Benihana Announces End of "Go-Shop" Period

-- /PRNewswire/ -- Benihana Inc. (NASDAQ: BNHN) ("Benihana" or the "Company"), operator of the nation's largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today announced the expiration of the "go-shop" period pursuant to the terms of the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company, Safflower Holdings Corp. and Safflower Acquisition Corp., dated as of May 22, 2012 (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Safflower Acquisition Corp. will be merged with and into the Company, and as a result the Company will continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Safflower Holdings