sale of Macaroni
Grill. The company recorded charges of $67.1 million in the third
quarter of fiscal 2008, primarily related to the write-down of
long-lived assets held for sale to estimated fair value less costs to
sell and asset write-offs related to restaurant closures, $3.5 million
in the second quarter of fiscal 2008, primarily related to impairment
charges and deal-related expenses and $5.1 million in the first quarter
of fiscal 2008, primarily related to impairment charges and stock-based
compensation expense. Prior year income from discontinued operations,
net of taxes, includes other gains and charges of $1.4 million related
to lease charges associated with restaurant closures in the third
quarter of fiscal 2007 and $5.4 million related to impairment charges
associated with restaurant closures in the second quarter of fiscal
2007. As a result, income from discontinued operations, before special
items, was $11.1 million and $8.9 million for the third quarter of
fiscal 2008 and 2007, respectively. Income from discontinued operations,
before special items, was $27.0 and $25.1 million, respectively, for
fiscal 2008 and 2007 year-to-date.
BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
March 26, June 27,
2008 2007
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets of continuing operations $309,893 $249,289
Assets held for sale 218,411 423,378
Net property and equipment (a) 1,516,264 1,465,241
Total other assets 186,335 180,113
Total assets $2,230,903 $2,318,021
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current installments of long-term debt $1,918 $1,761
Current liabilities of continuing operations 534,215 519,269
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale 16,840 23,856
Long-term debt, less current installments 910,860 826,918
Other liabilities 167,434 141,128
Total shareholders' equity 599,636 805,089
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $2,230,903 $2,318,021
a) At March 26, 2008, the company owned the land and buildings for 229 of
the 1,062 company-owned restaurants (excluding Macaroni Grill). The
net book values of the land and buildings associated with these
restaurants totaled $184.8 million and $195.8 million, respectively.
BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RESTAURANT SUMMARY
Third Third
Total Quarter Quarter Total Projected
Restaurants Openings/ Closings/ Restaurants Openings
Dec. 26, Acquisitions Sales Mar. 26, Fiscal
2007 Fiscal 2008 Fiscal 2008 2008 2008
Company-Owned
Restaurants:
Chili's 865 23 7 881 59-61
Macaroni Grill 216 - 23 193 3
On The Border 137 - 4 133 7
Maggiano's 41 1 - 42 1
International(a) 6 - - 6 2
1,265 24 34 1,255 72-74
Franchise
Restaurants:
Chili's 395 7 1 401 35
Macaroni Grill 17 1 - 18 6
On The Border 29 - - 29 5
International(a) 166 4 5 165 36
607 12 6 613 82
Total
Restaurants:
Chili's 1,260 30 8 1,282 94-96
Macaroni Grill 233 1 23 211 9
On The Border 166 - 4 162 12
Maggiano's 41 1 - 42 1
International 172 4 5 171 38
1,872 36 40 1,868 154-156
(a) At the end of third quarter fiscal year 2008, international company
owned restaurants by brand were five Chili's and one Macaroni Grill.
International franchise restaurants by brand were 152 Chili's,
12 Macaroni Grill's and one On The Border.
SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.
/CONTACT: Media Relations, Stacey Sullivan, 1-800-775-7290, or Investor
Relations, Marie Perry, +1-972-770-1276
/Web site: http://www.brinker.com /