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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 (as used in this Exhibit
99, 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 management's plans and objectives, contained or
incorporated by reference in the Company's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the
"Annual Report") 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. The
following factors, in addition to those set forth in the Annual Report and other
possible factors not listed, could also 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
consideration 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-owned 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

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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 American 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 to 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.