Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. Second Quarter Earnings


WICHITA, Kan.,July 8,1999 (PRIMEZONE) -- Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. (NASDAQ: STAR) announced second quarter earnings and revenues for the twelve week quarter ended June 15, 1999. Net income decreased 16.4% for the second quarter to $7,083,000 or $ .20 per share compared with $8,477,000 or $ .21 per share for the same period last year. Year-to-date earnings are down 16.0% to $14,865,000 or $.40 per share compared with $17,700,000 or $.43 per share for the same period last year. Year-to-date earnings for 1998 were reduced by $4,038,000 ($.10 per share), from previously reported results for the effects of the change in accounting for preopening costs. Second quarter revenue decreased 4.4% to $134,753,000 compared with $141,023,000 in 1998, and year-to-date revenues have decreased 6.7% to $274,691,000. Comparable store sales growth (decline) was (9.8%), 6.6%, 3.7% and 4.8% for domestic Lone Star restaurants, Australian Lone Star restaurants, Sullivan's restaurants and Del Frisco's restaurants, respectively, bringing year-to-date comparable store sales to (11.3%), 4.1%, 6.6% and 5.0%.

During the second quarter, two domestic Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon restaurants were closed. Development plans for the remainder of 1999 call for up to ten domestic Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon restaurants, two Sullivan's Steakhouse restaurants, and two Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House restaurants. This will bring to twenty the total number of upscale steakhouses operated by the Company.

Lone Star owns and operates 264 domestic and 40 international Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon restaurants; thirteen Sullivan's Steakhouse restaurants; and three Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House restaurants.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although the Company believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein, including the development plans of the Company, are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements contained in the press release will prove to be accurate.


Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. 
Unaudited Summary Proforma Data for the Second Quarter 1999 
( $ in thousands except for per share amounts )

                       CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                               Jun. 15,      Dec. 29,
                                                 1999          1998 
                                               _______       _______ 
Current Assets: 
Cash and cash equivalents                    $  64,152     $  89,847
Other current assets                            19,119        22,459
                                               _______       _______ 
                                                83,271       112,306 
Property and equipment, net                    474,047       461,065 
Intangibles and other assets                    34,387        35,212 
                                               _______       _______ 
                                             $ 591,705     $ 608,583 
                                               _______       _______ 
                                               _______       _______
Total current liabilities                    $  36,296     $  44,713 
Noncurrent liabilities                          12,406        10,429 
Stockholders' equity                           543,003       553,441 
                                               _______       _______ 
                                             $ 591,705     $ 608,583 
                                               _______       _______ 
                                               _______       _______


                   CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENTS
                                      For the twelve weeks ended 
                                     Jun. 15, 1999     Jun. 16, 1998 
                                     $        %       $        % 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Net Sales                           $134,753          $141,023 
Costs and expenses: 
Costs of sales                        47,805  35.5      53,448  37.9 
Restaurant operating expenses         61,087  45.3      62,713  44.5 
Depreciation and amortization          6,819   5.1       5,882   4.2 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Restaurant costs and expenses        115,711  85.9     122,043  86.5 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Restaurant operating income           19,042  14.1      18,980  13.5 
General and administrative expenses    8,101   6.0       7,589   5.4 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Income from operations                10,941   8.1      11,391   8.1 
Other                                    333   0.3       1,373   1.0 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Income before income taxes and 
change in accounting method           11,274   8.4      12,764   9.1 
Provision for income taxes             4,191   3.1       4,287   3.0 
Cumulative effect of change in 
accounting method 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
Net income                           $ 7,083   5.3     $ 8,477   6.0 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____ 
                                     _______  ____     _______  ____
Basic earnings per share              $ 0.20            $ 0.21 
                                       _____             _____ 
                                       _____             _____
Diluted earnings per share            $ 0.20            $ 0.21 
                                       _____             _____ 
                                       _____             _____

Avg. shares outstanding-(in thousands) 
 - Basic                              35,813            40,780 
 - Diluted                            36,078            41,060
Restaurants open at end of period        322               315
Comparable store sales growth           (7.3)%           (11.2)%


                                     For the twenty-four weeks ended 
                                    Jun. 15, 1999   Jun. 16, 1998 
                                    $          %    $          % 
                                     _______  ____  _______   ____
Net Sales                           $274,691        $294,537 
Costs and expenses: 
Costs of sales                        98,191  35.7   110,663  37.6 
Restaurant operating expenses        122,717  44.7   124,414  42.2 
Depreciation and amortization         14,051   5.1    11,594   3.9 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
Restaurant costs and expenses        234,959  85.5   246,671  83.7 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
Restaurant operating income           39,732  14.5    47,886  16.3 
General and administrative expenses   16,390   6.0    13,031   4.4 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
Income from operations                23,342   8.5    34,835  11.8 
Other                                    580   0.2     2,828   1.0 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
Income before income taxes and 
change in accounting method           23,922   8.7    37,663  12.8 
Provision for income taxes             9,057   3.3    13,059   4.4 
Cumulative effect of change in 
accounting method                                      6,904   2.3 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
Net income                          $ 14,865   5.4  $ 17,700   6.0 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____ 
                                     _______  ____   _______  ____
Basic earnings per share              $ 0.41          $ 0.43 
                                       _____           _____ 
                                       _____           _____
Diluted earnings per share            $ 0.40          $ 0.43 
                                       _____           _____ 
                                       _____           _____
 
Avg. shares outstanding - (in thousands) 
 - Basic                              36,663          40,973 
 - Diluted                            36,845          41,323
Restaurants open at end of period        322             315
Comparable store sales growth           (8.8)%          (8.2)%

Contact:  Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc.
          John D. White
          (316) 264-8899