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EXHIBIT 99.1
From: SANFORD TELLER COMMUNICATIONS March 27, 2002
1365 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(212) 717-0332
For: MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3333 New Hyde Park Road
New Hyde Park, NY 11042
(516) 627-1515
www.mortons.com
Contact: THOMAS J. BALDWIN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP, INC.
MORTON'S RESTAURANT GROUP ANNOUNCES DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT
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TO BE ACQUIRED FOR $12.60 PER SHARE; CASTLE HARLAN, INC. TO LEAD BUYOUT
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New Hyde Park, NY....Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. (NYSE: MRG) announced today
that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement providing for the
acquisition of Morton's by an affiliate of Castle Harlan, Inc., a New York based
private equity investment firm. Under the terms of the agreement, Morton's
stockholders will receive $12.60 in cash for each share of common stock. The
purchase price represents a 9.1% premium over yesterday's closing price of
$11.55 and a 26.2% premium over the average closing price of Morton's stock for
the last 20 trading days.
Following completion of the merger, Morton's will continue to be headquartered
in New Hyde Park, New York, and the current management team will operate
Morton's as a private company. Morton's owns and operates 61 Morton's of Chicago
Steakhouse restaurants and 4 Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria restaurants.
Castle Harlan, Inc. was founded in 1987 by John K. Castle, former president and
chief executive officer of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, and Leonard M. Harlan,
founder and former chairman of The Harlan Company. Since its founding in 1987,
Castle Harlan has completed acquisitions exceeding $5.0 billion. Castle Harlan
is a highly-experienced investor which has successfully completed 35
transactions in a wide variety of industries including aviation services,
consumer products, energy services, general manufacturing as well as
restaurants. John K. Castle, chairman of Castle Harlan, Inc., and David B.
Pittaway, senior managing director of Castle Harlan, Inc., are members of
Morton's board of directors.
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"We are delighted to announce the proposed merger," said Allen J. Bernstein,
chairman of the board of directors, president and chief executive officer of
Morton's. "The proposed merger is excellent news for our stockholders, our
employees and our guests. Our stockholders will benefit from the premium over
our recent stock price and the liquidity in their shares. Our dedicated
employees will be part of a growing business and our guests will continue to
receive the finest in food and service."
As a result of the evaluation of the Company's strategic alternatives, the
Special Committee of directors negotiated the transaction for Morton's with the
advice of Greenhill & Co., LLC, which acted as the financial advisor to the
Special Committee and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., counsel to the Special
Committee. The Special Committee received an opinion from Greenhill that the
merger consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to Morton's
stockholders. Upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee,
Morton's Board of Directors approved the transaction by the unanimous vote of
those participating (excluding Messrs. Castle and Pittaway, who were not present
and did not vote). Completion of the merger is subject to various closing
conditions including, but not limited to, approval of Morton's stockholders and
customary industry regulatory approvals, receipt of third party consents and
achievement of a minimum level of earnings. The buyer has secured required
equity financing and the Company's existing bank lenders have amended the
Company Senior Credit Agreement to support the transaction. The merger is
currently expected to be completed in early summer of 2002.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties relating to future events, including whether and when the proposed
merger will be consummated. A variety of factors could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks
that stockholder approval and regulatory clearances may not be obtained in a
timely manner or at all, that an order or injunction may be imposed prohibiting
or delaying the merger and that any other conditions to the merger may not be
satisfied. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking
information.
AVAILABILITY OF PROXY STATEMENT
Morton's Restaurant Group, Inc. plans to file and mail to its stockholders a
proxy statement containing information about Morton's, Morton's Acquisition
Company, Morton's Holdings, Inc., Castle Harlan, Inc., the merger and related
matters. Stockholders are urged to read the proxy statement carefully when it is
available, as it will contain important information that stockholders should
consider before making a decision about the merger. When the proxy statement is
completed, Morton's plans to send a copy to stockholders to seek their approval
of the merger. When available, stockholders will also be able to obtain the
proxy statement, as well as other filings containing information about Morton's,
without charge, at the SEC's web site
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(http://www.sec.gov). Stockholders may also obtain copies of these documents
without charge by requesting them in writing from Morton's Restaurant Group,
Inc., 3333 New Hyde Park Road, New Hyde Park, New York, 11042, Attention:
Corporate Secretary, or by telephone at (516) 627-1515.
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