Bloomin' Brands Announces 2014 Second Quarter Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.27 and Diluted EPS of $0.21; Provides Updated Guidance for Full Year 2014 Including Adjusted Diluted EPS of Between $1.05 and $1.10; Announces Plans to Expand Carrabba's to Brazil

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bloomin' Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:BLMN) today reported financial results for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014.

Key highlights for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014 include the following:

• Total revenues increased 9.0% to $1.1 billion
   
• Comparable sales for Company-owned core domestic concepts increased 0.6% while traffic was flat
   
• The Company plans to expand Carrabba's Italian Grill in Brazil with first opening in the first half of 2015
   
• Total system-wide development was six new restaurants including three Brazilian Outback Steakhouse locations
   
• Restaurant-level operating margin was 16.1% versus 16.0% for the second quarter of 2013
   
• Adjusted operating income margin* was 5.8% versus 6.7% in the second quarter of 2013 and U.S. GAAP operating income margin was 5.6% versus 6.7% in the second quarter of 2013
   
• Adjusted net income* was $34.2 million versus $31.8 million in the second quarter of 2013 and U.S. GAAP Net income attributable to Bloomin' Brands was $26.4 million versus $74.9 million in the second quarter of 2013

The following table reconciles Adjusted diluted earnings per share to Diluted earnings per share for the periods as indicated below:

"In the second quarter we maintained our outperformance versus Knapp with a 250 basis point positive traffic gap; however, dinner traffic did not recover as expected following the weather events of the first quarter," said Elizabeth Smith, CEO. "We have responded with marketing innovation in the second half that is focused on dinner. In addition, in Korea, we continue to face significant macro issues and an increasingly competitive environment. Given these challenges, our second quarter results were softer than expected and we have revised our 2014 total year outlook down from our original estimates. Adjusted diluted earnings per share are now expected to be between $1.05 to $1.10 while domestic comp sales are expected to be 0.0% to 1.0%."

Smith continued, "While 2014 is challenging, we remain confident in our long term growth prospects and our portfolio's unique opportunities. We are excited to announce our plans to expand Carrabba's to Brazil with our first opening expected in the first half of 2015. This represents the next step in our International expansion efforts. We will continue to pursue International opportunities for Outback, particularly in high growth areas such as Brazil and China."

Financial Results

The following summarizes the Company's results for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014:

• Total revenues increased 9.0% to $1.1 billion. This increase was primarily due to the consolidation of restaurant sales generated by the formerly unconsolidated joint venture restaurants in Brazil, additional revenues from opening new restaurants and an increase in domestic comparable restaurant sales at our existing restaurants. The increase in restaurant sales was partially offset by the closing of 29 restaurants since March 31, 2013 and a decline in comparable sales in the Company's South Korean restaurants.
   
• Comparable sales for Company-owned core domestic concepts grew 0.6%. Traffic for Company-owned core domestic concepts was flat as traffic increases from lunch expansion were offset by traffic declines in the dinner business. Results by concept were as follows:

• Restaurant-level operating margin was 16.1% for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014 versus 16.0% for the second quarter of 2013. This increase was primarily due to productivity savings, menu pricing and the operating margin benefit from the consolidation of the formerly unconsolidated joint venture restaurants in Brazil.   The increase was partially offset by commodity inflation, costs associated with lunch expansion and new promotions, lower average unit volumes in the Company's South Korean restaurants and increases in certain other operating expenses.
   
• Adjusted operating income margin was 5.8% and operating income margin was 5.6% for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014, respectively, versus 6.7% for the second quarter of 2013, respectively. This decrease was driven primarily by the timing of the Company's annual managing partner conference, higher Depreciation and amortization and higher costs associated with growth investments. This decrease was partially offset by lower incentive compensation and higher restaurant margins. In addition, due to the consolidation of Brazil we no longer record the Company's share of their earnings as "Income from operations of unconsolidated affiliates".
   
• The Company opened six new system-wide locations: one Bonefish Grill restaurant, one Outback Steakhouse, and four Company-owned international Outback Steakhouse restaurants, three in Brazil and one in South Korea. There were also four closures: three international Outback Steakhouse restaurants in South Korea and one domestic Outback Steakhouse location.

Fiscal 2014 Financial Outlook

Based on results for the thirteen weeks ended June 29, 2014, the Company revised its financial outlook for fiscal 2014. This outlook assumes that core domestic traffic trends remain consistent with trends seen through the first half of fiscal 2014. In addition, the outlook assumes no improvement in the operating results in our Korean business.

The following table presents the Company's updated expectations for selected fiscal 2014 financial reporting and operating results as compared to the financial outlook provided in the Company's February 25, 2014 earnings release.

