OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. to be Acquired by Bain Capital, Catterton Partners and Company Founders for $40.00 Per Share in Cash
OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. (NYSE:OSI) , announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investor group comprised of Bain Capital Partners, LLC, Catterton Partners and Company founders Chris T. Sullivan, Robert D. Basham and J. Timothy Gannon, for $40.00 per share in cash.
The board of directors of OSI Restaurant Partners, on the unanimous recommendation of a Special Committee of independent directors, has approved the merger agreement and recommends that OSI's shareholders adopt the agreement.
The total transaction value, including assumed debt, is approximately $3.2 billion. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of April 2007, and is subject to customary closing conditions and approval of OSI's shareholders (other than those participating in the acquisition). The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
In accordance with the merger agreement, the Special Committee, with the assistance of its advisors, will be conducting a market test for the next 50 days by soliciting superior proposals from other parties. There is no assurance that the solicitation of proposals will result in an alternative transaction.
The Special Committee, comprised of OSI's independent directors, issued the following statement: "The Company received an acquisition proposal from Bain Capital and Catterton Partners and, after extensive negotiations and careful consideration in conjunction with our advisors, the Special Committee of OSI Restaurant Partners' board has unanimously concluded that this transaction is in the best interest of our shareholders. This transaction will provide OSI Restaurant Partners' shareholders with an immediate and substantial cash premium over the current trading price of the Company's common stock."
Bill Allen, Chief Executive Officer of OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. said, "After a significant amount of time and effort spent on the shareholder value initiative, we believe that this transaction is the best alternative for maximizing value for existing shareholders and has the full support of the senior management team and the Company's founders. We believe that this transaction will be good for the Company's partners, associates, franchisees and customers, as well as our shareholders. As a private company, OSI will have greater flexibility to focus on our long-term business improvement initiatives. Bain Capital and Catterton have strong track records working with their portfolio companies to further growth and business development, and both have extensive investment experience in the restaurant sector."
"This Company was built around a set of principles and beliefs that emphasize consistently high-quality food and service, generous portions at moderate prices, and a fun, casual atmosphere," said Chris Sullivan, Chairman and Founder OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. "Bain Capital and Catterton share our commitment to this philosophy and, as we return to private ownership, will support our people in achieving our long-term goals."
"We are delighted to partner with the founders and management team of OSI as they continue to bring focus and passion to building and growing the Company's portfolio of restaurant brands," said Andrew Balson, a Managing Director at Bain Capital. "Our experience in the restaurant and retail sectors has convinced us that the OSI concepts have significant opportunity for continued growth and profitability as they do what they have always done -- deliver high quality food, great service and enjoyable customer experiences. We look forward to working with Bill Allen, Chris Sullivan and the Company's partners and associates as they lead OSI to continued successes."
"We have known Bill Allen for more than 15 years and are excited to once again partner with him," said J. Michael Chu, Managing Partner of Catterton Partners. "I am confident that together with the expertise of Bain Capital, and the support of the founders and OSI's dedicated employees, we can take the OSI brands to the next level."
Wachovia Securities LLC served as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the OSI Restaurant Partners board of directors in connection with the merger transaction and Wachovia Securities LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co. each rendered separate fairness opinions to the Special Committee as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the Company's shareholders in the merger transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as special counsel to the Special Committee and Baker & Hostetler LLP is acting as counsel to OSI in this transaction. Ropes & Gray LLP is representing Bain Capital and Catterton in their investment in the Company.
Separately, the Company announced that it will need to restate its consolidated financial statements to correct for a previously announced understatement in its liability for unearned revenue for unredeemed gift cards and certificates and for other less significant errors in its financial statements, including deferred rent, minority interests in consolidated entities and additional paid in capital, identified since that announcement. The previously announced preliminary estimate of the understatement in the Company's liability for unearned revenue for unredeemed gift cards and certificates of approximately $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 was based on an accounting method under which the Company would recognize income in proportion to redemptions as they occur for an estimate of the gift cards and certificates that will never be redeemed. As part of the restatement, the Company has determined that it will recognize income for those cards and certificates that will never be redeemed at the time at which their redemption becomes remote, which is generally three years after their sale. The use of this method of revenue recognition (in contrast to the method of ratably recognizing revenue) changes the Company's original estimate and is expected to result in an adjustment to its unearned revenue liability of approximately $50,000,000 to $70,000,000 at September 30, 2006. The actual amount of the understatement, the periods affected and the related income tax effects are still being determined. As a result of these errors, management and the Company's Audit Committee have determined that the Company's previously issued financial statements should no longer be relied upon.
The Company intends to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2006 as soon as possible, although the Company currently expects that it will be late in that filing. Additional information concerning the restatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company today.
