Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> May 3, 2004

ROBERT MERRITT – OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE INC (OSI)

ROBERT S. MERRITT is Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Outback Steakhouse, Inc. He has been Chief Financial Officer of three publicly owned companies over the last 17 years and has been involved in two IPOs and several secondary equity offerings with those companies. Mr. Merritt joined Outback Steakhouse as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in January 1990. He became Senior Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of the company in February 1991. He served as Secretary of the company until September 1994. Prior to coming to Outback, he was employed from 1985 to 1989 by JB's Restaurants, Inc., and from 1981 to 1985, Mr. Merritt was employed by Vie de France Corporation, a restaurant and specialty baking company. Profile
TWST: Would you please start with a capsule summary of Outback

Steakhouse?

Mr. Merritt: We own and manage an array of casual dining concepts

ranging from moderate price points, mid-scale all