Dave George and Jon Sagal Appointed to Bloomin’ Brands Board of Directors

Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLMN) today announced the appointment of Dave George, former Chief Operating Officer of Darden Restaurants, and Jon Sagal, Partner at Starboard Value LP (together with certain of its affiliates, “Starboard”), to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. These appointments have been made in connection with a cooperation agreement entered into between the Company and Starboard, which owns approximately 9.7% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and reflect the Company’s ongoing commitment to constructive shareholder engagement.

R. Michael Mohan, Chairman of the Board of Bloomin’ Brands, said, “We are pleased to welcome Dave and Jon to the Board. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the restaurant industry, Dave is deeply familiar with the unique aspects of casual dining and has a proven record of driving growth and profitability. Jon brings valuable financial and investment acumen and further shareholder representation to the Board. We are confident Dave and Jon will further enhance our Board’s already diverse and proven expertise, and we look forward to benefiting from their perspectives as we advance our ongoing work to deliver a differentiated customer experience, drive sales and traffic and create value for all shareholders.”

Jeffrey Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Starboard, commented, “Throughout the course of our engagement with Bloomin’ Brands, we have appreciated the collaborative and open dialogue we have had with members of the Board and management team. Bloomin’ Brands has a great portfolio of brands along with compelling growth levers and opportunities for value creation. We believe Dave and Jon bring experience and insights that are additive to the Company’s Board, and we look forward to working closely with the Company to drive further operational and financial improvements and enhance value for shareholders.”

In addition, the Company today announced the formation of an Operating Committee of the Board. This Committee will work with management to identify and recommend opportunities for further improvement related to various corporate and operational matters. Dave George will serve as the Chair of the Committee, and Jon Sagal and current directors Mike Mohan and John Mahoney have been appointed as members.