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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended:  March 1, 2005

OR

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    TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the transition period from __________ to _________


Commission file number    1-12454

RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



        GEORGIA      63-0475239
(State of or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer identification No.)
incorporation or organization)  

150 West Church Avenue, Maryville, Tennessee 37801
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

        Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (865) 379-5700

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  non-blank checkbox  Noblank checkbox

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes non-blank checkbox  Noblank checkbox

64,456,407


          (Number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding as of April 13, 2005)



RT Logo

   RUBY TUESDAY, INC.

   INDEX

                                                                                                         Page 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF
                MARCH 1, 2005 AND JUNE 1, 2004 3 

                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                FOR THE THIRTEEN AND THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
                MARCH 1, 2005 AND MARCH 2, 2004 4 

                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH
                FLOWS FOR THE THIRTY-NINE WEEKS
                ENDED MARCH 1, 2005 AND MARCH 2, 2004 5 

                NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
                STATEMENTS 6-18

     ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
                OF OPERATIONS 19-29

     ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT
                MARKET RISK 30 

     ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
30-31 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

     ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
32 
     ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS 32 
     ITEM 6. EXHIBITS 33 


-2-


 PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.

RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER-SHARE DATA)

MARCH 1,
2005

JUNE 1,
2004

(as restated)
(NOTES A & B)
Assets      
Current assets: 
      Cash and short-term investments  $        8,044   $     19,485  
      Accounts and notes receivable  8,698   10,089  
      Inventories: 
        Merchandise  9,537   8,068  
        China, silver and supplies  6,544   5,579  
      Income tax receivable  --   2,941  
      Deferred income taxes  2,888   3,599  
      Prepaid rent and other expenses  9,930   8,623  
      Assets held for sale        4,021         3,030  
          Total current assets      49,662       61,414  

Property and equipment, net
  862,437   766,823  
Goodwill  12,550   7,845  
Notes receivable, net  27,056   33,366  
Other assets      68,788       66,987  

          Total assets
  $ 1,020,493   $   936,435  





Liabilities & shareholders' equity
 
Current liabilities: 
      Accounts payable  $      38,612   $     37,416  
      Accrued liabilities: 
        Taxes, other than income taxes  14,900   13,070  
        Payroll and related costs  10,276   18,021  
        Insurance  7,173   6,332  
        Rent and other  20,896   19,362  
      Current portion of long-term debt, including capital leases  2,038   518  
      Income tax payable        3,757               --  
          Total current liabilities      97,652       94,719  

Long-term debt and capital leases, less current maturities
  208,252   168,087  
Deferred income taxes  47,028   46,184  
Deferred escalating minimum rent  37,700   38,725  
Other deferred liabilities      77,779       72,189  
          Total liabilities    468,411     419,904  

Shareholders' equity:
 
      Common stock, $0.01 par value; (authorized 100,000 
        shares; issued 64,261 @ 3/1/05; 65,549 @ 6/1/04)  642   655  
      Capital in excess of par value  3,971   16,455  
      Retained earnings  555,742   508,323  
      Deferred compensation liability payable in 
        Company stock  5,197   4,821  
      Company stock held by Deferred Compensation Plan  (5,197 ) (4,821 )
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss       (8,273 )      (8,902 )
     552,082     516,531  

          Total liabilities & shareholders' equity
  $ 1,020,493   $   936,435  




The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.



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RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER-SHARE DATA)

THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED
THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
MARCH 1,
2005

MARCH 2,
2004

MARCH 1,
2005

MARCH 2,
2004

(as restated) (as restated)
(NOTE B) (NOTE B)
Revenue:          

      Restaurant sales and operating revenue
  $ 285,552   $ 266,438   $ 803,070   $ 753,178  
      Franchise revenue        3,611         4,527       11,834       12,643  
   289,163   270,965   814,904   765,821  

Operating costs and expenses:
 
      Cost of merchandise  74,244   67,419   208,287   193,015  
      Payroll and related costs  88,245   81,909   249,437   237,487  
      Other restaurant operating costs  48,529   43,085   138,330   124,084  
      Depreciation and amortization  16,906   14,676   49,312   42,416  
      Selling, general and administrative, 
         net of support service fee income 
         for the thirteen and thirty-nine week 
         periods totaling $3,695 and $11,684 in 
         fiscal 2005, and $4,551 and $12,768 in 
         fiscal 2004, respectively  19,879   15,594   52,408   46,710  
      Equity in earnings of 
         unconsolidated franchises  (836 ) (2,610 ) (2,381 ) (3,879 )
      Interest expense, net        1,361            773         3,120         3,288  
     248,328     220,846     698,513     643,121  

Income before income taxes
  40,835   50,119   116,391   122,700  
Provision for income taxes      13,295       17,827       40,050       43,682  

Net income
  $   27,540   $   32,292   $   76,341   $   79,018  





Earnings per share:
 
      Basic  $       0.43   $       0.49   $       1.18   $       1.21  




      Diluted  $       0.42   $       0.48   $       1.16   $       1.18  





Weighted average shares:
 
      Basic  64,168   65,914   64,672   65,322  




      Diluted  65,063   67,614   65,742   66,889  





Cash dividends declared per share
  2.25 ¢ 2.25 ¢ 4.50 ¢ 4.50 ¢





The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.



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RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)

THIRTY-NINE WEEKS ENDED
MARCH 1,
2005

MARCH 2,
2004

(as restated)
(NOTE B)
Operating activities:      
Net income  $   76,341   $   79,018  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
  provided by operating activities: 
  Depreciation and amortization  49,312   42,416  
  Amortization of intangibles  71   84  
  Provision for bad debts  180   --  
  Deferred income taxes  1,141 11,585  
  (Gain)/loss on impairment and disposition of assets  (554 ) 324  
  Equity in (earnings) of unconsolidated franchises  (2,381 ) (3,879 )
  Other  67   113  
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 
     Receivables  6,894   (3,041 )
     Inventories  (1,449 ) (1,245 )
     Income tax payable/receivable  6,698   (2,755 )
     Prepaid and other assets  (2,417 ) 444  
     Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities       (224 )     13,003  
  Net cash provided by operating activities    133,679     136,067  

Investing activities:
 
Purchases of property and equipment  (113,699 ) (113,135 )
Acquisition of franchise entities  (8,243 ) --  
Acquisition of an additional 49% interest in 
  unconsolidated franchises  --   (2,000 )
Distributions received from unconsolidated franchises  1,547   956  
Proceeds from disposal of assets, including investments in unconsolidated 
     subsidiaries  3,592   4,782  
Payoff of company-owned life insurance policy loans  --   (5,884 )
Other, net      (3,475 )     (3,546 )
  Net cash used by investing activities  (120,278 ) (118,827 )

Financing activities:
 
Proceeds from long-term debt  57,300   --  
Payments on long-term debt  (40,657 ) (41,207 )
Proceeds from issuance of stock  8,236   36,713  
Stock repurchases  (46,806 ) (35 )
Dividends paid      (2,915 )     (2,943 )
  Net cash used by financing activities    (24,842 )     (7,472 )

(Decrease)/increase in cash and
 
  short-term investments  (11,441 ) 9,768  
Cash and short-term investments: 
  Beginning of year      19,485         8,662  
  End of quarter  $     8,044   $   18,430  





Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
      Cash paid for: 
        Interest (net of amount capitalized)  $     4,280   $     4,878  
        Income taxes, net  $   29,867   $   22,381  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.



-5-


NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE A – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Ruby Tuesday, Inc., including its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“RTI” or the “Company”), owns and operates Ruby Tuesday® casual dining restaurants. We also franchise the Ruby Tuesday concept in selected domestic and international markets. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring entries) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the 13- and 39-week periods ended March 1, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the year ending May 31, 2005.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in RTI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 1, 2004. Certain information included in that Form 10-K will be restated as a result of the lease adjustments discussed in Note B below.

NOTE B – RESTATEMENT OF PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Company recently reviewed its lease and sublease accounting and determined that it was appropriate to restate its consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years 2002 through 2004 and for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2005. These adjustments relate to lease accounting matters, including those discussed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in its February 7, 2005 letter (“SEC Letter”) to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”). In the SEC Letter, the SEC expressed its views on the amortization of leasehold improvements, rent holidays and landlord/tenant incentives. Certain of the restated amounts for fiscal 2004 are reflected in the financial statements for fiscal year 2004 contained in this filing.

The Company first reported recording, in its Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 30, 2004, entries totaling $7.5 million ($4.8 million net of tax) to adjust straight-line rent expense and to correct its accounting for subleases. As then discussed, it had been our policy to depreciate our property and equipment, including assets on leased properties, over the estimated useful lives of those assets. In some cases, these assets on leased properties were depreciated over a period of time that included both the initial term of the lease and one or more option periods. In December 2004, the Company revised its computation of straight line rent to include certain option periods where failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. As a result, the Company concluded that rent expense was cumulatively understated by $5.0 million as of November 30, 2004. Further, on various occasions since fiscal 1998, the Company sold restaurants, including restaurants on leased properties, to franchisees and to Specialty Restaurant Group, LLC (“SRG”). In all cases, the franchise or SRG assumed responsibility for payment of all remaining Company lease obligations to the landlords through sublease agreements. With each sale of restaurants, the Company wrote off its deferred escalating minimum rent liabilities; however, we remained primarily liable on many of the lease obligations. In reviewing these leases and subleases, we concluded that the deferred escalating minimum rent liabilities should have remained on our consolidated balance sheets, and we should have partially offset those liabilities with straight-lined rents receivable from the franchisees or SRG. The impact of this prior practice was a cumulative understatement of rent expense in the amount of $2.5 million as of November 30, 2004. In part because our calculations showed the annual impact of correcting these misstatements on diluted earnings per share for each of the three preceding fiscal years to be less than $0.01 per share each year and similarly not significant for fiscal 2005‘s first two quarters, we corrected the errors ($4.8 million after tax) in the current year’s second fiscal quarter. The additional rent expense of $7.5 million was included in other restaurant operating costs in the consolidated statement of income for the 13 weeks ended November 30, 2004.

