UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) September 16, 1996
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HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC.
Delaware 0-22402 33-0463002
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) File No.) Identification No.)
9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 575, San Diego, CA 92122
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(619) 546-9096
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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Item 5. Other Events
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On September 16, 1996, HomeTown Buffet, Inc. (the "Company")
announced preliminary results for the first eight weeks of the twelve-week
fiscal third quarter ending October 9, 1996. A discussion of those results
is contained in the Press Release of the Company dated September 16, 1996
which is incorporated by reference and filed as an Exhibit to this Report.
Item 7. Exhibits
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99.1 Press release dated September 16, 1996.
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SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: September 16, 1996
HOMETOWN BUFFET, INC.
By C. DENNIS SCOTT
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C. Dennis Scott
(Chairman and Chief Executive Officer)
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Description
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99.1 Press release dated September 16, 1996
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HOMETOWN HomeTown Buffet, Inc.
BUFFET 9171 Towne Center Drive, Suite 575
============== San Diego, CA 92122
Contact: C. Dennis Scott, CEO
(619) 546-9096
----- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -----
September 16, 1996
HOMETOWN RESULTS EXPECTED TO BE BELOW ANALYSTS' EXPECTATIONS
SAN DIEGO, CA -- HomeTown Buffet, Inc. today announced that, based upon a
preliminary review of results for the first eight weeks of the twelve-week
fiscal third quarter ending October 9, 1996, the Company expects that net
earnings for the fiscal third quarter will be slightly below analysts'
expectations. In addition, as previously reported, the Company expects that
a large percentage of the new restaurants planned to open in fiscal 1996
will open in the fourth quarter. Fewer openings during the first three
quarters will negatively impact third quarter results.
Final results for the fiscal third quarter will be announced on or about
October 30, 1996.
As previously announced, the Company's shareholder vote for the proposed
merger transaction with Buffets, Inc. is scheduled for September 19, 1996
and if the merger is approved by each company's shareholders and closes,
then the Company's financial performance for the third quarter of fiscal
1996 will be reported on a consolidated basis with Buffets, Inc.
The statements set forth above concerning the Company's expectations
regarding fiscal third quarter net earnings is forward-looking. During the
remaining four weeks of the fiscal third quarter, a number of factors could
cause actual results to differ from current expectations, including weather
conditions, the success of the Company's marketing program, changes in food
supply costs and general economic conditions. In addition, the ability of
the Company to open new restaurants depends on a number of factors,
including its ability to find suitable locations and negotiate acceptable
leases and land purchases, its ability to attract and retain qualified
restaurant managers and the availability of capital.
