Ruby Tuesday Reports Second Quarter Results

Ruby Tuesday (NYSE: RT) reported revenue of $289.8 million for its second fiscal quarter ended December 2, 2008, versus $320.9 million for the same period a year ago, with the decrease reflecting a 10.8% decline in same-restaurant sales. The Company also reported a diluted loss per share of $0.73 on a net loss of $37.4 million including pre-tax charges of $56.2 million or $0.71 per diluted share for restructuring its property portfolio and the write-off of its goodwill. This compares to a diluted loss per share of $0.20 for the second quarter of the prior year on a net loss of $10.4 million.

Management took decisive action during the quarter to lower the Company's costs and improve the productivity and profitability of its assets in response to continuing soft sales and the deterioration in the overall economic climate by:

• Reducing costs by an estimated $40-45 million annually, including lowering general and administrative and other expenses, and the benefit from our restructuring,

• Restructuring the Company's property portfolio including plans to close approximately 40 restaurants in the third quarter and an additional 30 over the next several years, and the write-down of properties held for sale to facilitate their disposal.

Sandy Beall, founder and CEO commented, 'We are highly focused on four key aspects of our business: improving same-restaurant sales, maintaining and growing cash flow, improving the productivity and quality of our restaurant locations, and strengthening our balance sheet and reducing debt by an estimated $80-90 million in fiscal 2009. We paid down approximately $40 million of debt in the first half of the fiscal year.

'While the actions we took in the second quarter are important, we understand that the best and most sustainable way to increase cash flow, reduce our debt, and address our financial position is through increasing same-restaurant sales. Our advertising dollars are focused on promoting value aggressively to generate traffic. We are also testing targeted marketing programs in the South, an area that has been especially soft for us.

Mr. Beall continued, 'In the last several years we invested heavily to reimage all our restaurants through upgraded menu offerings, service standards, and remodels. With our system freshly updated and new restaurant development on hold, we have minimal capital needs. Therefore, nearly all our cash flow will be used for debt pay-down.

'In addition, proceeds from the sales of the properties held for sale, the carrying value of which we wrote down in the second quarter, will be used to retire our debt.

'We are generating substantial free cash flow, have the liquidity to repay debt, and are in compliance with our debt covenants. We believe the actions we are taking, including our cost reduction efforts, will help us to remain in compliance with our debt covenants going forward.

'The bar grill segment is highly competitive and the supply of restaurants far exceeds the level of demand. Many observers believe the entire segment will need to invest to improve quality, overall value, and find ways to differentiate themselves. We have already accomplished this through our quality improvement initiatives and remodeling program that we commenced three years ago and completed towards the end of fiscal 2008. Consequently, we believe we are well-positioned to gain market share when consumer spending recovers,' Mr. Beall concluded.

Second Quarter Highlights

• Same-restaurant sales at Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants decreased 10.8%, while same-restaurant sales at domestic franchise Ruby Tuesday restaurants decreased 6.2%, as compared to a decrease of 10.8% and a decrease of 8.7% at Company-owned and domestic franchise Ruby Tuesday restaurants, respectively, in the second quarter of the prior year.

• Total revenues were down 9.7% primarily reflecting the decline in same-restaurant sales. A net of one restaurant closed during the quarter, and there was a net decrease of 7 restaurants from the same quarter of the prior year.

• Sales at domestic and international franchise Ruby Tuesday restaurants (which are the basis for determining royalty fees included in franchise income on the Company's operating statement) totaled $90,698,000 and $98,173,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and 2008, respectively. Fiscal 2009 sales at franchise restaurants were reduced due to the acquisition of the Michigan franchisees in October 2007 and the lower same-restaurant sales.

• The Company's effective tax rate was impacted by our goodwill charges and tax credits.

• Capital expenditures were $5.0 million, compared with $40.8 million a year earlier reflecting the Company's decision to use cash flow to retire debt and the completion of its remodeling program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

• The Company was in compliance with its debt covenants as of the end of the second quarter: the leverage ratio was 4.22, versus a maximum requirement of 4.50, the fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.48, compared with a minimum threshold of 2.25, and net worth exceeded the minimum requirement by $13.6 million.

• The Company had 52.8 million shares outstanding at the end of the quarter.

Impairments and Goodwill Charges

The Company's pre-tax $37.2 million Closures and Impairments expenses in the quarter included impairments for approximately 40 restaurants that are to be closed in the third quarter of this fiscal year ($16 million), 30 restaurants that are expected to close over the next several years as their leases expire or sooner if possible ($9.9 million), the write down of properties held for sale ($8.7 million), dead site costs ($2.0 million), and ($0.6 million) of closed restaurant lease reserves and other adjustments. As of January 7, 2009, the Company had closed 28 of the approximately 40 restaurants that are expected to close in the fiscal third quarter.

The Company also incurred a $19.0 million pre-tax charge for the write-off of its goodwill balances. This followed the Company's on-going review process and was due to the overall poor economic conditions, declines in fair value, same-restaurant sales trends at Company-owned restaurants, and the current poor industry conditions.

Fiscal 2009 Guidance

Restaurant locations - we plan to open one Company-owned restaurant in the third quarter and close approximately 40. Our franchisees expect to open 12-15 restaurants during the second half of the year, including six to eight domestic and six to seven international.

Same-restaurant sales are expected to decline 9% to 10% for the year.

Other expenses - depreciation is projected to be in the $74-76 million range and selling, general, and administrative expenses are targeted to be down 20-25% from a year earlier.

Lease reserve - we anticipate incurring a pre-tax lease-related charge of $10-15 million in the third quarter when our restaurant closings take place.

After giving effect to the second quarter pre-tax restructuring and goodwill charges of $56.2 million and anticipated lease-related costs of $10-15 million in the third quarter, the diluted loss per share for the year is projected to be in the range of $0.45-$0.55. These charges are estimated to reduce annual EPS by approximately $0.85.

Capital expenditures for the year are expected to be in the $19-21 million range.

Debt pay-down is expected to total $80-90 million for the year.

Mr. Beall commented, 'Fiscal 2009 is the most difficult year since our founding nearly 37 years ago. We are highly focused on improving cash flow and expect to be profitable in the second half of the year. Our entire team is committed to taking the appropriate steps to restore shareholder value.'

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