Domino's Pizza Announces First Quarter 2008 Financial Results

April 29, 2008

ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 23, 2008. Net income was up 68% versus the prior year, due primarily to recapitalization expenses incurred during the first quarter of 2007, offset in part by continued challenges in the domestic environment and resulting domestic supply chain volume decreases. The International division continued its strong performance, posting its 57th consecutive quarter of same store sales growth, up 8.8% during the first quarter of 2008.

    First Quarter Highlights:

                                                  First Quarter  First Quarter
   (dollars in millions, except per share data)      of 2008        of 2007

    Net income                                         $14.1           $8.4

    Weighted average diluted shares               60,085,730     64,076,179

    Diluted earnings per share, as reported            $0.23          $0.13
    Items affecting comparability (see section
     below)                                           $(0.03)         $0.25
    Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted            $0.21          $0.38


    -- Diluted EPS was $0.23 on an as-reported basis for the first quarter, up
       $0.10 from the as-reported prior year period.  However, excluding items
       affecting comparability, diluted EPS declined $0.17, primarily due to
       increased interest expense as a result of our 2007 recapitalization.
       (See the Items Affecting Comparability section and the Comments on
       Regulation G section.)



                                                  First Quarter  First Quarter
                                                     of 2008        of 2007
    Same store sales growth: (versus prior year
     period)
      Domestic Company-owned stores                    (2.4)%         +0.6%
      Domestic franchise stores                        (5.5)%         (3.4)%
      Domestic stores                                  (5.2)%         (2.9)%
      International stores                             +8.8%          +3.8%

    Global retail sales growth: (versus prior year
     period)
      Domestic stores                                  (4.6)%         (1.6)%
      International stores                            +22.1%         +14.1%
      Total                                            +5.6%          +3.8%



                               Domestic
                               Company-  Domestic   Total     Inter-
                               owned     Franchise  Domestic  national
                               Stores    Stores     Stores    Stores    Total
    Store counts:
      Store count at
       December 30, 2007         571     4,584      5,155      3,469    8,624
      Openings                     -        14         14         52       66
      Closings                     -       (41)       (41)        (8)     (49)
      Transfers                  (29)       29          -          -        -
      Store count at
       March 23, 2008            542     4,586      5,128      3,513    8,641
      First quarter 2008 net
       growth                    (29)        2        (27)        44       17
      Trailing four quarters
       net growth                (28)       27         (1)       248      247

David A. Brandon, Domino's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Reversing the negative traffic trends in our domestic business is our highest priority. We're taking aggressive action to create a stronger value positioning for our brand, while testing a number of additions to our menu that will allow us to compete more effectively in dayparts other than just dinner. We're also implementing pricing strategies to attract lower ticket customers -- a segment we've left behind in the recent past as we dramatically increased our prices. And, we're upgrading our franchisee system by identifying weak operators and facilitating the sale of their stores to stronger operators. Our activity level is high...as is our passion for restoring our positive sales trends in our domestic business."

Brandon added, "We continue to be very pleased with the growth and expansion of our international business. And, I am also proud of the work we have done to reduce our G&A spending during this difficult period of cost inflation and soft domestic sales. The bottom line: despite numerous negative influences hitting our business all at once, our ability to produce plentiful free cash flow remains strong -- $16.8 million in the first quarter. We continue to use this cash to fund an aggressive share repurchase program, which we currently feel provides the greatest benefit to our shareholders."

Conference Call Information

The Company plans to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q this morning. Additionally, as previously announced, Domino's Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 11 a.m. (Eastern) to review its first quarter 2008 financial results. The call can be accessed by dialing (888) 306-6182 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 634-4947 (International). Ask for the Domino's Pizza conference call. The call will also be web cast at www.dominos.com. If you are unable to participate on the call, a replay will be available for thirty days by dialing (800) 642-1687 (U.S./Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (International), Conference ID 20162114. The web cast will also be archived for 30 days on www.dominosbiz.com.

Share Repurchases

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company repurchased and retired approximately 1.4 million shares of its common stock under an open market share repurchase program for $18.4 million, or an average price of $13.05 per share. The Company has used approximately 36% of the total amount authorized under its open market share repurchase program.

Sale of Certain Company-Owned Stores

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company announced it had agreements in place to sell approximately 60 Company-owned stores in California and Georgia in a series of transactions primarily with current franchisees. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company completed the sale of 29 of these stores. The Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of the related assets of approximately $4.2 million. This pre-tax gain was recorded in general and administrative expense. The Company anticipates that the sale of nearly all of the remaining stores will be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2008.

Restructuring Action

During the first quarter of 2008, the Company announced and executed a plan to eliminate approximately 55 positions that were primarily administrative in nature. In connection with this plan, and other restructuring actions related to the sale of the aforementioned stores, the Company incurred expenses of approximately $1.4 million during the first quarter of 2008, which were included in general and administrative expense.

Items Affecting Comparability

The Company's reported financial results for the first quarter of 2008 are not comparable to the reported financial results in the prior year period. The table below presents certain items that affect comparability between our 2008 and 2007 financial results. Management believes that including such information is critical to the understanding of our financial results for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007 (See the Comments on Regulation G section).

