McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2007 Financial Results

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSSR) today reported financial results for its fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2007. Financial highlights for the thirteen week fourth quarter 2007 compared to the thirteen week fourth quarter 2006: • Revenues increased 18.0% to $99.5 million from $84.3 million • Comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.4% • Operating loss of $2.7 million compared to operating income of $6.7 million. Included in operating loss is an impairment charge of $5.4 million, related to the long-lived assets at three restaurants and a $2.2 million charge for a pending legal settlement • Net loss of $1.0 million compared to net income of $4.8 million • Basic and diluted loss per share of $0.07 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.33. Pro forma diluted earnings per share excluding the impairment charge and charge for a pending legal settlement was $0.24 Financial highlights for the fifty-two week fiscal year 2007 compared to the fifty-two week fiscal year 2006: • Revenues increased 16.3% to $358.6 million from $308.3 million • Comparable restaurant sales increased 0.9% • Operating income of $10.7 million compared to $19.1 million, a decrease of 44.2%. Included in operating income is an impairment charge of $5.4 million, related to the long-lived assets at three restaurants and a $2.2 million charge for a pending legal settlement • Net income of $8.8 million compared to net income of $13.3 million, a decrease of 34.0% • Diluted earnings per share of $0.60 compared to $0.92. Pro forma diluted earnings per share excluding the impairment charge and charge for a pending legal settlement was $0.91 Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 increased 18.0% to $99.5 million from $84.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. Revenues for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2007 increased 16.3% to $358.6 million from $308.3 million in the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006. The growth in revenues for the quarter and fiscal year is primarily attributable to revenues generated by restaurants not included in the comparable restaurant base, coupled with the addition of The Boathouse restaurants acquired in March 2007. The Company opened five company-owned restaurants during the fourth quarter of 2007: in Port Moody, B.C., Annapolis, Maryland, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Skokie, Illinois, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and added a total of seventeen restaurants, including the addition of The Boathouse restaurants. "Our fourth quarter was a challenging period for McCormick and Schmick’s, with the decline in comparable sales causing margin deterioration. We continue to see decreased traffic which we attribute to the current macro economic issues,” said Douglas Schmick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Schmick continued, "Because of the current business environment we have decided to take a conservative approach to our 2008 guidance, but we will revisit these expectations as the environment changes. We are managing our business for uncertain times. We have launched several programs and initiatives that we believe mitigate the impact of lower sales. We are focusing on many of the core fundamentals that have made McCormick & Schmick’s the time-tested concept that it is today. In fact, over the last 36 years, we have proven adept at adapting to adverse conditions. Our key menu focus is on broad appeal and value, fundamentals that we believe will maximize sales potential.” Financial Guidance The Company intends to open three new restaurants in the first quarter of 2008, in Anaheim, California, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin and intends to open a total of twelve new restaurants in fiscal year 2008. The Company expects fiscal year 2008 revenues to be between $410.0 million and $420.0 million and a comparable restaurant sales decrease of between 2.0% and 4.0%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $0.64 and $0.74. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter 2007 and fiscal year 2007 financial results today at 5:00 PM EDT. Hosting the call will be Douglas Schmick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Manny Hilario, Chief Financial Officer. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 866-279-2899, or for international callers 913-312-1237. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing 888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820 for international callers; conference ID is 1646529. The replay will be available until February 28, 2008. The call will be webcast live from the Company’s website at www.McCormickandSchmicks.com under the investor relations section. About the Company McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. is a leading national seafood restaurant operator in the affordable upscale dining segment. Over the past 36 years, it has successfully grown to 82 restaurants in 24 states, the District of Columbia and Canada, by focusing on serving a broad selection of fresh seafood. McCormick & Schmick’s inviting atmosphere and high quality, diverse menu offering and compelling price-value proposition appeals to a broad customer base-from casual diners, families and tourists to business travelers and special occasion diners. Forward-Looking Statements The financial guidance we provide for our fiscal 2008 and the number of restaurants we intend to open in our fiscal first quarter and fiscal year 2008 are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us on the date of this release and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements for any reason. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: factors that could affect our ability to achieve and manage our planned expansion, such as the availability of qualified employees and the availability of a sufficient number of suitable new restaurant sites; changes in the availability and costs of food; potential fluctuation in our quarterly operating results due to seasonality and other factors; the continued service of key management personnel; our ability to protect our name and logo and other proprietary information; changes in consumer preferences, general economic conditions or consumer discretionary spending; health concerns about our food products; the impact of federal, state or local government regulations relating to our employees and the sale of food or alcoholic beverages; the impact of litigation; the potential effects of inclement weather or terrorist attacks; the effect of competition in the restaurant industry; cost and availability of capital; and other risk factors described from time to time in SEC reports filed by McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries   Consolidated Statements of Operations and Margin Analysis   (in thousands, except per share data)     Quarter ended December 30, 2006 December 29, 2007 (13 Weeks) (13 Weeks) Revenues $ 84,305 100.0 % $ 99,478 100.0 % Restaurant operating costs Food and beverage 23,939 28.4 % 29,428 29.6 % Labor 25,519 30.3 % 30,763 30.9 % Operating 12,653 15.0 % 15,252 15.3 % Occupancy 7,172 8.5 % 8,747 8.8 % Total restaurant operating costs 69,283 82.2 % 84,190 84.6 % General and administrative expenses 4,665 5.5 % 7,746 7.8 % Restaurant pre-opening costs 1,097 1.3 % 1,502 1.5 % Depreciation and amortization 2,524 3.0 % 3,357 3.4 % Impairment of assets - - 5,427 5.5 % Total costs and expenses 77,569 92.0 % 102,222 102.8 % Operating income (loss) 6,736 8.0 % (2,744 ) (2.8 )% Interest expense (income), net (69 ) (0.1 )% 124 0.1 % Income (loss) before income taxes 6,805 8.1 % (2,868 ) (2.9 )% Income tax expense (benefit) 2,009 2.4 % (1,878 ) (1.9 )% Net income (loss) $ 4,796 5.7 % $ (990 ) (1.0 )% Net income (loss) per share Basic $ 0.34 $ (0.07 ) Diluted $ 0.33 $ (0.07 ) Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share Basic 14,267 14,685 Diluted 14,603 14,685   Fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 December 29, 2007 (52 Weeks) (52 Weeks) Revenues $ 308,323 100.0 % $ 358,647   100.0 % Restaurant operating costs Food and beverage 89,443 29.0 % 104,468 29.1 % Labor 95,886 31.1 % 112,503 31.4 % Operating 46,044 14.9 % 54,892 15.3 % Occupancy 27,650 9.0 % 32,048 8.9 % Total restaurant operating costs 259,023 84.0 % 303,911 84.7 % General and administrative expenses 16,651 5.4 % 22,166 6.2 % Restaurant pre-opening costs 2,892 0.9 % 4,527 1.3 % Depreciation and amortization 10,640 3.5 % 11,940 3.3 % Impairment of assets - - 5,427 1.5 % Total costs and expenses 289,206 93.8 % 347,971 97.0 % Operating income 19,117 6.2 % 10,676 3.0 % Interest expense (income), net (228 ) (0.1 )% (226 ) (0.1 )% Income before income taxes 19,345 6.3 % 10,902 3.1 % Income tax expense 5,997 1.9 % 2,088 0.6 % Net income $ 13,348 4.4 % $ 8,814 2.5 % Net income per share Basic $ 0.94 $ 0.60 Diluted $ 0.92 $ 0.60 Shares used in computing net income per share Basic 14,227 14,569 Diluted 14,521 14,769 McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Actual / Pro forma Loss Per Share – GAAP to Non-GAAP (Unaudited)   Pro forma income per share outstanding at the end of the period is a non-GAAP measurement. The following table reconciles actual income (loss) determined in accordance with GAAP to the pro forma income per share based on the shares outstanding at the end of the period:   Quarter ended   December 29, 2007 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP items (in thousands)   Net Loss (per GAAP) $ (990 ) Income tax benefit (1,878 ) Impairment of assets 5,427 Provision for pending legal settlement 2,200   Pro forma income before tax 4,759 Less: Income tax expense * 1,223 Pro forma income for the quarter $ 3,536 Pro forma income per share Basic $ 0.24 Diluted $ 0.24 Shares used in computing net income per share Basic 14,685 Diluted 14,761   * Income tax expense based on the estimated effective tax rate for the quarter before the effects of the identified events was 25.7%     Fiscal year ended   December 29, 2007 Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP items (in thousands)   Net Income (per GAAP) $ 8,814 Income tax expense 2,088 Impairment of assets 5,427 Provision for pending legal settlement 2,200 Pro forma income before tax 18,529 Less: Income tax expense * 5,151 Pro forma income for the quarter $ 13,378 Pro forma income per share Basic $ 0.92 Diluted $ 0.91 Shares used in computing net income per share Basic 14,569 Diluted 14,769   * Income tax expense based on the estimated effective tax rate for the year before the effects of the identified events was 27.8%   Management believes this non-GAAP measurement is useful to investors since during this quarter the Company incurred two significant charges that affected the Company’s financial performance.