Lodgian Reports 2003 Results

ATLANTA--Lodgian, Inc. LGN, one of the nation's largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels, reported results for the fourth quarter and 12 months ended December 31, 2003.

Upon emergence from Chapter 11, the company adopted fresh start reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). As a result, all assets and liabilities were restated to reflect their estimated fair values. The consolidated financial statements of the new reporting entity ("Lodgian" or "Successor"), representing the period subsequent to November 22, 2002, are not comparable to those of the reporting entity prior to the company's emergence from Chapter 11 (the "Predecessor"), representing the period including and prior to November 22, 2002. The term "2002 Combined Period" is used to describe the periods encompassing both the Predecessor and Successor periods during 2002.

2003 Results

For the fourth quarter of 2003, revenues from continuing operations were $73.7 million, compared to $74.9 million in the comparable quarter of the 2002 Combined Period. RevPAR was down less than 1 percent during the quarter, and gross profit margins were flat with last year. During the quarter, there was a net loss from continuing operations of $16.5 million after an impairment charge of $10.2 million, dividends on preferred stock of $4.1 million, and post-emergence Chapter 11 expenses included in general, administrative and other expenses of $0.6 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2003, revenues from continuing operations were $311.4 million, compared with $324.6 million from continuing operations in the 2002 Combined Period. The lower revenues resulted from a decline in occupancy, room rates and catering revenues that reflected a general weakness in travel demand, business disruptions associated with renovations at a number of the company's hotels, brand changes and declining results at hotels in need of renovation.

The loss from continuing operations before income taxes, reorganization items and minority interest in 2003 was $26.8 million (including a $12.7 million impairment charge, $4.6 million for post-emergence Chapter 11 expenses included in general, administrative and other expenses, and $8.1 million of preferred stock dividends reported as interest expense), compared with a loss of $1.2 million for the 2002 Combined Period. Lodgian reported a $4.6 million net loss from discontinued operations in 2003, compared with a $7.2 million loss from discontinued operations for the 2002 Combined Period.

The 2003 $4.6 million net loss from discontinued operations included a $5.4 million impairment charge recorded in connection with the valuation of assets held for sale.

For assets held for sale, as well as for assets not held for sale but having projected future cash flows that are less than the property's carrying value, impairment charges represent the difference between the carrying values of the properties and their anticipated net realizable values.

For 2003, Lodgian reported a net loss attributable to common stock of $39.3 million, or $5.61 per share, after preferred stock dividends of $15.7 million, an impairment charge of $12.7 million, a loss from discontinued operations of $4.6 million and reorganization expenses of $1.4 million. In addition, general, administrative and other expenses included post-emergence Chapter 11 expenses of $4.6 million. Net income reported for the 2002 Combined Period was $1.5 million. Common shares outstanding were 7.0 million for Lodgian and 28.5 million for the Predecessor Company.

In 2003, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from continuing operations, reconciled to net (loss) income in the attached schedules, were $51.0 million, up from $43.8 million in 2002.

"2003 was a transitional year for us," said W. Thomas Parrington, president and chief executive officer. "Despite a very difficult operating environment, a weak economy and uncertainty surrounding the war in Iraq, we were able to successfully complete our financial restructuring, transition to a strong new management team, and implement an asset improvement program that will allow us to accelerate repayment of our debt and fund a renovation program at our continuing hotels. As part of that plan, we spent $30.8 million on capital expenditures at our continuing hotels, and we sold five hotels and an office building in 2003 and the first two months of 2004, using $14.6 million of the net proceeds to reduce debt. We have targeted for sale an additional 14 non-strategic hotels in 2004, primarily full-service properties in small markets.

"Our remaining properties have long-term growth potential and are being upgraded and positioned to take advantage of the forecasted rebound in travel and the lodging industry," he added. "As the business climate improves and our portfolio strengthens, we also will consider buying hotels in strategic partnership arrangements. Our realigned portfolio is more focused on larger, mid-market full-service and premium limited-service properties in primary and selected secondary markets."

Parrington noted that in 2004, the company planned to concentrate on three key areas. "In addition to our major initiative to refurbish and upgrade our hotels, we plan to further strengthen our balance sheet and opportunistically acquire properties that are consistent with our modified portfolio profile."