Subsequent to the issuance of the SEC Letter, we undertook a review of our accounting policies relative to rent holidays and landlord/tenant incentives. With regard to rent holidays, the adjustment described below changes our accounting practices to expense straight-line rent from the point at which the Company takes control and possession of a leased site (generally at the beginning of construction). Previously, the Company began its expensing of rent on a straight-line basis at the earlier of the dates actual rent payments commenced or the opening of the unit. The below adjustments also include entries to reclassify incentives received from landlords to deferred escalating minimum rent from property and equipment. In addition to the $7.5 million increased rent expense recorded during our second fiscal quarter, we identified further cumulative pre-tax adjustments of $10.1 million ($7.1 million related to the rent holiday adjustment with the remainder attributable to the reclassification of landlord/tenant incentives).



-6-


As a result of the additional required adjustments, the Company no longer believed it appropriate to record the corrections in the current fiscal year. Accordingly, the Company is correcting these errors through restatement of its consolidated financial statements first reported on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 1, 2004 and on Forms 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended August 31, 2004 and November 30, 2004.

The impact of these restatements on the previously filed consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2004 included in this Form 10-Q is summarized below:

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
SUMMARY OF RESTATEMENT IMPACTS
AS OF JUNE 1, 2004
(IN THOUSANDS)

Previously
Reported
Adjustments As Restated
Assets:            
Current assets: 
   Cash and short-term investments  $   19,485     $   19,485 
   Accounts and notes receivable  9,978   $        111  10,089 
   Inventories: 
      Merchandise  8,068     8,068 
      China, silver and supplies  5,579     5,579 
   Income tax receivable  2,941     2,941 
   Deferred income taxes  1,975   1,624  3,599 
   Prepaid rent and other expenses  8,623     8,623 
   Assets held for sale         3,030                             3,030 
      Total current assets       59,679           1,735       61,414 

   Property and equipment, net
  753,319   13,504  766,823 
   Goodwill  7,845     7,845 
   Notes receivable, net  33,366     33,366 
   Other assets       64,324          2,663       66,987 
      Total assets  $ 918,533   $   17,902  $ 936,435 






Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity: 
Current liabilities: 
   Accounts payable  $   37,416     $   37,416 
   Accrued liabilities: 
      Taxes, other than income taxes  13,070     13,070 
      Payroll and related costs  18,021     18,021 
      Insurance  6,332     6,332 
      Rent and other  15,185   $     4,177  19,362 
   Current portion of long-term debt            518                               518 
      Total current liabilities       90,542          4,177       94,719 

   Long-term debt
  168,087     168,087 
   Deferred income taxes  51,310   (5,126) 46,184 
   Deferred escalating minimum rent  9,621   29,104  38,725 
   Other deferred liabilities       72,189                          72,189 
Total liabilities     391,749        28,155     419,904 

Shareholders’ equity:
 
   Common stock  655     655 
   Capital in excess of par value  16,455     16,455 
   Retained earnings  518,576   (10,253) 508,323 
   Deferred compensation liability payable in Company 
      stock  4,821     4,821 
   Company stock held by Deferred Compensation Plan  (4,821 )   (4,821)
   Accumulated other comprehensive loss        (8,902 )                         (8,902)
      526,784     (10,253)    516,531 
      Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity  $ 918,533   $   17,902  $ 936,435 








-7-


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
SUMMARY OF RESTATEMENT IMPACTS
THIRTEEN WEEK PERIOD ENDED MARCH 2, 2004
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER-SHARE DATA)

Previously
Reported
Adjustments As Restated
Revenue:            
   Restaurant sales and operating revenue  $ 266,438     $ 266,438 
   Franchise revenue         4,527            4,527 
   270,965     270,965 
Operating costs and expenses: 
   Cost of merchandise  67,419     67,419 
   Payroll and related costs  81,909     81,909 
   Other restaurant operating costs  43,666   $       (581) 43,085 
   Depreciation and amortization  13,907   769  14,676 
   Selling, general and administrative  15,594     15,594 
   Equity in (earnings) of unconsolidated franchises  (2,610 )   (2,610)
   Interest expense, net            773                               773 
       220,658             188     220,846 
Income before income taxes  50,307   (188) 50,119 
Provision for income taxes       17,902              (75)      17,827 
      Net income  $   32,405   (113) $   32,292 







Earnings per share:
 
   Basic  $       0.49    $       0.49 
   Diluted  $       0.48    $       0.48 
Weighted average shares: 
   Basic  65,914      65,914 
   Diluted  67,614      67,614 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
SUMMARY OF RESTATEMENT IMPACTS
THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIOD ENDED MARCH 2, 2004
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER-SHARE DATA)

Previously
Reported
Adjustments As Restated
Revenue:          
   Restaurant sales and operating revenue  $ 753,178     $ 753,178 
   Franchise revenue       12,643          12,643 
     765,821     765,821 
Operating costs and expenses: 
   Cost of merchandise  193,015     193,015 
   Payroll and related costs  237,487     237,487 
   Other restaurant operating costs  126,488   $    (2,404 ) 124,084 
   Depreciation and amortization  40,109   2,307   42,416 
   Selling, general and administrative  46,710     46,710 
   Equity in (earnings) of unconsolidated franchises  (3,879 )   (3,879)
   Interest expense, net         3,288                              3,288 
         643,218               (97 )    643,121 
Income before income taxes  122,603   97   122,700 
Provision for income taxes       43,643                39        43,682 
      Net income  $   78,960   $          58   $   79,018 







Earnings per share:
 
   Basic  $       1.21 $       1.21  
   Diluted  $       1.18 $       1.18  
Weighted average shares: 
   Basic  65,322     65,322  
   Diluted  66,889     66,889  


-8-


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA
SUMMARY OF RESTATEMENT IMPACTS
THIRTY-NINE WEEK PERIOD ENDED MARCH 2, 2004
(IN THOUSANDS)

Previously
Reported
Adjustments As Restated
Operating activities:        
Net income  $   78,960   $          58   $   79,018  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash 
   provided by operating activities: 
   Depreciation and amortization  40,109   2,307   42,416  
   Amortization of intangibles  84     84  
   Deferred income taxes  11,546   39   11,585  
   (Gain)/loss on impairment and disposition of assets  324     324  
   Equity in (earnings) of unconsolidated franchises  (3,879 ) (3,879 )
   Other  113     113  
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 
      Receivables  (2,737 ) (304 ) (3,041 )
      Inventories  (1,245 ) (1,245 )
      Income tax payable/receivable  (2,755 ) (2,755 )
      Prepaid and other assets  444     444  
      Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities       15,103         (2,100 )      13,003  
   Net cash provided by operating activities     136,067                 --      136,067  

   Net cash used by investing activities
    (118,827 )   (118,827 )

   Net cash used by financing activities
        (7,472 )       (7,472 )
   Net increase in cash and short-term investments  9,768   --   9,768  
Cash and short-term investments: 
   Beginning of year         8,662                              8,662  
   End of quarter  $   18,430   $             --   $   18,430  






NOTE C – EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period presented. The computation of diluted earnings per share gives effect to options outstanding during the applicable periods. The effect of stock options increased the diluted weighted average shares outstanding by approximately 0.9 million and 1.7 million for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005 and March 2, 2004, respectively, and approximately 1.1 million and 1.6 million for the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 and March 2, 2004, respectively.

Stock options with an exercise price greater than the average market price of our common stock do not impact the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the 13 and 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005, there were 2.2 million and 2.1 million unexercised options, respectively, that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the 13 and 39 weeks ended March 2, 2004, the amount of options excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share was negligible.

NOTE D – STOCK-BASED EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

We measure compensation expense related to stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method. Accordingly, no stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income if the exercise price of the option equals or exceeds the fair value of the stock on the date of grant. Had compensation expense for our stock option plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant date consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), our net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per-share data):



-9-


Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

(as restated)

Net income, as reported
  $     27,540   $     32,292  

Less: Stock-based employee compensation
 
   expense determined under fair value based 
   method for all awards, net of income tax expense      3,721       1,920  

Pro forma net income
  $     23,819   $     30,372  



Basic earnings per share
 
As reported  $         0.43   $         0.49  
Pro forma  $         0.37   $         0.46  

Diluted earnings per share
 
As reported  $         0.42   $         0.48  
Pro forma  $         0.37   $         0.45  

Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

(as restated)

Net income, as reported
  $     76,341   $     79,018  

Less: Stock-based employee compensation
 
   expense determined under fair value based 
   method for all awards, net of income tax expense    12,221       6,553  

Pro forma net income
  $     64,120   $     72,465  



Basic earnings per share
 
As reported  $         1.18   $         1.21  
Pro forma  $         0.99   $         1.11  

Diluted earnings per share
 
As reported  $         1.16   $         1.18  
Pro forma  $         0.98   $         1.09  

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS 123(R)” or the “Statement”). FAS 123(R) requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. FAS 123(R) covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans.

FAS 123(R) specifies that the fair value of an employee stock option must be based on an observable market price of an option with the same or similar terms and conditions if one is available or, if an observable market price is not available, the fair value must be estimated using a valuation technique that (1) is applied in a manner consistent with the fair value measurement objective and the other requirements of the Statement, (2) is based on established principles of financial economic theory and generally applied in that field, and (3) reflects



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all substantive characteristics of the instrument. Since market prices for RTI employee stock options or for identical or similar equity instruments are not available, there are no observable market prices for RTI’s employee stock options and, therefore, fair value will be estimated using an acceptable valuation technique. FAS 123(R) permits entities to use any option-pricing model that meets the fair value objective in the Statement.

The Statement is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005 (fiscal 2007 for RTI). As of the effective date, RTI will apply the Statement using a modified version of prospective application. Under that transition method, compensation cost is recognized for (1) all awards granted after the required effective date and for awards modified, cancelled, or repurchased after that date and (2) the portion of prior awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated for either recognition or pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123. For periods before the required effective date, entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application transition method under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by SFAS 123.

The impact of this Statement on RTI in fiscal 2007 and beyond will depend upon various factors, including, but not limited to, our future compensation strategy. The pro forma compensation costs presented in the table above and in our prior filings have been calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and may not be indicative of amounts which should be expected in future years. As of the date of this filing, no decisions have been made as to which option pricing model is most appropriate for RTI or whether RTI will apply the modified version of the retrospective transition method of adoption.

NOTE E – ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE

Notes receivable from franchise partnerships generally arise when Company-owned restaurants are sold to franchise partnerships (“refranchised”). These notes generally allow for deferral of interest during the first one to three years and require the payment of interest only for up to six years from the inception of the note. All of the refranchising notes accrue interest at 10.0% per annum.

Amounts reflected for long-term notes receivable at March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2004 are net of a $5.8 million and $5.7 million allowance for doubtful notes, respectively.

NOTE F – FRANCHISE PROGRAMS

In September 2004, in conjunction with a previously announced strategy to acquire certain franchisees in the Eastern United States, RTI, through its subsidiaries, acquired the remaining 50% of the partnership interests of RT Tampa Franchise, LP (“RT Tampa”), thereby increasing its ownership to 100% of partnership interests. RT Tampa, previously a franchise partnership with 25 units in Florida, was acquired for a total purchase price of $10.7 million, of which $8.0 million was paid in cash. Our condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the results of operations of these acquired restaurants subsequent to the date of acquisition. This transaction was accounted for as a step acquisition using the purchase method as defined in FASB statement No. 141, “Business Combinations.” The purchase price was allocated to the fair value of property and equipment of $15.4 million, goodwill of $3.7 million, long-term debt and capital leases of $8.1 million, and other net current liabilities of $0.3 million. RT Tampa had total debt and capital leases totaling $18.5 million at the time of the acquisition, including a note payable to RTI with an outstanding balance of $2.3 million. In addition to recording the amounts discussed above, RTI reclassified its investment in RT Tampa to account for the remainder of the assets and liabilities of RT Tampa, which are now fully recorded within the condensed consolidated financial statements of RTI.

In addition, for the same reasons noted above, the Company, through its subsidiaries, also acquired the remaining 99% of the member interests of RT New York Franchise, LLC (“RT New York”) in September 2004 for a total purchase price of $1.1 million, of which $0.2 million was paid in cash, thereby increasing its ownership to 100% of the member interests. RT New York had debt and capital leases totaling $7.4 million at the time of the acquisition, including a note payable to RTI with an outstanding balance of $0.7 million. RT New York previously operated nine units in the Buffalo, New York area, and the transaction brought RTI’s ownership interest in RT New York to 100%, as RTI already owned 1% of the member interests. The purchase price of $1.1 million was allocated to the fair value of property and equipment of $7.8 million, goodwill of $0.4 million, long-term debt and capital leases of $6.7 million, and other net current liabilities of $0.4 million.



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In November 2004, RTI, through its subsidiaries, acquired the remaining 99% of the member interests of RT Northern California Franchise, LLC (“RT Northern California”), thereby increasing its ownership to 100% of the member interests. RT Northern California, a franchise partnership with just one unit, was acquired for a purchase price of $54,000, of which $35,000 was paid in cash. The purchase price was allocated to the fair value of property and equipment of $1.0 million, goodwill of $0.5 million, and long-term debt of $2.0 million. Because the amount of debt anticipated to be recorded by RTI upon completion of the acquisition was expected to exceed the fair value of the assets to be acquired, RTI recorded a loss on guarantee of debt of $0.5 million in the first fiscal quarter.

These acquisitions in total increased earnings per share by less than one cent for the twenty-six weeks ended March 1, 2005 (the periods following the acquisitions).

In October 2004, RTI sold its 50% and 1% ownership interests in RT Northern Illinois Franchise, LLC (“RT Northern Illinois”) and RT Chicago Franchise, LLC (“RT Chicago”), respectively, to RT Midwest Holdings, LLC (“RT Midwest”) for $1.8 million in cash. As a result of this sale, which resulted in a gain of $1.0 million, RT Northern Illinois and RT Chicago were converted from franchise partnership entities to traditional domestic franchise entities with 100% of their equity held by RT Midwest. RT Midwest also holds 100% of the equity in RT Iowa Franchise, LLC (“RT Iowa”), which was already a traditional domestic franchise entity. As part of this transaction, RT Midwest paid off all amounts outstanding under RT Chicago’s and RT Northern Illinois’ revolving credit facilities, which had been partially guaranteed by RTI. RTI provides no guarantees of the third party debt of RT Midwest or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

As of March 1, 2005, we held a 50% equity interest in each of 11 franchise partnerships which collectively operated 108 Ruby Tuesday restaurants. We apply the equity method of accounting to all 50%-owned franchise partnerships. Also, as of March 1, 2005, we held a 1% equity interest in each of eight franchise partnerships which collectively operated 50 restaurants and no equity interest in various traditional domestic and international franchises which collectively operated 67 restaurants.

See Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of our franchise partnership working capital credit facility and our related guarantees.

NOTE G – LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASES

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations consist of the following (in thousands):

March 1, 2005
June 1, 2004
Revolving credit facility   $  36,800   $  12,300  
Unsecured senior notes: 
     Series A, due April 2010  85,000   85,000  
     Series B, due April 2013  65,000   65,000  
Mortgage loan obligations  22,960   6,305  
Capital lease obligations          530               --  
  210,290   168,605  
Less current maturities       2,038           518  
  $208,252   $168,087  


On April 3, 2003, RTI issued notes totaling $150.0 million through a private placement of debt (the “Private Placement”). The Private Placement consists of $85.0 million with a fixed interest rate of 4.69% (the “Series A Notes”) and $65.0 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.42% (the “Series B Notes”). The Series A Notes and Series B Notes mature on April 1, 2010 and April 1, 2013, respectively.

On November 19, 2004, RTI entered into a five-year revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Facility”) under which we may borrow up to $200.0 million with the option to increase the facility by up to $100.0 million to a total of $300.0 million or reduce the amount of the facility. The Credit Facility, which was obtained for general corporate purposes, amended and restated a previous five-year facility that was set to expire in October 2005. The terms of the Credit Facility provide for a $20.0 million swingline sub-commitment and a $40.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. RTI borrowed $75.0 million under the Credit Facility to pay off borrowings outstanding under the previous facility. Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the refinancing were paid from cash on hand. Additionally, new letters of credit of $12.1 million were obtained to replace those outstanding under the previous facility. The Credit Facility will mature on November 19, 2009.



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Under the Credit Facility, interest rates charged on borrowings can vary depending on the interest rate option we choose to utilize. Our options for the rate are the Base Rate or an adjusted LIBO Rate plus an applicable margin. The Base Rate is defined to be the higher of the issuing bank’s prime lending rate or the Federal Funds rate plus 0.5%. The applicable margin for the Base Rate loans is a percentage ranging from zero to 0.25%. The applicable margin for the LIBO Rate-based option is a percentage ranging from 0.625% to 1.25%. We pay commitment fees quarterly ranging from 0.15% to 0.25% on the unused portion of the Credit Facility.

Under the terms of the Credit Facility, we had borrowings of $36.8 million with an associated floating rate of interest of 3.35% at March 1, 2005. As of June 1, 2004, we had $12.3 million outstanding with an associated floating rate of interest of 2.14%. After consideration of letters of credit outstanding, the Company had $149.9 million available under the Credit Facility as of March 1, 2005. 

Both the Credit Facility and the notes issued in the Private Placement contain various restrictions, including limitations on additional debt, the payment of dividends and limitations regarding funded debt, minimum net worth, and minimum fixed charge coverage ratio.

As discussed in Note F, in September 2004, RTI acquired, through its subsidiaries, the remaining limited partner interests and member interests in RT Tampa and RT New York, respectively, including the related long-term debt and capital leases associated with these franchise partnerships.

In conjunction with these acquisitions, RTI recorded mortgage loan and capital lease obligations to third party lenders as of the acquisition dates totaling $22.9 million. This debt was comprised of varying amounts due to four different lenders. Included in these amounts were notes totaling $3.7 million which were retired subsequent to the acquisition. The debt remaining consisted of individual fixed and variable rate mortgage loans secured by the associated properties. The variable rate notes, which totaled $10.4 million as of March 1, 2005, had associated interest rates ranging from 5.49% to 6.49%. The fixed rate notes, which totaled $7.5 million at March 1, 2005, had associated rates ranging from 8.60% to 10.08%. In addition to the notes mentioned above, RTI acquired certain 9.02% fixed rate capital leases from RT Tampa and RT New York which had outstanding balances totaling $0.4 million at March 1, 2005.

In addition $4.9 million remains outstanding at March 1, 2005 on a 8.64% fixed rate mortgage loan obligation arising from the acquisition of a franchise partnership in Arizona during fiscal 2001. This loan is secured by the restaurants that were acquired.

NOTE H – PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND LEASES

Property and equipment, net, is comprised of the following (in thousands):

March 1, 2005
June 1, 2004
(as restated)

Land
  $   154,941   $   129,153  

Buildings
  323,889   278,793  

Improvements
  336,365   308,226  

Restaurant equipment
  241,166   219,399  

Other equipment
  84,341   79,092  

Construction in progress
    73,996     64,957  
  1,214,698   1,079,620  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
  352,261   312,797  
   $   862,437   $   766,823  



As discussed in Note F, in September 2004, RTI, through subsidiaries, acquired the remaining limited partner interests and member interests in RT Tampa and RT New York, respectively. RTI, through its subsidiaries, acquired the remaining member interests in RT Northern California in November 2004. In connection with these acquisitions, RTI recorded the property and equipment, and related obligations under operating and capital leases associated with these franchise partnerships. Among the restaurants which RT Tampa and RT New York leased were several which had been sub-leased from RTI.



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Approximately 45% of our restaurants are located on owned property. The remaining restaurants are located on leased properties. Of those, approximately half are land leases only, the other half are for both land and building. The initial terms of these leases expire at various dates over the next 20 years. These leases may also contain required increases in rent at varying times during the lease terms and have options to extend the terms of the leases at rates that are included in the original lease agreement.

As discussed further in Note B, prior to the second quarter of our current fiscal year, it had been our policy to depreciate our property and equipment, including assets located on leased properties, over the estimated useful lives of those assets. In some cases, these assets on leased properties were depreciated over a period of time which included both the initial term of the lease and one or more option periods. In December 2004, the Company revised its computation of straight-line rent to include certain option periods where failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. As a result, the Company concluded that rent expense was cumulatively understated by $5.0 million as of November 30, 2004. Further, on various occasions since fiscal 1998, the Company sold restaurants, including restaurants on leased properties, to franchisees and to SRG. In all cases, the franchise or SRG assumed responsibility for payment of all remaining Company lease obligations to the landlords through sublease agreements. With each sale of restaurants, the Company wrote off its deferred escalating minimum rent liabilities; however, we remained primarily liable on many of the lease obligations. In reviewing these leases and subleases, we concluded that the deferred escalating minimum rent liabilities should have remained on our consolidated balance sheets, and we should have partially offset those liabilities with straight-lined rents receivable from the franchisees or SRG. The impact of this prior practice is that rent expense was cumulatively understated by $2.5 million as of November 30, 2004.

During the third quarter of our current fiscal year (also discussed further in Note B), following review of the SEC Letter, we began to undertake a review of our fixed asset registers in order to determine the extent to which landlord construction allowances remained recorded as contra-assets. As a result of that review, contra-assets with a net book value of $11.1 million and $13.5 million as of March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2004, respectively, were reclassified to deferred escalating minimum rent in accordance with the views expressed by the SEC that the improvements made by a lessee that are funded by the lessor should be recorded by the lessee as leasehold improvement assets, and amortized over the shorter of their economic life or the lease term and that the incentives should be recorded as deferred escalating minimum rent and amortized as reductions in rent expense over the lease term. An additional liability of $2.9 million and $3.6 million was recorded as of March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2004, respectively, to deferred escalating minimum rent representing the amount of landlord incentives received on former Ruby Tuesday company-owned units now subleased to others.

Further, also as a result of the views expressed in the SEC Letter, we determined that a liability totaling $7.1 million and $7.2 million should be recorded as of March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2004, respectively, to reflect the increase in deferred escalating minimum rent associated with the recording of rent holidays, viewed to be the period of time when RTI takes control and possession (generally the beginning of construction) of the leased property. RTI had previously begun to record rent expense upon the earlier of the commencement of actual cash payments or the opening of the leased unit.

As a result of these corrections, RTI will amend its previously filed Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 1, 2004 and Form 10-Q’s for the first two quarters of fiscal 2005 to restate prior periods.

NOTE I – OTHER DEFERRED LIABILITIES

Other deferred liabilities at March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2004 included $22.7 million and $20.5 million, respectively, for the liability due to participants in our Deferred Compensation Plan and $18.6 million and $17.5 million, respectively, for the liability due to participants of the Company’s Executive Supplemental Pension Plan.

NOTE J – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income”, requires the disclosure of certain revenue, expenses, gains and losses that are excluded from net income in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Total comprehensive income for the 13 and 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 and March 2, 2004 were as follows (in thousands):



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Thirteen weeks ended
March 1, 2005
March 2, 2004
(as restated)
Net income   $27,540   $ 32,292  
Other comprehensive income: 
  Unrecognized gain on interest rate swaps: 
    Change in current period market value  --   --  
    Losses reclassified into the condensed consolidated 
          statement of income, net of tax  --   --  
  Minimum pension liability adjustment, 
          net of tax        629         (57)

Total comprehensive income
  $28,169   $ 32,235  



Thirty-nine weeks ended
March 1, 2005
March 2, 2004
(as restated)
Net income   $76,341   $ 79,018  
Other comprehensive income: 
  Unrecognized gain on interest rate swaps: 
    Change in current period market value  --   20  
    Losses reclassified into the condensed consolidated 
          statement of income, net of tax  --   600  
  Minimum pension liability adjustment, 
          net of tax        629     (1,702)

Total comprehensive income
  $76,970   $ 77,936  


NOTE K – PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT MEDICAL AND LIFE BENEFIT PLANS

We sponsor three defined benefit pension plans for active employees and offer certain postretirement benefits for retirees.  A summary of each of these plans is presented below.

Retirement Plan
RTI, along with Morrison Fresh Cooking, Inc. (“MFC”), which was subsequently purchased by Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc.; (“Piccadilly”), and Morrison Health Care, Inc. (“MHC”), which was subsequently purchased by Compass Group, PLC; (“Compass”), have sponsored the Morrison Restaurants Inc. Retirement Plan (the “Retirement Plan”). Effective December 31, 1987, the Retirement Plan was amended so that no additional benefits would accrue and no new participants may enter the Retirement Plan after that date. Participants receive benefits based upon salary and length of service. Certain responsibilities involving the administration of the Retirement Plan have been until recently jointly shared by each of the three companies.

On October 29, 2003, Piccadilly announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court.  Piccadilly withdrew as a sponsor of the Retirement Plan, with court approval, on March 4, 2004.  See Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Piccadilly bankruptcy, including the subsequent sale of Piccadilly, and its impact on our defined benefit pension plans. 

Executive Supplemental Pension Plan and Management Retirement Plan
Under the unfunded Executive Supplemental Pension Plan and Management Retirement Plan (defined benefit pension plans), eligible employees earn supplemental retirement income based upon salary and length of service, reduced by social security benefits and amounts otherwise receivable under other specified Company retirement plans. Effective June 1, 2001, the Management Retirement Plan was amended so that no additional benefits would accrue and no new participants may enter the plan after that date.

For each of the retirement plans discussed above, RTI has accrued certain liabilities on behalf of certain Piccadilly participants relative to these plans. The ultimate amount of Piccadilly liability which RTI will absorb relative to all three defined benefit pension plans will be determined upon the completion of Piccadilly’s bankruptcy settlement.  This amount could be higher or lower than the amounts accrued based on management’s estimate. See Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.



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Postretirement Medical and Life Insurance Benefits
Our postretirement medical and life insurance benefits plans provide medical benefits to substantially all retired employees and life insurance benefits to certain retirees. The medical plan contains retiree cost sharing provisions that are more substantial for employees who retired after January 1, 1990.

The following tables detail the components of net periodic benefit costs and the amounts recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the Retirement Plan, Management Retirement Plan, and the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan (collectively, the “Pension Plans”) and the postretirement medical and life insurance benefits plans (in thousands):

Pension Benefits
Thirteen weeks ended Thirty-nine weeks ended
March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

Service cost   $   95   $   67   $    286   $    201  

Interest cost
  547   449   1,640   1,350  

Expected return on plan assets
  (129 ) (59 ) (387 ) (179 )

Amortization of transition obligation
  13   13   40   40  

Amortization of prior service cost
  82   16   245   49  

Recognized actuarial loss
    261     268     784     801  

Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 869   $ 754   $ 2,608   $ 2,262  





Postretirement Medical and Life Insurance Benefits
Thirteen weeks ended Thirty-nine weeks ended
March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

Service cost   $   4   $   4   $ 10   $ 10  

Interest cost
  16   18   50   55  

Amortization of prior service cost
  (4 ) (1 ) (12 ) (5 )

Recognized actuarial loss
      10         8       29       27  

Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 26   $ 29   $ 77   $ 87  




Prior service costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the average remaining service period of employees expected to receive benefits.

As disclosed in our Form 10-K for fiscal 2004, we are required to make contributions to the Retirement Plan in fiscal 2005. We made contributions in the amount of $1.2 million to the Retirement Plan during the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005. We expect to make contributions of $0.9 million for the remainder of fiscal 2005, $0.3 million of which will relate to Piccadilly.

NOTE L – GUARANTEES

At March 1, 2005, we had certain third party guarantees, described below, which primarily arose in connection with our franchising and divestiture activities. The majority of these guarantees expire through fiscal 2013. The Company may be required to perform under these guarantees in the event that a third party fails to make contractual payments or, in the case of franchise partnership debt guarantees, fails to achieve certain performance measures.



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Franchise Partnership Guarantees

As part of the franchise partnership program, we have negotiated with various lenders a $48 million credit facility, amended and restated on November 19, 2004, to assist the franchise partnerships with working capital needs and cash flows for operations (the “Franchise Facility”). As sponsor of the Franchise Facility, we serve as partial guarantor of the draws made by the franchise partnerships on the Franchise Facility. The Franchise Facility expires on October 5, 2006 and allows for 12 month individual franchise partnership loan commitments. If desired RTI can increase the amount of the Franchise Facility by up to $25 million (to a total of $73 million) or reduce the amount of the Franchise Facility.

Prior to July 1, 2004, RTI also had an arrangement with a different third party whereby we could choose, in our sole discretion, to partially guarantee specific loans for new franchisee restaurant development (the “Cancelled Facility”). Should payments be required under the Cancelled Facility, RTI has certain rights to acquire the operating restaurants after the third party debt was paid.  On July 1, 2004, RTI terminated the Cancelled Facility and notified this third party lender that it would no longer enter into additional guarantee arrangements. RTI will honor the partial guarantees of the three loans to franchise partnerships that were in existence as of the termination of the Cancelled Facility.

Also in July, 2004, RTI entered into a new program, similar to the Cancelled Facility, with a different third party lender (the “Franchise Development Facility”).  Under the Franchise Development Facility, the Company’s potential guarantee liability is reduced, and the program includes better terms and lower rates for the franchise partnerships as compared to the Cancelled Facility. 

Under the Franchise Development Facility, qualifying franchise partnerships may collectively borrow up to $20 million for new restaurant development.  The Company will partially guarantee amounts borrowed under the Franchise Development Facility.  The Franchise Development Facility has a three-year term that will expire on July 1, 2007, although any guarantees outstanding at that time will survive the expiration of the arrangement.  Should payments be required under the Franchise Development Facility, RTI has rights to acquire the operating restaurants after the third party debt is paid.  The Company does not anticipate entering into any future franchise partnership guarantee programs.

As discussed in Note F, during our second quarter of fiscal 2005, RTI acquired the remaining membership interests of three franchise partnerships and two other franchise partnerships were converted into traditional franchises, which, along with one existing traditional franchisee, are now under common control. All amounts outstanding under programs partially guaranteed by RTI were settled as part of the individual transactions.

