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                                                                      EXHIBIT 99
 
     SAFE HARBOR UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
 
     The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") provides a
"safe harbor" for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide
prospective information about their companies, so long as those statements are
identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary
statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those discussed in the statement. The Company desires to
take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act. Certain information,
particularly information regarding future economic performance, finances and
plans and objectives of management, contained, or incorporated by reference, in
the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K is forward-looking. In some cases
information regarding certain important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from any such forward-looking statement appear together
with such statement. Also, the following factors, in addition to other possible
factors not listed, could affect the Company's actual results and cause such
results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements:
 
     COMPETITION. The Company's future performance will be subject to a number
of factors that affect the restaurant industry generally, including competition.
The restaurant business is highly competitive and the competition can be
expected to increase. Price, restaurant location, food quality, quality and
speed of service and attractiveness of facilities are important aspects of
competition as are the effectiveness of marketing and advertising programs. The
competitive environment is also often affected by factors beyond the Company's
or a particular restaurant's control. The Company's restaurants compete with a
wide variety of restaurants ranging from national and regional restaurant chains
(some of which have substantially greater financial resources than the Company)
to locally-owned restaurants. There is also active competition for advantageous
commercial real estate sites suitable for restaurants.
 
     ECONOMIC, MARKET AND OTHER CONDITIONS. Food service businesses are often
affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional and local economic
conditions and demographic trends. The performance of individual restaurants may
be adversely affected by factors such as traffic patterns, demographic
considerations and the type, number and location of competing restaurants.
Multi-unit food service chains such as the Company's can also be materially and
adversely affected by publicity resulting from food quality, illness, injury or
other health concerns or operating issues stemming from one restaurant or a
limited number of restaurants. Dependence on frequent deliveries of fresh
produce and groceries subjects food service businesses to the risk that
shortages or interruptions in supply, caused by adverse weather or other
conditions could adversely affect the availability, quality and cost of
ingredients. In addition, unfavorable trends or developments concerning factors
such as inflation, increased food, labor and employee benefit costs (including
increases in hourly wage and minimum unemployment tax rates), regional weather
conditions and the availability of experienced management and hourly employees
may also adversely affect the food service industry in general and the Company's
results of operations and financial condition in particular.
 
     IMPORTANCE OF LOCATIONS. The success of Company and franchised restaurants
is significantly influenced by location. There can be no assurance that current
locations will continue to be attractive, as demographic patterns change. It is
possible the neighborhood or economic conditions where restaurants are located
could decline in the future, resulting in potentially reduced sales in those
locations.
 
     GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. The Company and its franchisees are subject to
federal, state and local laws and regulations governing health, sanitation,
environmental matters, safety, the sale of alcoholic beverages and hiring and
employment practices. Restaurant operations are also subject to federal and
state laws that prohibit discrimination and laws regulating the design and
operation of facilities, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990.
The operation of the Company's franchisee system is also subject to regulations
enacted by a number of states and rules promulgated by the Federal Trade
Commission. The Company cannot predict the effect on its operations,
particularly on its relationship with franchisees, caused by the future
enactment of additional legislation regulating the franchise relationship.