Operating Results

Revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the company's 77 consolidated continuing operations hotels declined 3.4 percent for the 12 months ended December 31, 2003, reflecting a 0.8 percent decrease in average daily rate (ADR) and a 2.6 percent decline in occupancy. RevPAR for the company's 58 stabilized hotels also declined by 3.4 percent, reflecting a 0.9 percent decrease in ADR and a 2.5 percent decrease in occupancy. Stabilized hotels include those hotels which were not held for sale as of the end of the quarter, were not undergoing major renovation during 2002 and 2003, and were not subject to a franchise change during 2002 or 2003. As a result, stabilized hotels included a higher proportion of hotels in need of renovation than the company's continuing operations hotels taken as a whole. "The first half of the year was particularly difficult," Parrington said. "In the second half, we were essentially flat with the previous year, with noticeable improvement in December, which has continued through February."

General, administrative and other expenses rose 4.3 percent to $137.9 million in 2003, compared to $132.2 million for the 2002 Combined Period. The higher 2003 expenses reflect increased costs for insurance, utilities, repairs and maintenance, aggregating $3.7 million, and post-emergence Chapter 11 expenses of $4.6 million. Interest expense for Lodgian in 2003 was $28.6 million (excluding the preferred dividends now classified as interest expense), compared to $28.3 million for the 2002 Combined Period. The increase was due primarily to the amortization of financing fees and the interest expense associated with new indebtedness that replaced debt on which the company paid no interest in 2002, as approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

Management Changes

Following the completion of Lodgian's financial restructuring in May, the company named W. Thomas Parrington, a 30-year hospitality veteran and former CEO of Interstate Hotels Co., president and CEO in July. Parrington, a member of Lodgian's board of directors, had been serving as interim chief executive officer. Manuel ("Hank") Artime, the company's former chief accounting officer, was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer in October.

Hotel Sales

As of March 1, 2004, Lodgian held 14 hotels and three land parcels for sale, with a goal of completing those sales by year-end 2004. The financial impact of any asset sales and related reduction of debt will be reported in the company's financial statements for the periods in which any such transactions occur.

Outlook

"With each passing month, we are becoming increasingly confident that the hotel industry has turned the corner and is beginning to emerge from one of the toughest periods in our history," Parrington said. "Business travel trends finally are beginning to move in the right direction. RevPAR stabilized in the fourth quarter, including slight growth in December, a trend that has continued and further improved through the first two months of 2004. There are still some soft spots, such as rising energy and health-related costs, that will continue to pressure our margins, and the geopolitical situation remains uncertain, but we are more optimistic now than we have been in the last several years.

"Our first priority is to continue investing in our continuing operations hotels to take advantage of the economic recovery," Parrington concluded. "We want to complete our asset disposition program this year, reduce our debt and improve our flexibility and liquidity. We are optimistic about the outlook for 2004 and beyond and believe these strategies will position Lodgian to better respond to opportunities and challenges in the future."

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are reconciled to the comparable GAAP measures in the schedules attached to this press release.

About Lodgian - Lodgian is one of the largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels in the United States. The company currently manages a portfolio of 92 hotels with 17,417 rooms located in 30 states and Canada. Of the company's 92-hotel portfolio, 61 are under the InterContinental Hotels Group brands (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Select and Holiday Inn Express), 16 are under Marriott brands (Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott), and 10 are affiliated with four other nationally recognized hospitality franchisors. Five hotels are independent, unbranded properties. For more information about Lodgian, visit the company's Web site: www.lodgian.com.

This press release includes forward-looking statements related to Lodgian's operations that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially. The words "may," "should," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "project," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Certain factors are not within the company's control and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the company's ability to generate sufficient working capital from operations and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the company's SEC reports. The company undertakes no obligations to update events to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future results over time.

