EAT Brinker International Inc

Brinker International Announces November Sales DALLAS, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE:EAT), announced today comparable store sales decreased 1.0 percent for the four-week period ending Dec. 1, 2004. November comparable store sales were unfavorably impacted by approximately 3 percent due to the calendar shift of Thanksgiving Day from the December period last year to the November period this year. November comparable store sales for Brinker and the four reported brands were as follows: November FY '05 November FY '04 Brinker -1.0% 1.6% Chili's -0.7% 0.7% Macaroni Grill -8.1% 2.8% Maggiano's 8.8% 3.4% On The Border 3.9% 2.8% November price increases and product mix-shifts for Brinker and the four reported brands were as follows: Price Increase Product Mix-Shift Brinker 2.3% 1.1% Chili's 2.6% 1.7% Macaroni Grill 1.8% -0.3% Maggiano's 2.6% 2.8% On The Border 1.3% -0.9% The company also noted Christmas Day shifts from the January period last year to the December period this year. Brinker continues to anticipate second quarter fiscal 2005 earnings per diluted share to be $0.45 to $0.47 and full year fiscal 2005 earnings per share to be $2.06 to $2.19, including the impact of EITF 04-8 and excluding lease obligation charges related to Big Bowl, impairment charges and any potential re-franchising gains. The company updated its forecast for re-franchising gains and lease obligation charges, which are provided in the table below. The table also includes a reconciliation of both second quarter and full year diluted earnings per share forecasts. Forecast Second Full Qtr. FY '05 Year FY '05 Adjusted diluted EPS $0.47 - $0.49 $2.14 - $2.26 EITF 04-8, net of forward settlement (0.02) (0.08) - (0.07) Diluted EPS after EITF 04-8 adjustment $0.45 - $0.47 $2.06 - $2.19 Impairment and lease obligation charges (0.02) (0.27) Re-franchising gains 0.00 0.03 Diluted EPS $0.43 - $0.45 $1.82 - $1.95 A recorded message providing perspective on November sales will be available beginning Wednesday, December 8, at 4:30 p.m. EST through Friday, December 10, by dialing 1-973-528-0005 and entering pass code 1313. The company will release December sales results along with its second quarter earnings release and hold its conference call with management on January 25, 2005. Brinker International either owns, operates, franchises, or is involved in the ownership of 1,517 restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar (1,012 units), Romano's Macaroni Grill (224 units), Maggiano's Little Italy (32 units), On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina (131 units), Corner Bakery Cafe (86 units), Big Bowl Asian Kitchen (9 units), and Rockfish Seafood Grill (23 units). 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 seasonality of the company's business, adverse weather conditions, future commodity prices, fuel and utility costs and availability, terrorist acts, consumer perception of food safety, changes in consumer taste, 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. Contacts: Louis Adams or Chris Barnes, Media Relations (972) 770-4967 or (972) 770-4959 Lynn Schweinfurth, Investor Relations (972) 770-7228 DATASOURCE: Brinker International, Inc. CONTACT: media relations, Louis Adams, +1-972-770-4967, or Chris Barnes, +1-972-770-4959, or investor relations, Lynn Schweinfurth, +1-972-770-7228, all of Brinker International, Inc. Web site: http://www.brinker.com/

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