As of March 1, 2005, the amounts guaranteed under the Franchise Facility, the Cancelled Facility and the Franchise Development Facility were $19.2 million, $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Unless extended, guarantees under these programs will expire at various dates from March 2005 through September 2012. To our knowledge, all of the franchise partnerships are current in the payment of their obligations due under these credit facilities. We have recorded a liability totaling $0.6 million related to the $19.9 million of these guarantees which originated or were modified after the effective date of FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” This amount was determined based on amounts to be received from the franchise partnerships as consideration for the guarantees. We believe these amounts approximate the fair value of the guarantees.

Divestiture Guarantees

During fiscal 1996, our shareholders approved the distribution (the “Distribution”) of our family dining restaurant business, MFC, and our health care food and nutrition services business, MHC. Subsequently, Piccadilly acquired MFC and Compass acquired MHC. Prior to the Distribution, we entered into various guarantee agreements with both MFC and MHC, most of which have expired. We do remain contingently liable for (1) payments to MFC and MHC employees retiring under (a) the versions of the Management Retirement Plan and the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan (the two non-qualified defined benefit plans), in effect as of the date of the Distribution, for the accrued benefits earned by those participants as of March 1996, and (b) funding obligations under the Retirement Plan maintained by MFC and MHC following the Distribution (the qualified plan), and (2) payments due on certain workers’ compensation and general liability claims. As payments are required under these guarantees, RTI is to divide the amounts due equally with the other non-defaulting entity (MFC or MHC).



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On October 29, 2003, Piccadilly announced that it had signed an agreement to sell substantially all of its assets, including its restaurant operations, to a third party for $54 million. On the same day, Piccadilly filed for Chapter 11 protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In December 2003, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order approving the bid procedures and the form of purchase agreement, and setting a hearing for February 13, 2004 to consider approval of a sale of substantially all of Piccadilly’s assets. Because qualified bids for Piccadilly’s assets were received from more than one bidder, an auction was conducted on February 11, 2004. The auction resulted in an agreement to sell Piccadilly’s assets and ongoing business operations to a different third party for $80 million. The increased sales price would, according to Piccadilly, allow Piccadilly to fully retire both its outstanding bank debt and senior notes and result in some amount being available for pro rata distribution to the unsecured creditors of Piccadilly; however, no distribution to common shareholders was expected to be available. This transaction was completed on March 16, 2004.

In addition, on March 4, 2004, Piccadilly withdrew as a sponsor of the Retirement Plan with the approval of the bankruptcy court. Because RTI and MHC are the remaining sponsors of the Retirement Plan, they are jointly and severally required to make contributions to the Retirement Plan in such amounts as are necessary to satisfy all benefit obligations under the Retirement Plan.

On March 10, 2004, we filed a claim against Piccadilly in the bankruptcy proceeding in the amount of approximately $6.2 million. Subsequently, the Company entered into a settlement agreement under which we agreed to accept a $5.0 million unsecured claim in exchange for the creditors’ committee agreement to allow such claim. This settlement agreement was approved by the bankruptcy court on October 21, 2004.

During fiscal 2004, we recorded a liability of $4.2 million for the retirement plans’ collective divestiture guarantees for which MFC was originally responsible under the divestiture guarantee agreements, comprised of $1.8 million related to the Retirement Plan (the qualified plan) and $2.4 million (in the aggregate) attributable to the Management Retirement Plan and the Executive Supplemental Pension Plan previously maintained by MFC (the two non-qualified plans). These amounts were determined in consultation with the plans’ actuary, and assumed no recovery from the bankruptcy proceeding.

Also during fiscal 2004 and the first three quarters of fiscal 2005, we made payments totaling $0.6 million and $0.3 million, respectively, to the Retirement Plan trust on behalf of employees of MFC. Our ultimate recovery in the bankruptcy proceeding and our ultimate liability related to the retirement plans’ divestiture guarantees may be higher or lower based on various factors, including the level of funds distributed to Piccadilly’s unsecured creditors as part of the bankruptcy proceeding. Although the Company hopes to receive full payment for its claim, the final amount of the recovery is not known at this time.

In partial settlement of the Piccadilly bankruptcy, RTI received $1.0 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2005. Although the Company hopes to recover an additional amount upon final settlement of the bankruptcy, further recovery is not expected during the current fiscal year, and no further recovery has been recorded in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

As noted above, we are, along with MHC, also contingently liable for certain workers’ compensation and general liability claims (estimated to be $0.1 million). Additionally, we may be, along with MHC, subject to claims, although no such claims have been made and we believe it unlikely that we would be liable should such claims be made, for payments due to certain pre-Distribution lessors of MFC. The actual amount of these and the other contingent liabilities, and any loss to be recorded by RTI, will depend on several factors including, without limitation, the current status of MFC’s pre-Distribution leased properties, the current employment and benefit status of MFC’s pre-Distribution employees, and whether MHC makes any contributing payments it may be required to make. Although the ultimate amount of these contingent liabilities cannot be determined at this time, we believe that such liability will not have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition or liquidity.

We estimated our divestiture guarantees related to MHC at March 1, 2005 to be $5.0 million for employee benefit plans and $0.2 million for the workers’ compensation and general liability claims. In addition, we remain contingently liable for MFC’s portion (estimated to be $3.6 million) of the employee benefit plan and workers’ compensation obligations and general liability claims for which MHC is currently responsible under the divestiture guarantee agreements. We believe the likelihood of being required to make payments for MHC’s portion to be remote due to the size and financial strength of MHC and Compass.



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ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

General:


Ruby Tuesday, Inc., including its wholly-owned subsidiaries (“RTI” or the “Company”), owns and operates Ruby Tuesday® casual dining restaurants. We also franchise the Ruby Tuesday concept in selected domestic and international markets.  As of March 1, 2005, we owned and operated 552, and franchised 225, Ruby Tuesday restaurants. Ruby Tuesday restaurants can now be found in 42 states, the District of Columbia, 12 foreign countries, and Puerto Rico.

Casual dining, the segment of the restaurant industry in which RTI operates, is intensely competitive with respect to prices, services, locations and the types and quality of food.  We compete with other food service operations, including locally-owned restaurants, and other national and regional restaurant chains that offer the same or similar types of services and products as we do.  Our industry is often affected by changes in consumer tastes, national, regional or local conditions, demographic trends, traffic patterns, and the types, numbers and locations of competing restaurants as well as overall marketing efforts.  There also is significant competition in the restaurant industry for management personnel and for attractive commercial real estate sites suitable for restaurants.

Our historical results have been achieved by using a blend of factors, including the following:

Our performance goals focus on measurements we believe are key to our growth and progress including, but not limited to, same store sales, new unit openings, and margins.  Our performance in these areas is discussed throughout this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section.

RTI generates revenue from the sale of food and beverages at our restaurants and from contractual arrangements with our franchisees. Franchise development and license fees are recognized when we have substantially performed all material services and the franchise-owned restaurant has opened for business. Franchise royalties and support service fees (each generally 4.0% of monthly sales) are recognized on the accrual basis.

As discussed further in Note B to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company recently reviewed its lease and sublease accounting and determined that it was appropriate to restate consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years 2002 through 2004 by amending its latest Form 10-K, and for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2005 by amending the associated Forms 10-Q. These restatement adjustments relate to lease accounting matters, including those discussed in the SEC Letter. In the SEC Letter, the SEC expressed its views on the amortization of leasehold improvements, rent holidays and landlord/tenant incentives.

The impact of the restatement to the condensed consolidated statements of income for the 13- and 39- week periods ended March 2, 2004 and the consolidated balance sheet as of June 1, 2004 is presented in Note B to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As a result of the entries, rent expense, which is included in Other Restaurant Operating Costs in our consolidated statements of income, decreased $2.8 million, $3.5 million, and $3.2 million for fiscal years 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively. Depreciation expense for those same periods increased $3.1 million, $3.1 million, and $3.0 million, respectively. The restatement had no impact on previously reported diluted earnings per share for fiscal years 2004 and 2003, but due to rounding, did increase reported fiscal 2002 diluted earnings per share by $0.01 to $0.89. The restatement had no impact on our previously reported revenue, cash balances or compliance with debt covenants.



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The following is an overview of our results of operations for the 13- and 39-week periods ended March 1, 2005 (after consideration of the restatement adjustments discussed above).

Net income decreased 14.5% to $27.6 million, or $0.42 per share – diluted, for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005 compared to $32.3 million, or $0.48 per share – diluted, for the same quarter of the previous year.

During the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005:

Net income decreased 3.4% to $76.3 million, or $1.16 per share – diluted, for the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 compared to $79.0 million, or $1.18 per share – diluted, for the same period in fiscal 2004.

Results of Operations:


The following table sets forth selected restaurant operating data as a percentage of total revenue, except where otherwise noted, for the periods indicated. All information is derived from our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

Thirteen weeks ended
Thirty-nine weeks ended
March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

March 1,
2005

March 2,
2004

(as restated) (as restated)
Revenue:          
       Restaurant sales and operating revenue  98 .8% 98 .3% 98 .5% 98 .3%
       Franchise revenue      1 .2         1 .7         1 .5         1 .7    
           Total revenue  100 .0 100 .0 100 .0 100 .0
Operating costs and expenses: 
       Cost of merchandise (1)  26 .0 25 .3 25 .9 25 .6
       Payroll and related costs (1)  30 .9 30 .7 31 .1 31 .5
       Other restaurant operating costs (1)  17 .0 16 .2 17 .2 16 .5
       Depreciation and amortization (1)  5 .9 5 .5 6 .1 5 .6
       Selling, general and administrative, net  6 .9 5 .8 6 .4 6 .1
       Equity in losses (earnings) of 
         unconsolidated franchises  (0 .3) (1 .0) (0 .3) (0 .5)
       Interest expense, net      0 .5         0 .3         0 .4         0 .4    
Income before income taxes  14 .1 18 .5 14 .3 16 .0
Provision for income taxes      4 .6         6 .6         4 .9         5 .7    

Net income
  9 .5% 11 .9% 9 .4% 10 .3%





(1)

As a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue.


