GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Red Robin (NASDAQ:RRGB) (“Red Robin” or the “Company”), a full-service restaurant chain serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today issued the following statement in response to the 13D filing by Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“Vintage”):
Red Robin welcomes open dialogue with its shareholders and appreciates input towards the goal of enhancing shareholder value.
In multiple conversations with Vintage, we have expressed our openness to Vintage’s participation in our ongoing search to identify a world-class CEO, and to maintaining a constructive dialogue. Given our dialogue to date, we were surprised by the content of the letter we received today, as Vintage has not been willing to propose any CEO candidates.
As discussed with Vintage, we retained The Elliott Group in April 2019 to assist in our CEO search process, and the Search Committee is interviewing a number of highly qualified and interested candidates. We are pleased with our progress to date and confident we will identify an excellent leader for Red Robin.
Concurrent with our CEO search process, Red Robin has a strategy in place to drive renewed growth and shareholder value, and we continue to execute on our 2019 strategic priorities, including:
- Stabilizing dine-in revenue by reinforcing Red Robin’s compelling Value proposition;
- Continuing building To-Go and Catering business;
- Improving the Guest experience and recapturing Red Robin’s known-for “Gift of Time” convenience;
- Implementing digital platforms and restaurant technology solutions; and
- Selectively refranchising and reassessing our real estate portfolio.
Led by our Chair and independent directors, our Board is actively engaged in driving our strategic plan and remains open to all opportunities to create value. The Board comprises established industry leaders with diverse perspectives and operational expertise, including in the retail and restaurant industries.
The Company’s Board of Directors is focused on enhancing shareholder value and is mindful of its fiduciary duties to all shareholders. Consistent with its fiduciary duties, the Board would of course consider any bona fide offer made by Vintage.
Evercore is serving as financial advisor to Red Robin and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as its legal counsel.
About Red Robin
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., and under the trade name Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, is the Gourmet Burger Authority™, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries® in a fun environment welcoming to Guests of all ages. Whether a family dining with kids, adults grabbing a drink at the bar, or teens enjoying a meal, Red Robin offers an unparalleled experience for its Guests. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts, and signature beverages. Red Robin offers a variety of options behind the bar, including its extensive selection of local and regional beers, and innovative adult beer shakes and cocktails, earning the restaurant a VIBE Vista Award for Best Beer Program in a Multi-Unit Chain Restaurant. There are more than 560 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada, including locations operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this press release are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on assumptions believed by the Company to be reasonable and speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after such date, and cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements based on a number of factors, including but not limited to the following: the effectiveness of the Company’s strategic initiatives, including the effectiveness of the Company’s affordability, service improvement, technology, and off-site initiatives to drive traffic and sales; the ability to increase labor productivity through alternative labor models, and to train the Company's workforce for service execution complexities related to growth of multiple revenue streams in the restaurant; the success of the Company's refranchising efforts; and other risk factors described from time to time in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.