Brinker Franchisee Buying 76 Chili’s Restaurants

Reuters:

Brinker International Inc. said on Thursday that franchisee ERJ Dining will buy 76 existing Chili’s Grill & Bar restaurants and develop 49 new locations in the U.S. Midwest, according to a new agreement. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The deal is slated to close by the end of calendar 2007 and would make Louisville, Kentucky-based ERJ, which currently operates 25 Chili’s restaurants and has 4 additional restaurants in development, one of the largest Chili’s franchisees in the country.