The following table shows year-to-date Company-owned and franchised restaurant openings and closings, and total restaurants as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

Year-to-date
Openings

Year-to-date
Closings

Total Open at End
of Third Quarter

Fiscal
2005

Fiscal
2004

Fiscal
2005

Fiscal
2004

Fiscal
2005

Fiscal
2004

Company-owned   72 * 37   4   3   552   474  
Franchise  17   30   44 * 3   225   244  

*Includes 35 units acquired by RTI from franchisees in the second quarter of fiscal 2005.



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We estimate that approximately 18 additional Company-owned Ruby Tuesday restaurants will be opened during the remainder of fiscal 2005. See the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of how we expect to finance the development of these new restaurants as well as the restaurants we expect to open in subsequent fiscal years.

We expect our domestic and international franchisees to also open approximately 10 to 14 Ruby Tuesday restaurants during the remainder of fiscal 2005.

Revenue


RTI’s restaurant sales and operating revenue for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005 increased $19.1 million (7.2%) to $285.6 million compared to the same period of the prior year. This increase primarily resulted from a net addition of 78 units (a 16.5% increase) over the prior year, offset by an 8.0% decrease in same store sales. The net addition of 78 units includes 35 units acquired by RTI from franchisees during the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Management attributes the decrease in same store sales to several factors primarily including a decreased use of coupons, a lack of advertising and promotional presence as compared to our competition, and inclement winter weather. Reductions in coupons were estimated to have contributed 2.0 – 3.0% of the same store sales decline. Coupon redemptions totaled $1.0 million for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005 compared to $4.1 million for the same period of the prior year. The reduction in coupon redemptions is a direct result of a management effort to transition the Company’s advertising focus to television and other forms of media. The initial television ads ran earlier in fiscal 2005 focused on raising brand awareness. During the third quarter of the current fiscal year, the Company began running ads with a more direct call-to-action. These ads, which featured a seafood promotion, were run in conjunction with a January menu rollout.

The January menu, based on market research, has been deemed by management as being well received, based on improved ratings in the seven key attributes upon which the Company judges performance.

Franchise revenue totaled $3.6 million for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005, as compared to $4.5 million for the same quarter in the prior year. Franchise revenue is predominately comprised of domestic and international royalties, which totaled $3.4 million and $4.3 million for the 13-week periods ended March 1, 2005 and March 2, 2004, respectively. This decrease was due in part to the acquisition of three franchise entities which combined owned 35 units during the second quarter. See Note F to the condensed consolidated financial statements for more information. Same store sales for domestic franchise Ruby Tuesday restaurants decreased 8.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

For the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005, sales at Company-owned restaurants increased $49.9 million (6.6%) to $803.1 million. This increase primarily resulted from that same net addition of 78 units (16.5%), partially offset by a 6.5% decrease in same store sales for the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005. Coupon redemptions totaled $9.8 million for the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 compared to $14.8 million for the same period of the prior year. For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, franchise revenues were $11.8 million, compared to $12.6 million for the same period in the prior year. Domestic and international royalties totaled $11.2 million and $11.5 million for the 39-week periods ending March 1, 2005 and March 2, 2004, respectively.

Pre-tax Income

Pre-tax income decreased by $9.3 million to $40.8 million (an 18.5% decrease) for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. This decrease is primarily due to a decrease of 8.0% in same store sales at Company-owned restaurants combined with increases, as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue or total revenue, as appropriate, of cost of merchandise, payroll and related costs, other restaurant operating costs, depreciation and amortization, selling, general and administrative expenses, net, and interest expense, net, coupled with decreased income from our equity in earnings of unconsolidated franchises. These higher costs were offset by the increase in the number of units.

For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, pre-tax income was $116.4 million, a $6.3 million (5.1%) decrease over the corresponding period of the prior year. The decrease was due to increases, as a percentage of Company restaurant sales and operating revenue, of cost of merchandise, other restaurant operating costs, depreciation and amortization, and selling, general and administrative expenses, net, offset by increases in unit growth and a reduction, as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue, of payroll and related costs. In



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the paragraphs which follow, we discuss in more detail the components of the decreases in pre-tax income for the 13- and 39-week periods ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the comparable periods in the prior year.

Cost of Merchandise

Cost of merchandise increased $6.8 million (10.1%) to $74.2 million for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005, over the corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue, cost of merchandise increased from 25.3% to 26.0% for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005.

For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, cost of merchandise increased $15.3 million (7.9%) to $208.3 million over the corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage of Company restaurant sales, the cost of merchandise increased from 25.6% to 25.9% for the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005.

The increase for both the 13- and 39-week periods as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is primarily due to an increase in portion sizes for certain items as well as a shift to a new product for items such as chicken breasts, chicken tenders, ribs and mashed potatoes, and the addition of new menu items, such as stackers and coconut shrimp, in the current year. This increase was partially offset by a benefit gained by purchasing bulk produce versus local produce and by the impact of decreased coupon redemptions as redemptions (which are netted out of revenue) in the current fiscal year were $5.0 million lower than those of the corresponding prior year 39-week period.

Payroll and Related Costs

Payroll and related costs increased $6.3 million (7.7%) for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue, payroll and related costs increased from 30.7% to 30.9%.

For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, payroll and related costs increased $12.0 million (5.0%) as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of Company restaurant sales, payroll and related costs decreased from 31.5% to 31.1%.

The increase for the 13-week period as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is due to the impact of increased management labor coupled with lower average unit volumes. Offsetting this increase were labor cost efficiencies resulting from improved tracking of hourly employees and changes to the salad bar attendant position by adding guest service responsibilities to the position and providing an incentive to the attendant to enhance guest experience and the salad bar appearance through the sharing of tips.

Approximately half of the decrease for the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005 as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is due to coupons as redemptions in the current fiscal year were $5.0 million lower than those of the corresponding prior year 39-week period. The remaining decrease is due to labor efficiencies achieved from improved tracking of hourly employees and changes to the salad bar attendant position as discussed above.

Other Restaurant Operating Costs

Other restaurant operating costs increased $5.4 million (12.6%) for the 13-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue, these costs increased from 16.2% to 17.0%.

For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, other restaurant operating costs increased $14.2 million (11.5%) as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of Company restaurant sales, these costs increased from 16.5% to 17.2%.

The increase for the 13-week period as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is due to higher utility costs including electricity and natural gas, and closing expenses due to the combination of a current year increase resulting from adverse experience on a subleased unit coupled with a favorable settlement in the prior year.

The increase for the 39-week period as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is due to the higher utility costs as described above, coupled with a loss recorded in our first fiscal quarter for a guarantee of the RT Northern California revolving credit facility, offset by a $1.0 million gain resulting from the sale of our 50% interest in RT Northern Illinois to RT Midwest during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.



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The percentage increases for both the 13- and 39-week periods are also attributable to lower same-store sales as rent and certain other lease-related costs are somewhat fixed in nature.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased $2.2 million (15.2%) for the 13-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue, these expenses increased from 5.5% to 5.9%.

For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, depreciation and amortization expense increased $6.9 million (16.3%) as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of Company restaurant sales, these expenses increased from 5.6% to 6.1%.

The increases for both the 13- and 39-week periods are primarily due to lower average unit volumes due to the decrease in same store sales, depreciation for new units and accelerated depreciation on eight units expected to be closed at the end of their lease terms. Three of the eight units with accelerated depreciation closed during the fiscal quarter ended March 1, 2005. The increase in depreciation as a percentage of restaurant sales and operating revenue is also attributable to lower sales due to the fixed nature of the costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Net

Selling, general and administrative expenses, net of support service fee income totaling $3.7 million, increased $4.3 million (27.5%) for the 13-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of total operating revenue, these expenses increased from 5.8% to 6.9%.

Selling, general and administrative expenses, net of support service fee income totaling $11.7 million, increased $5.7 million (12.2%) for the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. As a percentage of total operating revenue, these expenses increased from 6.1% to 6.4%.

The increases for both the 13- and 39-week periods are primarily due to higher advertising expenditures as RTI transitions towards television advertising as its primary form of marketing with less emphasis on the use of coupons (which are recorded as a reduction of restaurant revenues), offset by a decrease in the bonus accrual to adjust for lower expected bonuses. The transition towards television advertising began during the second quarter.

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Franchises

Equity in the earnings of unconsolidated franchises decreased $1.8 million from $2.6 million in earnings to $0.8 million in earnings, for the 13 weeks ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. This decrease is primarily due to RTI’s acquisition of the RT Tampa franchise, coupled with the sale of our 50% ownership interest in the RT Northern Illinois franchise. For the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, equity in earnings of unconsolidated franchises decreased $1.5 million as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year, primarily due to RTI’s acquisition of RT Tampa during the second fiscal quarter, coupled with the sale of our 50% ownership interest in RT Northern Illinois and lower same store sales for certain of our 50% owned franchise partnerships during the year. As of March 1, 2005, we held 50% equity investments in each of 11 franchise partnerships which collectively operated 108 Ruby Tuesday restaurants. As of March 2, 2004, we held 50% equity investments in each of 13 franchise partnerships which then collectively operated 134 Ruby Tuesday restaurants.

Interest Expense, Net

Net interest expense increased $0.6 million for the 13-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year, primarily due to higher average debt in the current year fiscal quarter as compared to the same period of the prior fiscal year as a result of the acquisition of three franchisees and higher stock repurchases in the current fiscal year. Net interest expense decreased $0.2 million for the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to the corresponding period in the prior year, primarily due to lower debt levels in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year coupled with a decrease in interest related to Company-owned life insurance policies which were paid off in fiscal 2004. See “Borrowings and Credit Facilities” for more information.



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Provision for Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the current quarter was 32.6%, down from 35.6% for the same period of the prior year. The effective tax rate was 34.4% for the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, as compared to 35.6% for the corresponding period of the prior year. The decrease in the effective tax rates primarily resulted from a greater impact from tax credits, due, in part, to lower pre-tax income.

Critical Accounting Policies:


Our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make subjective and complex judgments that may affect the reported financial condition and results of operations. We base our estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  We continually evaluate the information used to make these estimates as our business and the economic environment changes.