                    LODGIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                                   --------- 
                                                   December  December
                                                    31, 2003  31, 2002
                                                   --------- 
                                                     (In thousands,
                                                    except per share
                                                          data)
                      ASSETS
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                     $ 10,897  $ 10,875
     Cash, restricted                                 7,084    19,384
     Accounts receivable (net of allowances: 2003 
      $689; 2002 - $1,594)                            8,169    10,681
     Inventories                                      5,609     7,197
     Prepaid expenses and other current assets       17,068    15,118
     Assets held for sale                            68,567         
                                                    --------  
            Total current assets                    117,394    63,255

Property and equipment, net                         563,818   664,565
Deposits for capital expenditures                    15,782    22,349
Other assets, net                                    12,180    11,995
                                                    --------  
                                                   $709,174  $762,164
                                                    ========  ========

       LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities not subject to compromise
  Current liabilities:
      Accounts payable                             $  7,131  $ 12,380
      Other accrued liabilities                      31,432    41,297
      Advance deposits                                1,882     1,786
     Current portion of long-term debt               16,563    14,550
     Liabilities related to assets held for sale     57,948         
                                                    --------  
      Total current liabilities                     114,956    70,013
 Long-term debt:
  12.25% Cumulative preferred shares subject to
   mandatory redemption                             142,177         
  Long-term debt - other                            409,115   389,752
                                                    --------  
      Total long-term debt                          551,292   389,752
Liabilities subject to compromise                         -    93,816
                                                    --------  
      Total liabilities                             666,248   553,581
Minority interests                                    2,320     3,616
Commitments and contingencies
12.25% Cumulative preferred shares subject to
 mandatory redemption                                     -   126,510
Stockholders' equity:
   Common stock, $.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares
    authorized; 7,000,774 and 7,000,000 issued and
    outstanding at December 31, 2003 and December
    31, 2002, respectively                               70        70
   Additional paid-in capital                        89,827    89,223
   Unearned stock compensation                         (508)        
   Accumulated deficit                              (50,107)  (10,836)
   Accumulated other comprehensive income             1,324         
                                                    --------  
          Total stockholders' equity                 40,606    78,457
                                                    --------  
                                                   $709,174  $762,164
                                                    ========  ========


                    LODGIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                              (In thousands, except per share data)

                                Successor          Predecessor
                          -------------------   
                                   November 23,  January 1,
                                    2002 to      2002 to
                                    December     November
                              2003  31, 2002     22, 2002       2001
                           -------- ---------   -----------  
Revenues:
   Rooms                  $229,519  $ 16,902      $220,898  $ 257,100
   Food and beverage        70,791     7,415        66,709     79,554
   Other                    11,104       989        11,660     14,418
                           --------  --------      --------  
                           311,414    25,306       299,267    351,072
                           --------  --------      --------  
 Operating expenses:
  Direct:
        Rooms               65,814     6,246        59,378     69,257
        Food and beverage   48,686     5,447        46,822     55,459
        Other                7,970       880         7,836      8,540
                           --------  --------      --------  
                           122,470    12,573       114,036    133,256
                           --------  --------      --------  
                           188,944    12,733       185,231    217,816

 General, administrative
  and other                137,888    13,982       118,212    154,320
 Depreciation and
  amortization              29,761     3,113        40,523     46,065
 Impairment of long-lived
  assets                    12,667         -             -     20,503
                           --------  --------      --------  
       Other operating
        expenses           180,316    17,095       158,735    220,888
                           --------  --------      --------  
                             8,628    (4,362)       26,496     (3,072)
 Other income (expenses):
   Interest income and
    other                      807        14         4,940        709
   Interest expense:
     Preferred stock
      dividend              (8,092)        -             -          
     Interest expense
      (contractual interest:
      $29.8 million, 3.0
      million, $53.5 million
      and $76.1 million for
      the Successor periods
      ended December 31, 2003
      and December 31, 2002,
      the Predecessor
      periods ended November
      22, 2002 and the year
      ended December 31,
      2001, respectively)  (28,581)   (2,512)      (25,761)   (71,817)
     Gain on asset
      dispositions             445         -             -     23,975
                           --------  --------      --------  

