Darden Offers Statement Related to Starboard's Operational Plan, Will Review, Recommends Holders Vote for All Its Nominees

Darden Restaurants, Inc.

today commented on the operational plan proposed by Starboard Value L.P. and its affiliates ("Starboard"). "We remain open minded toward all ideas that support long-term value creation for our shareholders and improve the dining experience for our guests," said Gene Lee, President and Chief Operating Officer of Darden.  "While we will carefully and thoughtfully review Starboard's plan, which has been promised by Starboard for some time, upon initial review, we believe many of the brand and cost optimization strategies are already being implemented across our company and are showing results."  Mr. Lee continued, "The Olive Garden Brand Renaissance is well underway, and the improvements we are seeing in guest satisfaction and traffic trends reinforce our confidence in Olive Garden's potential.  In addition, our efforts to grow and develop LongHorn Steakhouse and our Specialty Restaurants are on track. As we evaluate the Starboard plan, we will work to continue making strong progress across our brands for the benefit of all Darden stakeholders, including our employees."     Olive Garden® Brand Renaissance First Quarter Fiscal 2015 Highlights Over the past year, Darden has been implementing far-reaching improvements for all elements of the Olive Garden business to reignite traffic growth and support margin expansion.  Key initiatives have included enhancing culinary operations and service, introducing a core menu innovation, pursuing a new approach to advertising and promotions, and launching a re-imaging program.  The Olive Garden Brand Renaissance is beginning to deliver positive results and reinforces the Company's confidence in the brand's ongoing development. o Guest experience and satisfaction scores are improving across the system, including Overall, Attentiveness, Pace of Meal and Food Taste, as a result of an intensified focus on service and food quality. Darden expects these to translate into higher traffic trends over time. o Online ordering, including a redesigned web experience and the national launch of an online To-Go platform, is underway and strengthening the take-out business. In the first quarter of fiscal 2015, Darden achieved a 13% increase in Olive Garden's take-out business compared to the first quarter last year. Notably, check averages from online orders are significantly higher than those placed on the phone, which represents a margin growth driver should these trends continue. o Testing of tablet technology in several restaurants is underway and has generated encouraging results, including check growth due to an increase in add-on sales, increased table turns, a 60% pay-at-the-table rate and increased guest survey response rates, as well as an increase in tip percentage for servers. o Initial sales results from a pilot remodel program are encouraging. The Company has completed three remodels that reflect significant interior and exterior changes. This has resulted in a more than 10% increase in traffic on average in the remodeled restaurants as guests respond enthusiastically to the changes. Darden Board Recommends Shareholders Vote on BLUE Card Darden recommends that shareholders vote ONLY on the BLUE proxy card "FOR ALL" of Darden's highly qualified, experienced and independent director nominees:  Michael W. Barnes, Gregory L. Burns, Jeffrey H. Fox, Christopher J. Fraleigh, Stephen Odland, Michael D. Rose, Maria A. Sastre and Enrique Silva.  Shareholders may vote by mail, phone or internet following the instructions on the BLUE proxy card.  CAUTION: Any vote on the white card is a vote for Starboard's control slate as it could revoke any previous proxy you submitted using the BLUE proxy card. Only your latest‐dated proxy counts. We urge shareholders – DO NOT SIGN OR RETURN ANY WHITE CARD. SIMPLY DISCARD IT. Innisfree M&A Incorporated is serving as the Company's proxy solicitor and can be contacted toll-free at (877) 825-8631.