About OSI Restaurant Partners
OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. portfolio of brands consists of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Roy's, Lee Roy Selmon's, Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits and Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants with operations in 50 states and 21 countries internationally.
The total transaction value, including assumed debt, is approximately $3.2 billion. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of April 2007, and is subject to customary closing conditions and approval of OSI's shareholders (other than those participating in the acquisition). The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
In accordance with the merger agreement, the Special Committee, with the assistance of its advisors, will be conducting a market test for the next 50 days by soliciting superior proposals from other parties. There is no assurance that the solicitation of proposals will result in an alternative transaction.
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The Special Committee, comprised of OSI's independent directors, issued the following statement: "The Company received an acquisition proposal from Bain Capital and Catterton Partners and, after extensive negotiations and careful consideration in conjunction with our advisors, the Special Committee of OSI Restaurant Partners' board has unanimously concluded that this transaction is in the best interest of our shareholders. This transaction will provide OSI Restaurant Partners' shareholders with an immediate and substantial cash premium over the current trading price of the Company's common stock."
Bill Allen, Chief Executive Officer of OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. said, "After a significant amount of time and effort spent on the shareholder value initiative, we believe that this transaction is the best alternative for maximizing value for existing shareholders and has the full support of the senior management team and the Company's founders. We believe that this transaction will be good for the Company's partners, associates, franchisees and customers, as well as our shareholders. As a private company, OSI will have greater flexibility to focus on our long-term business improvement initiatives. Bain Capital and Catterton have strong track records working with their portfolio companies to further growth and business development, and both have extensive investment experience in the restaurant sector."
"This Company was built around a set of principles and beliefs that emphasize consistently high-quality food and service, generous portions at moderate prices, and a fun, casual atmosphere," said Chris Sullivan, Chairman and Founder OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. "Bain Capital and Catterton share our commitment to this philosophy and, as we return to private ownership, will support our people in achieving our long-term goals."
"We are delighted to partner with the founders and management team of OSI as they continue to bring focus and passion to building and growing the Company's portfolio of restaurant brands," said Andrew Balson, a Managing Director at Bain Capital. "Our experience in the restaurant and retail sectors has convinced us that the OSI concepts have significant opportunity for continued growth and profitability as they do what they have always done -- deliver high quality food, great service and enjoyable customer experiences. We look forward to working with Bill Allen, Chris Sullivan and the Company's partners and associates as they lead OSI to continued successes."
"We have known Bill Allen for more than 15 years and are excited to once again partner with him," said J. Michael Chu, Managing Partner of Catterton Partners. "I am confident that together with the expertise of Bain Capital, and the support of the founders and OSI's dedicated employees, we can take the OSI brands to the next level."
Wachovia Securities LLC served as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the OSI Restaurant Partners board of directors in connection with the merger transaction and Wachovia Securities LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co. each rendered separate fairness opinions to the Special Committee as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the Company's shareholders in the merger transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is acting as special counsel to the Special Committee and Baker & Hostetler LLP is acting as counsel to OSI in this transaction. Ropes & Gray LLP is representing Bain Capital and Catterton in their investment in the Company.
Separately, the Company announced that it will need to restate its consolidated financial statements to correct for a previously announced understatement in its liability for unearned revenue for unredeemed gift cards and certificates and for other less significant errors in its financial statements, including deferred rent, minority interests in consolidated entities and additional paid in capital, identified since that announcement. The previously announced preliminary estimate of the understatement in the Company's liability for unearned revenue for unredeemed gift cards and certificates of approximately $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 was based on an accounting method under which the Company would recognize income in proportion to redemptions as they occur for an estimate of the gift cards and certificates that will never be redeemed. As part of the restatement, the Company has determined that it will recognize income for those cards and certificates that will never be redeemed at the time at which their redemption becomes remote, which is generally three years after their sale. The use of this method of revenue recognition (in contrast to the method of ratably recognizing revenue) changes the Company's original estimate and is expected to result in an adjustment to its unearned revenue liability of approximately $50,000,000 to $70,000,000 at September 30, 2006. The actual amount of the understatement, the periods affected and the related income tax effects are still being determined. As a result of these errors, management and the Company's Audit Committee have determined that the Company's previously issued financial statements should no longer be relied upon.
The Company intends to file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of 2006 as soon as possible, although the Company currently expects that it will be late in that filing. Additional information concerning the restatement of the Company's consolidated financial statements will be included in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company today.
About OSI Restaurant Partners
OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc. portfolio of brands consists of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Roy's, Lee Roy Selmon's, Blue Coral Seafood & Spirits and Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants with operations in 50 states and 21 countries internationally.
