EAT Brinker International Inc

DALLAS, June 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Romano's Macaroni Grill franchisee Waterloo Restaurant Ventures, Inc. purchased four corporate-owned restaurants and plans to develop 11 more through an expanded franchise and development agreement with Brinker International (NYSE:EAT). Waterloo currently operates five Macaroni Grill restaurants in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Through the newly inked agreement, Waterloo purchased four greater San Francisco-area Macaroni Grill restaurants and is slated to complete development on 11 more by the end of 2013. Based in Vancouver, Wash., Waterloo was founded by CEO and President Barry McGowan, a former Brinker employee and 20-year restaurant industry veteran. Waterloo has been a Brinker franchisee since becoming Macaroni Grill's first domestic franchise partner in 2002. "Waterloo Restaurant Ventures is excited to expand our partnership with Brinker and strengthen market penetration of the Macaroni Grill brand in the Pacific Northwest and California Bay area," said Barry McGowan, CEO and President of Waterloo Restaurant Ventures. "Our team of experienced casual dining operators combined with Brinker's support and operations infrastructure will be the recipe for our success." In the current fiscal year, Brinker's domestic and international franchisees have purchased 20 corporately-owned restaurants and signed agreements to develop an additional 115 restaurants over the next ten years. Brinker International, Inc. is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than 1 million guests daily. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchises more than 1,500 restaurants in 24 countries and employs more than 100,000. Brinker restaurant brands include Chili's Grill & Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Maggiano's Little Italy. The company was named one of FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Companies in 2006 and in 2005 was honored by the magazine as one of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and the Top 50 Employers for Women. For more information visit http://www.brinker.com/ . DATASOURCE: Brinker International CONTACT: Stacey Calbert, Media Relations of Brinker International, +1-800-775-7290 Web site: http://www.brinker.com/

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