The financial outlook disclosed in the February 25, 2014 earnings release was largely expressed on an "at least" basis (e.g., Adjusted diluted earnings per share of "at least $1.21"). The revised financial outlook in the "Current Outlook" column provides a range estimate (i.e., Adjusted diluted earnings per share "between $1.05 and $1.10").

Fiscal Third Quarter 2014 Commentary

The Company has identified that Other restaurant operating expenses are expected to be higher in the third quarter of 2014 as compared to 2013 due primarily to the following items:

• the timing of marketing expenditures; and
• costs associated with the Bonefish Grill menu rollout in early July.

In addition, the Company will incur additional general and administrative expenses related to its development of Carrabba's in Brazil in the third quarter of 2014.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, August 5, 2014 at 9:00 AM ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (888) 850-2545 or (719) 325-4788 for international callers. A replay will be available beginning two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 or (858) 384-5517 for international callers; the conference ID is 9336991. The replay will be available through Tuesday, August 12, 2014. The call will also be webcast live from the Company's website at http://www.bloominbrands.com under the Investors section. A replay of this webcast will be available on the Company's website after the call.

About Bloomin' Brands, Inc.

The Company is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies in the world with a portfolio of leading, differentiated restaurant concepts. The Company has five founder-inspired brands: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar and Roy's, with all except Roy's considered core concepts. The Company operates more than 1,500 restaurants in 48 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 21 countries, some of which are franchise locations. For more information, please visit www.bloominbrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein, including statements under the headings "Fiscal 2014 Financial Outlook" are not based on historical fact and are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, these statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "on track," "feels," "forecasts," "seeks," "projects," "intends," "plans," "may," "will," "should," "could," "would" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: local, regional, national and international economic conditions; consumer confidence and spending patterns; price and availability of commodities, such as beef, chicken, shrimp, pork, seafood, dairy, potatoes, onions and energy supplies, which are subject to fluctuation and could increase or decrease more than the Company expects; weather, acts of God and other disasters; the seasonality of the Company's business; inflation or deflation; increases in unemployment rates and taxes; increases in labor and health insurance costs; competition and changes in consumer tastes and the level of acceptance of the Company's restaurant concepts (including consumer acceptance of prices); consumer reaction to public health issues; consumer perception of food safety; demographic trends; the cost of advertising and media; government actions and policies; interest rate changes, compliance with debt covenants and the Company's ability to make debt payments; and the availability of credit presently arranged from the Company's revolving credit facilities. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of the Company and its forward-looking statements is included in its Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2014.  The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by law. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Note: Numerical figures included in this release have been subject to rounding adjustments.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)

In addition to the results provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we provide non-GAAP measures which present operating results on an adjusted basis. These are supplemental measures of performance that are not required by or presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and include the following: (i) Adjusted restaurant-level operating margins, (ii) Adjusted income from operations and the corresponding margins, (iii) Adjusted net income, (iv) Adjusted diluted earnings per share and (v) Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA.

Although we believe these non-GAAP measures enhance investors' understanding of our business and performance, these non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to replace accompanying U.S. GAAP financial measures. These metrics are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

The use of other non-GAAP financial measures permits investors to assess the operating performance of our business relative to our performance based on U.S. GAAP results and relative to other companies within the restaurant industry by isolating the effects of certain items that vary from period to period without correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. However, our inclusion of these adjusted measures should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or infrequent items or that the items for which we have made adjustments are unusual or infrequent. We believe that the disclosure of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors as they form the basis for how our management team and Board of Directors evaluate our performance, allocate resources and establish employee incentive plans. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are also frequently used by investors, analysts and credit agencies in evaluating and comparing companies. In addition, our debt agreements require compliance of certain ratios that are based on financial measures similar to Adjusted EBITDA.

Restaurant-level operating margin

Restaurant-level operating margin is calculated as Restaurant sales after deduction of the main restaurant-level operating costs, which includes Cost of sales, Labor and other related and Other restaurant operating. Adjusted restaurant-level operating margin is Restaurant-level operating margin adjusted for certain items, as noted below.

The following table shows the percentages of certain operating cost financial statement line items in relation to Restaurant sales on both a U.S. GAAP basis and an adjusted basis, as indicated, for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2014 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2013: 

Adjusted income from operations, Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share

The following table reconciles Adjusted income from operations and the corresponding margins, Adjusted net income and Adjusted diluted earnings per share to their respective most comparable U.S. GAAP measures for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2014 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (EBITDA adjusted for certain significant items, as noted below) are supplemental measures of operating performance. The following table reconciles Net income attributable to Bloomin' Brands to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 29, 2014 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 (in thousands):

Comparative Store Information

The table below presents the number of the Company's restaurants in operation at the end of the periods indicated: