Starboard Issues Release Detailing Investor Presentation, Real Estate Primer on Darden

Starboard Value LP (together with its affiliates, "Starboard"), one of the largest shareholders of Darden Restaurants, Inc. ("Darden" or the "Company")

, with ownership of approximately 5.5% of the outstanding common stock of the Company, announced today that it has issued an investor presentation (the "Investor Presentation") outlining in detail its serious concerns with the proposed separation of Red Lobster (the "Red Lobster Separation") and why it believes a special meeting (the "Special Meeting") is critical to provide shareholders with a forum to express their views and influence the future of Red Lobster before it is too late.  Starboard believes the Red Lobster Separation is the wrong spin-off, at the wrong time, and for the wrong reasons, and that the Special Meeting is necessary because Darden appears intent on completing the Red Lobster Separation prior to the 2014 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, when all directors are up for election. The Investor Presentation is available at the SEC's website and can be viewed by clicking the following link: http://tinyurl.com/March31-Investor-Presentation Starboard has also issued a detailed presentation entitled A Primer on Darden's Real Estate (the "Real Estate Primer") outlining the substantial value intrinsic to Darden's real estate and a number of highly attractive alternatives for Darden's real estate assets.  Also in the Real Estate Primer, Starboard refutes management's misleading statements regarding debt breakage costs, among other things.  The Real Estate Primer was developed by Starboard with assistance from Green Street Advisors, the leading independent research firm specializing in real estate and REITs. The Real Estate Primer is available at the SEC's website and can be viewed by clicking the following link: http://tinyurl.com/Primer-On-Darden-Real-Estate STARBOARD URGES SHAREHOLDERS TO ACT NOW! COMPLETE AND RETURN THE WHITE REQUEST CARD TODAY TO ENSURE OUR VOICES ARE HEARD If you have any questions or require assistance with your vote, please contact Okapi Partners LLC toll-free at (877) 869-0171 or email: info@okapipartners.com.