DEERFIELD, IL -- (Marketwire) -- 03/31/09 -- Così, Inc. (NASDAQ: COSI), the premium
convenience restaurant company, announced today that its Board of Directors
has completed the review of strategic alternatives previously announced.
After receiving and reviewing several proposals with respect to either a
financing or acquisition transaction, and after an extensive review of the
Company's current and projected financial performance, the Board determined
that pursuit of the Company's current business plan as an independent
public company is the strategic alternative that offers the best
opportunity to maximize shareholder value. Therefore, the Company is
terminating all discussions regarding a potential transaction and
disbanding the special committee previously formed to explore strategic
alternatives.
About Così, Inc.
Così (http://www.getcosi.com) is a national premium convenience restaurant
chain that has developed featured foods built around a secret,
generations-old recipe for crackly crust flatbread. This artisan bread is
freshly baked in front of customers throughout the day in open flame stone
hearth ovens prominently located in each of the restaurants. Così's warm
and urbane atmosphere is geared towards its sophisticated, upscale, urban
and suburban guests. There are currently 97 Company-owned and 48 franchise
restaurants operating in eighteen states, the District of Columbia and the
United Arab Emirates. The Così vision is to become America's favorite
premium convenience restaurant by providing customers authentic,
innovative, savory food while remaining an affordable luxury.
The Così menu features Così sandwiches, freshly tossed salads, melts,
soups, Così bagels, flatbread pizzas, S'mores, snacks and other desserts,
and a wide range of coffee and coffee-based drinks and other specialty
beverages. Così restaurants are designed to be welcoming and comfortable
with an eclectic environment. Così's sights, sounds, and spaces create a
tasteful, relaxed ambience that provides a fresh and new dining experience.
"Così," "Così w/hearth design," "Simply Good Taste" and related marks are
registered trademarks of Così, Inc.
Copyright © 2009 Così, Inc. All rights reserved.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
OF 1995. This press release contains statements that constitute
forward-looking statements under the federal securities laws.
Forward-looking statements are statements about future events and
expectations and not statements of historical fact. The words "believe,"
"may," "will," "should," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend,"
"objective," "seek," "plan," "strive," or similar words, or negatives of
these words, identify forward-looking statements.