 (Loss) income before
  income taxes,
  reorganization items and
  minority interests       (26,793)   (6,860)        5,675    (50,205)
 Reorganization items       (1,397)        -        11,038    (21,672)
                           --------  --------      --------  
 (Loss) income before
  income taxes and
  minority interest        (28,190)   (6,860)       16,713    (71,877)
 Minority interests:
   Preferred redeemable
    securities (contractual
    interest: $12.7 million
    and $13.2 million for
    the Predecessor period
    ended November 22, 2002
    and the year ended
    December 31, 2001)           -         -             -    (12,869)
    Other                    1,294       147           126         38
                           --------  --------      --------  
 (Loss) income before
  income taxes 
  continuing operations    (26,896)   (6,713)       16,839    (84,708)
 (Provision) benefit for
  income taxes 
  continuing operations       (178)      (32)          160     (2,829)
                           --------  --------      --------  
 (Loss) income 
  continuing operations    (27,074)   (6,745)       16,999    (87,537)
                           --------  --------      --------  
 Discontinued operations:
   Loss from discontinued
    operations before
    income taxes            (4,603)   (2,581)       (5,833)   (55,227)
   Income tax benefit            -         -         1,200          
                           --------  --------      --------  
   Loss from discontinued
    operations              (4,603)   (2,581)       (4,633)   (55,227)
                           --------  --------      --------  
 Net (loss) income         (31,677)   (9,326)       12,366   (142,764)
 Preferred stock dividend   (7,594)   (1,510)            -          
                           --------  --------      --------  
 Net (loss) income
  attributable to common
  stock                   $(39,271) $(10,836)     $ 12,366  $(142,764)
                           ========  ========      ========  =========
 Basic  and diluted loss
  per common share:
  Net (loss) income
   attributable to common
   stock                  $  (5.61) $  (1.55)     $   0.43  $   (5.04)
                           ========  ========      ========  =========


    Upon emergence from Chapter 11, the Company adopted fresh start
   reporting. As a result, all assets and liabilities were restated
  to reflect their fair values. The consolidated financial statements
  of the new reporting entity (the "Successor") are not comparable to
  the reporting entity prior to the Company's emergence from Chapter
                        11 (the "Predecessor").


                    LODGIAN, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                     (In thousands)
                       

                        Successor             Predecessor
                       --------------------   
                                  November 23,  January 1,
                                    2002 to      2002 to
                                   December     November
                             2003   31, 2002     22, 2002       2001
                          -------- ---------   -----------  

Operating activities:
  Net (loss) income      $(31,677) $ (9,326)    $  12,366  $(142,764)
  Add: loss from
   discontinued
   operations               4,603     2,581         4,633     55,227
                          --------  --------     ---------  
  (Loss) income 
   continuing
   operations             (27,074)   (6,745)       16,999    (87,537)
  Adjustments to reconcile
   (loss) income  from
   continuing operations
   to net cash provided
   by (used in )
   operating activities:
    Depreciation and
     amortization          29,761     3,113        40,523     46,065
    Impairment of
     long-lived assets     12,667         -       193,202     20,503
    Gain on
     extinguishment of
     debt                       -         -      (226,929)         
    Fresh start
     adjustments 
     other                      -         -        (3,426)         
    Amortization of
     unearned stock
     compensation              92         -             -          
    Preferred stock
     dividends              8,092         -             -          
    Minority interests     (1,296)     (147)         (126)    12,831
    Gain on asset
     dispositions            (445)        -             -    (23,975)
    Write-off and
     amortization of
     deferred financing
     costs                  3,884       167            56     25,972
    Other                     139      (276)          429        542
    Changes in
     operating assets
     and liabilities:
       Accounts receivable,
        net of allowances     554     3,195        (1,708)     7,029
       Inventories           (241)      105          (187)       497
       Prepaid expenses,
        other assets
        and restricted
        cash                8,908    14,236       (38,752)    (1,607)
       Accounts payable    (3,775)   (1,842)        4,718        978
       Other accrued
        liabilities        (1,484)  (10,727)       12,058     (3,170)
       Related party
        balances            4,556    (1,493)       (2,421)     5,974
       Advance deposits       440      (187)          191        (95)
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Net cash provided by
 (used in) operating
 activities of
 continuing operations     34,778      (601)       (5,373)     4,007
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Net cash (used in)
 provided by operating
 activities of
 discontinued
 operations                  (166)       17          (259)    (1,440)
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Investing activities:
  Capital improvements    (30,756)   (4,329)      (19,014)   (23,360)
  Proceeds from sale of
   assets, net of
   related selling
   costs                      802         -             -     67,910
  Withdrawals
   (deposits) for
   capital expenditures     7,219    (7,651)        1,501     (1,221)
  Other                      (192)   (1,010)          (90)         
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Net cash used in
 investing activities     (22,927)  (12,990)      (17,603)    43,329
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Financing activities:
  Proceeds from
   issuance of long
   term debt               80,000         -       309,098          
  Proceeds from
   working capital
   revolver                 2,000         -             -     21,000
  Proceeds from
   issuance of common
   stock                      114         -             -          
  Principal payments
   on long-term debt      (87,059)   (1,221)     (266,601)   (58,293)
  Principal payments
   on working capital
   revolver                (2,000)                           (15,000)
  Payments of deferred
   loan costs              (4,839)        -        (7,599)      (598)
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Net cash (used in)
 provided by financing
 activities               (11,784)   (1,221)       34,898    (52,891)
                          --------  --------     ---------  

