INDIANAPOLIS , May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Noble Roman's, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NROM), the Indianapolis based franchisor of Noble Roman's Pizza and Tuscano's Italian Style Subs, today announced earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 .

For the quarter the company reported net income of $321,431 , or $.02 per share, on 19.2 million weighted shares outstanding. This compares to a net income of $703,003 , or $.04 per share, on 16.7 million weighted shares outstanding for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 . Total revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 were $2.4 million compared to $2.9 million for the corresponding period in 2007.

Slower growth for the company's traditional co-brand franchise concept during the first quarter more than accounted for the decrease in first quarter revenue; royalty and fee income from existing franchises apart from new franchise and development related fees actually increased from $1,551,997 during the first quarter of 2007 to $1,702,178 for the first quarter of 2008. Program enhancements previously announced in November 2007 were in full implementation during the first quarter of 2008. These enhancements include: more rigorous franchisee selection criteria; a longer, more robust training period for new franchisees; more direct franchisee involvement in the construction and marketing process; and intensified monitoring and enforcement of operating standards and unit performance. As previously forecast, these enhancements have initially resulted in slower growth in the company's traditional concept, but the company believes they ultimately will provide for a stronger base of future growth.

The company is also continuing its focus on awarding franchise agreements for both Noble Roman's Pizza and Tuscano's Italian Style Subs in non- traditional venues such as hospitals, military bases, universities, convenience stores, attractions, entertainment facilities, casinos, airports, travel plazas, office complexes and hotels. The non-traditional franchising program has been the company's predominant growth vehicle for the last several years, and it has recently increased its sales staff to facilitate faster growth. Recent economic conditions, such as record oil prices and difficult credit markets, have hampered the pace of growth in certain non-traditional venues, but the company remains positive on the longer-term outlook for these venues as the economic disruptions begin to stabilize and resolve.

The statements contained in this press release concerning the company's future revenues, profitability, financial resources, market demand and product development are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) relating to the company that are based on the beliefs of the management of the company, as well as assumptions and estimates made by and information currently available to the company's management. The company's actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the company's operations and business environment including, but not limited to: competitive factors and pricing pressures, shifts in market demand, the ability to successfully operate certain franchises on a temporary basis and to re-franchise them, general economic conditions and other factors, including (but not limited to) changes in demand for the company's products or franchises, the success or failure of individual franchisees, the success or failure of area developers who may or may not maintain their minimum development schedule, and the impact of competitors' actions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties adversely affect the company or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The company undertakes no obligations to update the information in this press release for subsequent events.



                     Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                 (Unaudited)


                    Assets                           December 31,   March 31,
                                                         2007        2008
    Current assets:
       Cash                                            $832,207   $2,990,315
       Accounts and notes receivable (net of
        allowances of $106,712 as of
        December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008)         1,770,994    2,058,725
       Inventories                                      310,362      329,733
       Assets held for resale                           643,915    1,182,509
       Prepaid expenses                                 175,022      230,115
       Current portion of long-term notes receivable    133,736       84,373
       Deferred tax asset - current portion           1,971,875    1,588,000
               Total current assets                   5,838,111    8,463,770

    Property and equipment:
       Equipment                                      1,289,795    1,291,901
       Leasehold improvements                           107,729      107,729
                                                      1,397,524    1,399,630
       Less accumulated depreciation and amortization   755,987      782,733
              Net property and equipment                641,537      616,897
    Deferred tax asset (net of current portion)       9,106,008    9,324,298
    Other assets including long-term portion
     of notes receivable less allowances
     of $550,000 as of December 31, 2007
     and March 31, 2008                               1,883,644    1,936,308
                          Total assets              $17,469,300  $20,311,273


            Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

    Current liabilities:
       Accounts payable and accrued expenses            $532,264     455,283
       Current portion of long-term note payable       1,500,000   1,500,000
                    Total current liabilities          2,032,264   1,955,283

    Long-term obligations:
       Note payable to bank (net of current portion)   4,125,000   6,750,000
                    Total long-term liabilities        4,125,000   6,750,000

    Stockholders' equity:
       Common stock - no par value (25,000,000 shares
        authorized, 19,187,499 issued and outstanding
        as of December 31, 2007 and  19,197,499
        issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2008)  22,905,617  22,924,775
       Preferred stock (5,000,000 shares authorized
        and 20,625 issued and outstanding as of
        December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008)            800,250     800,250
       Accumulated deficit                           (12,393,830)(12,089,035)
                    Total stockholders' equity        11,312,036  11,635,990

                       Total liabilities and
                        stockholders' equity         $17,469,300 $20,341,273



                     Noble Roman's, Inc. and Subsidiaries
               Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
                                 (Unaudited)

                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                             March 31,
                                                        2007         2008

    Royalties and fees                               $2,585,407   $1,948,153
    Administrative fees and other                        18,347       13,441
    Restaurant revenue                                  251,585      388,841
                    Total revenue                     2,855,339    2,350,435

    Operating expenses:
         Salaries and wages                             377,544      381,092
         Trade show expense                             137,786      123,473
         Travel expense                                  79,239      113,581
         Sales commissions                              114,988       31,688
         Other operating expenses                       226,020      237,474
         Restaurant expenses                            234,407      374,427
    Depreciation and amortization                        21,347       25,318
    General and administrative                          425,032      422,302
                  Operating income                    1,238,976      641,080

    Interest and other expense                          173,819      154,063
                  Income before income taxes          1,065,157      487,016

    Income tax expense                                  362,154      165,586
                  Net income                            703,003      321,431

                  Cumulative preferred dividends         41,135       16,636

                  Net income available to common
                       stockholders                    $661,868     $304,795


    Earnings per share - basic:
         Net income                                        $.04         $.02
         Net income available to common stockholders        .04          .02
    Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding                                     16,668,018   19,196,395


    Diluted earnings per share:
         Net income                                        $.04         $.02
    Weighted average number of common shares
     outstanding                                     20,046,737   20,297,994

SOURCE Noble Roman's, Inc.