We believe that of all of our significant accounting policies, the following policies may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Each quarter we evaluate the carrying value of any individual restaurant when the cash flows of such restaurant have deteriorated and we believe the probability of continued operating and cash flow losses indicate that the net book value of the restaurant may not be recoverable. In performing the review for recoverability, we consider the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the restaurant and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying value of the restaurant, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the net book value of the asset exceeds its fair value. Otherwise, an impairment loss is not recognized. Fair value is based upon estimated discounted future cash flows expected to be generated from continuing use through the expected disposal date and the expected terminal value. In the instance of a potential sale of a restaurant in a refranchising transaction, the expected purchase price is used as the estimate of fair value.

Restaurants open for less than five quarters are considered new and are excluded from our impairment review. We believe this approach provides sufficient time to establish the presence of the restaurant in the market and build a customer base. Approximately 12% of our restaurants have been open for less than five quarters and have not been evaluated for potential impairment.

If a restaurant that has been open for at least five quarters shows negative cash flow results, we prepare a plan to reverse the negative performance. Under our policies, recurring or projected annual negative cash flow signals a potential impairment. Both qualitative and quantitative information are considered when evaluating for potential impairments. The amount of impairment loss recognized is based on the difference between discounted projected cash flows (in the case of some negative cash flow restaurants only salvage value is used) and the current net book value. Prior to the second quarter of this fiscal year, we had not had more than eight open units with rolling 12 month negative cash flows during the previous year. Quarterly same store sales changes during that same period of time ranged from negative 2.7% to positive 4.1%. Despite the fall of same store sales during the second and third quarters of the current fiscal year to (8.6%) and (8.0)%, respectively, at March 1, 2005 we had just nine restaurants with rolling 12 month negative cash flow. Of these nine units, only two have consistently had an annual negative cash flow amount in excess of $50,000. We recorded an impairment on one of these units in the second quarter of fiscal 2005, and following our most recent review of plans to reverse negative cash flows at the other unit, we recorded a $0.2 million impairment on it during the third quarter of this fiscal year. We reviewed the plans to reverse negative cash flows at each of the other seven units with negative cash flows for the 12 months ended March 1, 2005 and concluded that no impairment existed. The combined 12 month cash flow loss at the other seven units was approximately $0.3 million. Should sales at these seven and other units not improve within a reasonable period of time, further impairment charges are possible. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate future cash flows, including cash flows from continuing use, terminal value, closure costs, salvage value, and sublease income. Accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from our estimates.



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Allowance for Doubtful Notes and Interest Income

We follow a systematic methodology each quarter in our analysis of franchise and other notes receivable in order to estimate losses inherent at the balance sheet date. A detailed analysis of our loan portfolio involves reviewing the following information for each significant borrower:

Based on the results of this analysis, the allowance for doubtful notes is adjusted as appropriate. No portion of the allowance for doubtful notes is allocated to guarantees. In the event that collection is deemed to be an issue, a number of actions to resolve the issue are possible, including the purchase of the franchised restaurants by us or a replacement of the franchisee, modification to the terms of payment of franchise fees or note obligations, or a restructuring of the borrower’s debt to better position the borrower to fulfill its obligations.

At March 1, 2005 the allowance for doubtful notes was $5.8 million, of which $0.3 million was assigned to notes not franchise related. Included in the allowance for doubtful notes is $3.6 million allocated to the $10.6 million of acquisition debt due from two franchisees believed to be currently in covenant default with certain of their third party debt. The debt believed to be in covenant default is not guaranteed by RTI. The Company believes that payments are being made by these franchisees in accordance with the terms of these debts and no actions have been proposed by the affected lenders at this time.

We recognize interest income on notes receivable when earned which sometimes precedes collection. A number of our franchise notes have, since the inception of these notes, allowed for the deferral of interest during the first one to three years. With one exception, all franchisees that issued outstanding notes to us are currently paying interest on these notes. It is our policy to cease accruing interest income and recognize interest on a cash basis when we determine that the collection of interest is doubtful. The same analysis noted above for doubtful notes is utilized in determining whether to cease recognizing interest income and thereafter record interest payments on the cash basis.

Estimated Liability for Self-insurance

We self-insure a portion of our current and past losses from workers’ compensation and general liability claims. We have stop loss insurance for individual claims for workers’ compensation and general liability in excess of stated loss amounts. Insurance liabilities are recorded based on independent actuarial estimates of the ultimate incurred losses, net of payments made. The estimates themselves are based on standard actuarial techniques that incorporate both the historical loss experience of the Company and supplemental information as appropriate.

The analysis performed in calculating the estimated liability is subject to assumptions including, but not limited to, (a) the quality of historical loss and exposure information, (b) the reliability of historical loss experience to serve as a predictor of future experience, (c) the reasonableness of insurance trend factors and governmental indices as applied to the Company, and (d) projected payrolls and revenue. As claims develop, the actual ultimate losses may differ from actuarial estimates. Therefore, an analysis is performed quarterly to determine if modifications to the accrual are required.

Income Tax Valuation Allowances and Tax Accruals

We record deferred tax assets for various items. As of March 1, 2005, we have concluded that it is more likely than not that the future tax deductions attributable to our deferred tax assets will be realized and therefore no valuation allowance has been provided.

As a matter of course, we are regularly audited by federal and state tax authorities. We record appropriate accruals for potential exposures should a taxing authority take a position on a matter contrary to our position. We evaluate these accruals, including interest thereon, on a quarterly basis to ensure that they have been appropriately adjusted for events that may impact our ultimate tax liability.



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Liquidity and Capital Resources:


We require capital principally for new restaurant construction, investments in technology, equipment replacement, remodeling of existing restaurants and the repurchase of our common shares. Historically our primary sources of cash have been operating activities, proceeds from refranchising transactions, and the issuance of stock. We have used and can continue to use our borrowing and credit facilities to meet our capital needs, if necessary.

Our working capital deficiency and current ratio as of March 1, 2005 were $48.0 million and 0.5:1, respectively. As is common in the restaurant industry, we carry current liabilities in excess of current assets because cash (a current asset) generated from operating activities is reinvested in capital expenditures (a long-term asset) and receivable and inventory levels generally are not significant.

Capital Expenditures

Property and equipment expenditures for the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 were $113.7 million which was $20.0 million less than cash provided by operating activities for the same period. Capital expenditures, primarily relating to new unit development, for the remainder of fiscal 2005 are projected to be approximately $50.0 to $55.0 million, which is approximately equal to projected cash provided by operating activities for the same period. In addition, in September 2004, we spent $8.2 million, plus assumed debt, to acquire, through our subsidiaries, the remaining member or limited partnership interests of RT New York, the upstate New York (Buffalo area) franchisee, RT Tampa, and RT Northern California. These acquisitions added 35 units to the Company. Further acquisitions, particularly from franchisees in the eastern United States, may occur either during fiscal 2005 or thereafter. To the extent capital expenditures have exceeded cash flow from operating activities, we have historically relied on cash provided by financing activities to fund our capital expenditures. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

Pension Plan Funded Status

RTI is a sponsor of the Morrison Restaurants Inc. Retirement Plan (the “Retirement Plan”), along with the two companies that were “spun-off” as a result of the fiscal 1996 “spin-off” transaction: Morrison Fresh Cooking, Inc. (“MFC”) (subsequently acquired by Piccadilly Cafeterias, Inc., or “Piccadilly”) and Morrison Health Care, Inc. (“MHC”) (subsequently acquired by Compass Group, PLC, or “Compass”). The Retirement Plan was established to provide retirement benefits to qualifying employees of Morrison Restaurants Inc. Under the Retirement Plan, participants are entitled to receive benefits based upon salary and length of service. The Retirement Plan was amended as of December 31, 1987, so that no additional benefits will accrue and no new participants will enter the Retirement Plan after that date. Until recently, certain responsibilities involving the administration of the Retirement Plan have been jointly shared by each of the three companies. Piccadilly withdrew as a sponsor of the Retirement Plan on March 4, 2004, with the approval of the bankruptcy court. The remaining sponsors are jointly and severally required to contribute such amounts as are necessary to satisfy all benefit obligations under the Retirement Plan. For the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005, RTI made contributions to the Retirement Plan totaling $1.2 million. We expect to make contributions for the remainder of fiscal 2005 totaling $0.9 million.

As discussed in more detail in Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Piccadilly announced on October 29, 2003 that it had filed for Chapter 11 protection under the United States Bankruptcy Code. On March 16, 2004, Piccadilly’s assets and ongoing business operations were sold to a third party for $80 million.  On March 10, 2004, RTI filed a claim against Piccadilly as part of the bankruptcy proceedings in the amount of approximately $6.2 million. Subsequently, the Company entered into a settlement agreement under which RTI agreed to accept a $5.0 million unsecured claim in exchange for the creditors’ committee agreement to allow such claims. The settlement was approved by the court on October 21, 2004.

In partial settlement of the Piccadilly bankruptcy, RTI received $1.0 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2005. The Company hopes to recover an additional amount upon final settlement of the bankruptcy. The amount of such final recovery is unknown at this time, and no further recovery has been recorded in our condensed consolidated financial statements.



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Significant Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

Long-term financial obligations were as follows as of March 1, 2005 (in thousands):

Payments Due By Period
Total
Less than
1 year

1-3
years

3-5
years

More than 5
years

Notes payable and other            
   long-term debt, including 
   current maturities (a)  $  22,960   $    1,891   $    4,189   $    4,664   $  12,216  
Revolving credit facility (a)  36,800       36,800  
Unsecured senior notes 
   (Series A and B) (a)  150,000         150,000  
Operating leases, net 
   of sublease payments (b)  266,580   29,247   55,601   46,380   135,352  
Capital leases  530   147   229     154  
Purchase obligations (c)  212,811   105,192   39,339   33,870   34,410  
Pension obligations          856           856                                                     
   Total  $690,537   $137,333   $  99,358   $121,714   $332,132  





(a) See Note G to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
(b) See Note H to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
(c) The amounts for purchase obligations include commitments for food items and supplies,
construction projects, and other miscellaneous commitments.