Effect of exchange
 rate changes on cash         121         -             -          
                          --------  --------     ---------  
Net (decrease)
 increase in cash and
 cash equivalents              22   (14,795)       11,663     (6,995)
Cash and cash
 equivalents at
 beginning of period       10,875    25,670        14,007     21,002
                          --------  --------     ---------  
                         $ 10,897  $ 10,875     $  25,670  $  14,007
                          ========  ========     =========  =========

Supplemental cash flow
 information:
Cash paid during the
 period for:
  Interest, net of the
   amounts capitalized
   shown below           $ 28,660  $  1,589     $  31,132  $  73,131
  Interest capitalized      1,181       149           365        861
  Income taxes, net of
   refunds                    237                   (302)       120
Supplemental
 disclosure of non
 cash investing and
 financing activities:
  Issuance of preferred
   stock on emergence
   from Chapter 11              -         -       125,000          
  Issuance of other
   securities on
   emergence from
   Chapter 11                   -         -        89,293          
  Net non-cash debt
   increase                 4,678        16           137
Operating cash
 receipts and payments
 resulting from
  Chapter 11
  proceedings:
 Professional fees
  paid                       (455)        -       (11,184)    (3,772)
 Loan extension fee        (1,500)        -             -          
 Other reorganization
  payments               $    (90) $      -     $    (908) $     (24)

    Upon emergence from Chapter 11, the Company adopted fresh start
  reporting. As a result, all assets and liabilities were restated to
  reflect their fair values. The consolidated financial statements of
 the new reporting entity (the "Successor") are not comparable to the
reporting entity prior to the Company's emergence from Chapter 11 (the
                            "Predecessor").

                                                (In thousands)
                                       
                                                       2002
                                                   Combined
                                             2003    period      2001
                                          -------- ---------  
Continuing operations:
(Loss) income - continuing operations    $(27,074) $ 10,254  $(87,537)
Depreciation and amortization              29,761    43,636    46,065
Impairment of long-lived asset             12,667         -    20,503
Fresh start adjustments                         -   (33,318)        
Interest income and other                    (807)   (4,954)     (709)
Interest expense                           28,581    28,273    71,817
Preferred stock dividends                   8,092         -         
(Loss) gain on asset dispositions            (445)        -   (23,975)
Interest on the Preferred redeemable
 securities (CRESTS)                            -         -    12,869
(Provision) benefit for income taxes 
 continuing operations                        178      (128)    2,829
                                          --------  --------  
EBITDA                                   $ 50,953  $ 43,763  $ 41,862
                                          ========  ========  ========
Finance Finance

Lodgian is one of the largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels in the United States. The company currently manages a portfolio of 87 hotels with 16,366 rooms located in 30 states and Canada. Of the company's 87-hotel portfolio, 74 are under the InterContinental Hotels Group (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Select and Holiday Inn Express) and Marriott brands (Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn and Residence Inns),...