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LODGENET INTERACTIVE TO PRESENT AT THE B. RILEY INVESTOR
CONFERENCE
To Discuss Progress With Strategic Initiatives and
Focus on Delivering on 2008 Free Cash Flow Target
Sioux Falls, South Dakota March 31, 2008 – LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
(NASDAQ: LNET), the leading provider of media and connectivity solutions
to hospitality and healthcare businesses, announced today that it will present
at the B. Riley Investor Conference at The
Palms Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 2. The Company will discuss
its progress in creating and driving its strategic revenue initiatives related
to high-definition television, broadband Internet, advertising media and
professional solutions. It will also comment on its focus on delivering
its targeted $25 to $35 million of adjusted free cash flow for 2008, which
equates to approximately $1.09 to $1.52 per share.
“Following our strategic acquisitions in 2007 in the areas of interactive
television, broadband Internet and advertising media, we now offer our customers
an expanded suite of services and solutions that connect, inform and entertain
guests and patients,” said Scott C. Petersen, LodgeNet President & CEO. “This
strategic transformation places us in a unique position to broaden our customer
relationships and drive meaningful new revenues and cash flows over the next
several years. As a result, we are expanding and diversifying the revenue
we earn from our hospitality platform, which serves more than 9,900 hotels
and 1.9 million hotel rooms throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
“As a result of our initiatives, total revenue calculated on a
monthly per-room basis will be greater in the first quarter of this year
versus that reported for the first quarter of 2007,” said Gary H. Ritondaro,
LodgeNet’s Chief Financial Officer. “The percentage change
in monthly per-room movie revenue during the quarter was at the midpoint of
our annual guidance range, yet total revenue will increase because we are generating
expanded revenues from hotel services, advertising and other sales as compared
to a year ago.”
“At the same time, we are committed to delivering meaningful and increasing
levels of cash flow for our shareholders,” continued Petersen. “Given
the current economic environment, we are managing our business and moderating
our operating costs and capital investment plans to strike a prudent balance
between our numerous investment opportunities and our goal of delivering
on our previously issued guidance for adjusted free cash flow for 2008. We
are continuing to pursue our programs to drive down the capital costs associated
with adding and upgrading high-definition television rooms and to grow our
new business lines that generate incremental cash flow yet require minimal
capital investment on our part.”
LodgeNet management is scheduled to present Wednesday, April 2, at 9:00am. A
live webcast of the presentation and a copy of the slides will be available
on the investor section of the Company’s website, located at www.lodgenet.com,
following the presentation.
For the year 2008, LodgeNet continues to expect to report revenue in the
range of $570.0 million to $585.0 million and Adjusted Operating Cash Flow*
in a range from $150.0 million to $160.0 million. As previously announced,
net loss is expected to be $(28.0) million to $(18.0) million, or loss per
share of $(1.22) to $(0.78). Adjusted Net Loss** is expected to be
$(14.0) million to $(4.0) million or $(0.61) to $(0.17) per share. Free
Cash Flow *** is expected to be in a range of $17.0 million to $27.0 million
and Adjusted Net Free Cash Flow**** is expected to be $25.0 million to $35.0
million, or approximately $1.09 to $1.52 per share.
* Adjusted Operating Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure which we define as
Operating Income exclusive of depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation
and restructuring and integration expenses.
** Adjusted Net Income (Loss) excludes amortization of purchased intangibles,
debt refinancing charges and restructuring and integration expenses.
*** Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined by the Company as cash
provided by operating activities less cash used for investing activities,
including growth related capital.
****Adjusted Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP measure, is defined as free cash
flow, as defined above, and further excludes cash used for restructuring
and integration activities.
About LodgeNet Interactive
LodgeNet Interactive Corporation is the leading provider of media and connectivity
solutions designed to meet the unique needs of hospitality, healthcare
and other guest-based businesses. LodgeNet Interactive serves more
than 1.9 million hotel rooms representing 9,900 hotel properties worldwide
in addition to healthcare facilities throughout the United States. The
company’s services include: Interactive Television Solutions,
Broadband Internet Solutions, Content Solutions, Professional Solutions
and Advertising Media Solutions. LodgeNet Interactive Corporation
owns and operates businesses under the industry leading brands: LodgeNet,
LodgeNetRX, and The Hotel Networks. LodgeNet Interactive is listed
on NASDAQ and trades under the symbol LNET. For more information,
please visit www.lodgenet.com.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
Certain statements in this press release constitute “forward-looking
statements”. When used in this press release, the words “intends,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “goal,” “no
assurance” and similar expressions, and statements which are made in
the future tense or refer to future events or developments, including, without
limitation, those related to revenue, net loss, adjusted net loss, adjusted
operating cash flow, capital investment, free cash flow and each of the components
thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other
factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to the
risks and uncertainties discussed herein, such factors include, among others,
the following: the effects of economic conditions, including in particular
the economic condition of the lodging industry, which can be particularly
affected by international crisis, acts or threats of terrorism and public
health issues; competition from providers of similar services and from alternative
systems for accessing in-room entertainment; competition from broadband providers;
changes in demand for our products and services; programming costs, availability,
timeliness, and quality; technological developments by competitors; developmental
costs, difficulties, and delays; relationships with clients and property
owners; the availability of capital to finance growth, the impact of government
regulations; potential effects of litigation; risks of expansion into new
markets; risks related to the security of our data systems; and other factors
detailed, from time to time, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. With respect to any acquisition, we are subject to risks that
integration costs will exceed expectations, that synergies we anticipate
will not be realized, or will take longer than anticipated to realize, that
our management and management systems will encounter difficulties in dealing
with a bigger, more diversified enterprise, and that the financial results
we expect from the acquisition will not be realized. These forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release. We expressly
disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any
change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
LodgeNet is a registered trademark of LodgeNet Interactive Corporation.
All rights reserved. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property
of others.
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