In addition to the items noted in the table below, the Company's 2007 recapitalization had a significant impact on ongoing interest expense as a result of higher debt levels. This impacts comparability to periods in the prior year. The increase in ongoing interest expense resulted in a decrease in diluted EPS of approximately $0.14 in the first quarter of 2008 versus the first quarter of 2007.



                                                      First Quarter
                                                                     Diluted
                                                                       EPS
    (in thousands, except per share data)    Pre-tax     After-tax    Impact
    2008 items affecting comparability:
      Gain on the sale of Company-owned
        operations (1)                       $4,228       $2,537       $0.04
      Separation expenses (2)                (1,445)        (867)      (0.01)
    Total of 2008 items                      $2,783       $1,670       $0.03

    2007 items affecting comparability:
      General and administrative
       expenses (3)                           $(455)       $(282)      $0.00
      Additional interest expense (4)       (11,965)      (7,418)      (0.12)
      Premium on bond extinguishment (5)    (13,294)      (8,242)      (0.13)
    Total of 2007 items                    $(25,714)    $(15,942)     $(0.25)


    (1) The gain recognized relates to the sale of 29 Company-owned stores in
        California and Georgia.
    (2) Represents separation and related expenses incurred in connection with
        a previously announced restructuring action and other staffing
        reduction costs related to the sale of Company-owned operations in
        California.
    (3) Primarily includes legal and professional fees incurred in connection
        with the stock tender and bond tender offers.
    (4) Primarily includes the write-off of deferred financing fees and bond
        discount related to extinguished debt and the settlement of interest
        rate derivatives.
    (5) Represents the premium paid to tender the Domino's, Inc. senior
        subordinated notes due 2011.


    Liquidity
    As of March 23, 2008, the Company had:

    -- $1.7 billion in total debt,
    -- $3.3 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents,
    -- no borrowings under its $150.0 million of variable funding notes, and
    -- letters of credit issued under the variable funding notes of $34.0
       million.

The Company's cash borrowing rate for the first quarter of 2008 was 6.1%. The Company incurred $3.5 million in capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2008 versus $3.6 million in the first quarter of the prior year.

The Company's free cash flow, as reconciled below to cash flows from operations as determined under generally accepted accounting principles, was $16.8 million in the first quarter of 2008.


                                                             First Quarter of
    (in thousands)                                                 2008

    Net cash provided by operating activities (as reported)      $20,272
    Capital expenditures (as reported)                            (3,479)

    Free cash flow                                               $16,793


    Comments on Regulation G

In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, the Company has included a non-GAAP financial measure within the meaning of Regulation G due to items affecting comparability between fiscal quarters. Additionally, the Company has included metrics commonly used in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance.

The Company uses "Diluted EPS, as adjusted," which is calculated as reported Diluted EPS less the items that affect comparability to the prior year periods discussed above. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is Diluted EPS. The Company's management believes that the Diluted EPS, as adjusted measure is important and useful to investors and other interested persons and that such persons benefit from having a consistent basis for comparison between reporting periods.

The Company uses "Global retail sales" to refer to total worldwide retail sales at Company-owned and franchise stores. Management believes global retail sales information is useful in analyzing revenues, because franchisees pay royalties that are based on a percentage of franchise retail sales. Management reviews comparable industry global retail sales information to assess business trends and to track the growth of the Domino's Pizza(R) brand. In addition, domestic supply chain revenues are directly impacted by changes in domestic franchise retail sales. Retail sales for franchise stores are reported to the Company by its franchisees and are not included in Company revenues.

The Company uses "Same store sales growth," calculated by including only sales from stores that also had sales in the comparable period of the prior year. International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to domestic same store sales growth. Changes in international same store sales are reported on a constant dollar basis, which reflects changes in international local currency sales.

Additionally, the Company uses "Free cash flow," calculated as cash flows from operations less capital expenditures, both as reported. The Company's management believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors and other interested persons and that such persons benefit from having a measure which communicates how much cash flows are available to be used for de-levering, making acquisitions, repurchasing shares or similar uses of cash.

About Domino's Pizza(R)

Founded in 1960, Domino's Pizza is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery. Domino's is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "DPZ." Through its primarily franchised system, Domino's operates a network of 8,641 franchised and Company-owned stores in the United States and more than 55 countries. The Domino's Pizza(R) brand, named a Megabrand by Advertising Age magazine, had global retail sales of over $5.4 billion in 2007, comprised of $3.2 billion domestically and $2.2 billion internationally. During the first quarter of 2008, the Domino's Pizza(R) brand had global retail sales of $1.3 billion, comprised of approximately $735 million domestically and approximately $575 million internationally. Domino's Pizza was named "Chain of the Year" by Pizza Today magazine, the leading publication of the pizza industry and is the "Official Pizza of NASCAR(R)." Customers can place orders online in English and Spanish by visiting www.dominos.com or from a Web-enabled cell phone by visiting mobile.dominos.com. More information on the Company, in English and Spanish, can be found on the Web at www.dominos.com. Domino's Pizza. You Got 30 Minutes(TM).