Commercial Commitments (in thousands):

Total at
March 1, 2005
Letters of credit   $ 13,289  
Franchisee loan guarantees  20,880  
Divestiture guarantees      9,025  
   $ 43,194  

See Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Borrowings and Credit Facilities

On November 19, 2004, RTI entered into a $200.0 million five-year revolving credit agreement (“Credit Facility”), which includes a $20.0 million swingline sub-commitment and a $40.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The Credit Facility amended and restated a previous five-year facility that was set to expire in October 2005. At March 1, 2005, we had borrowings of $36.8 million outstanding under the Credit Facility with an associated floating rate of 3.35%. The Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on November 19, 2009.

During fiscal 2003, we concluded the private sale of $150.0 million of non-collateralized senior notes (the “Private Placement”). The Private Placement consists of $85.0 million with a fixed interest rate of 4.69% (the “Series A Notes”) and $65.0 million with a fixed interest rate of 5.42% (the “Series B Notes”). The Series A Notes and Series B Notes mature on April 1, 2010 and April 1, 2013, respectively.

During the remainder of fiscal 2005, we expect to fund operations, capital expansion, the repurchase of common stock, and the payment of dividends from operating cash flows, the Credit Facility, and through operating leases. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

See Note L to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding our franchise partnership and divestiture guarantees.

Our potential liability for severance payments with regard to our employment agreement with Samuel E. Beall, III, our Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, has not materially changed from the amount disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 1, 2004 (the “2004 Form 10-K”). Please refer to the 2004 Form 10-K for a description of these potential severance payments.



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New Accounting Standards and Interpretations Not Yet Adopted

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) published FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (“FAS 123(R)” or the “Statement”). FAS 123(R) requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions, including grants of employee stock options, be recognized in financial statements. That cost will be measured based on the fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. FAS 123(R) covers a wide range of share-based compensation arrangements including stock options, restricted share plans, performance-based awards, share appreciation rights, and employee share purchase plans.

FAS 123(R) specifies that the fair value of an employee stock option be based on an observable market price of an option with the same or similar terms and conditions if one is available. Since RTI’s employees’ stock options are not currently traded, there is no observable market price, and FAS 123(R) thus requires that the fair value be estimated using a valuation technique that (1) is applied in a manner consistent with the fair value measurement objective and the other requirements of the Statement, (2) is based on established principles of financial economic theory and generally applied in that field, and (3) reflects all substantive characteristics of the instrument. FAS 123(R) permits entities to use any option-pricing model that meets the fair value objective in the Statement.

The Statement is effective for public companies at the beginning of the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005 (fiscal 2007 for RTI). As of the effective date, RTI will apply the Statement using a modified version of prospective application. Under that transition method, compensation cost is recognized for (1) all awards granted after the required effective date and for awards modified, cancelled, or repurchased after that date and (2) the portion of prior awards for which the requisite service has not yet been rendered, based on the grant-date fair value of those awards calculated for either recognition or pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123. For periods before the required effective date, entities may elect to apply a modified version of retrospective application transition method under which financial statements for prior periods are adjusted on a basis consistent with the pro forma disclosures required for those periods by SFAS 123.

The amount of compensation expense associated with stock options anticipated being unvested as of the date of required adoption but already issued as of the date of this filing is $6.7 million. Of this amount, and assuming no forfeitures, $4.7 million is expected to be recognized in fiscal 2007. The remainder will be recognized between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2010.

The impact of this Statement on RTI in fiscal 2007 and beyond will depend upon various factors, including, but not limited to, our future compensation strategy. As of the date of this filing, the Company expects that it will modify certain of its compensation plans to limit eligibility to receive share-based compensation, modify future grants to include performance or market conditions which should lower the fair value of future grants to levels below those of prior grants, and shift a portion of the share-based compensation to cash-based incentive compensation. Current plans are to reduce the number of stock options granted annually to 1.5 to 1.7 million shares. The pro forma compensation costs presented in the table shown in Note C and in our prior filings have been calculated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and may not be indicative of amounts which should be expected in future years. As of the date of this filing, no decisions have been made as to which option pricing model is most appropriate for RTI or whether RTI will apply the modified version of the retrospective transition method of adoption.

Known Events, Uncertainties and Trends:


Financial Strategy and Stock Repurchase Plan

Our financial strategy is to utilize a prudent amount of debt, including operating leases, to minimize the weighted average cost of capital while allowing financial flexibility and the equivalent of an investment-grade bond rating. This strategy allows us to repurchase RTI common stock at times when cash flow exceeds capital expenditures and other funding requirements. We repurchased 1.7 million shares of stock during the 39 weeks ended March 1, 2005 for a total purchase price of $46.8 million. The total number of remaining shares authorized to be repurchased, as of March 1, 2005, is approximately 2.1 million. However, at the March 30, 2005 meeting of the Company’s Board of Directors, the Board authorized the repurchase of an additional 5.0 million shares of Company common stock, thereby bringing the total number of remaining shares authorized to be repurchased to approximately 7.1 million shares. To the extent not funded with cash from operating activities, additional repurchases may be funded by borrowings from the Credit Facility.



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Dividends

During fiscal 1997, our Board of Directors approved a dividend policy as an additional means of returning capital to RTI’s shareholders. On January 5, 2005, the Board of Directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of $0.0225 per share, payable on February 4, 2005, to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 21, 2005. We paid dividends of $2.9 million during the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005. The payment of a dividend in any particular future period and the actual amount thereof remain, however, at the discretion of the Board of Directors and no assurance can be given that dividends will be paid in the future. Additionally, our credit facilities contain certain limitations on the payment of dividends. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION


This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains various “forward-looking statements,” which represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including one or more of the following: future financial performance and unit growth (both Company-owned and franchised), future capital expenditures, future borrowings and repayment of debt, payment of dividends, stock repurchase, and restaurant acquisitions. The Company cautions the reader that a number of important factors and uncertainties could, individually or in the aggregate, cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following: changes in promotional, couponing and advertising strategies; guests’ acceptance of changes in menu items; changes in our guests’ disposable income; consumer spending trends and habits; mall-traffic trends; increased competition in the casual dining restaurant market; weather conditions in the regions in which Company-owned and franchised restaurants are operated; guests’ acceptance of the Company’s development prototypes; laws and regulations affecting labor and employee benefit costs; costs and availability of food and beverage inventory; the Company’s ability to attract qualified managers, franchisees and team members; changes in the availability of capital; impact of adoption of new accounting standards; effects of actual or threatened future terrorist attacks in the United States; and general economic conditions.



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ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk from fluctuations in interest rates and changes in commodity prices.  The interest rate charged on our Credit Facility can vary based on the interest rate option we choose to utilize.  Our options for the rate are the Base Rate or an adjusted LIBO Rate plus an applicable margin.  The Base Rate is defined to be the higher of the issuing bank’s prime lending rate or the Federal Funds rate plus 0.5%.  The applicable margin for the LIBO Rate-based option is a percentage ranging from 0.625% to 1.25%.  As of March 1, 2005, the total amount of outstanding debt subject to interest rate fluctuations was $47.2 million.   A hypothetical 100 basis point change in short-term interest rates would result in an increase or decrease in interest expense of $0.5 million per year.

As an additional method of managing our interest rate exposure on our floating rate debt, we have at certain times entered into interest rate swap agreements, whereby we agreed to pay over the life of the swaps a fixed interest rate payment on a notional amount and in exchange we received a floating rate payment calculated on the same amount over the same time period.  During the 39-week period ended March 1, 2005, we did not enter into any interest rate swap agreements.

Many of the ingredients used in the products we sell in our restaurants are commodities that are subject to unpredictable price volatility.  This volatility may be due to factors outside our control such as weather and seasonality.  We attempt to minimize the effect of price volatility by negotiating fixed price contracts for the supply of key ingredients.  To the extent allowable by competitive market conditions, we can mitigate the negative impact of price volatility through adjustments to average check or menu mix. Historically, and subject to competitive market conditions, we have been able to mitigate the negative impact of price volatility through adjustments to average check or menu mix.

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Report. That evaluation included consideration of the views expressed in the SEC’s letter of February 7, 2005 to the AICPA in which the SEC staff clarified its interpretation of certain generally accepted accounting principles related to leasehold improvements, rent holidays and landlord/tenant incentives. Prior to the SEC Letter, we believed that our lease accounting was consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. Our belief was supported by the fact that most others in our industry similarly interpreted the lease accounting principles at issue. However, based solely on the clarifications expressed in the SEC Letter which resulted in the restatement discussed further in Note B, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 1, 2005 in providing them with material information relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries required to be disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As of the date of this filing, the Company believes its disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

The Company has not identified any change in its internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.

In connection with correcting its lease accounting methodology, the Company has instituted the following procedures:



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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


We are presently, and from time to time, subject to pending claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution of these pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS


The following table includes information regarding purchases of our common stock made by us during the third quarter of the year ending May 31, 2005:

Period
(a)
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (1)

(b)
Average
Price Paid
per Share

(c)
Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs (1)

(d)
Maximum Number of Shares
that May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or Programs (2)

Month #1          
(December 1 to January 4)  --   --   --   2,064,075  
Month #2 
(January 5 to February 1)  --   --   --   2,064,075  
Month #3 
(February 2 to March 1)  68   $27.55   68   2,064,007  

(1)     No shares were repurchased other than through our publicly announced repurchase programs and authorizations during the third quarter of our year ending May 31, 2005. These repurchase programs include shares surrendered as payment for the exercise price of options or purchase rights or in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations in connection with the Company’s stock incentive plans.

(2)     On April 12, 1999, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 6.5 million shares of our common stock (13.0 million adjusted for a May 19, 2000 2-for-1 stock split), with the timing, price, quantity, and manner of the purchases to be made at the discretion of management, depending upon market conditions.  During the period from the authorization date through March 1, 2005, approximately 10.9 million shares have been repurchased at a cost of approximately $198.1 million.



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ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS


The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No.

31 .1    Certification of Samuel E. Beall, III, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer.  

31
.2    Certification of Marguerite N. Duffy, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. 

32
.1    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
       Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

32
.2    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 
        Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 



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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

   
RUBY TUESDAY, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: April 18, 2005    


BY: /s/ MARGUERITE N. DUFFY
——————————————
Marguerite N. Duffy
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



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