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward- looking statements relating to our anticipated profitability and operating performance reflect management's expectations based upon currently available information and data. However, actual results are subject to future risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially include: our increased leverage as a result of the borrowings under our asset-backed securitization facility; the uncertainties relating to litigation; consumer preferences, spending patterns and demographic trends; the effectiveness of our advertising, operations and promotional initiatives; our ability to retain key personnel; new product and concept developments by us and other food- industry competitors; the ongoing profitability of our franchisees and the ability of Domino's Pizza and our franchisees to open new stores and keep existing stores in operation; changes in food prices, particularly cheese, labor, utilities, insurance, employee benefits and other operating costs; the impact that widespread illness or general health concerns may have on our business and the economy of the countries in which we operate; severe weather conditions and natural disasters; changes in our effective tax rate; changes in government legislation and regulations; adequacy of our insurance coverage; costs related to future financings and changes in accounting policies. Further information about factors that could affect our financial and other results is included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2007. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                    Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

                                             Fiscal Quarter Ended
                                                 % of                  % of
                                     March 23,   Total     March 25,   Total
                                       2008     Revenues     2007     Revenues

    (In thousands, except per
     share data)
    Revenues:
      Domestic Company-owned stores   $93,047               $95,540
      Domestic franchise               36,386                37,517
      Domestic supply chain           176,189               179,885
      International                    33,390                26,379
    Total revenues                    339,012    100.0%     339,321    100.0%

    Cost of sales:
      Domestic Company-owned stores    75,511                75,643
      Domestic supply chain           160,626               161,417
      International                    14,840                11,191
    Total cost of sales               250,977     74.0%     248,251     73.2%
    Operating margin                   88,035     26.0%      91,070     26.8%

    General and administrative         38,685     11.4%      40,338     11.9%
    Income from operations             49,350     14.6%      50,732     14.9%

    Interest expense, net             (25,818)    (7.6)%    (23,893)    (7.0)%
    Other                                   -        -      (13,294)    (3.9)%
    Income before provision for
    income taxes                       23,532      6.9%      13,545      4.0%

    Provision for income taxes          9,413      2.8%       5,147      1.5%
    Net income                        $14,119      4.2%      $8,398      2.5%

    Earnings per share:
      Common stock - diluted            $0.23                 $0.13



                    Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                                     March 23,    December 30,
                                                       2008           2007

    (In thousands)
    Assets
    Current assets:
        Cash and cash equivalents                      $3,325        $11,344
        Restricted cash                                82,754         80,951
        Accounts receivable                            69,333         68,446
        Inventories                                    22,128         24,931
        Advertising fund assets, restricted            20,574         20,683
        Other assets                                   19,855         20,527
    Total current assets                              217,969        226,882

    Property, plant and equipment, net                118,013        122,890

    Other assets                                      116,890        123,392

    Total assets                                     $452,872       $473,164

    Liabilities and stockholders' deficit
    Current liabilities:
        Current portion of long-term debt                $319        $15,312
        Accounts payable                               57,338         60,411
        Advertising fund liabilities                   20,574         20,683
        Other accrued liabilities                      81,730         79,102
    Total current liabilities                         159,961        175,508

    Long-term liabilities:
        Long-term debt, less current portion        1,704,692      1,704,771
        Other accrued liabilities                      38,770         43,024
    Total long-term liabilities                     1,743,462      1,747,795

    Total stockholders' deficit                    (1,450,551)    (1,450,139)

    Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit      $452,872       $473,164



                    Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                         Fiscal Quarter Ended
                                                        March 23,    March 25,
                                                          2008         2007
    (In thousands)
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                         $14,119       $8,398
      Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
       flows provided by operating activities:
        Depreciation and amortization                      7,071        7,249
        (Gains) losses on sale/disposal of assets         (4,169)         598
        Amortization of deferred financing costs,
         debt discount and other                           2,255       10,215
        Provision (benefit) for deferred income taxes      1,777         (198)
        Non-cash compensation expense                      2,065        1,511
        Other                                                199          291
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities       (3,045)     (21,156)
    Net cash provided by operating activities             20,272        6,908

    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Capital expenditures                                (3,479)      (3,566)
      Proceeds from sale of assets                         8,220          335
      Change in restricted cash                           (1,803)           -
      Other                                                  520          208
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing
     activities                                            3,458       (3,023)

    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Purchase of common stock                           (18,427)         (67)
      Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt             3,000      780,000
      Repayments of long-term debt and capital
       lease obligation                                  (18,075)    (736,656)
      Cash paid for financing costs                            -      (22,255)
      Tax benefit from stock options                          97        1,167
      Other                                                1,618        2,823
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities                                          (31,787)      25,012

    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and
     cash equivalents                                         38          (13)

    Change in cash and cash equivalents                   (8,019)      28,884

    Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period     11,344       38,222

    Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period           $3,325      $67,106

SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc. 04/29/2008 CONTACT: Lynn Liddle, Executive Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations, +1-734-930-3008 /Web site: http://www.dominos.com http://www.dominosbiz.com (DPZ)